The first group of Cuban dissidents released by the Cuban authorities is scheduled to arrive in Madrid on Tuesday, the Spanish foreign minister said on Monday.
Two flights by Air Europe and Iberia airlines are to depart from Havana in the early hours of July 13 and take 11 Cuban political prisoners and their relatives to Madrid. Spanish news agency EFE said a total of 65 people would arrive in Madrid.
Miguel Angel Moratinos said that during his recent visit to Havana, Cuban President Raul Castro promised to release all political prisoners and allow them to travel to Spain with their families in the presence of Archbishop of Havana Cardinal Jaime Ortega.
Moratinos said the dissidents "would be free to decide where to live" in Spain and that the Spanish Government would help them to begin new lives "as free citizens with full rights."
The Cuban authorities earlier pledged to release 52 people belonging to the so-called "Group of 75" who were arrested on charges of treason in the spring of 2003 and sentenced to prison terms varying in length from 6 to 28 years.
MADRID, July 12 (RIA Novosti)
