KINGSTON, Ontario—Ricardo Alarcón, the president of Cuba’s National Assembly, speaking during the closing session of “The Measure of a Revolution: Cuba, 1959-2009,” an academic conference held here May 7-9. “We will not negotiate our principles,” said Alarcón. “If the Obama administration wants us to believe that there is a change, they should free the five Cubans unjustly held in U.S. prisons.”

More than 200 participants registered for the conference, the majority from the United States. Alarcón headed a delegation of 39 Cubans.

Such a conference could not take place in the United States or Cuba because of travel restrictions imposed by Washington on U.S. citizens and Cubans.

— MICHEL DUGRÉ