The award was presented to the Cuban diplomat by the city’s mayor, Virginie de Carvalho, and honorary mayor François Asensi, according to diplomatic sources in the capital.

  “This medal is not for me; I accept it on behalf of the courageous and noble Cuban people as a tribute to their resistance against the criminal blockade imposed by the United States, and their firm resolve to defend the homeland and the Revolution in the face of any aggression,” Vaillant stated.

  Upon receiving the honor, the Cuban ambassador further affirmed that “the Cuban people deserve to live in peace; they are a peace-loving people and are grateful for the solidarity of friends around the world.”

  During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, “Casa Cuba” (Cuba House) was established in that same city, hosting prominent figures from the fields of Cuban science, education, sports, and culture as part of an extensive program of activities that is still fondly remembered there.

  The roundtable was also attended by Manuel Pascual, president of Cuba Cooperación Francia, and journalist Maurice Lemoine, a Latin America specialist and former editor-in-chief of the weekly *Le Monde Diplomatique*.

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