News

It is still too soon to celebrate the transfer of political prisoners in Cuba, affirmed the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), one of the most influential organizations of the Cuban exile in the United States. The moving of six inmates up to now would be a strategy of the government to “turn away the attention of international public opinion” from issues such as releases or the hunger strike by dissident Guillermo Fariñas, according to statements to the press by Omar López Montenegro, director of human rights of the CANF.

The Archbishopric of Havana confirmed on Monday that six inmates were transferred to prisons located in provinces where they live. The process responds to a petition by the Catholic hierarchy to the Cuban government regarding the situation of political prisoners and the possible release of some of them.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba expressed Tuesday “its strongest condemnation” of the Israeli army’s attack against a flotilla of ships that aimed to take humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip population. The Foreign Ministry official note urges “the international community and peace-loving peoples to demand the Israeli authority’s immediate lifting of the illegal, savage and genocidal blockade” against the Palestinian people.

European Union (EU) has no reason to maintain its Common Position toward Cuba because “that road did not serve to achieve our objectives,” affirmed Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Angel Moratinos in statements to Brazil’s O Globo daily. The Spanish FM recalled how Madrid’s policy of dialogue had promoted the release of dozens of political prisoners. He said: “We continue working but always respecting the pace and decisions of the Cuban authorities.”

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro asked the United States “to explain to us how it is going to solve the drug problem,” in one of his Reflections published by the island’s press. In the text, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution recalled episodes such as the opium war and highlighted the effort of the governments of Venezuela and Bolivia in the fight against drug trafficking.

The political opposition in Cuba is waiting for the materialization of the expectations generated by the meeting between the Catholic Church hierarchy and President Raúl Castro regarding the release of the political prisoners, according to statements to the press by representatives of those groups.

The Cuban government does not believe in the promises of change made by U.S. President Barack Obama until the five Cubans imprisoned in the United States charged with espionage are released, affirmed National Assembly of People’s Power speaker Ricardo Alarcón during the opening of the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO) seminar in this capital.