The affection I have received is incredible

René González honors parachutist team before its departure to the Latin American Championship in Brazil

HUGO GARCÍA

VARADERO, Matanzas.— In the Cuban Aviation Club’s International Parachuting Center here, Hero of the Republic René González presented a Cuban flag to the men’s and women’s national parachute teams which will represent the country in the Latin American Championship of the sport, to be held in Brazil.

René González and his wife Olga Salanueva with the parachuting team which will compete in the Latin American championship in Brazil. Photo: Hugo García

He enjoyed the day in the company of his wife Olga Salanueva and new grandson Ignacio René, conversing amicably with those in attendance, taking photos with everyone and recalling the numerous times he had flown over Varadero, carrying parachutists up into the sky to jump. He also spoke with Juventud Rebelde.

What would the U.S. people and government gain, from an ethical and judicial point of view, if the Five were freed?

Freedom for the Five, beyond even the judicial aspect, could be a first step toward resolving problems between the United States and Cuba. The U.S. people have nothing to gain in this dispute, although it’s not a priority for them. When they give their opinion, they indicate that they are a little tired of the Cold War continuing to operate against a country which represents no danger to them.

Latin America is also demanding that the U.S. government change its policy toward Cuba and its continuance will have negative repercussions in relations between the United States and Latin America.

I think they need to sit down with Cuba and, obviously, the case of the Five would be a first order of business.

René acknowledged that the Cuban population has emphatically demonstrated its concern about the case of the Five, saying, "The affection I have received on the streets of Havana is incredible, but we must take the story everywhere, so that it spreads to the United States. The fundamental goal must be getting to U.S. society, so that the people finally become aware of a case which was concealed, from which they were excluded."

"We continue to be the same," René affirmed and emphasized that he is proud to have been part of Cuban aerial sports, "I always loved it and I always will for the rest of my life, just as I love Cuba and the Revolution we are constructing, the society we have yet to build."

While conversing with athletes and workers, René insisted that his four brothers in U.S. prisons, suffering the hatred of the most powerful country in the world, must be brought home.

"Wherever we go, we must be the standard bearers of our brothers’ cause, because they want to let Gerardo die of old age in prison, this is the goal of the U.S. government, that he die and that only his remains, perhaps, return to Cuba. We cannot rest, because we need these men in Cuba."

GRANMA