Santo Domingo - The 8th Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba begins today in Dominican Republic in the presence of hundreds of delegates from 24 countries.

The event has been organized by the Dominican Campaign of Solidarity with Cuba, the Puerto Rican Committee of Solidarity with Cuba and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).

The venue is the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and its rector, Ivan Grullon, is the honorary president of the National Preparatory Committee that is made up many organizations and entities.

International figures such as Brazilian theologian, Frei Betto, are involved in the meeting. Lectures and panels will be held, not only in the capital, but also in Barahona, San Francisco de Macoris, Bani and Santiago de los Caballeros, the second venues of the event.

Issues such as the U.S. blockade on Cuba, the colonial situation, political prisoners in Puerto Rico, imperialistic harassment, the oligarchy against the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela and the importance of integration and solidarity with Cuba, will be discussed during the meeting.

Panels and workshops on women's participation in the integration process, youth facing crises, solidarity alternatives, the continental action plan of solidarity with Cuba, political prisoners of the empire and human rights, are also expected.

The books "La Contra Revolución" by author Teodoro Rivero, and "El bloqueo contra Cuba". Ahora la gran guerra por otra via', by poet and professor, Rafael Nino Feliz, will be launched during the event.

ICAP president, Kenia Serrano, stressed that Dominican Republic is the first Caribbean country that is taking on a challenge of this nature.

This is an event with organizational complexity, as Puerto Rico which is a co-host country, due to its colonial condition, cannot host an event like this on its soil, she said.

Serrano also stated that the presence of Cuban hero, Fernando Gonzalez, at this event, representing the Five Heroes, is a sign of what the Revolution means for global solidarity.