President of Angola's Parliament Antonio Paulo Kassoma addressed relatives of the Cuban Five in Havana today to assure them of his country's unconditional support for the just cause defended by these activists, imprisoned in the United States for monitoring the activities of terrorist groups.

"They were merely fulfilling their duty of protecting Cuba. That is why we have come here today, in show of our solidarity towards their cause, as we have always done in our country," Kassoma stated during the gathering held at the Cuban International Friendship Institute (ICAP).

The parliamentary leader, who heads a delegation currently touring Cuba, congratulated relatives of the Five for not losing hope that these anti-terrorist activists, unjustly convicted in the United States, will return to Cuba.
Mirta Rodríguez and Magali Llort, the mothers of Antonio Guerrero and Fernando González, respectively, as well as González' wife, Rosa Aurora Freijanes, attended the gathering.

Elizabeth Palmeiro, wife of Ramón Labanino, and Adriana Pérez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez, were also in attendance.
Todas expresaron a la delegación angoleña su agradecimiento por el respaldo a la liberación de los patriotas.
All expressed their gratitude for the support offered by the Angolan delegation.

Ramón, Antonio, Gerardo, Fernando and René González were convicted in a rigged trial and given sentences that range from 15 years to two life sentences plus 15 years. Their crime was alerting Cuba of terrorist actions plotted in South Florida.

René has served his sentence, but must endure a 3-year "supervised release" in the United States, in which time he may not return to Cuba to reunite with his family.

During the gathering, ICAP Chair Kenia Serrano invoked the Cuba's and Angola's joint struggle to cast off Africa's colonial yoke.

It was in remembrance of these struggles for independence, Serrano stressed, that the monument to Angola's first president, Agostinho Neto (1922-1979), was erected in Havana's Martyrs of Independence Park.
Kassoma also invoked Ernesto Che Guevara’s anti-colonialist guerrilla campaigns in the Congo and his struggles next to African combatants.

 “We will never forget those glorious chapters in the history of the struggle to liberate our continent,” he underscored.
He condemned the blockade that successive US governments have imposed on Cuba for over half a century and ratified his government’s decision to work with all international organizations to secure its definitive lifting.

In addition, he referred to his country’s interest in strengthening inter-parliamentary ties with Cuba and broaden cooperative efforts in areas such as public health, tourism, education and the training of Angolan students in Cuba.

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