Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said Friday that relations between Cuba and its emigrés are irreversible and called the US blockade on the island the main obstacle to further develop those ties.

Speaking to some 400 Cuban emigrants residing in 45 countries, who applauded his words and chanted "long live free Cuba" and "no to the blockade," Perez Roque added that today"s priority for all patriotic Cubans around the world is to counter the new measures adopted by US president, George W. Bush.

Opening the 3rd Conference on the Nation and Emigration at Havana"s Convention Center, the Cuban Foreign Minister recalled that this meeting takes place in tense times, as Bush goes all out to hasten a political transition in Cuba.

However, in times like these our people are more optimistic and have unbreakable faith that they won"t be subdued. The Cuban people will not give up, much less now, when they are certain of their victory over the blockade and the aggressions, he told a clapping audience.

Perez Roque asserted that there are no serious conflicts between the Nation and its emigrants and that the process of normalizing ties is continuous, irreversible and permanent.

Perez Roque noted that those who portray the continued US aggression in complicity with the far right of Cuban origin living in that country as a problem among Cubans, are lying.

The real problem for both Cubans living in the Motherland and abroad, and who wish it to remain free, is the decision by president Bush -an heir to imperialist cravings-, to deny us our self determination to remain independent and be able to choose our own system, laws and institutions, free from any foreign meddling.

In his speech to the group of Cubans of different political, philosophical and religous beliefs, Perez Roque stressed that Bush"s latest measures are not only a new and flagrant violation of Human Rights for Cubans on the island, but also for their compatriots in the US.

He went on to highlight the personal courage displayed by over 200 Cubans residing on US soil, who are present at the conference in spite of pressures for them not to attend.

Emphasizing the progress achieved in the process of normalizing ties with emigrants, the foreign minister recalled that ten years ago 37,000 emigrants visited the island, but in 2003, nearly 168,000 arrived and 115,000 of those from the US.

On the other hand, the number of Cubans visiting the US has dwindled from 38,000 in 2000 to barely 7,000 in 2003. The reason, Perez Roque said, was the denial of visas by the US government.

The Cuban Foreign Minsiter announced several new measures aimed to further advance the process of normalization, including opening an office at the Cuban Foreign Ministry to assist Cubans living abroad. This office will be entrusted with broader functions and powers than currently available.

Cuba has also decided to grant Higher Education scholarships to the children of Cuban emigrants and establish a summer study program for them, as well as making customs procedures safer and faster. sus/ile/cr/edu/ml (PL)
 

(Granma) May 21, 2004