Varadero.— The Ecuadorian vice president Lenín Moreno Garcés ended his visit by leaving a cordial message of thanks for the Cuban people who, like their leaders, are very kind and act with solidarity, he said. His visit to the island lasted four days.

Shortly before leaving yesterday afternoon from the Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport, the visitor admitted feeling very content for having fulfilled the purpose of his visit, which was to deliver "a heartfelt and very affectionate decoration from the Ecuadorian people to Commander in Chief Fidel Castro for an entire life of solidarity and for being the agent and driving force behind an outstanding and significant program that we are carrying out in Ecuador called the Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission," he said.

He reiterated that the mission has the decisive support of the Cuban doctors in Ecuador and is covering practically the entire country in order to geographically locate every person with a disability. The project includes an all- encompassing study for future care.

Moreno Garcés also thanked the Bolivarian Revolution and President Hugo Chávez for their financial support to fund such a noble and humane project as well as other programs of social benefit that his country’s government is undertaking.

The Ecuadorian vice president arrived in Cuba on Sunday and during his stay on the Caribbean island met with Cuban authorities and visited the Solidarity with Panama Special Education School, where children with a variety of disabilities study. In addition, he was able to witness the progress of Cuban medicine in areas like clinical genetics.

Nilo Díaz Fundora, president of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power, bade farewell to the Ecuadorian vice president at the Matanzas airport.