tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78046469185956915202024-03-13T03:04:19.649-07:00Cuba US People to People PartnershipJohn McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.comBlogger919125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-25686099112546908802024-01-10T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-11T20:17:49.368-08:00Rafael Herandez: US Impact on the Revolution<p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Us and the Americans</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">How does history serve us to understand the origins of our problems and as a tool to interpret the present?</span></b></p><p>by Rafael Hernandez January 3, 2024 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6uT3F1HlvHGv2qc9wU1xbHFbg20Zp0BBMwKUzL7Av4y8KaKnYClWNn2HxgR1QbmsjRhTeBDpj8x9EexKxUBe_KomTaeFIbBI0A7FjDWR4KCgYYE_ruHuIgIkQoZyNgqr2Xil4LPziZrdNU1tYn4iya2eH7dobwrQTkEFgegXgZAhKFXpTRIURgDNp2J-/s1080/Rafael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="876" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6uT3F1HlvHGv2qc9wU1xbHFbg20Zp0BBMwKUzL7Av4y8KaKnYClWNn2HxgR1QbmsjRhTeBDpj8x9EexKxUBe_KomTaeFIbBI0A7FjDWR4KCgYYE_ruHuIgIkQoZyNgqr2Xil4LPziZrdNU1tYn4iya2eH7dobwrQTkEFgegXgZAhKFXpTRIURgDNp2J-/w181-h223/Rafael.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br /><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Original Spanish text in On Cuba</b></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/relaciones-cuba-eeuu/</b></span></i></p><p><br /></p><p><i>I saw the men of my generation, the lares, sing in ceremonies, rejoice</i></p><p><i>when Cuba and Fidel and that year 60 were just an inferior, invertebrate animal.</i></p><p><i>And I saw them later</i></p><p><i>when Cuba and Fidel and all those things were weight and color</i></p><p><i>and the strength and beauty necessary for a young mammal.</i></p><p><i>I ran with them</i></p><p><i>and I saw them run.</i></p><p><i>And the animal was surrounded with oil, with pine stakes so that no one would know</i></p><p><i>its shiny fur, its drum.</i></p><p><i>I was with my joyful ignorance, my rage, my colored feathers</i></p><p><i>at the old bonfire festivals</i></p><p><i>Cuba yes, Yankees no</i></p><p><i>There is a noble and beautiful animal surrounded by crossbows.</i></p><p><i>On the southern border the war has begun.</i></p><p><i>The plague, the famine, on the northern border.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The speaker is Antonio Cisneros, one of the greatest Peruvian poets. It is the year 1968. Cuba was that wounded, fenced animal. This is how the Latin Americans of that time saw it. In that mirror we also saw ourselves. Latin American solidarity comforted us. But that dangerous living did not diminish, nor did the perception of threat become a habit, daily life, which permeated everything, including politics, the economy, social and family relationships, morality, and faith.</p><p>As our main living Marxist philosopher, Jorge Luis Acanda, has pointed out, Cuban socialism “was not achieved by standardizing society, nor by converting it into a monolithic and monotonous block (something impossible), but by laying, in those years, the foundations of a more plural civil society, precisely because it is more inclusive than the previous one.” To do so, it had to defend itself in a real war, and sweep away its enemies, those who had opposed this national project since the time of Martí - saccharocracy, importing bourgeoisie, lumpen, armed institutions -, and confront the hegemonic power with who were allies long before. That war did not end, as some imagine, when the rebels against the Revolution were defeated.</p><p>He had to travel that path alone because, while those formidable powers waged incessant war on him from his early childhood and managed to surround him, as Cisneros says, his only allies, the Soviet bloc and China, which did not share that project of Cuban-style socialism , they tried to subordinate him in their own way.</p><p>It is not strange, then, that in that stormy environment, isolated and trapped in a geopolitical equation that surpassed it, the political project was necessarily transformed, to the same extent that its survival made national security the main variable.</p><p>This logic dictated radical measures, such as the massive transfer of the families of the rebels and collaborators to towns in Pinar del Río and Camagüey, a special military service for those who were not reliable in the handling of "the new technique" of weapons coming from the USSR (disaffected, religious, homosexuals), the massive nationalization of 58 thousand small businesses alleging “illegality, low integration of the owners to the Revolution, antisocial living conditions, dirty businesses, theft and bribery.”</p><p>As often happens with political reason, these measures were justified ideologically: “If this Revolution can be reproached for anything, it is not at all about having been extremist but in any case about not having been radical enough. And we must not lose the opportunity or let the time pass to radicalize this Revolution more and more.” (FC, March 13, 1968).</p><p>Judging those policies as excessive or erroneous, seen from today, does not prevent us from understanding that none of them were the cause but rather the consequence of a situation created by the conflict. And explaining them without taking into account the circumstance of entrenchment, perception of threat, preeminence of security and instinct of conservation, lacks historical sense.</p><p>Why remember all this, so many years later? Well, because when talking about the origins of our current evils, many seem to ignore that past, or have forgotten it. As if the haze of yesterday turned red as what was narrated becomes remote, in the manner of those celestial bodies that move away more and more quickly from our galaxy, and that is why their light reaches us at the red wavelength, that clouds everything.</p><p>How does this history serve us, not only to understand the origins of our problems, but as a tool of analysis in the interpretation of the present? How does it relate to our current context, internal/external, especially with our relations with North and South America, with the world? Can you help us foresee what is coming?</p><p>Thinking about the present as history requires rewinding the video a little , and contrasting it with our contexts. The first thing that stands out is that Cuba stopped having, for the United States, the importance that it had during the Cold War.</p><p>In the 60s we were a threat perceived by the United States, through the lenses of the domino theory, when the ghost of “other Cubas” inspired its Latin American policy. Surrounding it by all means, except direct invasion, was the spell. As is known, that almost perfect siege, which barely left Cuba as interlocutors for the national liberation movements, rather made the prophecy self-fulfilling, being a decisive factor in the proliferation of guerrilla armies inspired by the Cuban Revolution.</p><p>Since the early 1970s, the American republics of the South realized the counterproductive effect of this siege on their security interests, and not only reestablished relations with the island, but also asked the United States to do so, starting in 1974. In fact, that Caribbean and Latin American thaw (in that order), which Cuba was quick to reciprocate, had its effect on the Carter Administration's approach to us. Do not forget that this rapprochement took place despite the fact that the Cuban-Soviet alliance was at its highest point, and thousands of Cuban troops were deployed in the southwest and the Horn of Africa.</p><p>As is known, according to declassified documents and interviews with the actors, Carter had the intention, if he had been re-elected, to continue seeking dialogue, despite the incidents in Congress about “Soviet brigades” and other nonsense, and even of the Mariel exodus.</p><p>In other words, the Latin American context was then the main driver of an understanding between Cuba and the US. And even the alliances with the USSR and with the African liberation movements kept it as a priority. Of course, in geopolitical terms.</p><p>Today's Cuba is not on the US radar as in those times, nor as in the 80s, when, under the Reagan Administration, it was identified in terms of a global threat, preceded only by the USSR. Of course not. The great paradox is, however, that the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Africa and military advisors in Nicaragua, the end of the Central American wars, and the collapse of European and Soviet socialism, by erasing Cuba from the radar of the threats from the US, did not give way to normalization, but rather threw it into the basement of its geopolitical priorities.</p><p>The paradox would have another realpolitik explanation. Why negotiate with a small country, economically and militarily dependent on allies that have vanished, involved in a multiple crisis, and with a Castro “in his final hour,” as that Miami best-seller announced?</p><p>Since the end of the USSR, more than thirty years ago, the Cuban economy has not recovered; With ups and downs, the crisis has continued. But neither the protests of July 2021, nor the massive migratory flow, nor the visibility of dissent that mobile data has fostered - although they represent political symptoms of unrest and the narrowing of consensus - have so far caused signs of ungovernability, lack of control , political destabilization.</p><p>What is the US waiting for? Wouldn't it be better for them to continue Obama's policy, the search for a dialogue that expands the surface of contact, instead of closing it? Wouldn't it be smarter to continue weaving a network of agreements that, as happens with all of these, oblige the two parties, technically, to subject their sovereignty to those freely assumed commitments?</p><p>To use a historical parallel, if instead of falling into the spiral of war, the United States and Cuba had discussed their differences, would the revolutionary process have been so dizzying and so radical? I do not mention it to imagine what could have been, as some hypothetical historians do, but to point out an angle of the problem, understood not in a rationalist way, but in a political way: that radical conflict accelerated and took everything planned further, it forced what was imagined as possible or viable, it closed the differences between the revolutionary forces, and most especially, it encouraged the search for alliances wherever they existed.</p><p>Today we repeat that everything Cuba can do to channel the conflict with the United States is insignificant, since the initiative is on Washington's side, and we remain locked in a Cold War bubble. That the future of relations is decided in the electoral campaign and the Cuban-American votes in Florida. That a Republican senator and another Democrat have the bond of those relationships in their hands, and they have tied it into a knot around the president's neck. As long as the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton is not suspended, we are on the black list of terrorist countries, and Americans cannot stay in hotels in Gaviota, there will be no signs of change worth recording. To close this iron mask, the 400 thousand Cubans who have left cultivate the same legitimate fury and resentment against the communist regime as the first exiles, so the Republican Cuban-American vote will inevitably be determined by the harshness of their candidate regarding Cuba.</p><p>As for this side, it has been said and repeated that Cuba was not as flexible and pragmatic as it could have been during Obama's short summer; while the White House made unilateral concessions.</p><p>However, at later times it could still contribute to recovering relations, especially through two key levers. The first, given the crucial weight of the Washington-Caracas-Havana triangle as an obstacle in relations, Cuba had in its hands to convince Maduro to relax with the opposition, responding to pressure from the EU and other countries in the region, as well as lowering the profile of its relations with Russia and Iran. The second, that to motivate this Administration it was advisable to release all those convicted of the actions of July 11, 2021 once and for all.</p><p>The above is premised on the fact that the laser of US policy towards Cuba is focused on one point: regime change. For economic reasons (recover the properties nationalized in 1959-68), political (reestablish the capitalist order and liberal democracy), strategic (restore the order of the inter-American system advocated in the TIAR and the OAS) and ideological (reinforce the Monroe doctrine in its version 4.0).</p><p>Our focus, to paraphrase, is to “save everything that can be saved”; that is, “preserve the conquests of the Revolution” (education, health, social security...), guide ourselves by political pragmatism (conceptually different from realism) in order to survive and grow (conceptually different from development), remember that we are an island in the Gulf similar to others, in whose normality lies our prosperity and future (as opposed to believing ourselves “unique” and “exceptional”), and whose comparative advantage lies in the vicinity of a vast natural market, which is also that of a great hegemonic power, a geopolitical condition to which we must adapt our ideas and projects to the maximum.</p><p>I do not have space in this first article of the year to discuss, in light of history, the degree of validity of all these theses (which I do not share).</p><p>I end by just noting, as in a memorandum, some points to keep in mind when we examine that key dimension that is the hemispheric, regional and global dynamics in which we move, with historical lenses.</p><p>Like that fly in Cortázar's story, which flew upside down, US policy has remained the same, while the world has changed. That wouldn't be too serious, for a fly of that size, if it weren't head down only towards Cuba.</p><p>On the other hand, we have never had, neither after nor before 1959, such a respectful, diverse and dialogic relationship, politically speaking, with the different regions and countries, taken as a whole.</p><p>Despite the kidnapping of Argentina and some other center-right governments, there are still more Latin Americans and Caribbeans close to Cuba, and some among the largest, such as Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia. Beyond that pink wave or whatever it is called, the last Summit of the Americas revealed to what extent the alignment against the US exclusion policy reached a critical point.</p><p>Beyond this closeness, the crisis of confidence in Latin American democracies has also reached an unprecedented climax. The demand for States capable of dealing with poverty, inequality, inflation, but also with human insecurity, organized crime, epidemics, inflated migratory flows, low growth rates, is multiplying. The levels of discrepancy and tension with the North have risen and have spread among those Southern American countries, small and large. The problems that afflict this Cuba are not exotic or predetermined by ideology. Curiously, they seem more common than those you may share with China and Vietnam.</p><p>Finally, in the 60s-80s, our main partners were at odds with each other; Now they seem allies. This revived alliance, although different from the one of yesteryear, reminds me of a survey from a year or so ago, with which I want to end this New Year's rant. I posted a question on Facebook: “Does getting closer to Russia and China harm a change in relations with the United States?” Or does it favor it?”</p><p>Among the 76 people who responded, almost all of them Cuban, distributed inside and outside the island, the thesis that I have noted above are reiterated. In most cases, they go beyond the simple question in my survey. I put some, just to give an idea of their color.</p><p>"It does not matter. “The US doesn’t give a damn about that.” “Ukraine and its bad relations with China show that it disadvantages them.” “In any case, there will be no conversations, due to the rudeness and stubbornness of the Cuban Government or the collective blindness of certain circles of power.” “Likewise, there will never be rapprochement due to the essence of gringo politics. So relations with countries outside gringo control are welcome.” “Nothing to see.” “USA is only a blockade. China and Russia the hope.” “Let's wake up from the American dream. Academicism leads us to dreamlike error. “We are like the Deep South for the US. It is irreconcilable with our independence.” “We demand this change, regardless of our relations with friendly countries.” “We are already allies of Russia and China, and the US considers us enemies. “It is a matter of survival.” “We cannot get out of our economic quagmire. Today the relations benefit us, as in the past with the USSR. With Russia and China they should influence the international community according to their positions. But due to geography, security and density of ties, none is more important for Cuba than with the United States.” “The fate of Cuba cannot be decided in the toilets of Congress.” “It's a matter of survival.” “The US has a policy to make the millions of Cubans more obedient. Having relations with China and Russia is better for them [Cubans].” “If they were smart, the Yankees would remove the blockade from us.” “How bad we are when we keep looking for tits to hit. Look within, to produce our milk.” “The only solution is to get up and walk. If the conditions are met, it can be negotiated later. “First you have to breathe.” “As long as we have a blockade, no one can think that Cuba should not look for alternatives.” “The USA doesn't care when it comes to their interests.” “Get closer?!!!” “It may not be possible to answer that question in the current state of the world.” “Change has never depended on Cuba. The best thing is to get closer to friends.” “Foreign policy must be a mixture of principles and interests, that of the US is pure interests; that of Cuba, no.” “When someone so close bites us, we can't turn our backs on whoever is pulling our hand.” “I have difficulties with the question.”</p><p>Those that strictly address the question offer interesting arguments. “Cuba is in the Western Hemisphere. Area of influence of Russia and China is in the Far East.” “It depends on the area of influence in which Cuba remains after the recomposition of the current world order is completed. Could Cuba have its polar loyalty on the other side of the world, being 90 miles from the US?” “[Relations with China and Russia] favor the relationship with the US for geopolitical balance.” “It helps us that [the US] sees that we are not alone.” “It favors them, because it strengthens us.” "Yeah. We must make them nervous, perhaps uncomfortable.”</p><p>There is a lot of wheat in some more elaborate answers, which I would like to thresh at another time. And many more reflections that derive from how this load of comments are aligned around realpolitik, pragmatism, values, principles and peculiar views on history, ours, that of the world of the Cold War.</p><p>I put them among my good resolutions for 2024.</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-81676349755280963132024-01-10T08:29:00.000-08:002024-01-19T15:18:07.806-08:00Carlos Alzugaray Wrestles with the Current Crisis<p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The reappearance of Raúl Castro, an unusual event</span></b></p><p>written by Carlos Alzugaray Treto January 8, 2024</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15iCZZW3zJiggm1BVqr4-45-J7dTTTB-i3Vg2I61dlKDKaEUoXPVwxbf6tgsP-pH_t9m7E7XSWK4e1MosueDYORokE0djUmRWb-ndnP9lWOB1j7wY4R614ATcBO12mDzSulgqmwf0iAr29sOJHseoAoKc4UeSdqdS_HiWmdAnoN3y_Uqbz3QKuaOc9vO1/s280/Carlos%20Alzugaray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="280" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15iCZZW3zJiggm1BVqr4-45-J7dTTTB-i3Vg2I61dlKDKaEUoXPVwxbf6tgsP-pH_t9m7E7XSWK4e1MosueDYORokE0djUmRWb-ndnP9lWOB1j7wY4R614ATcBO12mDzSulgqmwf0iAr29sOJHseoAoKc4UeSdqdS_HiWmdAnoN3y_Uqbz3QKuaOc9vO1/w205-h198/Carlos%20Alzugaray.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Original Spanish in La Joven Cuba https://jovencuba.com/reaparicion-raul-castro/</span></b></i></p><p><br /></p><p>For Cubans who, despite everything, are still seriously interested in continuing to analyze national politics, it was surprising to observe what happened in the small square of Parque Céspedes in the city of Santiago de Cuba on the night of the 1st. January 2024, in a solemn evening convened on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution. As is usual in these cases, the first secretary of the PCC and president of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, spoke with one of his usual speeches for these occasions. Under normal conditions, that would be the central discourse of the activity.</p><p>However, what was unusual was that Army General Raúl Castro spoke immediately afterwards, whom the official press regularly refers to as "leader of the Revolution." He was wearing his military uniform.</p><p>Raúl had not given a public speech of this magnitude since April 17, 2021, when he inaugurated the VIII Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. As will be remembered, that was the last party conclave that he presided over, since during this Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected as First Secretary of the Party.</p><p>Since then, it has been up to the latter to deliver this type of speech, as he did on December 20 and 22 at the closing of the VII Plenary Session of the Central Committee and at the conclusion of the last period of sessions of the National Assembly, respectively.</p><p>It was therefore an unusual event that Raúl delivered what was undoubtedly the central speech of the commemoration.</p><p>It is legitimate to assume that exceptional circumstances motivated the Cuban leader to break out of his usual official silence: the acute economic, social and political crisis that the country is experiencing and the consequent accelerated loss of credibility and political capital of the Historical Generation, headed by him, and the current one, directed by Díaz Canel.</p><p>It is also legal to assume that Raúl's main objective was to support the team of the leader chosen to head the first government of the generational transition of post-revolutionary power. And to encourage him to do everything possible to undertake what he called "the complex and unavoidable economic battle" with "productivity, order and efficiency." [1]</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Revolution and generational change</span></b></p><p>It has been known for several years that the future of Cuba depends on the success of the programs approved to produce a "prosperous and sustainable socialism." And so far that hasn't happened; On the contrary, many people have seen their living conditions reduced and there is no real possibility that the State can guarantee social well-being.</p><p>It can be said that not only its place in Cuban history, but also that of the so-called Historical Generation, depends on the success of the performance of its functions by this administration headed by Miguel Díaz-Canel. As Raúl Castro publicly recognized in 2018, when he proposed him to replace him as head of state, the current Cuban president was being trained and was selected to lead the nation in the future, by those who accompanied Raúl himself in leading the country. starting in July 2006, when Fidel Castro's unexpected resignation occurred.</p><p>It is worth remembering that the group of leaders who at one time were considered the natural heirs of the Historical Generation due to their closeness to Fidel Castro, Carlos Lage and Felipe Pérez Roque among others, were marginalized during the formal mandate of Raúl Castro, who extended between that date and 2021.</p><p>Raúl's speech was a carefully designed and written text. There is no sign in it that it was some kind of farewell statement, as some have claimed. The analysis of that text, even initial as it is, shows that it was not just any speech either. Its four main parts point to the central concerns of those who have proposed to guarantee the continuity of the political system that was forged from 1953, when the assault on the Moncada Barracks took place - a date that is understood as the beginning of the Revolution - until 1976, when the approval of the Constitution ends the period of provisionality and a new, declaredly socialist State is established.</p><p>I clarify, because I consider it necessary, that in this essay I start from the assumption that the hypothesis can be sustained that in Cuba there have been three different revolutionary processes led by three generations that at the time were the patriotic vanguard of the country: the Independence Revolution of 1868 to 1898, frustrated by the North American military intervention of 1898 to 1902; the Revolution of '33, also frustrated by North American interference—this time diplomatic and not military—supported by a pro-imperialist domestic sector; and the Cuban Revolution of 1953-1976 that overthrew the former neocolonial regime imposed by the United States and established a Socialist Republic.</p><p>There is a common thread between the three and it is the effort that the progressive patriotic vanguards have displayed in each of those historical moments to create a Republic as Martí dreamed of, with its four components: national independence, social justice, good government and self-sustaining economy.</p><p>Regarding the political process that the country has been experiencing since the second half of the 20th century, it can be stated that large majorities of citizens were able to accept without much discussion that Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro governed in the name of "The Revolution" since they were undoubtedly the ones who could assume that mantle of being the "founding fathers" of a process that, starting from the seizure of power by the revolutionary forces of that time, truly transformed the country into the general direction to which the popular masses aspired.</p><p>However, for those who succeed him in the government of Cuba, no matter how many appeals they make to "continuity", it will be much more difficult for them to be able to invoke "the Revolution" and "the revolutionaries" to legitimize their mandate. It is more appropriate to call them "the post-revolutionary generation" and describe the period in which they are exercising government as "post-revolutionary."</p><p>The different generations that live together today in Cuban society will evaluate this first post-revolutionary period as successful or not depending on whether its leaders not only manage to defend and maintain the main achievements achieved in terms of national independence and social justice between 1953 and 1976 —and that many of them remained for some time in the newly formed State—but rather that they facilitate the establishment and consolidation of an economy that can be self-sustaining and prosper without appealing to benefactor allies. To this must also be added the challenges of building a true republican social democracy based on the real participation and deliberation of citizens.</p><p>At least those are my personal aspirations to which I have the right as a citizen but also as someone who did consider himself "revolutionary" when between 1959 and 1961 he joined the process and served it to this day.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Denouncement and condemnation of the permanent hostility of the United States</span></b></p><p>The first part, in which the United States policy towards Cuba is condemned and denounced, is not much different from what President Díaz Canel has been saying. "The policy of permanent hostility and blockade of the United States Government is the main cause of the difficulties of our economy," said the historical leader.</p><p>However, it is worth pointing out two aspects. In his previous speech, in 2021, despite the fact that the Biden administration showed no signs of abandoning the cruel measures imposed by President Trump in his last term, Raúl Castro did not hesitate to offer an olive branch:</p><p>«I ratify from this Congress of the Party the will to develop a respectful dialogue and build a new type of relations with the United States, without pretending that to achieve this Cuba renounces the principles of the Revolution and Socialism, makes concessions inherent to its sovereignty and independence, give in to the defense of its ideals and the exercise of its foreign policy…” ( Central Report to the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba ).</p><p>That constructive reference was absent on this occasion. On the contrary, Raúl's words can be described as "hard" and "intransigent." But it is logical that this is the case if one takes into account the unconciliatory attitude of Biden, who has kept Cuba on the list of states that promote terrorism and other extreme sanctions by Trump.</p><p>In addition, Raúl Castro could be personally disappointed because he was the one who undertook the negotiation with Barack Obama to normalize relations in the 2013-2014 period, despite the risks that this entailed for a leader with his career at Fidel's side. It is good to recognize that this bold attitude of Cuban diplomacy during the presidency of Raúl Castro achieved something that seemed unlikely without negotiation: the release of the three anti-terrorist agents of the "Wasp Network" who were still in North American prisons, at the height of 2013.