Cienfuegos, Cuba.-The Association of International Educators (NAFSA) urged the lifting the US blockade against Cuba during a scientific event that takes place in Cienfuegos.

Marlene Marie Johnson, executive director of the organization, urged the lifting of the blockade at the 1st International Scientific Conference of the University of Cienfuegos, in which participate professors and researchers from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Spain, Greece, Mexico and Nicaragua.

The event, which will conclude next Friday, was attended by 10 Cuban universities.

A total of 143 universities in the world are cooperating with the Cuban Higher Education System thanks to the NAFSA Cuba Engagement Initiative.

This was confirmed by Johnson, who referred to the new situation of the Cuba-US relations since December, 2014, when both governments announced their willingness to restore diplomatic relations and begin the normalization process of bilateral ties.

NAFSA Cuba Engagement Initiative provides a discussion forum online and two other programs: the Cuba-US Higher Education Dialogue Project and the Educators for Cuba Campaign, Marlene Marie Johnson said.

These programs make possible for NAFSA to promote public policies that seek the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

Founded in 1948 as the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers, Nafsa adopted its current name in 1990. Its headquartered are located in Washington D.C.

Today, NAFSA is the largest non-profit association dedicated to international education. NAFSA has nearly 10,000 members and offers education opportunities to thousands of students each year.

After a meeting held last year between the NAFSA and the University of Cienfuegos, different agreements were signed with five US colleges and universities and 10 US academic delegations have traveled to Cuba.

According to the Rector of the University of Cienfuegos, Juan Bautista, this event will allow to identify the potential areas for development after increasing scientific and technical cooperation in higher education.