A grand ceremony was held in Cuban’s central city of Santa Clara on July 26 to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the military attack on the Moncada barracks - the start of the Cuban people’s armed revolution for national independence and socialism.

President Raul Castro joined a large number of leaders of the Communist Party and Government of Cuba, representatives of the Venezuela Government, soldiers who participated in the attack and more than 100,000 local residents at the event.

While addressing the ceremony, First Vice President of the State Council of Cuba Machado Ventura recalled the great event on July 26, 1953, when a group of revolutionaries led by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro embarked on an attack on the Moncada barracks.

The armed uprising was considered an important turning-point that marked the development of the Cuban Revolution and encouraged the Cuban people to rise up in arms and came to victory on January 1, 1959, ushering in a new era of independence, freedom and socialism for the island country.

Ventura said the Cuban leaders will continue to adopt measures needed to surmount the nation’s current difficulties and challenges. The government will make necessary changes, but will not affect the country’s sovereignty. Cuba will not be subject to outside pressures, he said.

According to the vice president, food production and energy saving are now two top priorities of Cuba .

Over the past days, a series of cultural activities have been organised across the island country to mark the event./.