“But he lives… his people are faithful to his memory; there are Cubans who have died defending his ideas...Cuba, what would become of you if you had let our Apostle die!” With these words - spoken by the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro during his “History will absolve me” speech - the commemorative act marking the 39th anniversary of the Martí Studies Center (CEM) was inaugurated, July 19.

During the event – which was dedicated to researcher Pedro Pablo Rodríguez DSc. who described the Co­man­dante en Jefe as Martí’s “most faithful disciple” – participants discussed similarities between the ideas, speeches and attitudes of both revolutionary leaders.
The cell phone app Fidel Forever, developed by a team at the CEM and led by Luis Alberto Morera Fer­nández, director of the Portal José Martí website, was also presented during the ceremony.
The expert explained that the app contains around 2,000 remarks by Fidel, as well as biographies, speeches and reflections, all of which can be easily accessed, copied and saved.
At another moment during the event, the Lidiador Audaz prize, awarded by the University of Las Tunas’ José Martí Oratory Club, was presented to the Comandante en Jefe and Dr. Armando Hart Dávalos.
Meanwhile, Haydée Díaz Ortega, director of the José Martí Memorial Center, outstanding CEM researchers, and recent Masters and PhD graduates were also recognized.