Havana, June 19 (RHC) –- The General Director of the United States Division at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal, has issued a statement upon learning about the passing of the mother of U.S. citizen Alan Gross, who is serving a 15-year prison term in Cuba.

The Cuban official expressed Cuba's condolences and reiterated the island’s willingness to find a joint solution to the case of Gross and the three Cuban anti-terrorists held in U.S. prisons.

Up next, we bring you the full statement.

STATEMENT BY JOSEFINA VIDAL FERREIRO, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES DIVISION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF CUBA

We have learned about the unfortunate news of the passing of Mrs. Evelyn Gross, the mother of Alan Gross, the U.S. citizen who is serving an imprisonment sentence in Cuba. We would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to his relatives.

Given the doubts expressed by those who wonder about the reasons why Mr. Gross was not able to visit his mother, it is necessary to clarify that neither the Cuban penitentiary system nor the U.S. penitentiary system provide the possibility for inmates to travel abroad, despite the reason.

It is important to remember that when Carmen Nordelo passed away -- the mother of Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, one of the Cuban Five who is serving unjust two life terms plus fifteen-years imprisonment in the United States -- he was not allowed to travel to visit and say farewell to her.

There are other elements of a profound humanitarian nature, which would be impossible to overlook, that concur with the situation facing Gerardo and his colleagues Ramón Labañino and Antonio Guerrero. For almost sixteen years, they have been separated from their relatives, some of them of an advanced age, who entertain the hope to be able to see them back; and they have not been able to see their children grow up.

This unfortunate situation could have been avoided. We reiterate Cuba’s firm determination to find, together with the United States, a solution to the cases of Gross, Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio, that is acceptable to both sides and takes into account the humanitarian concerns of both governments and their respective relatives.

Havana, June 18, 2014.