Almost a week after Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration, Ra\u00fal Castro had his first words for the new U.S. president, after congratulating him for his election last November. He did so at the 5th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held this Wednesday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n
In his speech at the forum, the Cuban president confirmed \u201cCuba\u2019s will to continue negotiating pending bilateral affairs with the United States based on equality, reciprocity and respect for our country\u2019s sovereignty and independence, and to continue the respectful dialogue and cooperation with the new government on issues of common interest.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a conciliatory tone, the Cuban president also said that the two nations \u201ccan cooperate and coexist in a civilized way, respecting differences and promoting all that benefits both countries and peoples,\u201d but he reaffirmed that \u201cit must not be expected that Cuba make concessions inherent to its sovereignty and independence.\u201d<\/p>\n
He insisted on the elimination of the economic blockade as a constant demand from the Cuban side in the bilateral talks begun in December 2014. This position was ratified by the CELAC member nations, who approved in Punta Cana a declaration against the embargo\/blockade.<\/p>\n
The Latin American and Caribbean countries also greeted the initiatives boosted until now for the advance in the dialogue between Cuba and the United States and asked President Trump to give back to the island the territory occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base.<\/p>\n
Regarding the new administration\u2019s ties with the region, Ra\u00fal Castro showed concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be desirable that the new U.S. government opt for respect for the region, although his having stated intentions that place at risk our interests in the spheres of commerce, for example, migration and the environment, among others, is cause for concern,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Faced by this panorama, Castro called for \u201cestablishing common action courses\u201d among the area nations and to avoid \u201ca return to neoliberalism\u201d which in his opinion would worsen the social conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean. Moreover, he reiterated his government\u2019s support for Puerto Rico\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n
The Cuban president\u2019s statements took place on the same day that Trump signed an executive directive to start building a wall along the border with Mexico and to strengthen the policy for illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n
Regarding Cuba, on the other hand, the U.S. president has not announced any measure or strategy to be followed, beyond his campaign promise to reverse Obama\u2019s decision if a \u201cbetter deal\u201d is not achieved with Havana. Neither has he said anything about the Cuban emigrants who were left stranded in Mexico and Central America after the end of the \u201cwet foot, dry foot\u201d policy.<\/p>\n
Rex Tillerson, named Secretary of State by Trump, said in his hearing before Congress that he would pressure Cuba to promote \u201cdemocratic changes\u201d on the island and that he would recommend that the president not sign any act that eliminates the embargo.<\/p>\n
However, the designation of Jewish lawyer Jason Greenblatt as international negotiator of the Trump administration and of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture opens a possibility of dialogue since in the past they have both shown to be in favor of a rapprochement to Cuba. Even so, the obstacles for the increase in bilateral relations can also come from outside the federal government.<\/p>\n
It was announced this Thursday that the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Cuba\u2019s National Ports Administration and that of Florida\u2019s Port Everglades had been suspended by the latter. The cause was the announcement by Florida Governor Rick Scott that the funds for the State\u2019s ports that have commercial relations with the island would be cut.<\/p>\n
Scott\u2019s threat took place a day after the arrival to Port Everglades of two containers with artisanal charcoal, the first legal shipment arriving in the United States from Cuba in more than 50 years.<\/p>\n
The U.S. port authorities announced that, although the memorandum would no longer be signed, the meeting between its administration and the Cuban delegation would be carried out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Almost a week after Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration, Ra\u00fal Castro had his first words for the new U.S. president, after congratulating him for his election last November. He did so at the 5th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held this Wednesday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. In his speech at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3134,"featured_media":85640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13944],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[33546,8689],"class_list":["post-85639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba-usa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n