</p><p>This negotiation and its results were not without controversy, even criticism from Fidel Castro himself. [2]</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Unity is our main strategic weapon</span></b></p><p>The second part of Raúl's speech had as its common thread a phrase that he used with all purpose: "Unity is our main strategic weapon." Although it is a fairly common call in most of the political pronouncements of Cuban leaders, there were three elements that are not frequent:</p><p>He defined unity in more inclusive terms than what President Díaz Canel usually does: «In the Cuban Revolution every sincere patriot has had a place, with the only requirement of being willing to confront injustice and oppression, to work for the good of the people. and to defend their conquests.</p><p>He associated it with the acceptance of different ideas and criteria: "In that forge of action and thought our Party was forged, alien to authoritarianism and impositions, listening to and debating the different criteria and giving participation to all who are willing to join the work." .</p><p>He made a specific call for the need for the participation of armed institutions in a differentiated manner: "The unity formed by the Party, the Government, the mass organizations and all of our people, and as part of this the combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior..."</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">From the Historical Generation to the first post-revolutionary generation</span></b></p><p>The third part was dedicated to a fundamental political issue and that is the relationship between the Historical Generation and the one that currently leads the country, headed by Díaz-Canel: «I know that I express the feelings of the Historical Generation by ratifying trust in those who today occupy leadership responsibilities in our Party and Government, and in the other organizations and institutions of our society, from the highest positions to the tens of thousands of grassroots leaders who are on the front line of combat.</p><p>In his support he cited some words from Fidel Castro, spoken at the founding ceremony of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution, on December 7, 1993. With them he practically concluded his speech:</p><p>«…There are no generational contradictions in the Revolution for a simple reason: because there is no envy or desire for power among its children. None of us old fighters cling to positions or consider ourselves creditors of the country for having rendered it a service, and as long as we have strength left we will be in the position assigned to us, no matter how modest it may be. </p><p>This statement was supported by graphic testimony: on the cover of the digital edition of Granma on January 2 there appears a photo of President Díaz Canel surrounded by Raúl Castro, Ramiro Valdés and José Ramón Machado Ventura.</p><p>Another important detail highlighted in this part of the speech was the suggestion that the cadres that made up the current government had to be willing to give up their positions in certain circumstances and thus he said: "Those who, due to insufficient capacity, lack of preparation or simply because they have tired, are not up to the task demanded by the moment, they must give their place to another colleague willing to take on the task.</p><p>What is not clear is whether this appeal to the confluence between both lineages is aimed at the members of the Historical Generation who still have government or similar roles, to refrain from interfering or criticizing the current president or if, on the contrary, The call is aimed at Díaz Canel and his current government cabinet accepting a kind of supervisory role for these members of the Historical Generation. Everyone can draw their own conclusions.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The complex and unavoidable economic battle</span></b></p><p>By supporting Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, Raúl Castro once again put on the table the high priority that solving the country's economic problems must have. "As the Prime Minister, Comrade Manuel Marrero, clearly explained just a few days ago in the National Assembly of People's Power, in the complex and unavoidable economic battle it is imperative to advance in productivity, order and efficiency."</p><p>It is illustrative that he added the term "cannot be postponed" to the more common "complex" when referring to the "economic battle" and that he lists "advancing productivity, order and efficiency" as fundamental objectives.</p><p>Finally, he urged the cadres "not to be naive or triumphalist, to avoid bureaucratic responses and any manifestation of routine and insensitivity, to find realistic solutions with what we have, without dreaming that something is going to fall from the sky." In the Cuban context, the last part of this phrase is important. This type of concrete and pragmatic manifestations are not abundant among the country's leaders.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The role of armed institutions: "soul of the Revolution alongside the PCC"</span></b></p><p>The representative of the Historical Generation ended with a new mention of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, demonstrating once again the important role assigned to them:</p><p>«In this supreme endeavor, the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, faithful and sure guardians of the Revolution, will participate decisively. If yesterday the new country emerged free, beautiful, vigorous and invincible from the victorious weapons of the Rebel Army, today I can affirm that in the face of any threat or weakness its combatants will not give up continuing to be, together with the Party, the soul of the Revolution.</p><p>This reference to the fact that the armed institutes, together with the Party, constitute the "soul of the Revolution" recalls the excellent study carried out on the subject by Mario Valdés Naiva on April 21, 2021 in the pages of this magazine, precisely with the title The Soul of the Revolution , in which he analyzed the Martí origin of the phrase and its evolution since Fidel Castro used it to characterize the Rebel Army and later associated it with the Party. Raúl has preferred to follow another line, associating it with the FAR. This acquires a peculiar importance today if we take into account that, through GAESA, the Armed Forces have acquired an important influence over the economy - not exempt from questioning - which is where the fundamental battle front of the current government is located. . </p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Time Is Running Out</span></b></p><p>Those segments of the VII Plenary Session of the Central Committee and the session of the National Assembly that could be seen on National Television at the end of December underlined the seriousness of the country's situation. Finally, from the highest levels, it was recognized that "things were not going as expected", which is undoubtedly a euphemism, and although without specifying or assigning responsibilities, it was accepted that there were errors, although the details were hidden. behind a detailed description of the evils that the dense web of unilateral coercive measures that constitute the blockade that the United States has imposed on Cuba brings to the country. The latter are real. Denying them is not admissible. But neither can we ignore the weight of the errors and insufficiencies of the current government, which is also heir to other internal deformations that accumulated during its preceding years.</p><p>After an enormous political effort to develop a reform program that began in July 2007, Raúl Castro himself appealed to change structures and concepts as necessary and concluded in 2011 with the approval of the Guidelines for Updating the Model. Economic at the VI Congress of the PCC; However, paradoxically this entire program has been delayed and postponed. This even during Raúl Castro's term as president and first secretary of the PCC. I analyzed this issue in greater depth in my essay "Cuba fifty years later: continuity and political change", published by Temas magazine (No. 60, October-December 2009, pages 37-47 ).</p><p>It is obvious, although it is not stated publicly so crudely, that the government is bankrupt, and that it lacks the minimum financial resources to face the crisis. There is also a new political framework that makes governance difficult, with a set of economic actors who do seem to have the resources to build large hotels or import sumptuous products. Hence, the measures proposed by the prime minister seem extreme, which is reaffirmed by his definition that we are in a war economy.</p><p>However, from the citizenry, the government appears trapped in the habit of acting voluntarily and improvisation in critical situations that it almost never foresees.</p><p>On the other hand, more important decisions fundamentally related to the profound reform that the economic framework needs, and which were already outlined in a global manner when the Guidelines for the Update of the Model were approved in 2011, are unacceptably delayed. The most recent example of this tendency to delay what cannot be postponed is the Business Law project.</p><p>In every government there are different tendencies and the Cuban one cannot be an exception. Only, given the opaque nature of the decision-making processes in Cuba and the function of a press more focused on propaganda than on analysis and accountability, it is difficult for citizens to know why decisions are delayed. strategies and who are those who hinder them. In such circumstances it is legitimate to assume that there are conditions for internal contradictions to worsen. Hence, Raúl Castro's clear call for unity is fundamental, as is also the fact that it links it to "the unavoidable economic battle."</p><p>But time to "change everything that needs to be changed" is running out, both in real economic and political terms, and due to the simple fact that the Díaz Canel government has only four years left in its second and final term.</p><p>According to the Constitution, the president is re-electable only once. Díaz Canel already was the year he just finished. In 2028 his two terms will conclude. It will then be necessary to look for a candidate who, also as stipulated by the Constitution, cannot be older than 60 years.</p><p>Raúl Castro's speech could be designed to give President Díaz Canel the oxygen he needs to inject, without interference, a strong push into the reforms that many Cuban economists recommend and the vast majority of the people expect and demand.</p><p>Hopefully the current leaders know how to take advantage of it with the realism, will and audacity that they have not shown until now. From now until April 2028 there is not much time left.</p><p><br /></p><p>[1] All quotes from Raúl Castro's speech are taken from the version published in Granma , in its digital edition of January 2, 2024: " We are going to get out of these difficulties, as we have always done, by fighting!"</p><p>[2] Remember the reflection of the maximum leader of the Revolution on March 28, 2016 entitled " My brother Obama ."</p><p><br /></p><p>CARLOS ALZUGARAY TRETO</p><p>Ambassador and retired Full Professor, independent international analyst and essayist</p><p><br /></p><p> *******************************</p><p>16 COMMENTS</p><p><br /></p><p>ARMANDO FERNANDEZ</p><p>January 8, 2024 - 3:26 PM</p><p>Carlos, very good analysis, but I think that patches are still being put in place.</p><p>Example: The fair and long-postponed wage increase in health and education. Because they have done it before the increase in fuel prices, a measure that is also necessary but will exacerbate inflation even more. It is very likely that this very fair measure will fall “short” after the rise in inflation.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ALZUGARAY</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 3:45 PM</p><p>Thank you. Notice, I neither tried to make a value judgment nor suggested solutions. That was not the purpose. The purpose was to answer legitimate questions about why Raúl decided to make a public intervention and what was the vision he presented for the current situation. Someone told me that the article was controversial and I think that's how it should be. I'm not worried about the controversy. What is good is that leaders know that citizens are not passive assistants to the national drama. That we observe them, we listen to them and we draw our conclusions.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>IVAN</p><p>January 8, 2024 - 3:45 PM</p><p>Either you are Robin Hood, or you are Sheriff of Nottingham, you cannot be both. By raising Robin's flag you pre-establish your humanitarian work, which is what sustains it (on the part of that historic generation), but to get out of the quagmire you have, and already is, the Sheriff. The future line is drawn because this is how we live. You just have to go out into the street to see the caste created by the “royal family” and its “nobility” and the peasant subjects, workers in the constant search for subsistence and survival.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ALZUGARAY</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 3:49 PM</p><p>Ivan, your metaphor about Robin and the Sheriff is interesting. I will take it into account in the future. Regarding your other comment, I agree that the situation of the popular majorities is terrible and that this issue must be resolved. Now, having said that, what I see on the street is not a society divided in two. I see many estates. There is everything. I think that simile didn't come out well.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ARMANDO</p><p>January 8, 2024 - 4:28 PM</p><p>Raúl lives in another galaxy, or he stayed on January 1, 1959, he does not know that the young people who claim to be Fidel are lining up at the embassies to emigrate.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ARMANDO FERNANDEZ</p><p>January 8, 2024 - 6:42 PM</p><p>We both have the same name. Could you put your last name</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>MENDARO GREGORY</p><p>January 8, 2024 - 8:49 PM</p><p>I share with you the letter sent to Raúl Castro, on Monday the 1st. January 2024 at 5:35:00 am</p><p><br /></p><p>MY PERSONAL OPINION; FROM MY POINT OF VIEW – To the attention of Army General, Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz.</p><p>http://www.editorialsocial.com/raul_castro_ruz/24-01-01-opinion_personal-punto_de_vista.htm</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>JESUS</p><p>January 8, 2024 - 11:25 PM</p><p>Greetings, two economies:</p><p>one that builds hotels like the pharaohs and receives income from the super Gaviota Tourist Company and other GAESA companies and military trade.</p><p>and the other side, that of the National Bank of Cuba with the collections of medical services, tobacco and something else. And also the debts of 60 years of revolution.</p><p>To make matters worse, Minfar has its own Investment Bank that controls all that capital and maintains international collection and payment links.</p><p>Foreign investment are only creditors of tremendous debts,</p><p>never more so than that!</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ALZUGARAY</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 3:56 PM</p><p>Your hypothesis is interesting. Why don't you write an article about it and send it to LJC?</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>JOSÉ</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 7:03 AM</p><p>PROFESSOR ALZUGARAY, that you affirm in this monotonous, tiresome and long-winded article, probably the worst of the ones I have read by you, “of prosperous and sustainable socialism”, is something illusory that has never happened, and will never happen. Stop teasing us, we are neither stupid nor illiterate. A little more realism; put your feet on the ground. It seems that this article is signed by the ideologue Rogelio Polanco and not by a solvent academic who has touched the sky with a PhD. I am astonished by this Cold War Bolshevik speech.</p><p><br /></p><p>Fidel's article “MY Brother Obama” was full of hate and racism. Obama did not deserve such an insult. There were several kicks in the face during the thaw that he received from the entire Cuban government, from the executive branch to the legislative branch. But allowing Fidel to offend the first black president of the United States and the only one who has dared to reestablish relations with Cuba, was a huge mistake and clumsiness.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>MENDARO GREGORY</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 8:21 AM</p><p>Totally agree.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ALZUGARAY</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 4:00 PM</p><p>José, since he does not share his last name with us, it is difficult to answer him. I'll just tell you. You are entitled to his opinion and I am entitled to mine. You might not like mine. It is your right. But is it essential to almost disrespect me? My article is written for smart people. I do not intend to impose my criteria on anyone. But I don't like the rant. I explain the importance of why Raúl decided to speak (my opinion) and I interpret his words in light of the serious crisis that the country is experiencing. What's the problem with that?</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>MARIA</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 8:43 AM</p><p>This article is more typical of the dogmatic Granma, than of an independent and successful blog like LJC. Columns by Dr. in Economics Mauricio de Miranda, nor by the academics, also with doctorates, Ivette Garcia and Alina Lopez Hernandez, no longer appear here (unfortunately). But having the academic and former diplomat Carlos Alzugaray, an expert on issues related to the United States, weekly, gave the blog a fresh air. You may disagree with Alzugaray, but you know perfectly well the US-Cuba dispute. Another thing is when he has to give his opinion, no longer based on data, but on his sympathy with the government that on more than one occasion appointed him as a diplomat for Argentina and Canada decades ago.</p><p>I agree with Jose that in this article, Carlos Alzugaray brought out the worst of his excellent academic training. It seems that Dr. del Granma or a PCC ideologue wrote it.</p><p>A wise piece of advice to LJC, if they wish to maintain a more or less fixed audience, because what is known is that after Lissette Garcia, Alina B Lopez and Mauricio de Miranda no longer write here, a mass of readers were “shocked”: Move to the center of the political spectrum. Articles like this one, well pointed out by the extreme left, do not contribute to moderation, to a point of reference, which is the center.</p><p>I will continue reading LJC every morning, but if articles of this type continue to appear in the future, I will have no choice but to close LJC. I don't want to read anything that resembles the dogmatic and fundamentalist Granma.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>ALZUGARAY</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 4:07 PM</p><p>María, do you really believe that Granma would publish an article like this? How long has it been since you read it? Thank you for saying that my articles on Cuba-United States relations give fresh air to the blog. But that does not prevent me from applying the little I know about politics to an analysis of an aspect of Cuban politics. The colleagues you mention are very valuable and have published articles in La Joven Cuba to the extent that they have adjusted to the original editorial line. La Joven Cuba is a blog for independent Cuban political analysis and this is an independent Cuban political analysis, not an exercise in opposition political activism. Thanks for reading us. I don't write to please anyone except my conscience. But, in the spirit that unites us, accept that some may have one opinion and others another. Thank you.</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>JORGE SEVILLANO</p><p>January 9, 2024 - 11:42 PM</p><p>It seems to me that it has some interesting approaches to take into account. I don't know what Granma's criteria for what appears to be editorial or dogmatic are based on. What catches my attention, unlike the opinions I mention, is the introduction of a category that seems to me to be more European social democratic than fundamentalist in nature. I am referring to the expression that is so far from the reality when he subscribes to “the post-revolutionary generation” and describes the period in which they are exercising the government as “post-revolutionary.” Maybe this goes against editorial interests but I hope you don't censor me. Thank you</p><p><br /></p><p>REPLY</p><p><br /></p><p>HAHA75</p><p>January 10, 2024 - 5:30 AM</p><p>I really like what Professor Alzugaray writes, because thanks to the different positions he has held in countries around the world, and by virtue of what he has been able to observe and learn, he is able to analyze without staying with both feet in the wrong. darker ideology.</p><p>One thing is certain: the US must abandon its nostalgia for what Cuba was for it before the 1959 revolution and its dream of once again dominating the country through capitalism.</p><p>In short, we must let the Cubans themselves choose the direction the country should take, without external ties and using the same rules that govern international relations.</p><p>The other side of the coin would be for Cuba to abandon its nostalgia for the revolution and move forward with the development of the country.</p><p>The big question is: who should take this step first?</p><p><br /></p><p>JOSÉ</p><p>January 10, 2024 - 2:28 PM</p><p>It is a shame that Raul Castro has retired from power, because the greatest reforms that have been made since 1959 were made by him. And he has left power to a group of beginners, inept and incompetent who are throwing the country down a hole. Now Cuba has entered the club of the “NEOLIBERAL PACKAGE” that they have attacked and criticized so much in the past. Karma always returns.</p><p>In 2019, there were street disorders with deaths, injuries and thousands of arrests in Chile and Colombia, governed at that time by Sebastian Piñera and Ivan Duque, respectively. It was the ultra-left that fueled these protests, which were social in nature and price increases. In Cuba, journalists Iroel Sanchez, now deceased, and Manuel Henriquez Lagarde, supported and encouraged these protests. Now the situation in Cuba is worse than that of Colombia and Chile in 2019, because they have already emerged from the hole, and Cuba sinks into the mud with each passing day. And where is now the Journalist Lagarde who does not protest the increase in public services in Cuba, nor the “neoliberal package” that Diaz Canel and Marrero are cooking? He encourages violent protests only</p><p>when they are outside Cuba. The incoherence and indecency of these characters from the extreme and rancid left is unparalleled.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>JOHN MCAULIFF</b></p><p>January 11, 2024 - 1:35 AM</p><p>Dr. Alzugaray has written a seminal article at a time of national crisis. Is the bottom line that Raúl Castro is intervening to support necessary radical reforms that are opposed by others of his generation and his allies in the Party and the bureaucracy?</p><p>Or is this a final effort at Jesuit-style partisan moralism seeking to stave off imminent collapse?</p><p>Raúl Castro modernized, liberated and transformed the lives of Cubans by allowing the private ownership of phones and computers and the public sale of cars and houses. The guidelines seemed to offer an authentically Cuban version of Vietnam's Doi Moi (renewal).</p><p>Was the subsequent stalemate a consequence of an ideology-bound system, failed leadership, hostility between Trump and Biden, or a paralyzing fear of the United States?</p><p><br /></p><p>JESUS</p><p>January 11, 2024 - 11:57 PM</p><p>Greetings: It is called an internal block. A setback that cannot be seen, cannot be touched, but is felt. Not even during Raúl's presidency did that power diminish. Only a libertarian like the Argentine can confront the retranca. There everything is against you but in Cuba those mechanisms do not exist. I think we have to give weight to the voice of economists. A serious factor to resolve is that Minfar controls GAESA's finances and is uncontrollable. The generals have been preparing for years!</p><p><br /></p><p>MENDARO GREGORY</p><p>January 13, 2024 - 10:42 PM</p><p>THREE REASONABLE DOUBTS.</p><p>For the attention of Professor, Carlos Alzugaray Treto.</p><p>http://www.editorialsocial.com/carlos_alzugaray/24-01-13-dudas_razonables.pdf</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-67980297217193852452024-01-01T22:24:00.000-08:002024-02-29T09:57:48.977-08:00Father Felix Varela's US-Cuba Bond<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBmUARVHfEClD7IAbIdMeych_uBFj_LNfzw2nyyM9QSTTgDFV-wyv24neMcVSBZrxXNycmBO3zai2MDxRpRp_pMJIiJ6wG37TrIxYHqHX3mhu5Xbg6ZDCpQGYLiSyh0eLJ-PcjHPSAwuxetIpf6zb5cyZ-8_lwbABsO-g9Jv4jKgnO9XjnElosjr87xpb/s455/Varela%20from%20Granma.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="299" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBmUARVHfEClD7IAbIdMeych_uBFj_LNfzw2nyyM9QSTTgDFV-wyv24neMcVSBZrxXNycmBO3zai2MDxRpRp_pMJIiJ6wG37TrIxYHqHX3mhu5Xbg6ZDCpQGYLiSyh0eLJ-PcjHPSAwuxetIpf6zb5cyZ-8_lwbABsO-g9Jv4jKgnO9XjnElosjr87xpb/w195-h297/Varela%20from%20Granma.png" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father Felix Varela</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The Once
and Future Irish Link Between Cuba and the US<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by John
McAuliff<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[presented at the Conference of the Centro de Investigaciones de Política Internacional (CIPI)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, Havana, Cuba12/8/23]</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The question
might fairly be asked why in a conference about Cuba in the Foreign Policy of
the US is there a presentation on the Intersection of Cuban and Irish
Nationalism in 19</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Century New York.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The question
might also be asked why in a jammed schedule of diplomatic and political events
at the UN General Assembly, President Diaz-Canel took time to visit the Church
of the Transfiguration in Chinatown and to meet Bishop Cisneros who is
responsible for Church consideration of the beatification of Father Varela.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMExFbRid7lnAG9XPAqczdwC29b0sgycZCf9fvuGrcrUGDktFpCunf1kuxv4XiEH0MOsaaZ6iVIUM9Kqle8mZ2RPeBQVxTB1zxvyGkAMM7x0EFEQkE2kDhuqTAo9aYbzUZ-nOwoGzFlyQBOd4p5pLFLp3UA9Sv7q2kPUiANP5coScsPDZidBYtk_ATQGhf/s700/Diaz%20Canel%20&%20Cisneros.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMExFbRid7lnAG9XPAqczdwC29b0sgycZCf9fvuGrcrUGDktFpCunf1kuxv4XiEH0MOsaaZ6iVIUM9Kqle8mZ2RPeBQVxTB1zxvyGkAMM7x0EFEQkE2kDhuqTAo9aYbzUZ-nOwoGzFlyQBOd4p5pLFLp3UA9Sv7q2kPUiANP5coScsPDZidBYtk_ATQGhf/w485-h364/Diaz%20Canel%20&%20Cisneros.jpg" width="485" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:312pt;
height:161.25pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The answer
lies in the founder of the church, Father Felix Varela, and the role his exceptional
history in both countries might play in healing the wounds between them 170
years after his death.<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the first
part of the 19th century Father Felix Varela was an intellectual and spiritual
author of Cuban identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jose Marti
called him, “the man who taught us to think.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After being forced into exile by Spain, he became the advocate for the
identity of Irish immigrants in a hostile New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two generations later the city’s dominant
Irish political machine, Tammany Hall, and an Irish American sea captain,
Dynamite Johnny O’Brien, made significant contributions to Cuba’s final war of
independence from Spain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Varela’s
role in Cuba is not well known in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His role in New York is not recognized by many Cubans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once popularly celebrated in both countries,
Dynamite Johnny is largely forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both provide a positive connection that can be a foundation for greater
mutual appreciation during the long overdue process of renormalization. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Venerable
Felix Varela, A Hero of Two Nations<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
strongest Cuban Irish American link begins in St. Augustine, in the East
Florida colony of Spain, in 1790 when the orphaned Felix Varela’s maternal
grandfather was named General of its military garrison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Irish priest and vicar of East Florida,
Miguel O’ Reilly, was Varela’s inspiration and teacher, including of the Irish
language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Varela studied at San Carlos Seminary and the
University of Havana, was ordained and taught philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Known for his advocacy of self-government,
abolition of slavery and equal education of women, he was elected to the
democratic Spanish Cortes in 1821.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutist
royal rule regained power in Spain in 1823. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“In his
position as representative of Cuba in Spanish Court, he signed an invalidation
