Vela Valdes spoke about the countrys efforts to universalize higher education "the main topic of the congress", saying that in Cuba universities have spread beyond their traditional campuses throughout society and that more than 700,000 of Cubas 11.2 million people are currently doing their undergraduate studies.

During the opening at the Karl Marx Theater on Monday, George Haddad, director of higher education of UNESCO, said that Cuba is a reference point in terms of solidarity and has shown it belongs to the house of UNESCO, which he said is also a house of education, culture and fraternity.

US attorney Cindy OHara transmitted a message to participants from Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban Five held prisoner in the United States. Guerrero called on the universities to remain in the forefront of the struggle for a better world, saying they have a great responsibility to guide and educate the masses.

The opening gala was presided over by Ricardo Alarcon, president of the Cuban parliament; Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea, member of the Communist Party Central Committee Secretariat; Jose Ramon Fernandez and Otto Rivero, vice presidents of the Council of Ministers; and Luis Ignacio Gomez, minister of Education.

"The welfare of a country directly depends on the quality and extension of universities," said Vela Valdes.

(mathaba.net)