Grisel Reyes León, executive secretary of the fair, which this year has the central theme of “Connecting Societies”, noted that the event is a demonstration of Cuba’s desire to occupy an important role within the field of communications, and is undoubtedly a space for interaction and professional exchanges, where Cuban and foreign entities can present their newest products.

Participating in the event – featuring 300 exhibitors – was Mal com John son, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union; Maimir Me sa Ramos, minister of Communications of Cuba; Rashid R. Ismailov and Dmitry M. Alkha zov, deputy ministers of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation; as well as other foreign and national sector representatives.
Special guests included decorated Heroes of the Republic of Cuba, Gerardo Hernández, Ramón La ba ñino, René González, and Fernando González.

In honor of the 16th Computer Sciences Convention, a commemorative stamp portraying the cell phone in Cuba and a watermark depicting the development of computer sciences across all sectors, were issued.

Parallel to the fair, which includes business forums and meetings, various keynote addresses will also be taking place throughout the week in the Havana Convention Center. The first of these was given yesterday, Monday 14, by Cuban Deputy Minister of Communications Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, during which he highlighted that the island is currently defining the parameters regarding its own use of information and communications technology, especially across priority sectors such as health, education, culture and science.

During the official inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Communications noted that corresponding to the event maxim, the encounter is the ideal space to promote exchanges of ideas and knowledge, providing sector associates with the necessary tools to face current and future challenges, especially for Cuba, a small country with minimal financial resources, but which is making concerted efforts to up-date its computer sciences policy.

(Granma)

According to President Juan Manuel Santos himself, the Colombian government intends to establish a type of permanent commission, to replace the current cyclical model, which will work continuously until a peace accord is signed.

We want to advance talks and bring them to a satisfactory end, hopefully before March 23 – the previously established date – reported the President after a meeting held in Cartagena de Indias with representatives to the talks. After Colombian government and FARC-EP delegations reached an agreement on victims’ rights which includes an integrated system for truth, justice and reparations, the two parties must now address other controversial issues such as a ceasefire, disarmament and demobilization of the rebels. Nonetheless, attorney Humberto de la Calle, head of the government delegation, admitted that the most difficult issues to resolve are the conditions under which a definitive bilateral ceasefire should be declared, as well as mechanisms to be used for the people’s approval of the full agreement.

While the Colombian government is calling for a national referendum, the FARC-EP is requesting a National Constituent Assembly be held.
Despite progress made during talks, which have been taking place in Cuba since 2012, advisor to the process and former British Cabinet minister Jonathan Powell, noted that the final phase of an important process such as this is always the most difficult, while highlighting that the talks have passed a crucial juncture and success seems possible.

As a result of the talks the two delegations have reached agreements on issues such as land reform, political participation, the fight against drug trafficking and the rights of victims, of which there are over seven million. The over 50 year armed conflict has resulted in 300,000 civilian deaths.

(Prensa Latina)