Excerpt from interview with Cuban National Assembly president Ricardo Alarcón, published Tuesday in the Brazilian daily O Estado do Sao Paulo.

Will Cuba fulfill its promise to free all 52 prisoners?

All will be released, without exception, in the coming weeks.

Why did Cuba free those dissidents?

There are not dissidents. They are persons charged with crimes and with working for foreign powers that want to destroy our country.

This is a crime in any country in the world, with a penalty of imprisonment and even death.

Where will the prisoners who are still in Cuba go?

We shall see. But they will be released.

Is there a possibility that some will remain in Cuba?

I find it difficult that all will stay. We are looking for a place overseas to resolve the situation. They need visas and that's what we're working on now.

Is there any similar negotiation with Brazil to receive them?

As far as I know, there is nothing.

The release was followed closely by the White House. How do you evaluate the policy of U.S. President Barack Obama with relation to Cuba?

Obama is just more of the same. He has a more measured language, a calmer style,but his foreign policy is basically the same as the one that existed before.

However, Latin America has already taken the irreversible path of struggle for its effective independence. Many challenges remain, but the region is on track.

We are living in an era of change that cannot be sabotaged.

Translated by Cuban Colada and posted by Renato Perez