of the Spanish king and was sentenced to death as a result.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Varela found
asylum in the United States, arriving in New York Harbor on December 15, 1823.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In New York, as a Parish priest he became a
compassionate advocate for the poor, especially for Irish immigrants in whose
language he became fluent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote, “<b>I
work hard to help Irish families build schools for their children, and I tend
cholera patients, and I defend Irish American boys and girls against insults
from mobs who hate them just because their parents are immigrants</b>.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV6QVmDfGFcDKWqseIMjBlIr9xhaA6KzhQHsiPeXXrbN9GzGawS4nhu0sGhvREPnCzODX3X-33knpTEKA1sIGqcTSKsalcjgdEVPCMKX_q13Selrl32HeuW0ebIDy6zT-6pRlCqcx1fuTRDoVDOdGb1JIUu_Eg1gufu9fXNV6FNuK9KXPM5FSifFXS2jr/s360/anti%20irish%201854-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="239" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV6QVmDfGFcDKWqseIMjBlIr9xhaA6KzhQHsiPeXXrbN9GzGawS4nhu0sGhvREPnCzODX3X-33knpTEKA1sIGqcTSKsalcjgdEVPCMKX_q13Selrl32HeuW0ebIDy6zT-6pRlCqcx1fuTRDoVDOdGb1JIUu_Eg1gufu9fXNV6FNuK9KXPM5FSifFXS2jr/w264-h399/anti%20irish%201854-1.jpg" width="264" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For a time Varela
remained active in the intellectual and political life of his homeland,
publishing a magazine, El Habanero, from 1824 to 1826 in which he explicitly advocated
independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rejected the arguments
of Cubans who believed the country would fare best if annexed by a larger
country like Mexico, Colombia or the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b>"I am the first to oppose the union of the island to any
government. I should wish to see her as much of a political island as she is
such in geographical terms."</b><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Spain sent
an assassin to eliminate him in 1825.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His Irish parishioners protected his location.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Varela was
an extraordinary public intellectual, challenging the most vicious
anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant propaganda of his era, but also building
ecumenical relationships with Protestant church leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having great administrative talents, he was
named Vicar General of the New York diocese that covered all of New York State
and the northern half of New Jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also a prodigious fund-raiser, creating
two churches and their accompanying schools between 1827 and 1836.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While designed to meet the needs of the
burgeoning Irish population, they were not ethnically exclusive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second, the Church of the
Transfiguration, is still for immigrants but now mostly Chinese and at a new
location on Mott Street, with Varela’s statue by the entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbj_fqb9rLPjA5syLTdaYOxSDY2IKErpa16S5af2uYb5Q2WFALVjQgceDq9uRzK5UvnCu2s662I5Np3o_6JTkP5tNsudN2xcBJ2FCYvpyqa2uYObp9p5AQipCT14AzgiA0sFo9UofKIc0eL6jKaEamEwg0-hXX0loLldgi-rcYtetiRbW7m6XOEFZu2O-/s285/Varela%20statue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="177" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbj_fqb9rLPjA5syLTdaYOxSDY2IKErpa16S5af2uYb5Q2WFALVjQgceDq9uRzK5UvnCu2s662I5Np3o_6JTkP5tNsudN2xcBJ2FCYvpyqa2uYObp9p5AQipCT14AzgiA0sFo9UofKIc0eL6jKaEamEwg0-hXX0loLldgi-rcYtetiRbW7m6XOEFZu2O-/w292-h469/Varela%20statue.jpg" width="292" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The only
reference I could find to his engagement with the issue of Ireland itself was his
participation in New York City in a May 1, 1843 “Approbation meeting” of the
Friends of Ireland and Universal Liberty in support of publication of Thomas
Mooney's lectures on Irish history.<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their statement can be found in the
preface of “A History of Ireland: From Its First Settlement to the Present Time”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That they felt it necessary to collectively
advocate publication of the book and the tone and content of their words are similar
to voices in our time pressing for publications that reflect African American
history and perspectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Much to the
dismay of friends and political supporters in Cuba, Varela’s intellectual focus
shifted almost entirely to his responsibilities in New York and issues related
to his Irish immigrant flock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of
illness, Varela retired to his boyhood home in St. Augustine in 1848, the
height of famine caused Irish immigration to New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried to return to New York three times
but his health did not permit and he died in 1853<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Irish and
Irish American Support for Cuban Independence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Irish
emigrants and their descendents in Spain and in North America found their way
to Cuba throughout the 17<sup>th</sup>, 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup>
centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many are named in the
pioneering research of my Cuban friend Rafael Fernandez Moya, former diplomat,
retired administrator of the office of the Historian of Havana and teacher of
Irish President Higgins and myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His essay “The Irish Presence in the History
and Place Names of Cuba”, published by the Society for Irish Latin American
Studies (SILAS).<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is contained in this book for the CIPI library.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of
time constraints I am passing over the substantial history of Irish American
support for Cuba’s independence struggle from the Fenians in 1873, to Tammany
Hall’s political, meeting place and financial contribution to Jose Marti and
his successors. Captain Dynamite Johnny O’Brien whose parents migrated from
Ireland made a dozen voyages to illegally transport weapons and military
personnel for the successful independence struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tammany Hall funded one shipload, giving the
current equivalent of $873,000<i> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Johnny’s story is portrayed by the Irish
filmmaker Charlie O’Brien, available on youtube as linked in my original paper
for LASA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:258.75pt;
height:145.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMP8KNb-uOKwSz-t9xC_YVzqfw4HSRfmRXM9Iz2HeRzvDtXHF6rFNaY44h3vABhUh7VRO-azkCAc-j7xsU6qwEs_wJqPutVUnd6lc_R5eNSNJ5UjlVXO2AmA2ziufqsAgVszYCNgoIya1J5X_Z5MRdKRL3PAI_rCnp7JAaIEBxymd6bp8w2Rul9iooB1B/s1081/Dynamite%20Johnny%20poster.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1081" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMP8KNb-uOKwSz-t9xC_YVzqfw4HSRfmRXM9Iz2HeRzvDtXHF6rFNaY44h3vABhUh7VRO-azkCAc-j7xsU6qwEs_wJqPutVUnd6lc_R5eNSNJ5UjlVXO2AmA2ziufqsAgVszYCNgoIya1J5X_Z5MRdKRL3PAI_rCnp7JAaIEBxymd6bp8w2Rul9iooB1B/w292-h219/Dynamite%20Johnny%20poster.jpg" width="292" /></a></div></div><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[Omitted from verbal presentation.]<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Irish nationalist Fenians/Clan Na Gael sent James J
O'Kelly to Cuba in 1873 to report on the Ten Years’ War for the New York Herald. His
mission included potential alliance with the Cuban revolutionaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From research funded by the Society for Irish
Latin American Studies and published in its 2019 collection “Ireland & Cuba,
Entangled Histories”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[vi]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
José Antonio Quintana writes<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">During the days he spent alongside Céspedes, they reached an
agreement that would have had great mutual benefits for the causes of both
colonies, and which illustrates the journalist’s sympathy and commitment to the
island’s revolution. The Fenian’s idea was to make Ireland aware of the
militancy of the Cubans, with the help of the Irish emigrants residing in the
United States. The agreement stipulated that if he managed it successfully,
then the Cuban revolutionary government, once in power, would give O’Kelly
twenty thousand rifles and a ship to be used to carry out the subversion in
Ireland (Céspedes, 1982: 185). This project never came to fruition.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">O’Kelley’s articles and his book, “The Mambi Land<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[vii]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>,
were influential with Irish-Americans and a wider audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After returning to Ireland he became a
Parnellite MP for Roscommon North and wrote on foreign affairs for The
Independent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The paper supported Cuba’s
final independence struggle, characterizing it as “the Ireland of the West,”
and applauded the US war with Spain as a “just and holy crusade”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It openly wished that America would
intervene in Ireland as in Cuba”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
William Astor Chanler, the millionaire US brother of a board member “fitted out
a warship at his own expense; the Independent published glowing reports of his
Cuban exploits.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[viii]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7zt7iVkfl_cRi0s3QtR6aYR3gfOXpCENCtspygToJ0WQXg2SFYmjfug2mjb7PnCg14b-4C_3yRWvay41CWfkSCozNPz55-RL0LXo77h2TJ9gkyvpIJLUYapSCxiSMIkNMuD3LNJ3iXEQebb9DaL8iZYlXxV6dvrnEw-lEttduXCR73jBdlYnJXMdF-Cg/s500/OReilly%20best.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="500" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7zt7iVkfl_cRi0s3QtR6aYR3gfOXpCENCtspygToJ0WQXg2SFYmjfug2mjb7PnCg14b-4C_3yRWvay41CWfkSCozNPz55-RL0LXo77h2TJ9gkyvpIJLUYapSCxiSMIkNMuD3LNJ3iXEQebb9DaL8iZYlXxV6dvrnEw-lEttduXCR73jBdlYnJXMdF-Cg/w486-h285/OReilly%20best.jpg" width="486" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">O’Reilly Street (Havana)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Two island peoples in the same sea of struggle and hope. Cuba and Ireland”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tammany Hall and Dynamite Johnny O’Brien<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The institution through which immigrant Irish gained
political power in New York was Tammany Hall, or more precisely the General
Committee of the Democratic-Republican Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Irish role in Tammany Hall emerged in 1817 and grew during Father
Varela’s time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> “In New York, the
famine emigration of 1846-1850 established the basis of Irish domination. There
were 133,730 Irish-born citizens by the mid-century, 26 percent of the total
population.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[ix]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most arrived with little or no resources and
began their new lives in poverty. Tammany Hall provided employment, shelter,
and even sometimes citizenship<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[x]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On April 4, 1855, the New York Times reported that Chairman
H.P. Carr submitted “spicey resolutions” on Cuba to the Young Men’s
Democratic-Republican General Committee, meeting at Tammany Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They incorporated concern about “interference
of ‘a new Holy Alliance by the Monarchical Powers of Western Europe’] between a
struggling and oppressed people and their oppressors to crush the one and lend
new means of cruelty and oppression to the other.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Times reported, “The resolutions were
adopted unanimously.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[xi]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[Deeper digging could determine whether Mr. Carr or any
others on the General Committee were interested in Cuba because they were
involved with or benefited from the work of Father Varela.]<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the 1880s, Tammany Hall provided meeting spaces for Jose
Marti and others to debate, organize and celebrate their struggle for Cuba’s
independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tammany also made the
largest financial contribution from any American source in the fall of 1897,
$30,000 according to Horatio S. Rubens. the revolutionaries’ legal counsel and
$20,000 according to Captain Dynamite Johnny O’Brien.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In his memoir, "A Captain Unafraid"<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[xii]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>,
O’Brien wrote <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In their three and a half active years the Cuban delegations
in the United States expended approximately $1,500,000, practically all of
which passed through the hands of Mr. Palma. Of this amount Americans gave less
than $75,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The largest American
offering was $20,000 from Tammany Hall in the fall of 1897, at which time we
were badly in need of funds with which to purchase arms and ammunition. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Whether Horatio Rubens or O’Brien had the correct figure,
$30,000 or $20,000 was substantial, in current value <a name="_Hlk152910025">the
equivalent of $873,000 </a>or $582,000.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Potentially is this also a legacy of Father Varela’s?
Tamany’s leader Richard Croker was born in County Cork in 1843 and was brought
to the US two years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could his
parents have known or heard of Varela?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did he go to one of Varela’s schools?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Dynamite Johnny O’Brien was born in New York in 1837.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His parents immigrated from County Longford
in 1831 and lived on the lower east side [posing again the question of possible
relationship to Father Varela].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a
pilot in New York harbor before becoming a "filibuster", a smuggler
of arms. During the successful independence war, he made over a dozen
deliveries of weapons and personnel in every quadrant of Cuba's coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O'Brien evaded efforts by Spain, the US and
Pinkerton detectives to arrest, capture or kill him. He successfully
commanded what Granma<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn13" name="_ednref13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[xiii]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
has described as the sole engagement of the Mambisi navy near
Cienfuegos. O'Brien's integrity and heroism were so appreciated that
he became Havana's first port captain through a special act of the legislature
after Cuba achieved its independence. He was also forgiven his
transgressions by the US government enough to symbolically command the
resinking of the Maine outside of Cuban waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, while his role was reported in the New York Times it is not
acknowledged in US government documents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a name="_Hlk152910247">Johnny’s story was portrayed by the Irish
filmmaker Charlie O’Brien, as linked in my original paper for LASA.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be seen here </span></i><a href="https://youtu.be/E2pSwgTNwEE"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://youtu.be/E2pSwgTNwEE</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and is accounted in Charlie’s essay “The Lure of Troubled Waters”.<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_edn14" name="_ednref14" style="mso-endnote-id: edn14;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">[xiv]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqYD829FmXyUqZBaBWKm5lSowpUB7CJSFK6vYucCGenXiZo55lf0rJA_SCg4yBiMB5v-eiR4Tw05tu4aHRHA4RAZzuWFMtAVw9Tgrc5m04MdvUTBKznHy1VchqB9NRPw3y2ce9WV_QPHHpSUtAs0jcsA-k3NrgbyzNViF4hWWZ-y5EDQlUAHLCPiT2WBT/s1542/Dynamite%20Johnny%20plaque.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="1330" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqYD829FmXyUqZBaBWKm5lSowpUB7CJSFK6vYucCGenXiZo55lf0rJA_SCg4yBiMB5v-eiR4Tw05tu4aHRHA4RAZzuWFMtAVw9Tgrc5m04MdvUTBKznHy1VchqB9NRPw3y2ce9WV_QPHHpSUtAs0jcsA-k3NrgbyzNViF4hWWZ-y5EDQlUAHLCPiT2WBT/w325-h376/Dynamite%20Johnny%20plaque.jpg" width="325" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">A plaque commemorating Johnny on the wall of the original<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Customs House at the entrance of
the Plaza de Armas.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gARy47XmGXS7SgcKDaeHNPXpxLoAWg79axFbIHhFPzP4iXimk2xiT2qHTH6gVMjB4Uky9Cry_HMIrLZvhdXuVK_kgkiK3b-aSydTBteYV70FY3hvAi-PGTwE8C6Hw5siU6HXBmanBDE5qMb69JisdzafKlZtMhwyMs33CRpuQ6d-keHMlmpWiNW5ohCc/s4896/Enrique%20with%20family%20at%20plaque.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gARy47XmGXS7SgcKDaeHNPXpxLoAWg79axFbIHhFPzP4iXimk2xiT2qHTH6gVMjB4Uky9Cry_HMIrLZvhdXuVK_kgkiK3b-aSydTBteYV70FY3hvAi-PGTwE8C6Hw5siU6HXBmanBDE5qMb69JisdzafKlZtMhwyMs33CRpuQ6d-keHMlmpWiNW5ohCc/w495-h372/Enrique%20with%20family%20at%20plaque.jpg" width="495" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">Honoring the anniversary of Johnny with several of his
descendants,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>staff and students from the Provincial
Library, historian Rafael Fernandez<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moya and a song written and performed by Enrique Nunez.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a
twentieth and twenty-first century chapter to the story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the price of achieving peace and
independence Ireland had to accept the loss of the northeast portion of the
nation, most of the traditional province of Ulster. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The price for Cuba’s independence was
acceptance of the Platt Amendment.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Achieving mutual
respect between England and a sovereign Ireland took decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Irish Republic was only proclaimed in
1949, twenty-seven years after independence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Irish friends identify as the symbolic moment
of mutual respect the separate and equal entry into the European Union of both Ireland
and the United Kingdom in 1973, 51 years after independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem of reintegration of the island
remains an obstacle to the fulfillment of Ireland’s national potential and
identity although thanks to the Good Friday Agreement and the unintended
consequences of Brexit, the border is a diminishing obstacle in practice if not
in theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless Ireland today
is one of the most economically successful and politically stable members of
the European Union.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Cuba developed
as a client state of the US for the first half of the twentieth century,
compromised by direct US military intervention during the first years of
independence from Spain, exploited economically and separated from an important
part of its national territory by US occupation of the base and now prison of
Guantanamo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Politically, culturally and
economically the two countries became deeply integrated with the US as the dominant
partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Cuban
revolution of 1959 achieved political independence but it has not been able to establish
a mutually respectful autonomy from the US as Ireland eventually did from England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confronted by virtually unabating hostility
and regime change objectives from Washington and Miami, with the partial
exception of President Obama’s second term, Cuba has been constricted
economically, politically, and psychologically.<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of
my own experience with Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, it is hard to escape the
underlying reality that the missing ingredient is the sovereign respect that
the US extended to its former enemies in Indochina and that it has never given to
Cuba, recognition of their right to full self-determination, with differences
in governance and ideology, including interpretations of human rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNh7GN7LmKvzq_yT4m7kvx1z_cJclEtj_wn-Jc-Twh8dtTW8wC5-9OwsO4O-CEuscG2GKQo4z2Eua_8JZAZK0Ap3jUScQ0LOcwfMWRH5Sp5M9l_iHdqneIjJi2jkJq950XdzKFEliXsZsgMrxYHR_1lKxxfoPIeufnu-hWaphB1y84nbw1X8vBLSjXII7/s400/Eusebio%20Leal%20Padre%20Felix%20Varela.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNh7GN7LmKvzq_yT4m7kvx1z_cJclEtj_wn-Jc-Twh8dtTW8wC5-9OwsO4O-CEuscG2GKQo4z2Eua_8JZAZK0Ap3jUScQ0LOcwfMWRH5Sp5M9l_iHdqneIjJi2jkJq950XdzKFEliXsZsgMrxYHR_1lKxxfoPIeufnu-hWaphB1y84nbw1X8vBLSjXII7/w424-h282/Eusebio%20Leal%20Padre%20Felix%20Varela.jpg" width="424" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">Eusebeo Leal,
then the Historian of Habana Vieja, at the original <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>burial
site of Father Varela in St. Augustine, FL<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I will
conclude with speculation that Father Varela could reopen the door opened by Obama
and Raul Castro, closed by Trump, partially and inadequately reopened by
Biden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is rumored that Pope Francis
will come to Cuba in the New Year in connection with the beatification of
Father Varala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with previous Papel
visits, a release of prisoners who opposed the government is desired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The US ought to see significant release of
people imprisoned from the July 11 protests as a reason to return to status quo
ante Trump, to restore the Obama engagement policy including hotel use, more
general licenses for travel, permission for cruises and removal from the list
of State Sponsors of Terrorism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If the Pope
returns to Cuba in connection with Varela’s beatification, Cuba should invite
prominent Irish Americans to come to Havana to lift up Varela’s historic role
in New York as well as in Havana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
could include former Senator John Kerry who normalized relations as Secretary
of State and former Senator Chris Dodd, Biden’s Special Advisor on Latin
America, and current Senator Chris Murphy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>USAID Administrator Samantha
Powers should also be welcomed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Powers
was born in Ireland and as Obama’s ambassador to the UN eloquently announced
the historic US abstention on the resolution against the embargo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although USAID is responsible for
interventionist democracy programs in Cuba, it also provided $2,000,000 in post
hurricane assistance and fire fighter protection and has substantial
non-subversive programs in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">(This
list did not include recognized leaders who already advocate re-engagement and also
have a strong Irish identity:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>former
Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Jim McGovern.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>[This is excerpted from a longer paper presented in May 2023
for the Latin American Studies Association conference in Vancouver Vancouver
and shared at the conference of the Society for Irish Latin American Studies
(SILAS) at the University of Galway in June .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The full paper is available on line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/05/ireland-and-cuba-historical-links-and.html"><i>https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/05/ireland-and-cuba-historical-links-and.html</i></a><i>
]<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://cubanthinkers.domains.uflib.ufl.edu/felix-varela/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2076178949<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/varela-y-morales-felix-1788-1853<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>https://books.google.com/books?id=_exVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=Friends+of+Ireland+Thomas+Mooney+Felix+Varela&source=bl&ots=5StDyYXPdR&sig=ACfU3U2dbmHxPc4wD5FArAq3vcZyET8uYQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiduYiVvYf_AhW6KlkFHU4WCCcQ6AF6BAgsEAM#v=onepage&q=Friends%20of%20Ireland%20Thomas%20Mooney%20Felix%20Varela&f=false<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm">https://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Ireland & Cuba, Entangled Histories, edited by Margaret Brehony and Nuala
Finnegan, Ediciones Bolona pp 222<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>https://irlandeses.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Irlanda-y-Cuba-historias-entretejidas-030120-with-cover.pdf</p></div><div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101020878607&view=1up&seq=11<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[viii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
https://www.historyireland.com/cuba-the-ireland-of-the-west-the-irish-daily-independent-and-irish-nationalist-responses-to-the-spanish-american-war/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.grin.com/user/27220">Christiane Köppe (Author)</a>, 2005,
Irish Immigrants in New York City 1850, Munich, GRIN Verlag,
