Why the US Should Normalize Services at its Embassy in Havana?
- Written by Redacción ¡ahora!
- Published in Cuba
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Photo: CubadebateThe decision by the United States Department of State to make staff cuts at its Embassy in Havana indefinite, and restrict the presence of family members, is the latest chapter in a sage of unilateral measures affecting millions of Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits and putting collaborative efforts on issues of mutual interest at risk. Once again Washington is citing, as the reason for these latest measures, alleged “attacks” on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Havana, of which no evidence exists despite months of investigation by both parties.
Given this situation, Granma shares with readers 10 reasons why the United States should normalize services at both embassies:
1. MILLIONS AFFECTED
The unilateral measure taken by the State Department, above all the suspension of consular services, affect thousands of Cubans wanting to travel to the United States for various reasons, including to visit relatives, attend events, or emigrate to the country.
The steps also affect the Cuban community in the U.S. and relations with family members on the island, affecting millions of people.
Those interested in obtaining a migrant visa are now forced to request an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, get a visa to travel to that country, stay there for several days and attend the interview. All this with no guarantee of being approved and raising the cost of the process to thousands of dollars.
Cubans wanting a non-migrant visa meanwhile, can apply for one at any U.S. embassy in the world except for Havana, an expensive process given the cost of travel, which isn’t cheap.
What is more, the State Department’s decision to issue an unwarranted travel advisory against the country, classifying it as a level three of four on its travel alert system and recommending U.S. citizens “reconsider” traveling to the island, means a large percentage of U.S. citizens wanting to visit Cuba, located only 90 miles from their coasts - and where they are still legally prohibited from traveling as tourists - have also been affected.
2. CHANGES IMPLY AN EXTRA BURDEN FOR THIRD COUNTRIES
By moving migrant visa services from its Embassy in Cuba to Bogotá, Colombia, the State Department has disrupted operations at the Colombian Embassy in Havana, which previously processed just a few dozen people a day.
The Colombians have managed to stabilize and speed up the process, but the new situation is no doubt placing an extra burden on the country’s representation in the Cuban capital.
3. THE U.S. MUST GRANT NO FEWER THAN 20,000 MIGRANT VISAS A YEAR
Migration agreements signed between the two countries stipulate that the U.S. must grant no fewer than 20,000 visas a year to Cubans interested in emigrating to the country. Over recent years, progress was being made toward meeting this figure, which was neither a concession by Cuba or gift from Washington, but the result of negotiations to ensure legal and orderly migration between the two countries.
4. COLLABORATION INITIATIVES AT RISK
Following the announcement of the start of the process to reestablish diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington on December 17, 2014, over 20 agreements across different spheres, ranging from environmental protection to security issues, were signed.
However, measures taken by the State Department affecting both embassies, have put many of these agreements at risk.
Granma recently reported on the case of Darel Martínez, a specialist at Cuba’s Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), who was obliged to do extra paperwork and wait several months to begin his fellowship program in the U.S. to study CAR T-cells linked to a new cancer treatment.
But Darel isn’t the only case, other sectors have also been affected, such as sports, when seven Cuban athletes were unable to attend the Weightlifting World Championships in Anaheim, held late last year.
Meanwhile, these measures also affect U.S. specialists. Various scientists from that country who had planned to visit the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), one of the most prestigious Cuban institutions in the world, cancelled their trip following pressure from U.S. authorities.
5. CUBAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON OFFERING LIMITED SERVICES
The Cuban Embassy in Washington’s operational capacity was drastically reduced after 17 members of staff were expelled from the island’s diplomatic headquarters.
However, the remaining personnel are continuing to offer services, including consular assistance for Cuban and U.S. citizens.
6. NO EVIDENCE OF ATTACKS
Following months of investigations by Cuban and U.S. authorities, no evidence has been found of the alleged “sonic attacks” which the State Department has been using as an excuse to adopt unilateral measures.
All this, while a recent report by the FBI, cited by AP, notes that it has uncovered no evidence of the alleged “sonic attacks” on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Cuba.
Meanwhile, U.S. diplomats have testified before Congress that they still do not know the official cause or origin of the alleged incidents which supposedly affected the health of personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
7. NO EVIDENCE OF KNOWLEDGE OR INVOLVEMENT BY CUBAN GOVERNMENT
Beyond the question as to whether the supposed attacks occurred or not, with all evidence pointing to the contrary, an even more important consideration is whether Cuban authorities – with the least to gain form harming relations between the two nations - were aware of, or participated in, the incidents.
In this regard Carlos Fernández de Cossío, director general for the United States at the Cuban Foreign Ministry recently reaffirmed that “Cuba did not attack or allow attacks on diplomats from the U.S. or any other country.”
8. CUBA HAS BEEN WILLING TO COOPERATE FROM THE START
Ever since the supposed incidents were reported in February last year, Cuban authorities have handled the issue with seriousness, clarity, and professionalism.
Cuba even allowed specialists from the FBI to conduct investigations on the ground on various occasions. All of which failed to find any evidence of the supposed attacks.
9. THE REVOLUTION HAS AN IMPECCABLE RECORD
Unlike the United States, where diplomats from different nations, including Cuba, have been the victim of assassinations, attacks, and acts of aggression, the Revolution has an impeccable record when it comes to protecting diplomatic personnel in our country.
The island rigorously fulfills its obligations to 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations with regard to protecting the integrity of foreign accredited diplomats and their family members, without exception.
10. CUBA IS A SAFE, STABLE, AND HEALTHY COUNTRY
Cuba received over four million international visitors last year, including 620,000 from the U.S.
The tranquility, security, and stability of Cuba, has not only been recognized by international organizations such as the UN and other specialist tourist bodies, but also U.S. citizens themselves who highlighted their positive experiences and satisfaction with the island, in specialist polls.
Meanwhile, a bicameral delegation of U.S. legislators, who recently visited the island together with family members, stated that they felt extremely safe in the country.
Representative Jim McGovern for example, noted that the group met with U.S. students at the University of Havana during their trip.
“They feel safe,” he explained, “I have talked with business people, they feel safe. And Americans working at the Embassy here, they also feel safe,” he stated. / Taken from Granma
