Havana - To reaffirm Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and denounce the danger of increasing military bases around the world, more than 300 experts will gather from May 4 to 6 in Guantánamo, Cuba.

The Fifth International Seminar for Peace and the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases will be held in this eastern Cuban province, where a US naval base remains, charging the headquarters with a great symbolic significance, said in an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina, the president of the Cuban Movement for Peace, Silvio Platero.

'Experts and scholars from more than 20 nations, including Japan, the United States, Brazil, and Colombia, among others, have already confirmed their attendance,' he said.

He added that for that meeting the presence of Cuban specialists highly trained in military matters will increase.

Platero stressed that in this 5th Seminar the main objective will be the exchange of experiences and opinions related to these issues that are of great worldwide concern for the increase of military bases, and the diversification of its objectives such as water and mining areas.

He emphasized that among the presentations that will take place at the event, one related to Australia was announced, where the military presence is increasing and the media silenced that that nation is being filled with military bases.

He added that there are already statements in combat positions of countries such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 'there are imminent dangers for the world and for that reason this type of event takes place,' that meeting will be a 'strong condemnation of the irrigation of those military bases,' he said.

The seminar will be attended by Socorro Gomes, President of the World Peace Council, and the retired Colonel Ann Wright, who will be part of a large delegation from the northern nation.

Presidents of national peace movements from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Barbados, and Jamaica will also attend the event, as well as a representation of the Colombian peace school foundation.

Platero announced that the closing of this biannual event will be held in the municipality of Caimanera, adjacent to the territory occupied by the US naval base since 1903, where a meeting of the villagers and delegates will be organized and the final declaration will also be signed.