https://www.grin.com/document/109765<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[x]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a name="_Hlk135764494">https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1855/04/04/issue.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Captain_Unafraid/5JYnAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn13" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref13" name="_edn13" style="mso-endnote-id: edn13;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xiii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span style="font-size: 9pt;">http://www.granma.cu/cuba/2016-12-19/aniversario-120-del-unico-combate-naval-mambi-19-12-2016-22-12-11</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn14" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/CIPI%20paper%20with%20deletions%20and%20photos.docx#_ednref14" name="_edn14" style="mso-endnote-id: edn14;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xiv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikscxy0680qtp31lgcLw1T6Oa8sXKzmNyNGyBYw8Qs1u7lQHdiOfN_i4xqc_xzDWF2TGGrA6squ36WXnvKyw14__tTZHm26aHen0XLMbqAeAZFZBFHedI3b_z8g4Qa0J6u-vxNL6DZ8N_zZKG-5B7xmVBbhB2gPokXF_-7QIGf69z3kBJa7jXfkKkevM-0/s253/headshot%202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="131" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikscxy0680qtp31lgcLw1T6Oa8sXKzmNyNGyBYw8Qs1u7lQHdiOfN_i4xqc_xzDWF2TGGrA6squ36WXnvKyw14__tTZHm26aHen0XLMbqAeAZFZBFHedI3b_z8g4Qa0J6u-vxNL6DZ8N_zZKG-5B7xmVBbhB2gPokXF_-7QIGf69z3kBJa7jXfkKkevM-0/w89-h172/headshot%202.jpg" width="89" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Original paper presented at Latin American Studies Association in Vancouver <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/05/ireland-and-cuba-historical-links-and.html"><i><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/05/ireland-and-cuba-historical-links-and.html</span></i></a><i><u><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt;">Moya article</span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Dynamite Johnny video </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">A Captain Unafraid</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/E2pSwgTNwEE"><i><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">https://youtu.be/E2pSwgTNwEE</span></i></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 106%; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Charlie O’Brien<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The Lure of Troubled Waters”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html"><i><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html</span></i></a><i><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 106%; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Miramar Theater concert by Mick Moloney and Green Fields of America </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXtUseVO2UU</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 106%; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Gr</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">een Fields of Cuba video of performance tour in Santiago and Holguin https://youtu.be/-1FnKrBurpA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 106%; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Irish Links to Cuba tinyurl.com/irish2cuba </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 106%; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Longer summary of Irish history in Cuba http://tinyurl.com/IrishCubanHistory </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 106%; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Walking tour https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-walking-tour-of-irish-old-havana.html<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><a href="mailto:jmcauliff@gmail.com"><i><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">jmcauliff@gmail.com</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>www.ffrd.org</u></span></i></p>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39WIWwdBzpEsiiie8Nauwd0_BcyoXjobI_zsVtAIL0zYMT3LNikPVr3yF5heK1avZcznm-6kSI9MeKAfrd2ZvowIjleZUw5NM6LE_T317VOf0x-7GdGuLTpw00-uE_wkoH2FQsSftCtyKm6klfi5VK5pRMmP-kGWsNBfhtIMiDJkYmOVYbIFJcBfsMYN_/s152/flags%20for%20card.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="91" data-original-width="152" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39WIWwdBzpEsiiie8Nauwd0_BcyoXjobI_zsVtAIL0zYMT3LNikPVr3yF5heK1avZcznm-6kSI9MeKAfrd2ZvowIjleZUw5NM6LE_T317VOf0x-7GdGuLTpw00-uE_wkoH2FQsSftCtyKm6klfi5VK5pRMmP-kGWsNBfhtIMiDJkYmOVYbIFJcBfsMYN_/s1600/flags%20for%20card.gif" width="152" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">I have visited Cuba 64 times,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1<sup>st</sup> in 1971 but all the rest from 1997 after we achieved the goal of normalization with Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Thanks to CIPI and ISRI, in particular to Ambassador Cabanas who played an important role in the opening of bilateral relations</span></i></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br />John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-29681943810567983212023-10-20T09:30:00.005-07:002023-10-20T09:33:55.177-07:00Johana Tablada Opens Cuba's Door<div><header class="amp-wp-article-header" style="align-items: center; background-color: white; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Graphik Web", sans-serif; margin: 1.5em 16px 0px; place-content: stretch space-between;"><h1 class="amp-wp-title" style="color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; width: 808px;">Cuba seeks to thaw Biden administration’s cold shoulder</h1><div class="article-meta" style="color: #36383d; display: flex; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="article-meta" style="display: flex; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.026rem;"><p style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.026rem; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">BY <a href="https://thehill.com/author/rafael-bernal/" style="color: #36383d; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.026rem;" target="_top">RAFAEL BERNAL</a> <time datetime="2023-10-15T14:00:00-04:00" style="font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.026rem;">10/15/23 02:00 PM ET</time></p></div></div></header><figure class="amp-wp-article-featured-image wp-caption" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Graphik Web", sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><amp-img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-element i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined i-amphtml-built i-amphtml-layout" height="506" i-amphtml-auto-lightbox-visited="" i-amphtml-layout="intrinsic" layout="intrinsic" src="https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?w=900" srcset="https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg 1400w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=876,493 876w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" style="--loader-delay-offset: 112ms !important; display: inline-block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; position: relative;" width="900"><i-amphtml-sizer class="i-amphtml-sizer" slot="i-amphtml-svc" style="display: block; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" class="i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer" i-amphtml-auto-lightbox-visited="" role="presentation" src="data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="506px" width="900px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>" style="display: block; max-width: 100%;" /></i-amphtml-sizer><img alt="" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" decoding="async" i-amphtml-auto-lightbox-visited="" sizes="(max-width: 1904px) 840px, 100vw" src="https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?w=900" srcset="https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg 1400w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=876,493 876w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/tabladajohana_rb.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" style="border: none; display: block; height: 0px; inset: 0px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; min-width: 100%; object-fit: contain; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 0px;" /></amp-img><p class="wp-caption-text" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 18px; padding: 0.66em 10px 0.75em;">"We are open and willing for more cooperation. We want to turn this relation into a relation not of aggression, but to a relation of respect, respect, cooperation. And also I don't think it's too much to ask the U.S. what they ask of every country: The United States will not even dream and Americans will not ever dream of another country intervening in their domestic affairs," said Johana Tablada.</p></figure><div class="amp-wp-article-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Graphik Web", sans-serif; margin: 0px 16px;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Cuban officials are megaphoning their intent to open wide-ranging negotiations with the Biden administration amid persistent economic pain and growing emigration from the island.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The public relations offensive is a new tack for the communist government, frustrated with a stagnated bilateral relationship.</p><aside class="ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab" style="margin: 1.5em auto; width: 808px;"><div class="ad-unit__content" style="display: flex; justify-content: center;"><amp-ad class="i-amphtml-layout-fixed i-amphtml-layout-size-defined i-amphtml-element i-amphtml-built i-amphtml-layout" data-a4a-upgrade-type="amp-ad-network-doubleclick-impl" data-amp-experiment-id="1002,1102" data-amp-slot-index="1" data-google-query-id="CLObmLqDhYIDFVHmswodUCkOow" data-multi-size-validation="false" data-multi-size="300x250" data-slot="/5678/nx.thehill/latino" height="250" i-amphtml-layout="fixed" id="mr1_ab" json="{"targeting":{"pos":"mr1_ab","kw":"4255015-cuba-seeks-thaw-biden-administrations", "hlmeta":"4255015 cuba seeks thaw biden administrations","fold":"atf","hlmeta":"4255015 cuba seeks thaw biden administrations","pagetype":"amp","pgid":"4255015","pers_cid":"thehill-2-article-4255015","tags":""}}" rtc-config="{"vendors":{"aps":{"PUB_ID":"3410","PARAMS":{"amp":"1"}}},"urls":["https:\/\/amspbs.com\/openrtb2\/amp?tag_id=191bc7af-ccdc-4882-895b-2bdaf41eec4f","https:\/\/www.oapi26b.com\/requestProcessor\/scorefile?c=67&k=hb_deal_optimera&h=thehill.com&p=\/latino\/4255015-cuba-seeks-thaw-biden-administrations\/amp\/&d=mr1_ab"]}" style="direction: ltr; display: inline-block; height: 250px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 300px;" type="doubleclick" width="300">“We are open and willing for more cooperation. We want to turn this relation into a relation not of aggression, but to a relation of respect, respect, cooperation. And also I don’t think it’s too much to ask the U.S. what they ask of every country: The United States will not even dream and Americans will not ever dream of another country intervening in their domestic affairs,” said Johana Tablada, the Cuban Foreign Ministry’s top official in the General Division for the United States.</amp-ad></div></aside><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">In a wide-ranging interview with The Hill at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, Tablada laid out the official Cuban perspective on U.S. attitudes toward the island and why their appeals for formal talks have been met with deaf ears.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“We always say, ‘OK, let’s talk about it seriously. Let’s put everything on the table with no exception.’ But it is very clear that the limit — in our opinion — is political will and electoral politics,” said Tablada. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Cuba’s top priority is no secret: For the past three years, the island’s officials have publicly urged the Biden administration to remove the country from the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.</p><amp-iframe class="pbs-sync-pixel i-amphtml-layout-fixed i-amphtml-layout-size-defined i-amphtml-element i-amphtml-built i-amphtml-layout" frameborder="0" height="1" i-amphtml-layout="fixed" layout="fixed" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin" src="https://cdn.amspbs.com/load-cookie.html?source=amp&bidders=appnexus%2Ctriplelift%2Cix%2Crubicon%2Cyahoossp&args=account%3A99991118" style="background: none; display: inline-block; height: 1px; margin: 0px -16px 1.5em; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 11px;" width="11"><i-amphtml-scroll-container class="amp-active" style="display: block; inset: 0px; overflow: auto; position: absolute;"><iframe allow="" class="i-amphtml-fill-content" frameborder="0" name="amp_iframe0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin" src="https://cdn.amspbs.com/load-cookie.html?source=amp&bidders=appnexus%2Ctriplelift%2Cix%2Crubicon%2Cyahoossp&args=account%3A99991118#amp=1" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; display: block; height: 0px; inset: 0px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; min-width: 100%; position: absolute; width: 0px;"></iframe></i-amphtml-scroll-container></amp-iframe><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Cuba was included in the list in the waning days of the Trump administration, raising the bureaucratic and political barriers the Biden administration would have to overcome to return to the Obama administration’s policy of rapprochement.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">So far, the Biden administration has shown no willingness to open that political can of worms.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">But Cuban officials say inclusion on the list also bears political costs for the administration.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“It triggered, immediately, a disproportional flow of migrants to the U.S.,” said Tablada.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">She said including Cuba on the list also hurt the country’s social services network and is “a discredit to the commitment of the United States to fight terrorism,” given existing cooperation between Washington and Havana on law enforcement and terrorism. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The Hill has reached out to the Biden administration for comment.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">While the Trump administration’s Cuba policy was intended to reverse the Obama administration’s rapprochement, it only pulled the trigger on the terrorism list 10 days before President Biden took office.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“The inclusion of Cuba — fraudulent — in the terrorist list failed in its main object because the logic was the logic of [former Trump adviser] Mauricio Claver-Carone that the blockade is not working because it’s not perfect,” said Tablada. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“So if you twisted and twisted enough to make the economic siege and financial siege perfect, the Cuban economy will collapse.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The Cuban economy took a hit — on top of preexisting economic troubles — especially as foreign banks withdrew from the island rather than risk U.S. sanctions. The economic collapse did play a part in triggering massive protests on July 11, 2021, which Cuban officials say were allowed to take place, <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/07/five-things-you-should-know-cubas-11-july-protests/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">though international observers</a> such as Amnesty International say “authorities responded with repression and criminalization.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The degree of repression and the nature of the protests — economic, political or both — are debated, but the aftermath of economic collapse is not.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“So they failed in toppling down the Cuban government, but they were very successful and effective in harming the Cuban population. Results: More than 200,000 people emigrated from Cuba in just one year,” said Tablada. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Another factor in increased emigration from Cuba was the country’s reform two decades ago to liberalize who could get a passport in the country, essentially dropping Cold War-era restrictions on Cubans leaving the island.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“Since the 1960s the migratory issue has been highly politicized, so I think that the change occurred 20 years ago, precisely as a sign of maturity — because it was the right thing to do,” said Tablada. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“And also because I think it was a sign of the many things that we’ve been changing in Cuba for the last 20 years as part of our national debate,” she added, pointing to other popular reforms on the island, including the 2022 referendum to legalize gay marriage.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">But Cuba’s system of government has been, since 1959, a barrier for U.S. presidents — with the exception of former President Obama — to directly negotiate with the island.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">That notion frustrates Cuban officials, who note the United States carries on formal political and trade relations with other Marxist-Leninist one-party states and former Cold War rivals such as Vietnam, and even with current U.S. rivals. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“China. Because the U.S. has a better relationship with China than with Cuba. Honestly,” said Tablada.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">And from the Cuban perspective, a one-party state willing to discuss human rights, prisoners, migration and trade but not regime change would make a more suitable partner to the United States than other countries.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“[The] U.S. has political, diplomatic, economic relations with countries that are far, far, far away in their standards of human rights [from] where Cuba is right now. And I don’t want to mention any names, because we probably also have good relations with them.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“But you can easily realize that that’s not the real object. If the real object of the United States toward Cuba priority would be human rights, the blockade would be removed because it’s hurting us too badly,” added Tablada.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Though Cuban officials meet with their U.S. counterparts on a number of issues ranging from patrolling the Straits of Florida to the environment, those meetings are restricted to specific topics</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“What we have is just the [tip of the] iceberg of multilateral cooperation. This week, I visited different entities of the U.S. government or Justice Department. And I’ve met with other departments — I won’t mention which ones because I don’t want them to be subpoenaed to Congress,” said Tablada.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">She said that light touch, added to the historical distrust between the two governments, amounts to a dysfunctional relationship between close neighbors.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“U.S.-Cuba relations are completely out of control; [they] are completely far away from the national interest of the two people, and as a signal today of distinction, a huge flow of migrants and a state of denial of the United States government that does not like to accept that there is a direct link between this,” said Tablada.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">“I’m not talking about the 60 years of the embargo. I’m talking of the brand-new 200-and-something unilateral, coercive measures during Trump and Biden that trigger the highest emigration away from Cuba to the U.S., which is painful for us.”</p></div></div><div><b>https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thehill.com/latino/4255015-cuba-seeks-thaw-biden-administrations/amp/</b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cuba has ‘urgent’ need for sanctions relief, island’s diplomat tells U.S. officials </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>BY NORA GÁMEZ TORRES OCTOBER 19, 2023 6:30 AM </div><div><br /></div><div>A Cuban diplomat met with a top State Department official last week in Washington D.C., a previously unreported meeting that underscores renewed efforts by the Cuban government to seek relief from U.S. sanctions as the economic crisis in the island deepens. On Oct. 10, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Eric Jacobstein met with Johana Tablada de la Torre, a top official dealing with U.S.-Cuba relations at the Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry. According to a State Department spokesperson, the officials discussed “diplomatic facilities, consular services and irregular migration.” The spokesperson said human rights, a focal point of tension between the two governments, were also part of the agenda. Jacobstein “pressed Deputy Director Tablada for Cuba to release the approximately 1,000 unjustly detained political prisoners incarcerated and to allow Cubans to exercise their fundamental freedoms,” the State Department official said. In an interview with The Hill, Tablada said she “visited different entities of the U.S. government or Justice Department. And I’ve met with other departments — I won’t mention which ones because I don’t want them to be subpoenaed to Congress.” The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security did not reply to emails seeking information about the meetings. In interviews with U.S. outlets, Tablada said her trip had one purpose: to improve relations with the United States and persuade the Biden administration to lift sanctions that she says are affecting Cuba’s population. “Relations are not going very well,” she told CNN en Español. She said Cuban authorities were “trying to improve relations, move towards a more constructive position…and also honestly, trying to imbue our counterparts in the government, in civil society, in the United States Congress of the urgency we have to change the policy of United States towards Cuba at least in some of the aspects that are most difficult today and that have a greater impact on the lives of the citizens.” Cuba is under a long-standing U.S. trade and financial embargo, though exports of food, medicines and other supplies for the benefit of the Cuban people are authorized. Cuban officials continue to voice their frustration that President Joe Biden has kept in place sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. Those measures effectively pushed the Cuban military out of the business of remittances from abroad, a significant revenue stream for the Cuban government. In particular, they have insisted on Cuba being removed from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, which they said has further scared banks, creditors and companies from doing business with the communist island. The country is going through dire times, with shortages of food, medicines and oil and a crumbling infrastructure that cannot provide essential services. The government fought islandwide demonstrations in July 2021 with a crackdown—which Tablada denied at the time— and new legislation banning criticism of the authorities and the Communist Party. More than 400,000 Cubans have fled the deteriorating situation to come to the United States in the past two years, a historical migration wave that Tablada squarely blamed on U.S. sanctions. While sanctions have contributed to the current crisis, reducing the flow of money going to government coffers, experts also point out several other factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the slow recovery of tourism, dwindling support from Venezuela, a poorly implemented monetary reform that led to soaring inflation and, ultimately, the government’s reluctance to embrace broader market reforms to increase food production and attract foreign investment. The Biden administration has said it has facilitated sending humanitarian aid to the island and is focusing on supporting an emerging private sector that could help meet the population’s needs. Last month, U.S. officials signaled they were getting ready to announce regulations allowing Cuban private entrepreneurs to open bank accounts in the United States to facilitate their operations. But the official announcement has been inexplicably delayed. One main obstacle to better relations with Cuba remains: the fate of hundreds of peaceful anti-government protesters and dissidents who are in prison. <b>Despite repeated calls by the U.S. government, the European Union and the Vatican, Cuban authorities have signaled their unwillingness to release them unless the gesture is reciprocated by the Biden administration taking Cuba off the list of sponsors of terrorism. </b>Repeating Cuba’s main talking points on the issue, Tablada said the United States has used human rights as a justification for its harsh policies on Cuba. She was not asked about the release of the political prisoners. Cuba’s diplomatic push comes amid some changes in the U.S. policy landscape towards Latin America and the Caribbean and a broader discussion about the efficacy of sanctions. On Tuesday, the United States welcomed a deal it helped broker between the Nicolas Maduro government and the opposition in Venezuela. A State Department spokesperson told the Miami Herald that the administration is willing to consider “modifications to U.S. sanctions” if the Maduro regime takes concrete democratic reforms and meets conditions for free and fair elections in 2024. Tablada’s trip to Washington came after U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, a Cuban American, was forced to quit his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as he faces bribery charges and accusations of having acted as a foreign agent for Egypt. <b>Menendez has been a fierce advocate for maintainig the sanctions on the Cuban regime. His replacement, Sen. Ben Cardin, is perceived as being more willing to work with the Biden administration on foreign policy issues. </b>In that context, Tablada appealed to the administration’s more pragmatic approach to dealing with authoritarian governments. “[The] U.S. has political, diplomatic, economic relations with countries that are far, far, far away in their standards of human rights [from] where Cuba is right now,” she told the Hill. “And I don’t want to mention any names, because we probably also have good relations with them.” But she mentioned China “because the U.S. has a better relationship with China than with Cuba. Honestly.” </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>NORA GÁMEZ TORRES 305-376-2169 Nora Gámez Torres is the Cuba/U.S.-Latin American policy reporter for el Nuevo Herald and the Miami Herald. She studied journalism and media and communications in Havana and London. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from City, University of London. Her work has won awards by the Florida Society of News Editors and the Society for Professional Journalists.</div><div><br /></div><div>https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article280700620.html#storylink=cpy</div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-19975390912039868292023-08-08T10:33:00.003-07:002023-08-08T10:33:46.618-07:00Interview with Leonardo Padura<p> </p><header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px dotted var(--newspack-theme-color-text-main); box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; position: relative; width: 1137.59px;"><h1 class="entry-title " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: var(--newspack-theme-font-heading); hyphens: none; line-height: var(--newspack-theme-font-line-height-heading); margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: large; vertical-align: inherit;">Padura: In Cuba "we have hit rock bottom" and </span></h1><h1 class="entry-title " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: var(--newspack-theme-font-heading); hyphens: none; line-height: var(--newspack-theme-font-line-height-heading); margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: large; vertical-align: inherit;">"what is most lacking is hope"</span></h1><div style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="entry-subhead" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; font-size: 20px; justify-content: space-between; width: 1137.59px;"><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--newspack-theme-color-text-light); flex-grow: 2; font-family: var(--newspack-theme-font-heading); font-size: var(--newspack-theme-font-size-xs); margin-bottom: 0px;"><span class="author-avatar" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; 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margin: 0px 8px 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"></li></ul></div></div></div></div></header><div class="main-content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; width: 739.422px;"><figure class="post-thumbnail" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 2rem 0px 0px; width: 739.422px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 20px; height: auto;"><img alt="The writer Leonardo Padura poses during an interview with EFE in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). EFE/ Orlando Barria" class="attachment-newspack-featured-image size-newspack-featured-image wp-post-image jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-hero-candidate="1" data-lazy-loaded="1" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" height="800" loading="eager" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" src="https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efe55901da920de77cba7ca77e51349d6b69746e9c0w.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&w=370 370w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;" width="1200" /></span><figcaption style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--newspack-theme-color-text-light); font-family: var(--newspack-theme-font-heading); line-height: var(--newspack-theme-font-line-height-body); margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 739.422px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">The writer Leonardo Padura poses during an interview with EFE in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">EFE/ Orlando Barria</span></span></span></figcaption></figure><article class="post-1928905 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-entretenimiento entry" id="post-1928905" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="entry-content" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative !important;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">Santo Domingo, Jul 25 (EFE).- In Cuba "we have hit bottom", "we are experiencing one of the deepest crises" and, more than food or light, "today what is most lacking is hope," he affirms in an interview with EFE the writer Leonardo Padura, chronicler of the Cuban social reality through his work.</span></p><div class="media-content-img" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="The writer Leonardo Padura poses during an interview with EFE in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). EFE/ Orlando Barria
" class="attachment-rss-efe-singlepost-thumb size-rss-efe-singlepost-thumb jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="1928910" data-description="El escritor Leonardo Padura posa durante una entrevista con EFE en Santo Domingo (República Dominicana). EFE/ Orlando Barría
" data-image-title="Imagen-Padura: En Cuba "hemos tocado fondo" y lo que "más falta es la esperanza"" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efee51625c9e4dbf631b856347c5ffe3a9fb4ff6613w.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1920,1280" data-permalink="https://quepasamedia.com/?attachment_id=1928910" decoding="async" height="800" loading="eager" src="https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efee51625c9e4dbf631b856347c5ffe3a9fb4ff6613w.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;" width="1200" /></div><div class="code-block code-block-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-zid="AAEHCp5jjcms2sRd" height="200" layout="responsive" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="viralize" width="300"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">"It is like another crest of a long crisis (...) We have hit bottom and the worst thing is that, if at other times there was still some hope that things would improve, I believe that what is most lacking today is not the food, fuel, electricity or coffee, what is most lacking is hope," says Padura in Santo Domingo, where he is meeting to present the reprint of his book "Los rostros de la salsa" and give workshops to young people.</span></p><div class="media-content-img" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="The writer Leonardo Padura poses during an interview with EFE in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). EFE/ Orlando Barria
