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17th World Youth Festival Delegates Oppose Blockade of Cuba (17th World Festival of Youth and Students) AT the Tshwane Events Centre, where the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students is taking place, dozens of participants raised their voices in opposition to the U.S. blockade of Cuba. The rejection of blockade and sanction policies against nations struggling to achieve and maintain their independence distinguished the first day of discussions at the event taking place in Pretoria until this coming December 21. Aleida Guevara, daughter of the Argentine-Cuban guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara, emphasized that Washington is maintaining its economic, commercial and financial state of siege because Cuba decided to continue being free. A Prensa Latina cable reports that Jayantha Welivita, general secretary of the Sri Lanka's Communist Youth Federation, stated that the sanctions and provocations against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are morally unacceptable and illegal. The delegates also demanded the cessation of Israeli aggressions against Palestine and of Morocco's harassment of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, while they called for struggle against U.S. imperialism. Yesterday, Tuesday, at the Tshwane Events Centre saw the opening of the Friendship Fair, in which delegates can find articles from the 140 countries represented at the forum, as well as publications, culinary displays, flags and handcrafts. The 17th World Festival of Youth and Students to take place from December 13 to 21 in South Africa will focus on the struggle for peace, social transformations and solidarity. The festival program includes spaces where participants will condemn the crimes of imperialism and show their solidarity to those who resist them, like the Saharan people. The 17th festival pays tribute to Fidel and Mandela and dedicates each day to a region — Africa, America, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East — and to the host country, South Africa. There will also be a special day dedicated to the struggle of the youth against racism, xenophobia and discrimination. On South African Day, participants will discuss the specific situation of the South African youth and their history, through seminars and visits to places of reference. Granma International, Juventud Rebelde