A fraternal meeting of solidarity with The Five and their relatives was organized in this capital by the Latin American Council of Churches, the 6th Assembly of which is under way in Cuba since May 22.

At the capital's Habana Libre Hotel on Thursday, Bishop Julio Murray Thompson, president of the Latin American Council of Churches, said that this gesture is a response to the call made to them by the Lord to embrace the cause of truth, freedom and life.

Esteban Lazo, member of the Politburo of the Cuban Communist Party and President of the island's Parliament, was received on Thursday in Paris by Hans d'Orville, acting director general of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).

At the headquarters of the institution, they tackled Cuba's work in the entity, the entity's process of reforms and the financial situation created by the U.S. non-payment, among other issues, the Prensa Latina news agency reported.

Cuba first vice-president Miguel Diaz Canel arrived in Quito, Ecuador, on Thursday heading the Cuban delegation that will attend the official inauguration of president-elect Rafael Correa on May 24.

The Cuban delegation, which is also made up of deputy foreign minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez, was welcomed in Ecuador by foreign minister Ricardo Patiño Aroca.