" class="attachment-rss-efe-singlepost-thumb size-rss-efe-singlepost-thumb jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="1928912" data-description="El escritor Leonardo Padura posa durante una entrevista con EFE en Santo Domingo (República Dominicana). EFE/ Orlando Barría
" data-image-title="Imagen-Padura: En Cuba "hemos tocado fondo" y lo que "más falta es la esperanza"" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efea0778e1af6cb819e19713d266fed2b11c189688ew.jpg?fit=1920%2C1237&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1920,1237" data-permalink="https://quepasamedia.com/?attachment_id=1928912" decoding="async" height="773" loading="eager" src="https://i0.wp.com/qpwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/07/rss-efea0778e1af6cb819e19713d266fed2b11c189688ew.jpg?fit=1200%2C773&ssl=1" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;" width="1200" /></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">A Cuba where "control and fear is an industry that does work", as was demonstrated by the repression of the 2021 protests: "It was an explosion, a scream that Cuban society gave and the only thing that happened was that the controls and the mechanisms of repression intensified, intensified (...) It has also served to let people know that if they go out into the street and break a window, they can go to jail for five, seven, ten years".</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">WRITING AROUND CENSORSHIP</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">Padura says that it is not easy to write in Cuba, but he acknowledges that his situation is very different from that of other authors. </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">His books come directly from his computer to his publishers in Barcelona, which is a "great advantage": "It guarantees me the publication and that my book will not go through any filter of Cuban institutional censorship" .</span></span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">In addition to censorship, in Cuba there is self-censorship, a "defense mechanism," in his opinion, even "more humiliating, an exercise in personal castration."</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">But the authors look for alternatives to write and publish, with strategies in the style of Carlos Saura's first cinema, "full of metaphors and symbols", or looking for publishers in Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia.</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">At this time "it is almost impossible for a normal writer to publish, unless it is a political propaganda book that has the support of some instances," says this author, who has accumulated awards such as the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature, the National of Literature of Cuba and the Order of Arts and Letters in France.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">CHRONICLE OF THE CUBAN SOCIAL REALITY</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">For many, Padura's work will serve as a newspaper library in the future to find out what the Cuban reality has been like. </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">"I have done this exercise unconsciously at first and then I have realized that it was a requirement of that literature itself, to make a kind of chronicle of contemporary Cuban life," she explains.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">But this journalist has tried to ensure that his chronicle does not have a political character so that "it does not lose the support on which it was written" if the situation changes and he has preferred to elaborate it "from the social and human point of view of the personal traumas that these situations" in Cuba.</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">"The powers try to erase from the past the moments that are inconvenient and only keep those that in some way reaffirm their position (...) That is the reality of a totalitarian system," he stresses.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">Faced with this, Padura tries to preserve social reality through his main character and protagonist of his detective series, Mario Conde: "I think that in a few years the vision of Cuba in those novels will be much closer to what that has been the reality that the Cuban newspapers have expressed".</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">OVER TIME</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">And in this period that Mario Conde goes through in the novels, from 1989 to 2016, both this character and Padura himself are not the same, "the passage of time inevitably changes people."</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;"><amp-ad data-enable-refresh="30" data-multi-size="300x250,250x250" data-slot="/21735448363,5109555/quepasamedia.com" height="280" rtc-config="{"vendors": {"prebidappnexus": {"PLACEMENT_ID": "22166181"}}, "vendors": {"prebidrubicon": {"REQUEST_ID": "402944", "ACCOUNT_ID": "24082"}}, "urls": ["https://ads.us.e-planning.net/hb/1/27fa6/ADCID/HB_AMP/ROS?dc=1&e=ATTR(300)xATTR(250)!ATTR(data-slot)&ur=HREF"], "timeoutMillis": 750}" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="doubleclick" width="336"></amp-ad></div><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">Mario Conde has evolved, "he has definitely become more pessimistic, with more aftertastes, with more intention of preserving memory."</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">Through Conde, Padura, who reveals that he has an idea for a new novel with some notes, analyzes the aging process itself, since "it is inevitable that, as time goes by and we have more of the past than the future, in some way we we become a bit conservative and more cautious, but at the same time we lose fear".</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, "serif"; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">"My mother (she is 95 years old) repeats a Spanish phrase 'For what I have left in the convent, I still shit inside'. As the years go by, one realizes that, for what remains in the convent, the same it shits inside. You have to shit on many things and I've learned that over the years," he concludes.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 32px 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, serif; vertical-align: inherit;">https://quepasamedia.com/noticias/entretenimiento/padura-en-cuba-hemos-tocado-fondo-y-lo-que-mas-falta-es-la-esperanza/</span></p></div></article></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-44873295157849661862023-06-15T13:13:00.004-07:002023-06-15T13:13:33.207-07:00Holguin Conference October 25-27, 2023<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">XVIII
Ibero-American Congress of Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">House
of Ibero-America. Holguin<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The Casa de Iberoamérica with the co-sponsorship<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the University of Holguín, convene the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">XVIII Ibero-American Congress of Thought</i>,
to be held between October 25 and 27, 2023 in the Cuban city of Holguín, with
the fundamental theme: 30th Anniversary of Foundation of the Casa de
Iberoamérica, this time in the face-to-face modality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">You can participate in the Congress
in person, in the categories of author, speaker, lecturer or observer, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">sharing their</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> experiences about the proposed topics, from articles,
conferences, pre and post congress courses, and presentations in videos and
Streaming.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The articles must be sent in Word
document format (.doc), which once selected by the Scientific Committee, will
be published in the proceedings of the event with ISBN. The topics to which
they must respond will be grouped into the following themes:</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">FORUM 1: </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Social thought, national identity and heritage </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">FORUM 2: Gender Studies</span><span lang="ES"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">FORUM 3: Cultural Groups and artistic processes</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">FORUM 4: Sociodemographic Studies in
Contemporaneity. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">FORUM 5: Culture, tourism and local
development. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">FORUM 6: Studies of the socio-educational
context.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: -28.4pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">For admission, work with a proactive
approach will be prioritized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The authors will present a digital
version of their proposals with an extension of 5 pages for the content of the
work, in Arial 12, space and a half, without cover, in systems compatible with
Windows. It is necessary that the name of the document is saved and sent with
the exact title of the work, the name of the 2 authors. On a first sheet you
must enter, only, the following information: Title of the work (whose extension
does not exceed 12 words), name of the authors with their academic or
scientific degree, institution, province or country, institutional and personal
email, and telephone numbers. All accompanied by an abstract of no more than
250 words and keywords. At the end the bibliography must appear, bounded by the
APA standard; These elements are not contemplated within the limit of 5 pages.
Two authors per paper will be admitted, each main author can send two proposals
for papers to select one of them. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The content of the work must be
adjusted to the themes of the call and in all cases contain a critical vision
of the author on the issue treated. Research designs or texts that exceed the
limit of pages or authors are not accepted. The deadline for admission will
close on August 30, 2023. Papers that do not meet the aforementioned
requirements will not be approved by the Admission Committee.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The
Organizing Committee will inform participants about the acceptance of their
proposals from September 15 to 20, 2023. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">It will
also be possible to access collateral actions such as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">workshops, pre and post-congress courses</b> that will be published in
future notices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Organizing Committee<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- Honorary President: Doctor in Historical Sciences Eduardo Torres
Cuevas, Director of the Office of the National Marti Program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">-
President of the Organizing Committee of the Ibero-American Culture Festival:
MSc. Isaíris Rojas Paris. Director Casa de Iberoamérica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>M.Sc in Cuban History and Culture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">-
President of the Organizing Committee of the Ibero-American Congress of
Thought. MSc Barbara Martinez Pupo. Sociologist. Investigator. Assistant
Professor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- Dr. C Nury Valcarcel Leyva. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Specialist
in Local Development and Gender. President of the José Manuel Guarch Delmonte
Chair. Professor at the University of Holguin. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- MSc
Amparo Berrillo. International Professor of Yoga in Everyday Life,
Representative University Extension, President Honorary Chair of Bioethics and
Assistant Professor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- Msc
Yaimara Almaguer Cardenas. Art Historian. Organizer of the Young Researchers
Award and Our Memory Congress. Professor Instructor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">-MSc
Yudania Cuza Silot. Sociologist. Specialist in Environmental Management.
Assistant Professor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- Msc
Adriana Roses Labrada. Specialist in Sociocultural Studies and History and
Culture. Assistant Professor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">CEDES<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- MSc
Marielena Grey Suárez. Cultural Laboratory Project Coordinator. Assistant
Professor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- MSc María Eugenia Brito Fitz. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Specialist
in projects and local development. Cultural Laboratory Project Coordinator.
Assistant Professor University of Holguín. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -7.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -7.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Registration fee:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- For face-to-face national delegates: 1000.00 CUP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">It gives the right to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_ Participation in all spaces in the area where the Congress takes place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_ Accreditation Module<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_Transportación to and from the Congress venue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_ Gastronomic Offer in the Congress space<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_ Publication in the Memoirs with ISBN<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_ Certification with academic credit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">_ Access to the purchase of a tourist excursion (Bariay day 28, Gibara
day 29)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The pre
and post event courses will cost 150.00 MN<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">To register, contact:</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Organizing Committee. House of
Ibero-America. Arias No. 161 between Maceo and Libertad. Telephones: (5324)
427714 and (5324) 427715. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Emails: martinezpupo@gmail.com, ycuza@uho.edu.cu<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- For foreign delegates:</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Congress
registration fee 100.00 USD, registration for pre-congress courses 50.00 USD,
managed through our official tour operator, the Paradiso Cultural Tourism
Agency by contacting Mr. Emilio Ortiz Suárez. Commercial Specialist of the
Paradiso Travel Agency. Email: </span><span lang="ES"><a href="mailto:emilio@schg.artex.cu"><span class="EnlacedeInternet"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">emilio_ortiz_suarez@schg.artex.cu</span></span></a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">This
includes the certificate of participation in the Congress and the Party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Waiting to meet your professional
expectations.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -28.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Organizing Committee. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-right: -1.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">For more information and publication, send the
works to Emails: martinezpupo@gmail.com, ycuza@uho.edu.cu<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Details<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Submission
of works with all their rules: August 30, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Notification
of acceptances: September 15, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Payment
of the registration fee: From September 15 to October 15, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">This
payment can be made to the account of the Casa de Iberoamérica:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">0669641144120211, from the transfermóvil
platform<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">For more information:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- MSc. Barbara Martinez Pupo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Email: martinezpupo@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">WhatsApp: </span></b><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(+53)
55084207</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="background: silver; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="ES" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">- Msc Yaimara Lidia Almaguer Cardenas <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Email:
yaimara.leah@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">WhatsApp: </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(+53) 58244763</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.1pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-89583397121036394332023-05-25T14:58:00.008-07:002024-02-22T08:49:13.691-08:00Ireland and Cuba: Historical Links and the US Connection<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">The Intersection of Cuban and Irish
Nationalism<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">in 19<sup>th</sup> Century New York<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">by John McAuliff for
presentation at the Latin American Studies Association, Vancouver, 5/25/23<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins visited Cuba in
2017, he spoke about the two countries special bond: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“Irish and Cuban people have in
common a proud sense of their national identity, a passion for freedom… In the
past, both of our people have shared an experience of living in the shadow of a
powerful neighbor. We are two island nations who have been marked by
colonization and that have had to wrestle their freedom from the grip of
empires,”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a theme memorialized in a plaque at the foot of
Havana’s O’Reilly Street in Spanish, English and Gaelic, said to be placed in
1998 but it is not clear by whom or why.
“Two island peoples in the same sea of struggle and hope. Cuba and
Ireland”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">My purpose in this paper is to highlight some of the intersections
between the two island countries’ parallel paths to independence during the 19<sup>th</sup>
century via the Irish emigrant population in the US. It seems a story not well known in any of
the three countries and continues into the first part of the 20<sup>th</sup>
century as both Cuba and Ireland achieved their incomplete and imperfect
sovereignty. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Early Colonial Period and US Independence<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Manuel A. Tellechea, a Cuban American from New Jersey,
summarized the important role of Irish who came
to Cuba via Spain in a <a href="http://reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com/2008/03/cubans-too-have-bit-of-blarney.html">blog
post</a> on St. Patrick’s Day, 2005: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“The largest Irish migration prior
to the Great Potato Famine of 1848 was to Spain in the 17th and 18th
centuries. The Irish, who were awarded Spanish citizenship on arriving
in Spain as persecuted Catholics, joined the Spanish army's Hibernian
regiments and became Spain's best soldiers and most famous generals. Many of
these were posted in Cuba and married into the island's aristocracy,
establishing our own great Irish-Cuban families (the O'Farrills, the O'Reillys,
the Kindelans, the Madans, the Duanys, the O'Gabans, the Coppingers and the
O'Naughtens). Four Captains General of Cuba were of Irish origin (Nicolás
Mahy; Sebastián Kindelán; Leopoldo O'Donnell and Luís Prendergast).”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Irish people served at high levels in government and in
senior military positions. The lighthouse at El Morro, the fort that
guarded Havana Bay, had been known as "O'Donnell's
Lighthouse", after the Spanish governor, a relative of Red Hugh O'Donnell.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The O'Farrill family came from Longford
via Montserrat. They rose to prominence as slave traders, importers
and sugar plantation owners. The family mansion has been restored as a
beautiful boutique hotel. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Returning to the street just cited, the person honored, General Alejandro
O’Reilly was born in 1723 in County Meath.<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> His family moved to Spain when he was a
child, part of the flight of Wild Geese from English Protestant
domination. O’Reily arrived in Cuba on 3
July 1763 as British forces were withdrawing from their conquest of Havana. In 1765 he was named governor general of
Puerto Rico. In both Cuba and Puerto
Rico he created a local militia, including blacks and mulattoes, to supplement
Spanish troops. In Cuba’s case, in later
generations they were a source of fighters for independence. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cubans played a little known part in the American revolution. Spanish forces defeated British troops from
1779 to 1781, capturing forts on the Mississippi, Mobile and cities in west
Florida. The British were defeated by a
Spanish force of 7,000 troops, 4,000 of whom came from Cuba. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"> “A Cuban field marshal, Juan Manuel de Cagigal
(who hailed from Santiago de Cuba), deployed troops to block the British escape
both by sea and by land…The British saw no other alternative than to surrender
to the Spanish, who once again secured western Florida with the aid of an army
largely composed of Cuban men that included free slaves and mulattoes among
their ranks.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Am important Irish component was Spain’s Hibernia Regiment<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
commanded by <span lang="EN" style="color: #202122; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Arturo O'Neill de
Tyrone y O'Kelly, born in Dublin, who became governor of the reclaimed colony
of West Florida from 1781 to 1792.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In 1781, the American revolution received desperately needed
funds from Cuba, thanks to the same de Cagigal who had become governor. The money came from both government and private
sources, including by legend from women who pawned their jewelry. Spain, like France, had its own strategic reasons
to aid rebels against their English enemies.
Did Cuban enthusiasm also come from identification with the first hopefully
precedent-setting struggle for independence in the Americas?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Venerable Felix Varela, A Hero of Two Nations<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The strongest Cuban Irish American link begins in St.
Augustine, in the East Florida colony, in 1790 when the orphaned Felix Varela’s
maternal grandfather was named General of its military garrison. The Irish priest and vicar of East Florida,
Miguel O’ Reilly, was Varela’s inspiration and teacher, including of the Irish
language. Varela studied at San Carlos Seminary and the
University of Havana, was ordained and taught philosophy. Known for his advocacy of self-government,
abolition of slavery and equal education of women, he was elected to the democratic
Spanish Cortes in 1821. Absolutist royal
rule regained power in Spain in 1823. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“In his position as representative of Cuba in Spanish Court,
he signed an invalidation of the Spanish king and was sentenced to death as a
result.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Varela found asylum in the United States,
arriving in New York Harbor on December 15, 1823. At first in Philadelphia, but largely in New
York, as a Parish priest he became a compassionate advocate for the poor,
especially for Irish immigrants in whose language he became fluent. He wrote, “I work hard to help Irish families
build schools for their children, and I tend cholera patients, and I defend
Irish American boys and girls against insults from mobs who hate them just
because their parents are immigrants.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For a time Varela remained active in the intellectual and
political life of his homeland, publishing a magazine, El Habanero, from 1824
to 1826 in which he explicitly advocated independence. He rejected the arguments of Cubans who
believed the country would fare best if annexed by a larger country like
Mexico, Colombia or the US. "I am
the first to oppose the union of the island to any government. I should wish to
see her as much of a political island as she is such in geographical
terms."<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[viii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Spain sent an assassin to eliminate him in 1825. His Irish parishioners protected his
location, but according to the New York Catholic publication, “One day, walking
the streets of his parish, the priest encountered the man who had been sent to
murder him. In a spirit of compassionate forgiveness, he approached the
would-be assassin and counseled him against committing a grave sin. The man
listened. Then he returned to Cuba, his mission unfulfilled”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Varela was an extraordinary public intellectual, challenging
the most vicious anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant propaganda of his era, but also
building ecumenical relationships with Protestant church leaders. Having great administrative talents, he was
named Vicar General of the New York diocese that covered all of New York State
and the northern half of New Jersey. He was also a prodigious fund-raiser, creating
two churches and accompanying schools between 1827 and 1836. While designed to meet the needs of the
burgeoning Irish population, they were not ethnically exclusive. The second, the Church of the
Transfiguration, is still an immigrant but now mostly Chinese church at a new
location on Mott Street, but with his statue by the entrance. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The only reference I could find to his engagement with the issue
of Ireland itself was his participation in New York City in a May 1, 1843 “Approbation
meeting” of the Friends of Ireland and Universal Liberty in support of
publication of Thomas Mooney's lectures on Irish history.<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[x]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Their statement can be found in the
preface of “A History of Ireland: From Its First Settlement to the Present Time”
by Thomas Mooney. That they felt it
necessary to collectively advocate publication of the book and the tone and
content of their words are reminiscent of voices in our time pressing for
publications that reflect African American history and perspectives. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“It would make an excellent school
book, which we much wanted, for it was a lamentable fact, that the youth of
this country never saw a History of Ireland, simply because there is really no
such work , complete, in existence . Even the children of Irish parents forget
the blessed and revered land of their forefathers, or learn of it only through
the vicious medium of English calumniators.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Much to the dismay of friends and political supporters in
Cuba, Varela’s intellectual focus shifted almost entirely to his responsibilities
in New York and issues related to his Irish immigrant flock. Because of illness, Varela retired to his
boyhood home in St. Augustin in 1848, the height of famine caused Irish
immigration to New York. He tried to
return to New York three times but his health did not permit and he died in
1853<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> [A topic for more
scholarly research is Varela’s long term reputation and impact with the Irish
community in New York. Among the New
York Irish was there for one or more generations any special interest or
affection for Cuba because of the role he played in their religious lives, economic
survival and education?]<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Streams
of Integration<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Irish emigrants and their descendents in Spain and in North America
found their way to Cuba throughout the 17<sup>th</sup>, 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup>
centuries. Many are named in the
pioneering research of Rafael Fernandez Moya, “The Irish Presence in the
History and Place Names of Cuba”, published by the Society for Irish Latin
American Studies (SILAS).<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn11" name="_ednref11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He tells contrasting stories of the Irish experience in the
first half of the 19<sup>th</sup> century:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“Juan O’Bourke, who was born in
Trinidad around 1826 and twenty-five years later took part in the armed
uprising of July 1826 organised by Isidoro Armenteros, collaborator of the
expansionist general Narciso López, lived in this city [Cienfuegos] from 1839.
