Madrid, October 20 (RHC-PL) -- Politicians and academics from Cuba, the U.S. and Europe have agreed on the importance of ending Washington's blockade of the island to advance the process of normalization of Cuba-U.S. relations.

Opening the meeting called 'Dialogue on Cuba: The role of the European Union and Spain,' former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero considered the termination of the policy fair, necessary and appropriate.

The president of the Spanish government itself acknowledges the support from the island to end the violence in their country, today celebrating four years since the Basque separatist organization ETA ended its armed actions.

The Cuban ambassador to Spain, Eugenio Martinez, said that the new stage confirms that Cuba and the United States can find a modus vivendi based on respect for the sovereign equality and international law.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, chaired by Zapatero, U.S. ambassador Kris Urs also defended the need to end the blockade, regarding which, he said, the president has already addressed the U.S. Congress.

According to Urs, legislative action is required to end that policy although Obama, he said, has taken steps to alleviate some laws limiting regulations.