The estranged daughter of the Cuban dictator has been contacted by the CNN network and has accepted their offer as exclusive contributor. Alina Fernandez was just three years old when her father started the revolution that brought him to power and she fled and exiled herself from her native country in 1993.

Fernandez ran away disguised as a Spanish tourist, along with her daughter and moved to Spain. In 2001, she went to live in Miami, where she is currently based and from where she does her 'Simplemente Alina', a radio show about Cuban politics and life in exile.

She also wrote a book, published in 1998, called 'Castro's Daughter: An Exile's Memoir of Cuba', strongly criticizing her estranged father's political ideas. Alina said that she accepted the CNN offer because the situation in her country represents a crucial point and history and as many people as possible need to be made aware of it.

'For Cuba, it's a very critical point right now', she said when asked about her opinion of her father's temporary relinquishing of power to her uncle, Raul. 'I have the conviction that the more people know about my country and its situation, the more they'll be able to help.'

Fernandez hopes that her work on CNN will make people reconsider the Cuba situation, all the while making them feel more responsible for something that also concerns them. 'It's important for me to draw the world's attention to the situation inside Cuba, as we reflect on its future. CNN is a global network, which can reach the largest population available', Fernandez added.