The Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, is encouraged by the positive response by the US President to international calls for a shift in the relations between the United States of America (US) and Cuba.
In August 2014, the National Assembly adopted a motion calling, among others, the US President to immediately lift the trade blockage against Cuba and engage with the Cuban government more positively.
On Wednesday, the US released the last three of the five Cuban men arrested for espionage and conspiracy.
The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who were charged by the US government of committing espionage and conspiracy against the United States of America, and as such were imprisoned since 12 September 1998.
The last three men — Gerardo Hernández, 49; Antonio Guerrero, 56, an American citizen; and Ramón Labañino, 51 — were released and flown to Cuba following calls, by our Parliament and other international bodies, that US President Barak Obama lift the trade blockade against Cuba.
The two released earlier are René González and Fernando González.
It is within this framework that we welcome the historic turning point in the restoring of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States of America.
The new approach is the beginning of a process that will afford both nations the opportunity to restore the economic and human relations.
Enquiries:
Mandlakazi Sigcawu, Communication Manager: Office of the Speaker
Cell: 072 108 0354
E-mail: msigcawu@parliament.gov.za
