Sergio Corrieri, distinguished intellectual and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, passed away due to a cruel sickness.Sergio Corrieri was born on March 2nd, 1939, inHavana. He became an actor since his early 17 years, founder of Teatro Estudio, and pioneer of the contemporary Cuban theatre.
He collaborated with the July 26th Movement and with the People’s Socialist Party, and participated in numerous protests and student demonstration during the dictatorship.
Corrieri was a founder of the new Cuban film industry, emerged with the Revolution. He developed an inestimable career which made him worthy of plentiful Cuban and international distinctions. Central character of several of the most important Cuban movies, he alternated his intense artistic work- including his labour as a director and as a performance teacher- with his incorporation to the struggles of his people. He was also a founder of the National Revolutionary Militia and as a member of it, he participated in all the mobilisations that took place in the decade of the 60s.
In 1968 he founded the Teatro Escambray Group and headed the most important activities of it in the central mountains of the country. He visited several countries of North America, Latin America, and Europe as the leader of the group, and they also made presentations for the Cuban combatants in Angola.
His unforgettable performance in the two parts of the En silencio ha tenido que ser serial, transmitted by the Cuban television, provided him with the acknowledgment and the profound affection of the entire Cuban people.
He was granted with the National Theatre Award for his great and praiseworthy artistic career. He was rewarded with the Felix Varela and Alejo Carpentier orders, conferred by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba.
In 1976 he was elected Deputy of the National Assembly of People’s Power; and he was continuously re-elected for this responsibility till the most recent legislature. He was a member of the Council of State between 1998 and 2003.
He was elected member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba in the Second Congress and carried on this condition till his death. In 1987 he was assigned as the Head of the Culture Department of this organization.
In 1990 he was designated President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples. He developed a meritorious work in the promotion of solidarity with the Cuban Revolution with thousand of people worldwide. His renowned labour in this field conceded him the admiration and the profound estimation of our friends abroad.
The workers of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) feel with a heartfelt sorrow the loss of a person, who pierced deeply in all our hearts due to his example and the respect for his comrades. His example will continue alive in our daily work to make valuable the thought of Marti that expresses: “death is not true when the life work has been well accomplished”
