Prensa Latina publishes press note from Archbishopric of Havana

AT midday today, Wednesday, July 7, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino was received by Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz. Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, and Bruno Rodríguez Parilla, Cuban minister of foreign affairs, also participated in the meeting.

A few hours earlier, Cardinal Ortega had a joint working meeting with Foreign Ministers Moratinos and Rodríguez Parilla.

In these meetings of today, those present discussed the process initiated on May 19, when President Raúl Castro received Cardinal Jaime Ortega and Monsignor Dionisio García Ibáñez, president of the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops.

To date, the development of this process has made possible the release of one prisoner and the transfer of another 12 to their provinces of residence.

In the sphere of these meetings of today, and maintaining the continuity of the aforementioned process, Cardinal Ortega was informed that, in the next few hours, another six prisoners are to be transferred to their provinces of residence and five more are to be released and could leave shortly for Spain with their families.

The Cuban authorities also announced that the 47 remaining prisoners of those detained in 2003 are to be released and can leave the country. This step will be concluded in a period of three to four months, starting from now.

This process has taken into consideration proposals previously expressed to Cardinal Ortega by relatives of the prisoners.