2007 press releases

U.S. Congressional Delegation to Visit Czech Republic for Cuba Issues

Prague, August 24, 2007

A U.S. Congressional delegation will arrive for a two-day visit to Prague on Monday, August 27.  Congressman Albio Sires will head the delegation of lawmakers  focused on the democratization of Cuba.

Congressman Albio Sires and his colleagues will meet representatives of Czech government and NGOs to discuss the possibilities of cooperation and to thank them for their solidarity with the cause of freedom for Cuba.

During their visit to Prague, the delegation will meet with Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Czech Ambassador to Cuba Vit Korselt.  The Congressmen will also visit the memorial to the victims of communism in Petrinske sady.  They will meet with representatives of the non-governmental organization Clovek v tisni (People in Need) which supports activities directly related to democratization Cuba. The delegation continues on Wednesday to Hungary and Poland.

Congressman Albio Sires was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, from the state of New Jersey. He is a native of the Cuban city of Bejucal, His family fled Cuba in 1962 with the help of relatives in America. He was the first legislator of Hispanic origin to be named State Assembly speaker in New Jersey.  His detailed biography can be found on the following internet page: www.house.gov/sires. Other members of the delegation include brothers of Cuban origin – Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who are both U.S. lawmakers elected from the state of Florida.