CANADA, May 7, 2009. Over 200 academics from the United States, Cuba, Canada and other countries start Thursday three days of reflection on the 50 years of the Cuban Revolution. The event is entitled The meaning of the Cuban Revolution: understanding the past and valuing the future, and sponsored by Queens University with support from the higher education centers of Havana and Chapel Hill, in North Carolina. I am convinced that this combination of many good wishes and efforts will allow us holding a successful conference, Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon stated at a welcome cocktail party thrown by organizers Wednesday night. According to the island's legislator, the best consequence derived from the US-imposed unilateral blockade on Cuba for almost 50 years has been Cubans and Canadians getting closer at similar forums in the past. By virtue of the anti-Cuban policy implemented by Washington, US academics cannot travel to the Caribbean country, nor are Cubans allowed to enter US territory. Also attending the forum are Havana University Vice Rector Cristina Diaz, and Josefina Vidal, director of the Foreign Ministry North America Department. Panels and conferences will include different issues, as Cuban economy, policy and government, international relations, diaspora, culture, race relations, gender, sexuality, education and health, religion, and environment. The main course of the opening ceremony will be the conference that is the title of the event. The panel is presided over by Louis A. Perez, from the Chapel Hill University and writer of several books on Cuba. Also attending are university professors Robert Pastor and John Kirk, from the United States and Canada, respectively, while Josefina Vidal will represent the Caribbean island. Simultaneously to this event are screenings of Cuban films, reading of poetry and launching of books.(Cubaminrex- PL)
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