HAVANA, Cuba. - In an interview on the Kizzna television channel, in Japan, the Cuban ambassador to that nation talked about the progress made by the island in the economy, tourism, education, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

During the interview that lasted for about an hour, Jose Fernandez Cossio spoke to journalist Masanobu Yamamoto, spoke about the process of updating the economic and social systems underway in Cuba.

Cossio took advantage of the opportunity to denounce the economic, financial and commercial blockade of the United States against his country which has highly hampered the advancement of the island; as well as to let the Japanese people know about the case of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters –known as the Cuban Five- condemned in the U.S. for trying to prevent criminal actions planned and conducted by Miami-based extreme right groups.

The broadcast served as a good opportunity to call the Japanese people to join the international campaign for the release of the Cuban Five and their return to their home nation.