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Cuba Highlights Solidarity with Russian Parliament

Cuba Highlights Solidarity with Russian ParliamentMoscow, Nov 29. -Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon on Monday highlighted the solidarity of the Russian Congress in the fight against the U.S. blockade and for the release of five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly imprisoned in the United States.

In a meeting with Ivan Melnikov, deputy speaker of the State Duma (the lower house), Alarcon thanked that body once more for its unanimous support for a resolution against the economic, trade and financial siege applied to Cuba by the White House.

The Cuban Parliament president also highlighted his Russian colleagues' solidarity in demanding the release of Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando Gonzalez, imprisoned since 1998.

The basis of the historical links of friendship between the Russian and Cuban peoples is well-reflected in the high level of ties between their parliaments, Alarcon said.

Alarcon also called for a balance between their relations of friendship and sympathy and their trade relations, for which a meeting of the intergovernmental joint commission will be an important step forward, he said.

Melnikov said that, as part of agreements reached during his trip in May to Havana, the Cuban astronaut, Brigadier General Arnaldo Tamayo, recently visited Russia, and now Alarcon was making a visit.

Alarcon also stated the possibility that State Duma speaker Boris Grizlov, with whom he met today, may visit Havana. (Prensa Latina)