Havana - The Committees for the Defense of the Cuban Revolution (CDR, in Spanish) are currently contributing to the success of the February 24 referendum on Cuba's new Constitution.

The country's largest neighborhood organization is playing an important role when it comes to draw up the electoral registration, Colonel Mario Mendez, Chief of Identification, Immigration and Foreign Affairs Direction, said.

The country has 137,000 CDRs, and these along with other factors such as courts, register office and identification system are contributing to complete the electoral registery, the colonel said.

He also stressed that the Ministry of the Interior reinforces all structures to the grassroots, carries out a compatibility work with the CDRs and intensifies the search for information.

The State accepts responsibility and guarantees that all citizens over 16 years of age can have the right to vote, Mendez noted.

Our mission is that no Cuban eligible to vote is outside the list, the colonel said.

Although the State is responsible for having an updated and transparent electoral register, the population should show interest in its location in the register, the colonel said.

More than eight million Cubans are called to ratify on February 24 the new Constitution of the Republic approved on December 22 by the People's Power National Assembly.

The Constitution ratifies Cuba's socialist nature and the leading role of the Communist Party in its society.

It also reflects changes in the structure of the State, extends guarantees and human rights, promotes foreign investment, and recognizes several forms of property, including private property.