The young revolutionary Juan O’Bourke was arrested and later condemned to ten
years in prison in Ceuta from whence he escaped and headed to the United
States….<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">In June 1855 a boy named Juan
Byrnes, whose father was Gregorio and his godmother Margarita Byrnes, was
baptised in Havana. This surname became part of the heart of the intellectual
community of Matanzas. Firstly, this happened through the educational work of
Juana Byrnes de Clayton, the first headmistress of the school for poor girls.
This school would later become the Casa de Beneficencia, founded in 1846”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He writes that the Irish who came to build Cuba’s first
railroad in the 1830s did not have an easy experience:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“The Junta de Fomento brought the
technicians, foremen, superintendents and a group of workers made up of 273 men
and 8 women from the United States under contract, among whom were English,
Irish, Scottish, North American, Dutch and German labourers. However, they were
all identified as Irish, perhaps due to the greater numbers of those of that
nationality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">While the work was being carried
out, the so-called Irish workers and Canary Islanders were subjected to hard
labour beyond their physical endurance, receiving insufficient food in return.
Nor were they assured the pay and treatment previously agreed upon. After some
weeks putting up with mistreatment and hunger the “Irish” workers and Canary
Islanders decided to demand their rights from the administration of the railway
works and when these were not adequately met, they launched the first workers’
strike recorded in the history of the island. The repression was bloody; the
Spanish governors ordered the troops to act against the disgruntled workers,
resulting in injury and death.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Other Irish coming via the US to Cuba found a smoother path.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“It has been said that the
introduction of the steam engine and other improvements in the sugar industry,
Cuba’s main economic activity in that period, was mainly the work of North
American growers who had settled on the island, particularly in the areas
surrounding Matanzas and Cárdenas, north coast districts which, according to
the opinion of the Irish writer Richard R. Madden, had more characteristics in
common with North American towns than those of Spain.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">One of the growers who had come from
the United States named Juan D. Duggan was, according to the Cuban chemist and
agronomist Alvaro Reynoso, one of the first farmers in the country to plant
sugar cane over great distances…. The introduction of the steam engine on the
sugar plantations resulted in the necessity to hire operators or machinists in
the main from the United States and England. After the administrator, the most
important job in a sugar plantation was without a doubt that of machinist, who
had to work like an engineer because, besides being responsible for all
repairs, sometimes they had to come up with real innovations in the machinery.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Irish and
Irish American Support for Cuban Independence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The democratic instincts of the American Irish confronted
the colonial attitudes of the Spanish Irish in the Cuban aristocracy:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“Some of these foreign technicians
living in the Matanzas region became involved in a legal trial, accused of
complicity with the enslaved African people’s plans for a revolt, which were
abandoned in 1844. Six of them were originally from England, Ireland and
Scotland: Enrique Elkins, Daniel Downing, Fernando Klever, Robert Hiton, Samuel
Hurrit and Thomas Betlin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">The number of people arrested later
grew and all were treated violently during interrogation. In November 1844 the
English consul Mr. Joseph Crawford informed the Governor and Captain General of
the island, Leopoldo O’Donnell, that the British subjects Joseph Leaning and
Pat O’Rourke had died after being released. The doctors who treated them
indicated that the physical and moral suffering they had endured in the prison
was the cause of death. One of the streets in Cienfuegos was given the name of
the infamous Governor of the Island, Leopoldo O’Donnell, who embarked on a
bloody campaign of repression against the Afro-Cuban population and against the
white people who supported their cause.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Charles Blakely from Charleston was Cuba’s first mulatto
dentist (Black mother, Irish-American father).
He was arrested in 1844 by Capitán General Leopoldo O´Donnell as the
Havana leader of the Escalera slave rebellion. Notorious due to the brutality of his repression,
O’Donnell was born in the Canary Islands but his grandfather emigrated to Spain
from County Mayo. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Another fatal path with a political agenda that brought Irish
Americans to Cuba were two annexationist expeditions led by the Venezuelan Narciso
López<b> </b>in 1849 and 1851.
Annexationism had both reactionary proslavery and progressive prodemocracy
constituencies in each country. But when
López arrived with his multiethnic American expeditionary forces including
Irishmen, they received very little support from Cubans and were easily
defeated by the Spanish and executed or harshly imprisoned. Ironically the failed landing by Lopez in
Cardenas, despite its annexationist goal, brought Cuba its national flag.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Moya recounts the Irish role in Cuba’s unsuccessful Ten Year
War of Independence against Spain (1868-1878):<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“From the beginning, the Cuban
Liberation Army had the support of patriots who had emigrated to or organized
outside of Cuba, mainly in the United States where they raised funds, bought
arms and munitions and recruited volunteers who enlisted to fight for the
liberation of Cuba from the Spanish yoke. Among the foreign volunteers was the
Canadian William O’Ryan.…Upon the US American general Thomas Jordan’s arrival,
who was named Chief of the High Command and later Head of the Liberation Army
in the Camagüey region, W. O’Ryan was named inspector and chief of cavalry,
before attaining the rank of general. He was sent on a mission to the United
States, from where he set out to return to Cuba at the end of October 1873. He
sailed aboard the American steamship Virginius…. The Virginius was captured by
the Spanish warship Tornado off Cuban waters and was towed into the bay of
Santiago de Cuba on 1 December. Five days later, by order of the Spanish
authorities, all the leaders of the revolutionary expedition were executed,
O’Ryan among them. On 7 December the ship’s captain, Joseph Fry, and 36 members
of the crew, were executed, causing a diplomatic and political conflict between
Spain and the United States. In honour of the independence fighter O’Ryan a
street of the Sagarra subdivision in Santiago de Cuba was given his name.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Fenians/Clan Na Gael sent James J O'Kelly to Cuba in
1873 to report on the Ten Years’ War for the New York Herald, owned by a
Catholic Scottish nationalist. His mission included potential alliance
with the Cuban revolutionaries. From
research funded by the Society for Irish Latin American Studies and published
in its 2019 collection “Ireland & Cuba, Entangled Histories”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn12" name="_ednref12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
José Antonio Quintana writes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">During the days he spent alongside
Céspedes, they reached an agreement that would have had great mutual benefits
for the causes of both colonies, and which illustrates the journalist’s
sympathy and commitment to the island’s revolution. The Fenian’s idea was to
make Ireland aware of the militancy of the Cubans, with the help of the Irish
emigrants residing in the United States. The agreement stipulated that if he
managed it successfully, then the Cuban revolutionary government, once in
power, would give O’Kelly twenty thousand rifles and a ship to be used to carry
out the subversion in Ireland (Céspedes, 1982: 185). This project never came to
fruition.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">O’Kelley’s articles and his book, The Mambi Land<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn13" name="_ednref13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xiii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
were influential with Irish-Americans and a wider audience. After returning to Ireland he became a Parnellite
MP for Roscommon North and wrote on foreign affairs for The Independent. The paper supported Cuba’s final independence
struggle, characterizing it as “the Ireland of the West,” and applauded the US
war with Spain as a<span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #555555; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>“just and holy
crusade”. “It openly wished that America
would intervene in Ireland as in Cuba”. When William Astor Chanler, the millionaire US
brother of a board member “fitted out a warship at his own expense; the
Independent published glowing reports of his Cuban exploits.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn14" name="_ednref14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xiv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Tammany
Hall and Dynamite Johnny O’Brien<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The institution through which immigrant Irish gained
political power in New York was Tammany Hall, or more precisely the General
Committee of the Democratic-Republican Party.
The Irish role in Tammany Hall emerged in 1817 and grew during Felix Varela’s
time. “In New York, the famine
emigration of 1846-1850 established the basis of Irish domination. There were
133,730 Irish-born citizens by the mid-century, 26 percent of the total
population.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn15" name="_ednref15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Most arrived with little or no resources and
began their new lives in poverty. Tammany Hall provided employment, shelter,
and even sometimes citizenship<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn16" name="_ednref16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xvi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On April 4, 1855, the New York Times reported that Chairman H.P.
Carr submitted “spicey resolutions” on Cuba to the Young Men’s Democratic-Republican
General Committee, meeting at Tammany Hall.
They incorporated concern about “interference of ‘a new Holy Alliance by
the Monarchical Powers of Western Europe’] between a struggling and oppressed
people and their oppressors to crush the one and lend new means of cruelty and
oppression to the other.” Citing the
authority of the Monroe Doctrine, Carr “advocated the necessity of having a
guarantee…that there would be no more insults to the American flag by the authorities
of Spain.” The Times reported, “The
resolutions were adopted unanimously.” <a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn17" name="_ednref17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xvii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>[Deeper digging could determine whether Mr. Carr or any
others on the General Committee were interested in Cuba because they were involved
with or benefited from the work of Father Varela.]<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the 1880s, Tammany Hall provided meeting spaces for Jose
Marti and others to debate, organize and celebrate their struggle for Cuba’s independence. Tammany also made the largest financial contribution
from any American source in the fall of 1897. Horatio S. Rubens who served as legal counsel
for the revolutionaries, wrote in his memoir “Liberty, the Story of Cuba”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“William Astor Chanler [the brother
of the board member of the Independent] had a preliminary conference with the
then Sachem, Richard Croker, and subsequently, when I called on him, he asked
me how much I wanted, adding that the recent election had left an unexpended
sum in the treasury. I replied that whatever balance there was would do.
Croker, an impassive man, just stared at me, doubtless because the sum, as I
heard later, was nearly $80,000….<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Croker having prepared for the
[subsequent] meeting, a district leader quickly proposed that, out of the
unexpended campaign funds, $30,000 be donated to “ the sick and wounded
Cubans.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In his memoir, "A Captain Unafraid"<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn18" name="_ednref18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xviii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
Dynamite Johnny O’Brien has this additional observation: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">In their three and a half active
years the Cuban delegations in the United States expended approximately $1,500,000,
practically all of which passed through the hands of Mr. Palma. Of this amount
Americans gave less than $75,000. The
largest American offering was $20,000 from Tammany Hall in the fall of 1897, at
which time we were badly in need of funds with which to purchase arms and
ammunition. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Cuba Libre was being talked of with
such encouraging enthusiasm that it threatened to become a political issue, and
shrewd old Dick Croker, the boss of Tammany, concluded it would be the part of
wisdom to extend substantial as well as sentimental aid. He sent word to the
delegation, through one of our friends, that Tammany had a little balance"
left over from the last election, and that if some of the Cuban chiefs would
attend the next meeting of the executive committee it would be turned over to
them. But for Heavens sake, was his parting message. don't let them do any
talking. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Accordingly Mr. Palma, Dr.
Castillo, General Nuses, and one or two others put on their best black clothes
and attended the following meeting of the committee. They sat around with long
faces, but spoke never a word. Mr. Croker reported the unexpended balance, and
on his motion it was donated to the Cubans for the aid of the sick and wounded,
which was the stereotyped form for all such gifts.<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn19" name="_ednref19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Whether Rubens or Obrien had the correct figure, the amount
was substantial, in current value the equivalent of $582,000 or $873,000.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Potentially is this also a legacy of Father Varela’s? Croker
was born in County Cork in 1843 and was brought to the US two years later. Could his parents have known Varela? Did he go to one of Varela’s schools?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">O’Brien may have the correct explanation but Terry Golway
who wrote “Machine Made, Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American
Politics”, documents that both Coker and another leader, Congressman William
Bourke Cockran were anti-imperialist based on their experience with the English. Cockran who was born in County Sligo in
1854 was a mentor and inspiration of Winston Churchill and served as Grand Sachem
of Tammany from 1905 to 1908. In 1899,
he, “protested American expansion in Cuba and the Philippines at an
anti-imperialism rally in Manhattan’s Academy of Music.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn20" name="_ednref20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xx]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Harry Boland told an Irish reporter in 1921, “Between you
and me, Tammany Hall has given more aid to the [rebel] cause than any other
single body.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn21" name="_ednref21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dynamite Johnny O’Brien was born in New York in 1837. His parents immigrated from County Longford in
1831 and lived on the lower east side [posing again the question of possible
relationship to Father Varela]. He was a
pilot in New York harbor before becoming a "filibuster", a smuggler
of arms. During the successful independence war, he made over a dozen
deliveries of weapons and personnel in every quadrant of Cuba's coast. O'Brien evaded efforts by Spain, the US and
Pinkerton detectives to arrest, capture or kill him. He successfully
commanded what Granma<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn22" name="_ednref22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
has described as the sole engagement of the Mambisi navy near
Cienfuegos. O'Brien's integrity and heroism were so appreciated that
he became Havana's first port captain after Cuba achieved its independence
through a special act of the legislature. He was also forgiven his
transgressions by the US government enough to symbolically command the
resinking of the Maine outside of Cuban waters.
His role was reported in the New York Times but not acknowledged in US
government documents. Johnny’s story was documented by the Irish
filmmaker Charlie O’Brien. It can be
seen here <a href="https://youtu.be/E2pSwgTNwEE">https://youtu.be/E2pSwgTNwEE</a>
and is accounted in Charlie’s essay “The
Lure of Troubled Waters”.<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn23" name="_ednref23" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxiii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Cuban
Roots of Eamon De Valera<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">I will finish with the controversial report of an unintended
but significant contribution of Cuba to Irish history. The grandfather of Ireland’s
independence leader and President Eamon de Valera was Cuban, active in the
sugar trade in Matanzas Province. Juan Manuel de Valera
reportedly sent his son Juan Vivian, an aspiring sculptor and music teacher,
to New York to avoid the Spanish draft. Vivian married Katherine
Coll from Bruree, County Limerick. Their son Eamon de Valera
was born in 1882 and sent to Ireland to live with his mother’s family
after his father’s death from tuberculosis in 1885. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Frank Connolly wrote the most definitive account in the
Sunday Business Post in <span lang="EN-IE">1996<a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_edn24" name="_ednref24" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxiv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“The Long Fellow withheld the
details of his father Vivian’s origins for most of his life but told his children
and grandchildren some years before his death that his father, who died when
Eamon was two years old, was from sugar farming stock near the Cuban capital,
Havana. The young Dev was told the story
when he visited his mother Kathleen Coll for the first time during his famous
fundraising trip to the US in 1919, and heard further details when he met her
again in the States in 1927….It seems that after his father’s death the
grandparents wanted the boy back in Cuba and that is why Kathleen sent him back
to Ireland with her uncle who was visiting there, said O Cuiv…Eamon O Cuiv
recalls that as a child his grandfather showed him a family bible in the Aras
which in the flyleaf carried a note referring to his father’s Cuban
origins. Dev called his eldest son Vivian
in memory of a man he hardly knew, and told his children and grandchildren of
how his mother had recounted the sad tale of their separation. ‘He never made a big deal of it, but he must
have been very conscious of his father or he would not have called his own eldest
son after him,’ said O Cuiv, who believed that Dev may not have made an issue
of his Cuban origins for fear of being accused of trying to cash in on the
wealth of his father’s family in pre-revolutionary Cuba.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">An alternative explanation of de Valera’s reticence to
discuss his origins is that a marriage certificate between Vivian and Kathleen
has not been found despite research in the New Jersey church where they were said
to have wed. Being born out of wedlock could
have been a political burden in a very Catholic Ireland.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>[A topic worthy of further research is locating the
passenger list of arrivals in New York from Havana that includes Vivian de
Valera.]<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">To sum up, I suspect that very few people in Ireland, Cuba
and among Americans of Irish descent are conscious of how much of a conceptual
and practical link existed between Cuba’s and Ireland’s struggles to achieve
independence from colonial masters in the 19<sup>th</sup> century and how much
involvement there was from a triangular relationship with the Irish population
in the US. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As I suggested in the beginning there is a twentieth and
twenty-first century chapter to the story with the US replacing Spain as an
economically, culturally and politically dominant foreign power, neo-colonial
in practice if not in theory. As the price of achieving peace and
independence Ireland had to accept the separation of the northeast portion of
the nation, most of the traditional province of Ulster. An ironic parallel is that Eamon de Valera who
was forced to accept partition to achieve independence spoke positively about the
example provided by the Platt Amendment, the precondition for Cuba’s
independence that allowed to US to reintervene until repealed in 1934.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mutual respect between England and a sovereign Ireland took decades. The Irish Republic was only proclaimed in
1949, twenty-seven years after independence. Irish friends identify as the symbolic moment
of mutual respect the separate and equal entry into the European Community of
both Ireland and the United Kingdom in 1973.
