The message reads, in part:
"Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of your 85th birthday. I sincerely wish you happiness, prosperity and most importantly, good health.
You rightfully enjoy tremendous prestige at home and abroad as an outstanding statesman who has made an enormous contribution to strengthening the independence and national development of Cuba, and increasing its role in world affairs.
In Russia, you are truly valued as a longtime friend of our country, who has been active in promoting the expansion of the multidimensional relations between Russia and Cuba. I am confident that these relations – our mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, as well as a constructive engagement in international affairs – will continue to flourish, to the benefit of both our countries."