HAVANA, September 8.— Esteban Lazo Hernández, vice president of the Council of State, signed in this capital the book of condolences for the death of Reverend Lucius Walker, leader of the Pastors for Peace solidarity movement.

During an official and simple ceremony at the headquarters of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), the likewise member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party recalled the immense moral stature of the close friend of the island who died on Tuesday in New York.

"I knew Lucius as a great fighter," affirmed Lazo Hernández, "as a friend of Cuba and of Fidel. We knew him as a man who, in practice, expressed the true sentiment of how to break the blockade imposed by the United States on the island."

The Cuban vice president described the U.S. religious leader as a very humane man, a true fighter for peace and most of all, very courageous and unswerving with respect to just ideas in defense of human beings.

Caridad Diego Bello, head of the Religious Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Party, stated that Lucius Walker was a likeable, solidarity-driven and radical man in his way of thinking.

"He fought so hard for peace; something that is so necessary for the world at this current time."

Also present were Jorge Martí Martínez, head of the International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Party; Enrique Román, first vice president of ICAP; and other state and government officials, together with the Cuban people who were already lining up to leave their signatures.

The book of condolences will be open today (Thursday) from 9am until 12 midday and from 2pm until 5pm, at the ICAP building on 17th Street and I, Vedado, in Plaza de la Revolución municipality. (AIN)