The problem of reintegration remains an obstacle to the fulfillment of Ireland’s
national potential and identity although thanks to the Good Friday Agreement
and the unintended consequences of Brexit, the border is a diminishing obstacle
in practice if not in theory.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cuba flourished as a client state of the US for the first
half of the twentieth century, compromised by direct military US military
intervention during the first years of independence from Spain and separated
from an important part of its national territory by US occupation of the base
and prison of Guantanamo. Politically,
culturally and economically the two countries became deeply integrated with the
US as the dominant partner. The Cuban revolution of 1959 achieved
political independence but it has not been able to establish a deeper autonomy
from the US as effectively as Ireland did from England. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Confronted by virtually unabating hostility and regime
change objectives from Washington and Miami, with the partial exception of
President Obama’s second term, Cuban leaders have been constricted economically,
politically and psychologically. In the
minds of revolutionary leaders, maintaining freedom from US dominance required
radical transformation of their country’s economy, ideological rigidity, overdependence
on a balancing superpower and oppressive state control/protection of a population
inherently vulnerable to covert and overt subversion from the north. The context created by the US, whether
intentionally or by propinquity, meant the harder Cuba had to fight to maintain
its independence the more it had to sacrifice of its fundamental revolutionary
goal to advance the lives of its people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Because of my own experience with Viet Nam, Laos and
Cambodia, it is hard to escape the underlying reality that the missing
ingredient is the mutual respect that the US extended to its former enemies in
Indochina, recognition of their right to full self-determination, with
differences in governance and ideology, including human rights, that it has
never extended to Cuba over more than two centuries.<o:p></o:p></p><div>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://www.irishamerica.com/2017/03/report-from-havana-irish-latin-american-conference/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> http://reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com/2008/03/cubans-too-have-bit-of-blarney.html<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Dictionary
of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/oreilly-count-alexander-a6980<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Carlyle
House Docent Dispatch https://www.novaparks.com/sites/default/files/pdf/March2004.pdf<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Pensacola<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://cubanthinkers.domains.uflib.ufl.edu/felix-varela/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2076178949<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[viii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/varela-y-morales-felix-1788-1853<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://archwaysmag.org/venerable-felix-varela<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[x]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>https://books.google.com/books?id=_exVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=Friends+of+Ireland+Thomas+Mooney+Felix+Varela&source=bl&ots=5StDyYXPdR&sig=ACfU3U2dbmHxPc4wD5FArAq3vcZyET8uYQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiduYiVvYf_AhW6KlkFHU4WCCcQ6AF6BAgsEAM#v=onepage&q=Friends%20of%20Ireland%20Thomas%20Mooney%20Felix%20Varela&f=false<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref11" name="_edn11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref12" name="_edn12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ireland & Cuba, Entangled Histories, edited by Margaret Brehony and Nuala
Finnegan, Ediciones Bolona pp 222 https://irlandeses.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Irlanda-y-Cuba-historias-entretejidas-030120-with-cover.pdf<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn13">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref13" name="_edn13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xiii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101020878607&view=1up&seq=11<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn14">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref14" name="_edn14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xiv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://www.historyireland.com/cuba-the-ireland-of-the-west-the-irish-daily-independent-and-irish-nationalist-responses-to-the-spanish-american-war/<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn15">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref15" name="_edn15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <a href="https://www.grin.com/user/27220">Christiane Köppe (Author)</a>, 2005,
Irish Immigrants in New York City 1850, Munich, GRIN Verlag,
https://www.grin.com/document/109765<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn16">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref16" name="_edn16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xvi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn17">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref17" name="_edn17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xvii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<a name="_Hlk135764494">https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1855/04/04/issue.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn18">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref18" name="_edn18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xviii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Captain_Unafraid/5JYnAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn19">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref19" name="_edn19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> A
Captain Unafraid by Captain Johnny Dynamite O’Brien, pp 279-80 <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn20">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref20" name="_edn20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xx]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> “Machine
Made” by Terry Golway, Liveright Publishing 2014 pp 171<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn21">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref21" name="_edn21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> “Machine
Made” by Terry Golway, Liveright Publishing 2014 pp 223<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn22">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref22" name="_edn22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<span style="font-size: 9pt;">http://www.granma.cu/cuba/2016-12-19/aniversario-120-del-unico-combate-naval-mambi-19-12-2016-22-12-11</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn23">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref23" name="_edn23" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxiii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/06/dynamite-johnny-obrien-through-lens-of.html<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn24">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/Documents/2023/my%20writing/Paper%20for%20LASA.docx#_ednref24" name="_edn24" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[xxiv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Sunday Business Post, <span lang="EN-IE">11th
August 1996</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE">editorial revisions 6/16/23</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Conclusion revised 7/2/23 based on conversations at the Conference of the Society for Irish Latin American Studies at the University of Galway.</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A revised version was presented in Havana in December 2023 with illustrations </span></b></i> https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2024/01/father-felix-varelas-us-cuba-bond.html</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE">****************************</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Comments and questions very welcome<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="mailto:jmcauliff@ffrd.org"><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">jmcauliff@ffrd.org</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> +1-917-859-9025 (phone and Whatsapp)</span></b></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"> </span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Irish Links to
Cuba </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/02/irish-links-to-cuba.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/02/irish-links-to-cuba.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">A Walking Tour of Irish Old Havana </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-walking-tour-of-irish-old-havana.html</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cuba’s President
visits Varela’s Church of the Transfiguration</span></b> and meets Bishop
Cisneros as reported in Granma <a href="https://www.granma.cu/mundo/2023-09-24/tributo-al-padre-varela-en-nueva-york">https://www.granma.cu/mundo/2023-09-24/tributo-al-padre-varela-en-nueva-york</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span lang="EN-IE"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">To share this paper </span></b></span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">on line</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/05/ireland-and-cuba-historical-links-and.html"><span lang="EN-IE">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/05/ireland-and-cuba-historical-links-and.html</span></a></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><br /></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText">
</p><p class="MsoEndnoteText">rev. 11/2/23<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><div id="edn23" style="mso-element: endnote;">
</div>
</div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-86455541979369569662023-04-29T17:58:00.003-07:002023-04-29T17:58:48.671-07:00Cuba Proxima Proposed Solution to the Crisis<p> </p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Are
there peaceful solutions to the Cuban crisis?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #707075; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://cubaproxima.org/author/cubaproximaautor/" title="Entradas de Cuba Próxima"><span style="color: #707075; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cuba Proxima</span></a></span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #707075; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">05 January 2023</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #707075; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://cubaproxima.org/category/politica/"><span style="color: #707075; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Politics</span></a>, <a href="https://cubaproxima.org/category/sociedad/"><span style="color: #707075; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Society</span></a></span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #707075; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1 comments</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
depth of the current crisis</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
can be debated whether the current crisis in Cuba is more or less serious than
the crisis of the "Special Period" of the nineties, following the
fall of the Soviet Union.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
economic terms, based on a thorough statistical comparison, Carmelo Mesa Lago
concludes that the current situation "resembles that of those terrible
years" (Mesa Lago, 2022). The fall in GDP of 10.9% in 2020 – after a
virtual stagnation during the previous five years – is the largest after the
contraction of 14.9% in 1993, the worst year of the crisis of the nineties. The
projection is that 2019 GDP – already very low – would not recover until
2024-2025. The index of industrial production in 2021 was 45.2% below the 1989
level, and food processing only reached half. The value of exports in 2021 was
67% lower than in 1989 and 63% lower than in 2013. Foreign exchange income,
counting the three main sources, fell dramatically between 2018 and 2021:
export of services (mainly health and education) with 67%; family remittances
with 71%; and tourism with 85%.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Without
up-to-date data on the depth of the current social crisis compared to the
Special Period, it is very likely that it will not be minor, and that the
income disparity is likely to be much greater.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
political terms, it can be argued that the crisis is worse. First, the lack of
a charismatic leader like Fidel Castro, who managed, almost mysteriously, to
save the Cuban regime when most of the socialist republics collapsed, is very
clearly felt. Secondly, much of today's population has no memory of the
situation prior to 1959 or of "the achievements of the Revolution",
which probably injected a great deal of patience into the population during the
Special Period. On the contrary, today's young people have had a generally
positive experience with the relative openness of the economy and relations
with the rest of the world (including the United States), which was largely
lost. The result of this is clearly seen in the new mass exodus (mostly of
well-prepared young people) and in two hitherto unknown phenomena: open
protests, and electoral behavior despite the lack of real freedom of vote,
where abstention and voting against the official position increases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
sum of the economic unsustainability and political illegitimacy of the current
Cuban regime is such that Raúl Castro's metaphor of "falling off the
cliff" seems closer than ever. So the question is: what solutions can be
imagined to the crisis? In this article I limit myself to discussing solutions
to the political crisis, but the relationship and interdependence between the
political and the economic is evident.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
New Civil Society: Politics from Below</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During
the years of Raúl Castro's presidency, coinciding with the economic reforms and
the thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba (approximately
2008-2016), a new civil society emerged on the island, which had already begun
to emerge more timidly through the churches in the nineties. Perhaps the
decisive element was the gradual opening to the internet and access to <i>smartphones,
which</i> actually led to a weakening of the regime's monopoly of
information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
was a rapid expansion of social media and the emergence of independent
journalism. A myriad of alternative information agents began to appear,
promoters of peaceful political transformations. Academics and intellectuals
achieved, albeit barely, a much more autonomous space for critical debate of
alternative development options, and also found channels to convey these
thoughts to members of the system. Hoffmann (2016) states that Cuban politics
in that period underwent a great change despite the rhetoric of continuity,
which allowed the emergence of a new civil society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Along
with the weakening of the computer monopoly, the liberalization of travel and
migration, with its transformative effect on State-citizen relations, and the
strengthening of a non-state sector, especially with the massification of
self-employed workers (self-employed), had a great impact.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
reality, total control over citizens by the state and the Communist Party of
Cuba (PCC) was drastically reduced. What can be called "politics from
below" emerged, with actors distinct from the more traditional right-wing
dissident groups that had supported a US policy of regime change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">From
2016 and especially with the new confrontation by President Trump when he took
office in 2017, the space of this new civil society narrowed again, also for
those voices that argued for a national dialogue instead of an open
confrontation. Although the government seemed quite powerless in its efforts to
curb "virtual civil society", i.e. alternative information and debate
involving an increasing number of people, particularly the youngest, the
counter-reform that was actually consolidated with the PCC's Seventh Congress
in April 2016 seriously complicated any opportunity to initiate a dialogue on a
negotiated transformation. The PCC flatly rejected the emergence of a
counterpart with which to dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">With
this counter-reform, many of the new and young actors lost all illusion of
peaceful transformations. Many of them emigrated, entrenching themselves above
all in "the second Cuba" of Florida, where they largely joined the
traditional and radical opposition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">However,
despite the new constraints, it was not possible to stop all the pro-reform
actors that had emerged in the previous era. During the discussion of a new
Cuban constitution, the churches began a harsh open campaign against the
proposal to legalize same-sex marriage, also giving rise to a counter-campaign
by the LGBTI community. When the Government realized how controversial the
provision was, the National Assembly removed it from the final version of the
new Constitution (and later reintroduced it in a new Family Code). Strong
voices of private entrepreneurs managed to limit new restrictions against their
operating space; Havana taxi drivers went on strike successfully pressuring the
authorities not to prevent their access to lower fuel prices (through the black
market); and animal rights advocates obtained a commitment from the Government
to enact an animal protection law (Decree-Law no. 31/22 "On animal
welfare").<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">These
and other examples have much in common: the government tried to placate
protesters rather than repress them, although protest leaders have reported
subsequent harassment by police. The state's relative tolerance of these
special interest groups contrasts sharply with the harsh preemptive repression
it generally deploys against traditional dissidents, presumably because the new
groups do not challenge the regime's basic principles and political
foundations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That
flexibility changed with artists' protests, sparked by the so-called Decree no.
349, a new law that requires artists, musicians and performers to register with
the state, request authorization to organize events, and pay a 24% commission
on their earnings at private events. Artists feared a return to the heavy state
censorship of the seventies. The artistic community began to mobilize through
social networks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At
first, the government was conciliatory, suspending the implementation of the
Decree and promising to modify it. But the protest movement continued to grow
and expand into new groups.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
this situation, the San Isidro Movement (MSI) stands out, which takes its name
from the popular neighborhood of Old Havana where that group had its residence.
It is a group of dissident <i>hip-hop</i> artists who provoked the
government with a series of creative protests, combining their political
activism with artistic interventions. In November 2020, rapper Denis Solís, one
of the members of the group, made public through a Facebook broadcast the
moment in which he confronted a police officer, telling him that he had no
right to enter his home or harass him. Days later, Solís was arrested by
security officials, subjected to a judicial process under the charge of
contempt, which culminated in the sentence to eight months in prison and his
subsequent transfer to a maximum security penitentiary center. All this
provoked a series of protests both inside and outside the island. Other members
of the MSI began a hunger strike, which was joined by other opposition public
figures of art and culture, including journalist Carlos Manuel Álvarez. This
led by the artist and political activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Coinciding
with these events, a group of well-known Cuban musicians released the song
Patria <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP9Bto5lOEQ"><i><span style="color: #0d6efd;">y Vida</span></i></a> – in allusion to the
revolutionary slogan <i>Patria o Muerte</i> – with lyrics that pay
homage to the MSI. <i>Patria y Vida </i>became the <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2021/07/19/1017887993/explaining-patria-y-vida-the-cuban-song-defying-an-evil-revolution"><span style="color: #0d6efd;">great slogan</span></a> of young opponents, both in
Cuba and among Cubans abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On
November 27, 2020, the arrest of fourteen MSI strikers and the interruption of
access to social networks throughout the island triggered a spontaneous
demonstration at the Ministry of Culture of some three hundred artists of
various ideologies, including some highly recognized by the government. That
group, later named the 27N Movement, even managed to get a deputy minister to
sit down for talks, promising concessions that were quickly withdrawn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
April 2021, residents of Havana's San Isidro neighborhood prevented the arrest
of another MSI rapper activist, Maykel Osorbo, amid anti-government slogans and
chanting the song<i> Patria y Vida</i>, in which Osormo himself
participates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
culmination of that generation of protests occurred with the spontaneous and
massive mobilization throughout the country on July 11, 2021 (11J). President
Miguel Díaz-Canel, totally shocked and apparently in great fear of losing
control of the situation, called on loyalists to take to the streets and defend
the Revolution, which provoked violent clashes with demonstrators. After two
days of protests, the police arrested about 1300 people and denied many more to
the streets. The Internet was constantly interrupted. An atmosphere of terror
was created in the population, especially among urban youth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
an attempt to capitalize on the 11J mobilization, a group of artists created a
Facebook group called Archipiélago, asking for permission to make new
demonstrations on November 15 (15N) of 2021. The government rejected the
petitions on the grounds that the protests were aimed at regime change, which
represented a violation of the constitutional premise that Cuba's socialist
system is "irrevocable." The government showed its strength by
stopping the announced marches, branding the organizers as foreign agents, and
arresting them. When the day came, no one else showed up at the appointed time
to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
big question, of utmost strategic importance, is what caused that 15N fiasco.
Was it the threats of the Government or the lack of support or interest among
the population? While it was a combination of those two factors, the question
about the motivation of the popular reaction cannot be avoided, between
political protest and anger over food shortages, lack of electricity, the
spread of Covid-19 and the apparent inability of the state to solve these
problems. LeoGrande (2022) considers that there is a difference of perceptions,
which "reflects the different life experiences and priorities of Cuba's
emerging young and educated middle class, on the one hand, and the working class
struggling to survive on state sector wages on the other."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
any case, the lack of response on 15N shows that mobilization through social
networks, without clear leadership, for now is not enough to cause a popular
uprising in Cuba. Such mobilization may provoke a <i>protest</i>, but it
is difficult to provide a <i>response</i> on its own to the crisis.
That is why it is necessary to build the conditions for <i>dialogue</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
repression that followed 11J and 15N was massive. This was documented by
the <a href="https://www.hrw.org/es/news/2022/07/11/cuba-represion-las-protestas-genera-crisis-de-derechos-humanos"><span style="color: #0d6efd;">HRW Report</span></a> published on the anniversary
of 11J in 2022, which bears witness to a wide range of human rights violations
committed in the context of the protests, including arbitrary detentions, and
prosecutions plagued by abuse and torture. The government's crackdown and
apparent unwillingness to address the underlying issues that brought Cubans
onto the streets, including limited access to food and medicine, have led to a
human rights crisis. The number of political prisoners reaches almost 1000
people, some with sentences of up to 25 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
number of people leaving the country increased dramatically. It is estimated
that during the year 2022, the number of Cuban immigrants to the United States
exceeded 200 thousand, the highest annual number of Cuban immigrants entering
the northern neighbor (Mesa Lago, 2022).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Most
of the MSI activists and others who played a prominent role on 11J are already
among the political prisoners, while others managed to travel abroad. With the
mass incarceration of activists, and the historically large exodus of young
people with academic training and organizational skills, the government seemed
to have pacified the country. The control of the streets is not total, but the
spontaneous protests against the blackouts at the end of September 2022 were
quickly controlled with a widespread internet shutdown and the deployment and
patrolling of police and military vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Once
again, as so often in the history of the Revolution, the opposition has gone
into exile. <i>The exit</i> won <i>the voice</i>, in terms of
Hirschman (1970). Therefore, it is from exile that they organize again, with
three main demands: release of political prisoners, response to the humanitarian
crisis and a dialogue to democratize the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To
the reactions of protest and exodus must be added a third response of the
population to the current crisis of legitimacy: electoral behavior.
Historically, and as a clear reflection of the authoritarian system, the vast
majority have voted in favor of the will of the single party and the
government. In the 2008 parliamentary elections, only 3% of voters abstained.
In 2018, that percentage rose to almost 15%, and in the November 2022 municipal
elections to 31%, plus 11% of white and voided votes. In the referendum on the
Constitution in 1976, almost 98% voted in favour. When the new Constitution was
put to a referendum in 2019, the comparative figure was 22% (adding 10%
abstention, 8% NO, and 4% white and annulled votes). In September 2022, there
was a historic event in the electoral behavior of the Cuban Revolution:
although the new Family Code was approved by 67% of positive votes in another
referendum, adding 33% of votes against with the abstention of 26% plus null or
annulled votes, the law was approved by only 46.70% of the Cuban population
with the right to vote.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
need for two parallel dialogues</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Cuban crisis cries out for two parallel dialogues: between the Cuban government
and its own population, and between the governments of Havana and Washington.
The first is vital to restore a minimum of trust and legitimacy between rulers
and governed, and to put on the table the indisputably legitimate claims of the
population, both economic and political. The latter represents the only way out
of the Cuban economic crisis. But the question is whether there is anyone who
wants to dialogue, what would be the agenda, and above all what could be the
process to reach the two dialogue tables. The resistance of all three sides so
far has hampered that whole process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
role of the Cuban government</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Despite
facing what is possibly the deepest crisis in the history of the Revolution, at
the moment there does not seem to be the slightest political <i>will</i> to
recognize and sit down with representatives of the population who are not from
their own political apparatus. The question is how far the situation will have
to worsen for the government to be willing to talk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
are two factors that may have an impact on ending this intransigence. The first
is the fact that the Latin American left is moving decisively towards
democratic positions and against authoritarianism. With elections in Chile,
Colombia and Brazil during 2022, Cuba finds itself increasingly politically
distant from the new leftist wave in the region, in authoritarian company only
from Venezuela and Nicaragua. If an agreement is also reached between the
government and the opposition in Venezuela, it will be even more difficult for
Cuba to maintain the rejection of an opening. Nor would it have much to expect
from the current situation that countries such as Russia and China are going
through. In this circumstance, an initiative of the governments, parties and
leftist leaders of Latin America, old allies of Cuba, should be able to have
some impact in favor of a relaxation of positions in Havana. Trade unionists
should join in this initiative, inviting the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba
(CTC) to collaborate with the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
probably most attractive incentive for Havana to be more flexible would be a
process toward normalization in relations with the United States. The official
Cuban position states that any issue can be negotiated, as long as there is no
foreign interference in Cuban internal affairs. In reality, everyone knows that
the hard American position, which until recently did not change much between
the Trump and Biden administrations, would only begin to soften if there are
reforms in Cuba. The problem is how to draw a parallel between changes in
Havana and changes in U.S. policy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
role of the United States</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
at the end of the day would allow a change in the policy towards Cuba is that
significant changes can be seen on the island economically, but above all
politically. It is a mirror situation to the one we find in Havana: changes in
Cuba depend on changes in U.S. policy. The question is who moves first, or
better: how to achieve a parallel dynamic?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
is a new factor now: U.S. policy toward Cuba has always been characterized as
an aspect of domestic politics, specifically it has been part of the electoral
battle for Florida as a <i>swing state</i>, where Cuban-Americans have a
tremendously strong <i>lobby</i>. For the Democrats, it has always been
considered essential to win Florida, and adjust "Cuban politics" to
what gives more votes. With the last midterm election in November 2022, Florida
can already be considered lost by Democrats in the immediate future. According
to William LeoGrande (2022): for the first time in many decades, the Democrats
can stop formulating their policy towards Cuba as a domestic policy issue, that
is, win Florida.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A
second factor is the relevance of the new leftist wave in Latin America. It can
already be considered as important for the Biden administration, as it was for
Obama, to change the hostile policy towards Cuba to look good with Latin
American governments that demand the end of the embargo. The messages from the
region's leaders are equally clear now. The recent appointment of former
Senator Christopher Dodd — a historical critic of the aggressive U.S.
confrontation with the left in Latin America — as special adviser to the
president for the Americas may be a first step in that direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
is perhaps for this reason that we have recently noticed very careful signs of
rapprochement between Cuba and the United States: the two-million-dollar
humanitarian aid that the United States granted to Cuba in the wake of
Hurricane Ian; the recent negotiation for an arrangement to normalize migration
relations and remittances; and the near-finalized U.S.-Venezuela agreement that
may depend on active Cuban support to deliver results.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If
those factors can be considered positive for a return to the Cuban politics
that characterized the Obama administration, there is an <i>elephant in
the room</i>: Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee, a committee that also includes Cuban-Americans Marco Rubio and Ted
Cruz. Menendez shares radical positions against the Cuban government with these
and other Republicans and, at the same time, is a politician who has very close
relations with Biden, who cannot risk a confrontation with Menendez. That is
why it will be important for him to be part of any arrangement with Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
emergence of a new civil society calling for dialogue</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So
far it has not been only the two governments that have opposed dialogue. The
position of the great part of the Cuban opposition, both internally and abroad,
has been one of rejection of any negotiation with a regime considered
dictatorial and illegitimate. Actors who for several years have argued for
dialogue have found little support.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Going
up and down a roller coaster for the last ten years and ending up as victims of
unprecedented repression in Cuba, a new civil society willing to dialogue
focused on solutions, mainly organized through the diaspora, is already
repositioned. Almost under the radar, they resurrect a series of initiatives,
and perhaps a minimum common platform, in the process of taking shape as an
expression with political legitimacy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
September 2022, the formation of the <i>D Frente</i> platform was
announced, "a democratic front of concertation of plural Cuban civil and
political actors, whose central objective is to achieve the refoundation of the
Republic, guided by Marti's idea of building a country <i>with all and for
the good of all</i>."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Since
its foundation, there are a number of member organizations, representing three
different dimensions of Cuban society:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As
an expression of the <i>new actors of open protest</i>, there is the San
Isidro Movement, with members of the group who managed to go abroad,
representing their imprisoned comrades. Within the same group can be included
the Association of mothers and relatives of political prisoners <i>for
Amnesty</i>, which represents around 1000 political prisoners in the wake of
11J and the following repressive acts. We also find among the founders the
Archipelago group, the network of cultural actors that was born with the
massive action in the Ministry of Culture on November 27, 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
is a presence of <i>the most traditional dissidents</i>, through the
Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC), a space founded in 2021
by opponents and activists of different political tendencies. The coordinator
is José Daniel Ferrer, the imprisoned leader of the Patriotic Union, according
to the US State Department "the largest group of the Cuban
opposition" (which also considers Ferrer "the visible head of the
dissident movement").<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Behind
these groups, constantly working to promote peaceful dialogue, is the
group <i>Cuba Próxima</i>, led by Roberto Veiga, a lawyer with vast
experience working in favor of peaceful reforms and a dialogue between
government and civil society. <i>Cuba Proxima</i> is the latest
expression of initiatives to find new spaces while closing existing ones. That
work began with the magazine <i>Espacio Laical</i>, promoted by the
Archbishopric of Havana, and then continued with the organization <i>Cuba
Posible </i>(see Bye 2019, pp. 139-141).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
is new with the <i>D Frente</i> group is exactly the coincidence
between these three traditions of the Cuban opposition. That has aroused quite
a few expectations in the unofficial press in Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
is still necessary to give more weight to this group in Cuban society with the
integration of personalities of cultural life, who have traditionally been
considered favorable to the regime or at least not against, but who lately have
expressed themselves more critically, such as the artists Silvio Rodríguez and
Leonardo Padura.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
to trigger a series of events that can bring the three parties closer together
in the two parallel dialogues we have talked about?</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
share some ideas to promote that dynamic of dialogues that can unblock the
apparent total <i>impasse</i> existing in Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
are two immediate challenges for Cuban society that require an immediate
response, which in turn can trigger a constructive dynamic: to alleviate the
crisis of popular survival, a<i> major humanitarian corridor must be
established. </i>At the same time, the political crisis will not be
resolved without starting with the<i> release of political prisoners</i>.
