[NYTr] Participants in LASA Congress Reiterate Solidarity with Cuba

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Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Participants in LASA Congress Reiterate Solidarity with Cuba

Havana, Sept 10 (acn) The work in solidarity with Cuba was the main 
topic of a conference given by the President of the Cuban Parliament, 
Ricardo Alarcon, who participated as a special guest in the 27th 
Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) that 
concluded on Saturday in the Canadian city of Montreal with the 
participation of nearly 8,000 academics from several countries.

The Congress was originally scheduled to take place in the US city of 
Boston but organizers had to change the venue so that Cuban specialists 
- who were denied visas by the US government on the last two events - 
could attend the Congress.

During the event, LASA President Charlie Hale spoke of the steps taken 
by the organization so that the Cuban representatives could participate 
in the event, where academics, intellectuals and other specialists from 
the island have presented their works.

In a meeting of the Cuba Section of the Congress, American and Canadian 
delegates explained the actions they have carried out to maintain the 
Cuban presence in LASA congresses in spite of the obstacles imposed by 
the US government.

Wayne Smith and Elsa Falkenburger, US members of the Cuba Section, 
explained the legislative situation in their country where initiatives 
against the US blockade against Cuba and to lift the travel ban for 
academic reasons are being carried out.

A special recognition was given to Cuban intellectual Roberto Fernandez 
Retamar for the work of his life, which was received by renowned writer 
Miguel Barnet.

Delegates were also informed about the organization of the 28th LASA 
Congress that is scheduled for Brazil, from June 11-13 in 2009.