{"id":209286,"date":"2019-11-14T14:13:51","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T19:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=209286"},"modified":"2019-11-14T14:17:11","modified_gmt":"2019-11-14T19:17:11","slug":"fernandez-de-cossio-u-s-denies-visas-to-cuban-diplomats-and-forces-cuba-to-reciprocate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba-usa\/fernandez-de-cossio-u-s-denies-visas-to-cuban-diplomats-and-forces-cuba-to-reciprocate\/","title":{"rendered":"Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo: U.S. denies visas to Cuban diplomats and forces Cuba to \u201creciprocate\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The general director for the United States of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo, affirmed that the U.S. government \u201chas been denying visas or delaying the granting of visas for Cuban diplomatic officials\u201d at the island’s embassy in Washington, which \u201cforces Cuba to reciprocate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo said that this situation \u201cdamages the functioning of the two diplomatic missions\u201d and that it is an \u201cuntenable position.\u201d He said that \u201cit is something that is trying to be presented as an incident\u201d to seek the closing of the embassies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe United States refuses to grant Cuban officials a visa for certain responsibilities in our embassy, \u200b\u200bwhich are analogous to their responsibilities in their embassy in Havana. It is an untenable position,\u201d he said in an <\/span>interview<\/span><\/a> with the official Cubadebate<\/em> portal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe government of the United States cannot expect that, by denying certain minimum conditions to the Cuban embassy in that country, all the conditions it demands for its diplomatic mission here will be guaranteed,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, he said that his government is \u201cfully committed\u201d to the \u201cproper functioning\u201d of the respective diplomatic missions and is willing to \u201caccommodate the U.S. embassy\u2019s personnel requirements, \u200b\u200bprovided they are willing to accommodate the requirements of our embassy staff in that country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo, director for the United States of the Cuban Foreign Ministry. Photo: Otmaro Rodr\u00edguez \/ Archive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition, he explained that although the Foreign Ministry knows that \u201cthere are those who within the U.S. government, or persons with influence within it, have promoted that intention (the closing of embassies),\u201d Cuba \u201cdoes not intend to take that step.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not our intention, nor do we believe that anyone wins with it. Our people win nothing with this, nor would the people of the United States win with this. What is true, and this must be understood, is that the functioning of the embassies in the respective countries depends on the will of both parties and is based on reciprocity. Working and staff conditions must be reciprocal, although not identical,\u201d he reaffirmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The diplomat also said that the U.S. authorities responsible for the security of Cuban officials \u201care not always able to fully guarantee security\u201d and are tolerant and even accomplices of \u201cthe most aggressive anti-Cuba elements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have bitter experiences in that regard,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bruno Rodr\u00edguez: EEUU busca romper las relaciones con Cuba<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n