Mexico - The writer and cultural counselor at the Cuban embassy in Mexico, Fidel Antonio Orta, stressed today here the ties between this nation and the island, with history as a point of reference.

The narrator, poet, essayist and diplomat gave a lecture about the island's culture at the headquarter of the Mexican Movement of Solidarity with Cuba, in the Federal District.

In statements to Prensa Latina, Orta said the relationship between the peoples of Mexico and Cuba is joined in history, art, cinema, literature, and fine arts.

He emphasized that the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, founded the revolutionary department in Mexico, where he carried out an intense activity and where he departed in the Granma yacht leading a group of rebels for the island for its definitive emancipation.

Writers, musicians and artists found a second homeland in Mexico, among them Cuban poet Jose Maria Heredia in the 19th century, and in the 20th century, outstanding vedette Rosita Fornes, "and in visual arts, Mariano Rodriguez, Amelia Pelaez and Rene Portocarrero were also included on the list.