former cuban president fidel  castro has finally met with all five of the cuban spies who were freed from a us prison as part of a deal to strengthen diplomatic ties the former intelligence officers gathered at the ex revolutionary leaders home in havana on saturday, 73 days after the last of them were released in an inmate swap it had been highly anticipated as a reunion of cuba's most  vaunted heroes, but officials are yet to explain why it took  so long to arrange historic encounter: former cuban president fidel castro, 88, finally met with all five of the cuban spies who were freed from us prison  politics: the gathering at his home in havanna came 73 days after the last of them were freed in a prisoner swap that was part of the deal to restore diplomatic relations between the us and cuba  castro wrote in an article in the daily granma newspaper about the five hour visit that appeared in official media on monday, accompanied by photos of the get together the politician goes by the title of 'historic leader' in retirement  and the five intelligence agents were recently honored as heroes  of the republic for spying on anti castro extremist groups in  the united states and withstanding prison, unjustly according to  cuba 'the five anti terrorist heroes, who never did any damage to  the united states, were trying to prevent and impede terrorist  acts against our people that, it is well known, were organized  by us intelligence services,' castro wrote jailed since 1998, the final three of the agents returned  home on december 17, when cuba and the united states completed a  prisoner swap as part of the deal in which they agreed to  restore diplomatic relations after more than five decades of  confrontation the encounter game five intelligence agents were recently honored as heroes of the republic for spying on anti castro extremist groups in the united states  the group were arrested in 1998 and convicted in 2001 for spying for cuba's government  it had been highly anticipated as a reunion of cuba's most vaunted heroes, but officials have not said why it took so long to arrange  the other two had already returned home after  completing their sentences in exchange, cuba freed a cuban man who spied for washington  and spent nearly 20 years in jail in addition, cuba freed  imprisoned american aid worker alan gross on humanitarian  grounds plus 53 people that united states considered political  prisoners fidel castro stepped down from power in 2008, handing off to  his younger brother raul, 83 fidel castro occasionally writes a  column and is seen in the official media receiving dignitaries  at his havana home, but he has not been spotted in public since  jan 8, 2014 fidel castro's current role in policy making is unknown many cubans presume raul castro consults with his brother on  major decisions, and fidel castro's long absence after the  announcement raised questions about his health and whether he  agreed with ceasing hostilities with the americans intelligence agents gerardo hernandez, 49, antonio guerrero,  56, and ramon labañino, 51, came home on dec 17 after serving  16 years in us jails two others, rene gonzalez, 58, and fernandez gonzalez, 51,  had previously returned after fulfilling their sentences the group shared stories and shook the hand of the former leader during the meeting  they showed each other books, pictures and mementos during the encounter  fidel castro has been out of the public eye for a long time, raising questions about his health and influence in the policy making process  an fbi handout shows the mugshot of the cuban five when they were arrested in 1998 gerardo hernandez, 49, antonio guerrero,56, and ramon labañino, 51, came home on december 17 two others, rene gonzalez, 58, and fernandez gonzalez, 51,had previously returned after fulfilling their sentences 
88 73 days the united states 1998 december 17 50 years castro us
former president, 88, met group 73 days after the last was freed . the five were recently honored as heroes for spying on the united states . jailed since 1998, the final three inmates returned home on december 17 . was part of a deal that saw diplomatic relations restored after 50 years . castro insist they did no damage top the us and were 'trying to impede terrorism' oversees 