-DATE- 19841209 -YEAR- 1984 -DOCUMENT_TYPE- SPEECH -AUTHOR- F. CASTRO -HEADLINE- STUDENTS CONGRESS -PLACE- HAVANA -SOURCE- MOSCOW TASS -REPORT_NBR- FBIS -REPORT_DATE- 19841211 -TEXT- TASS REPORTS CASTRO SPEECH AT STUDENTS CONGRESS LD090928 Moscow TASS in English 0805 GMT 9 Dec 84 [Text] Havana December 9 TASS -- Fidel Castro, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, president of the Council of State and of the Council of Ministers of the Republic, has made a closing speech at the sixth congress of the federation of the students of secondary educational establishments. He said the Communist Party and the Government of Cuba make every effort to ease the tension of the international situation which has developed in many parts of the globe, including Central America, through the fault of U.S. imperialism. At the same time it is essential to be prepared to defend the gains of the revolution and the country's independence against the treacherous and powerful enemy -- U.S. imperialism. Fidel Castro pointed out the importance of assistance to and support for Cuba by the Soviet Union which, upon paving the way to socialism, crushed fascism and is nowadays one of the most developed and mighty powers of the world. The main danger of a thermonuclear conflict emanates from the USA, because war runs counter to the very idea of socialism, Fidel Castro stated. Therefore the USSR, Cuba and other fraternal countries come out against the militarist race and in favor of the destruction of deadly armaments. But we have no other alternative than to prepare ourselves for defense against aggressive encroachments by the USA and its allies. Having pointed out Cuba's achievements in the fields of education, health care, culture and sports, Fidel Castro drew special attention of the members of new generations of Cubans to the importance of successful implementation of the national economic development programme which is intended for a period ending in the year 2000, and of the need to observe the policy of economy and thrift and to show discipline and organization in studies, work and preparation for the defense of the native land. -END-