Pretoria - The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has thanked the Cuban people for their involvement and support for the struggle of freedom in South Africa.
The committee expressed this to the Cuban five delegation, and the Cuban ambassador in Parliament who were hosted by the committee today.
The delegation was received by Deputy Speaker to the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, and the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Raseriti Tau, at the stairs of the New Wing.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Siphosezwe Masango, said Cuba had been internationalist and progressive in its approach to international politics.
“Cuba worked hard in ensuring that the countries that were colonised attained freedom including SA. Cuba had fought over so many years for a free and democratic SA in various international platforms,” Masango said.
South Africa’s position, as outlined in one of the Freedom Charter clauses, was that there had to be peace and security in the world.
He said the committee was pleased to host these high esteemed guests of Parliament.
The Cuban Five delegation is on a two-week visit to SA in part to thank the country for the role it played in pledging solidarity with them while they were in prison in the US.
The five Cuban intelligence officers - Gerardo Hernandez‚ Ramón Labañino‚ Fernando Gonzalez‚ Antonio Guerrero and René Gonzalez - were arrested in September 1998 and later convicted in Miami of conspiracy to commit espionage‚ conspiracy to commit murder‚ acting as an agent of a foreign government‚ and other illegal activities in the US.
The five told the committee that they hoped relations with the US will become better and that the trade embargo would one day be done away with.
They also thanked the people of South Africa for their support.
The delegation will later in the day visit Robben Island. - SAnews.gov.za
