A dozen organizations composed of Cuban residents in the United States celebrate this Sunday the recent rapprochement between Washington and Havana and the release of three of the five Cuban agents who remained in prison.
A press release indicates that the groups, gathered at the Embassy Suites Hotel, in Miami, confirmed “their commitment to achieve full normalization of relations” between the two countries, for which the removal of the embargo against the island is necessary. In that sense, the organizations invite to suppress that ineffective policy, condemned twenty times by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
The group of Cuban-American organizations also supports the recent speech “State of the Union” by President Barack Obama, in which he asked Congress to lift the embargo this year.
During the celebration, Cuban Americans pay tribute to the teacher and US diplomat Wayne Smith, who served as head of the US Interests Section in Cuba between 1979 and 1982 and is recognized for his work in favor of full normalization of bilateral relations .
Gloria La Riva, coordinator of the US National Committee to Free the Cuban Five for the past 13 years was also honored at the activity.
The list of the event organizers includes Alianza Martiana Association, the Antonio Maceo Brigade and the organizations Cuba Puente s; Cuban Americans for Engagement (Café); Cambio Cubano Generation and Solidaridad Judia. The Foundation for the Normalization of Relations between the US and Cuba (FORNORM) and the Cuban American Defense League and the media Progreso Semanal, RadioMiami and La Tarde ss Mueve are also responsible for the initiative.
Unlike those made up by the fiercest emigration contrary to Cuban government, these organizations advocate for the peaceful coexistence on the basis of respect for the sovereignty of Cuba and the United States, according to their members. On numerous occasions they have spoken in favor of bilateral approaches and the release of Cuban agents arrested in Miami for infiltrating US organizations and sabotaging acts of violence against Cuba.