Cuba's parliament backs normalisation of ties with US

Havana, Dec 20 (IANS/EFE) Cuba's National Assembly backed President Raul Castro's decision to begin the process of restoring full diplomatic relations with the US, a historic move that brings an end to more than 50 years of enmity.

Parliament Speaker Esteban Lazo Friday hailed the rapprochement with the US and the return to the island of three Cuban spies -- regarded as heroes on the island - who had been serving long prison sentences in the US.

These members of the so-called Cuban Five spy ring, which was dismantled in 1998, were freed as part of a prisoner swap that saw the release of a Cuban man who had provided information on Cuban spy operations in the US.

Also released as part of the diplomatic shift was US government contractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned on the island for five years after being convicted of subversion.

Castro is expected to review the Communist-ruled nation's economy and the new era in diplomatic relations with the US when he addresses parliament Saturday.

The governments of Cuba and the US announced Wednesday they would restore full diplomatic relations after more than 50 years, to be accompanied by expanded travel and other exchanges between the two countries.

But the US economic embargo, imposed in 1962, became law in 1996 and ending it would require action by the Congress.

--IANS/EFE

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