Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
AS opportunely announced, on February 19, 2010, a new round of migration talks took place in Havana with the United States government.
As was the case during the round held in New York, other issues were discussed during this exchange. This time, Cuba’s delegation reiterated the proposals made in July to the U.S. side, referring to cooperation in confronting drug trafficking, terrorism and human trafficking, protecting the environment and responding to natural disasters. In particular, we expressed our willingness to sign an agreement with the United States government for confronting drug trafficking, on the basis of the project recently presented by Cuba, in January 2010, via diplomatic channels.
Additionally, the Cuban delegation reiterated the essential issues to be addressed in an eventual dialogue process, aimed at improving relations: the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade; the exclusion of Cuba from the spurious list of terrorist countries; abrogation of the Cuban Adjustment Act and the "wet-foot/dry-foot policy"; compensation for economic and human damages; the return of the territory occupied by the Guantánamo naval base; the end of anti-Cuba radio and television aggression from the United States, and an end to the financing of internal subversion.
The Cuban delegation thoroughly addressed as an essential issue on that agenda the application for the liberation of the five Cuban anti-terrorists who have been suffering, for 11 years, unjust imprisonment in the United States for combating terrorism.
Contrary to the spirit of cooperation and understanding demonstrated by the Cuban side, once the migration talks were over, the U.S. delegation convened dozens of its mercenaries, even transporting them to the residence of the chief of the U.S. Interests Section, once again demonstrating that its priorities are more connected to supporting the counterrevolution and the promotion of subversion to overthrow the Cuban Revolution than to creating a conducive climate for a real solution to bilateral problems. These counterrevolutionary elements benefit from part of the $20-plus million that do not remain in Miami, and which the U.S. government annually devotes to the task of anti-Cuba destabilization and subversion.
From the day he arrived in our country, the head of the U.S. delegation was advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as to our opposition to his using his brief stay to organize a provocative event, alien to the spirit of migration talks.
With this conduct, offensive toward Cuba’s authorities and people, the U.S. government confirms that its instruments of subversive policies against Cuba continue to be in force; it demonstrates its lack of real will to improve ties with our country, and to leave behind the actions of blatant interference that historically have been the greatest obstacle to the normalization of relations between our two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the willingness expressed by the Cuban government to maintain a respectful dialogue about any issue with the United States government, as long as it is between equals, and without detriment to independence, sovereignty or self-determination. (Cubaminrex – Granma internacional)
February 20, 2010
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