Lima, April 10 (RHC)-- A delegation, representing Cuban civil society in alternative forums in Peru, in the framework of the 8th Summit of the Americas, issued a statement Monday, affirming that they will not tolerate provocations of any sort.

They particularly denounced attempts by groups and mercenaries with links to anti-Cuba terrorist groups and individuals in the U.S. to pass for 'presumed' representatives of Cuban civil society, a strategy which was also used during the 2015 Summit of the Americas in Panama.

In the release, the 200-strong delegation, made up of representatives of Cuban NGOs, youth, students, workers, business executives, parliamentarians, people of faith and farmers groups, assured that they are participating in the forums with a sense of responsibility and constructive spirit.

In the statement, they commended the contribution of several Peruvian nationals to Cuba's independence struggle.

“Our peoples are united also by relations of solidarity, established in difficult times, particularly in the wake of natural disasters,” read the statement. It recalled that Revolution leader Fidel Castro himself and thousands of Cubans, along with him, donated their blood to assist victims of the massive earthquake in Peru in 1970.

Cuban health professionals traveled to Peru on that occasion, and then again in 2007, in the wake of the Ica Earthquake, and in 2017, to assist victims of heavy floods in the Peruvian city of Piura.

In the statement, the representatives of Cuban civil society also expressed gratitude for the solidarity and assistance received from the Peruvian people in the wake of damage caused to Cuba by Hurricane Irma in September of 2017, as well as for the traditional support of the Peruvian people and government, at international for a, for the Cuban cause against Washington's nearly six decade-old blockade policy toward Cuba.

Speaking on behalf of the entire Cuban people, the representatives of Cuban civil society present in Peru renewed Cuba's commitment to unity and integration amongst Latin American and Caribbean nations and peoples, as dreamed of by our independence leaders.