Havana - President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez says that Cubans are not willing to give up the achievements made by the Revolution and are ready to defend socialism at any price.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Council of Ministers, Diaz-Canel urged Cubans always to stay united, organized and mobilized.  “We cannot give space to fractures, manipulations, interferences, and provocations,” he added.

In assessing the country's situation, the Cuban president referred to the tightening of the U.S. blockade, with the repeated imposition of measures that have caused, to cite just one example, serious fuel shortages.

Likewise, he commented on the reality that Latin America lives, when many people take to the streets, processes of the left triumph and the most aggressive right-wing tendencies return, as is the case of Bolivia.

In this context, he pointed out that interference and aggression against Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are increasing.

"It has become trendy to give recipes, overlooking the complexity of the life of the Cuban people in conditions of the brutal blockade and ignoring that we chose our path long ago, under well-defined principles of independence," Díaz-Canel said.

The president shared with the members of the Council of Ministers concepts related to political and ideological work, which he said is not only the responsibility of the Communist Party but of the leaders of all entities and organizations in the country.

That political and ideological preparation makes the difference in the daily actions of those who lead, he said.  “It is necessary to foresee, to take opportune decisions, to banish stagnation and the lack of control of resources," he added.

Listing the priorities for the country, Díaz-Canel mentioned the broad legislative exercise that has resulted from the new Constitution; the achievement of local self-sufficiency; guaranteeing agricultural work during the cold season and the sugarcane harvest; improving services for the tourism sector; relations with universities; housing policy; confronting fuel theft; and the country's investment plan.

This list also included exports, production chains, foreign investment, computerization, the epidemiological situation, improvement of the urban environment and the battle for decency and against social indiscipline.