The three parties (civil society + U.S. and Cuban governments) would have to
find a mutually acceptable methodology to attack those two immediate crises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
humanitarian corridor, in order to have legitimacy both in the population and
in the international community, cannot be an exclusive responsibility of the
Cuban government. It should take as a starting point the already existing
small-scale efforts of civil society (the Spain-Cuba, Miami-Cuba corridors,
etc.), which are already being established with the networks of relatives in
Cuba. Consideration should be given to expanding that through an international
humanitarian mechanism, and a wider network of family members with relatives
abroad. Perhaps mechanisms can be explored to <i>socialize
remittances, </i>to generate support beyond each beneficiary family and
benefit the community where it resides. Obviously there has to be an
understanding between the international actor and the government, but
maintaining some distance with government structures and rather channeling aid
through local communities and family networks. If such a mechanism can be
opened, funding must be sought from governments, including the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">With
such a humanitarian mechanism in place, another channel must emerge to <i>negotiate
the release of political prisoners</i>, starting with those who have not been
involved in acts of violence. With Cardinal Beniamino Stella's prompt visit to
Cuba, perhaps the Catholic Church and the pope himself are envisioning a role
in that regard again. Humanitarian aid must be expanded as prisoners are
released.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
humanitarian corridor must be linked to an internal instrument: technical
assistance to non-state producers (including usufructuaries, CCS cooperatives)
and openness to market food through non-state networks (returning to the policy
of reducing the weight of Collection Centers and opening non-state wholesale
markets). An idea to consider could be the use of paladares also as popular
dining rooms. All this should lead the agricultural sector to introduce a
series of measures towards the much-needed agrarian reform, partly following
proposals already indicated in the "Guidelines" introduced at the
time by Raúl Castro, although never carried out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">By
involving networks of relatives of prisoners, relatives with relatives abroad,
non-state producers and non-state cooperatives, paladares, etc., Cuban civil
society could be expanded and legitimized, to position itself as an actor of
dialogue with the Cuban government (once the political prisoners are released).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">These
proposals should seek proactive support and accompaniment among the <i>democratic
left-wing governments of Latin America and their parties and grassroots
movements</i>, mainly Brazil, Colombia, Chile and perhaps Mexico. Together with
other actors with a relationship of historical sympathy with Cuba (also from
the United States, Canada, the European Union and other European countries),
they must support a dialogue with the<i> Cuban Government with </i>the
message: "the era of authoritarianism is over, the socialism of today and
the future is democratic." These actors must present a more comprehensive
agenda of economic and political reforms (prepared by a technical team of Cuban
professionals), in parallel with a normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations
(prepared by diplomats from the two countries). The first step in that regard
should be to remove Cuba from the list of terrorist countries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You
have to realize that time is short: the window of opportunity may close in
November 2024, with the US presidential election and the possible return of a
far-right Republican president. If the European Union is to be involved, the
window may be open only until the possible summit between the EU and CELAC
(Route, 2023), supposedly under the Spanish presidency of the EU, which begins
in July 2023, and before the general elections in Spain, scheduled for October
next year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Conclusion</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If
one adds up the economic and political factors, the Cuban nation is going
through what can easily be considered the worst crisis after the 1959
Revolution. The need to seek the two parallel dialogues, between the Cuban
government and its own population, and between the governments of Cuba and the
United States, seems more obvious than ever. Without one, there will be no
other. All three sides need to demonstrate flexibility and pragmatism, which
surely requires external facilitation, especially from other Latin American
governments and leaders. Similarly, there is an interdependence between
economic and political issues to be addressed in the two dialogues. In this
article the political part has been discussed. On the economic side, Mesa
Lago's conclusion in the cited article is equally clear: "I urge an open,
respectful and democratic national dialogue so that the population discusses
the change to the model of market socialism."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
should be a window of opportunity to initiate a dialogue process. It is very
likely that this window will not stay open for long. Someone has to facilitate
the first steps, without further delay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">References</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Bye,
Vegard: <i>Cuba, from Fidel to Raúl and Beyond.</i> Palgrave
MacMillan, London, 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hirschman,
Alberto O.: <i>Exit, Voice and Loyalty: Responses to Decline in Firms,
Organizations and States. </i>Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1970.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hoffmann,
Bert: «Bureaucratic Socialism in Reform Mode: The Changing Politics of Cubas
Post-Fidel Era», in: <i>International Political Science Review 30</i> (3,
June), 2016, pp. 229-248. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LeoGrande,
William (2022): «Why Democrats Should Forget About
Winning Florida», in: <i>Foreign Policy, </i>21.11.2022: <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/21/democrats-florida-republicans-cuban-american-cuba-trump-biden-obama/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921"><span style="color: #0d6efd;">https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/21/democrats-florida-republicans-cuban-american-cuba-trump-biden-obama/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mesa
Lago, Carmelo: «Cuba's economy in times of crisis: 2020-2022 and perspectives
for 2023», in: <i>La Joven Cuba </i>(to appear), 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Human
Rights Watch, July 11, 2022: <a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/07/11/prison-or-exile/cubas-systematic-repression-july-2021-demonstrators"><span style="color: #0d6efd;">https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/07/11/prison-or-exile/cubas-systematic-repression-july-2021-demonstrators</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">According
to non-governmental sources, a total of 1771 arrests for political reasons have
been recorded; 758 remain in prison; 706 have been tried; 963 people imprisoned
and sentenced or awaiting trial: https://www.justicia11j.org the website of the
group Justicia 11J, which works on documentation on prisoners with the NGO
Cubalex.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-63097483<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">National
Electoral Council. <a href="http://www.eleccionesencuba.cu/"><i><span style="color: #0d6efd;">www.eleccionesencuba.cu</span></i></a>. Retrieved
September 27, 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-Light",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
boycott by a number of presidents of the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles
in June 2022, and the message to Secretary of State Blinken when he visited the
region in October of the same year: <a href="https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-12/us-has-tough-sell-in-latin-america-blinken"><span style="color: #0d6efd;">https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-12/us-has-tough-sell-in-latin-america-blinken</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.cubaproxima.org/post/d-frente-por-cuba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.cubaproxima.org/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.14ymedio.com/cuba/organizaciones-oposicion-cubana-refundar-Republica_0_3383061664.html<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.14ymedio.com/cuba/organizaciones-oposicion-cubana-refundar-Republica_0_3383061664.html<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.14ymedio.com/blogs/desde_aqui/Frente-nuevo-esfuerzo-encontrar-soluciones_7_3383131655.html<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.14ymedio.com/cuba/plataforma-Frente-mediacion-Papa-politicos_0_3436456327.html<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Agenda-BoldCondensed",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-63097483<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://cubaproxima.org/hay-soluciones-pacificas-a-la-crisis-cubana/<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-845771590114770192023-03-22T12:17:00.005-07:002023-03-23T06:23:46.012-07:00Gov. DeSantis Role at Guantanamo, Attack on Cuba's Ambassador<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> DeSantis’s pivotal service at Guantánamo during a violent year</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">‘Hey, you can actually force-feed,’ Ron DeSantis said he advised, endorsing a practice detainee lawyers described as torture</span></p><p><br /></p><p>By Michael Kranish</p><p>March 19, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT</p><p><br /></p><p>Ron DeSantis was a 27-year-old Navy lawyer fresh out of Harvard Law School when he arrived in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, amid an escalating crisis at the U.S. military base.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hundreds of “enemy combatants,” held without charges, had gone on hunger strikes. As pressure grew to end the protests, DeSantis later said, he was part of a team of military lawyers asked what could be done.</p><p><br /></p><p>“How do I combat this?” a commanding officer asked in 2006, as DeSantis recalled in an interview he gave years later to a local CBS television station.</p><p><br /></p><p>“Hey, you actually can force-feed,” DeSantis said he responded in his role as a legal adviser. “Here’s what you can do. Here’s kind of the rules for that.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately, it was the Pentagon’s decision to authorize force-feeding. Detainees were strapped into a chair and a lubricated tube was stuffed down their nose so a nurse could pour down two cans of a protein drink, according to military records. The detainees’ lawyers tried and failed to stop the painful practice, arguing that it violated international torture conventions.</p><p><br /></p><p>Seventeen years later, as the governor of Florida and a potential 2024 presidential contender, DeSantis has largely skimmed over his experience at the base, giving it a brief mention in his new book, “The Courage to Be Free,” and rarely speaking in depth about his actions in Guantánamo — where prisoners have alleged they suffered abuse and human rights violations. Independent groups have decried their treatment, with the U.N. Commission on Human Rights concluding that force-feeding amounted to torture, and the International Committee of the Red Cross reaching a similar conclusion about overall conditions at the prison — both claims that the U.S. military has denied.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis had an up-close view of some of the most disturbing incidents at the detention camp during one of its most violent years, according to a review by The Washington Post of public records, media reports and dozens of interviews, including with DeSantis’s commanding officer, the prison warden, other base officials, former detainees and defense lawyers.</p><p><br /></p><p>Over the course of nearly a year traveling to and from the base, DeSantis met directly with lawyers and detainees to hear their complaints as they were held without formal charges. He walked through corridors of steel mesh enclosures, “looking eyeball to eyeball with a lot of the detainees,” according to his commander, Capt. Patrick McCarthy. And he spoke regularly with McCarthy and others about pressing legal issues.</p><p><br /></p><p>His own account of his service at the base and those of his associates also makes it clear that it was a transformational experience that hardened his views about politics, conflict and the Constitution.</p><p><br /></p><p>He has repeatedly argued that the United States was correct in imprisoning detainees outside the legal system, and after joining Congress in 2013, he became a leading voice to keep the prison open, even though few of the detainees there were ever charged and most have been released. He has described the hunger strikes as part of a “jihad” against the United States, and characterized claims of abuse from detainees and their lawyers as attempts to work the system — foreshadowing his conservative views as a lawmaker on issues ranging from constitutional rights to military and criminal justice.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>A shackled detainee is transported away from his annual Administrative Review Board hearing with U.S. officials on Dec. 6, 2006 in Camp Delta detention center at the Guantánamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in Cuba. (Brennan Linsley/AP)</p><p>Asked about the hunger strikes, DeSantis said in the local CBS interview in 2018 that “what I learned from that … is they are using things like detainee abuse offensively against us. It was a tactic, technique and procedure.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Former detainees, defense lawyers and other human rights advocates said in interviews that DeSantis’s actions at the base — and his continued view of what happened there as fully legitimate — present one of the most revealing and troubling chapters of his life, noting that he has never publicly expressed any concern or questioned his own role in what transpired.</p><p><br /></p><p>“If DeSantis is honest with himself, having served as a naval officer and as a lawyer at Guantánamo, then he surely knows that Guantánamo is a human rights disaster and its continuing existence demeans the United States and is an affront to human rights and the rule of law,” said Dixon, who represents one remaining detainee and is a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis’s office did not respond to a detailed list of questions from The Post.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis was thrust into a major crisis early in his stint as a legal adviser. On June 9, 2006, around two months after military records say DeSantis began periodically visiting Guantánamo from his home base in Jacksonville, Fla., three detainees were found dead on the same night.</p><p><br /></p><p>With the Bush White House urging a quick resolution, DeSantis was part of a legal team tapped to help the Naval investigators who were interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence, according to McCarthy, although he did not recall specifics of DeSantis’s role. The Navy’s final report, which does not include the names of all JAG officers who helped investigators, ruled the deaths as simultaneous, coordinated suicide by hanging — a finding that is still disputed by detainee attorneys, a former prison guard and human rights groups.</p><p><br /></p><p>Two former detainees interviewed by The Post also said they vividly recalled interacting with DeSantis but did not know his name until he became governor of Florida. One said he personally urged DeSantis to report mistreatment of prisoners to higher-ups. Another said that DeSantis witnessed his force-feeding in person. The prisoners’ accounts could not be independently verified, but broadly match details of DeSantis’s responsibilities.</p><p><br /></p><p>Others still stand by the conduct of the U.S. military in Guantánamo Bay, including Adm. Harry Harris Jr., who oversaw the sprawling facility while DeSantis served there. Harris said in an interview he had “no regrets” about anything that occurred there and was “very proud” of those who served with him.</p><p><br /></p><p>McCarthy also said DeSantis should not be faulted for following orders. “He would have been working directly under my direction,” McCarthy said. “So what I would hate to see is somehow they get shaped into, ‘It’s DeSantis’s fault, these allegations, they are all falling on DeSantis.’ He was a lieutenant. I’m the captain.”</p><p><br /></p><p><b>A journey to Guantánamo</b></p><p>One day at Yale University, according to a classmate, DeSantis joined with some friends reciting the closing scene of “A Few Good Men,” in which Tom Cruise plays a Navy military lawyer who defends Marines accused of murder at the Guantánamo base.</p><p><br /></p><p>“I want the truth,” Cruise says. The commander, played by Jack Nicholson, famously responds, “You can’t handle the truth!”</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis knew the sequence well. When the classmate later heard that DeSantis signed up at Harvard Law to serve in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, he was surprised that DeSantis would pass up a potentially lucrative private law career. Then he recalled his friend’s interest in the movie and “it made sense,” the classmate said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect his relationship with the Florida governor.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis has attributed his decision to join the military to growing up in blue-collar surroundings in Dunedin, Fla. — where his baseball skills led him to the Little League World Series and a spot on Yale’s team — and a desire to serve in the Navy instead of a white-shoe law firm.</p><p><br /></p><p>“I volunteered to serve in Gitmo,” he told the Florida CBS station, using the shorthand for Guantánamo. In “The Courage to Be Free,” DeSantis said he was attracted to the job because he was told “there would be a need for military JAGs to lead prosecutions in military commissions of incarcerated terrorists.” DeSantis began traveling between Florida and the Cuban outpost around March 2006, according to his military records. The records do not specify how long his visits lasted; generally, JAG officers stayed on base for weeks at a time.</p><p><br /></p><p>His responsibilities included “provision of prosecution, command advice, and court-reporting services” in seven southeastern states and Guantánamo Bay, the records say.</p><p><br /></p><p>But DeSantis quickly realized that prosecuting terrorists was not in the cards. “That turned out not to be what happened,” he wrote in his book, “but it seemed plausible at the time and also seemed like a good opportunity to make an impact.” He also didn’t act as a defense attorney on base.</p><p><br /></p><p>His military records specify his responsibilities at Guantánamo such as “scheduler/administrative officer” — but those who served with him said that understates the broad swath of DeSantis’s work after McCarthy came to trust him as a top aide.</p><p><br /></p><p>He was “someone that I could rely on to do a high-visibility mission,” McCarthy said in an interview with The Post. “And if anything went wrong, Guantánamo was in the papers before the folks even got back over to their place. So it a was very high-visibility mission. It was a no-fail mission.”</p><p><br /></p><p>McCarthy’s job included ensuring that legal procedures were followed in interrogation and detention, at a time when complaints from defense lawyers about mistreatment of their clients was at a peak. He made DeSantis part of his team that responded to the issue.</p><p><br /></p><p>In practice, that meant that DeSantis spent much of his time talking with detainee lawyers. “There were hundreds of attorneys who were coming and going to Guantánamo,” McCarthy said. “He and the people who did the job he had had to deal with all of them.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Abu Sarrah Ahmed Abdel Aziz, a detainee who said he conveyed complaints of numerous detainees because he spoke fluent English, said that he is “100 percent” certain he spoke a number of times with DeSantis. Abdel Aziz said that he sought out DeSantis — whose name he didn’t know at the time, as military personnel in Guantánamo did not wear names on their uniforms as a security measure — because he knew that JAG officers offered him an opportunity to air mistreatment claims.</p><p><br /></p><p>“These people are the only gate we have to hear our voices, to hear our complaint,” Abdel Aziz said of DeSantis. “We cannot forget these people.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Abdel Aziz and others had significant concerns to convey to DeSantis and his colleagues. A majority of the detainees were never found to have committed any hostile acts against the United States. They were held thousands of miles from family without a clear legal process to determine their guilt or innocence and potential release. Abdel Aziz said he told DeSantis words to this effect: “You need to understand what is happening. You need to report to your higher-ups that we don’t know what is our status, no legal trial or anything.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Abdel Aziz said that DeSantis repeatedly promised to make sure his senior officers heard those complaints. But conditions only got worse, he said.</p><p><br /></p><p>‘It violated our principles’</p><p><br /></p><p>As the hunger strikes stretched into 2006, the Pentagon authorized widespread force-feeding despite international outcry. Retired Brig. Gen. Stephen Xenakis, the former head of the Southeast Army Medical Command, who at the time was affiliated with Physicians for Human Rights, said he advised detainee lawyers about challenging the practice.</p><p><br /></p><p>“It violated our medical ethics, it violated our principles,” Xenakis said in an interview, adding that he concluded it was torture. “I would have challenged it,” Xenakis said in an interview, referring to DeSantis’s advice about force-feeding.</p><p><br /></p><p>Many of those who endured the procedure also say it was torture — and one detainee said he recalls DeSantis witnessing it firsthand.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mansoor Adayfi, a Yemeni who was 19 when he arrived at Guantánamo, described the force-feeding process in his memoir, “Don’t Forget Us Here,” writing that “a male nurse forced that huge tube into my nose. No numbing spray. No lubricant. Raw rubber and metal sliced the inside of my nose and throat. Pain shot through my sinuses and I thought my head would explode.”</p><p><br /></p><p>One day, Adayfi said in an interview with The Post, DeSantis watched from outside a fence as he was tied to a chair and force-fed. He recalled that DeSantis stood among several people who were “smiling” at him, which he said made him angry, so he spit out food at them, with some hitting DeSantis. “I did it intentionally,” he said. The Post could not independently verify the claim, and DeSantis’s office did not respond to a question about it.</p><p><br /></p><p>“When DeSantis started interacting with us, he [said], ‘We are here to listen to you and like, make sure we are treating you humanely,’” Adayfi said. But by the time Adayfi said DeSantis witnessed his force-feeding, “it was really harsh, it was inhumane.”</p><p>Adayfi did not note his claims about DeSantis in his memoir; he appears to have first cited it in an interview last November to the podcast Eyes Left. He said he did not know DeSantis’s name until recognizing him in a photo more than a decade after leaving the prison.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis did come in close contact with detainees in their cells, according to his commander. McCarthy said he advised DeSantis not to worry about what the media said about conditions at the base and focus instead on being “proud of your mission.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Another JAG officer, Cmdr. Daniel Jones, who was in Guantánamo Bay around the same time as DeSantis, confirmed in a Navy publication that lawyers in the office interacted “with detainees on a daily basis” and advised on legal issues surrounding hunger strikes and forced feeding. Jones could not be reached for comment.</p><p><br /></p><p>In his interview with the Florida TV station, DeSantis recalled that “guards would have feces thrown at them and other stuff.”</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Investigating three deaths</b></p><p>Tensions were already simmering in Guantánamo by early June 2006. Riots broke out in one cell block. Guards rushed inside and were attacked. A senior guard later said he ordered that shots be fired at the inmates. One media report said it was the “most violent uprising yet.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Then on June 9, 2006, Col. Michael Bumgarner, the prison commander, said in an interview that he was called to the medical clinic, where he learned that three detainees had been found unresponsive in their cells. All three were soon declared dead: Mani Shaman Turki al-Habardi Al-Utaybi, 30; Ali Abdullah Ahmed, 26, and Yasser al-Zahrani, 21.</p><p><br /></p><p>Harris, the top base official, promptly told reporters that the deaths were the result of suicides, calling them “an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us.”</p><p><br /></p><p>But with international outrage spiking, it was clear a deeper investigation was needed. McCarthy soon arrived at the scene, and later asked DeSantis to help gather information for a follow-up probe by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, he said.</p><p><br /></p><p>“I cannot tell you specifically what [DeSantis] did,” McCarthy said, but it was likely that DeSantis was “involved in facilitating access to information, trying to make sure that privileged information did not get swept up. He would have been one of the folks that I dispatched to help facilitate the investigative effort.”</p><p><br /></p><p>According to an NCIS report, a team from the Regional Legal Service at Naval Air Station Mayport in Florida, including four JAG officers, was activated on Oct. 23, 2006. The NCIS said at the time that it had collected 34 boxes and one bag of material, weighing a total of 1,065 pounds, all of which had to be reviewed by the JAG officers and others.</p><p><br /></p><p>The public version of the report doesn’t provide the names of those officers, and the NCIS has declined to release a version without redactions. The timing of the team’s work coincides with DeSantis’s service and fits the framework of McCarthy’s recollection.</p><p><br /></p><p>The team’s findings remain the subject of significant controversy. Investigators determined that the three men simultaneously died by suicide by hanging themselves.</p><p><br /></p><p>Some family members did not accept that the deaths were suicides; their lawsuits against the federal government have been unsuccessful. Joseph Hickman, an Army officer who led a group of guards beyond the cell block perimeter, later contested the official version of the events in his memoir, “Murder at Camp Delta: A Staff Sergeant’s Pursuit of the Truth About Guantánamo Bay.” He alleged that the three were killed after an interrogation went too far.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis has never publicly discussed his role in the investigation. In his Florida TV interview, he appeared to incorrectly describe the findings of the probe, saying that there were “three detainees that committed suicide with hunger strikes.”</p><p><br /></p><p>The three men, who had never been charged, were all slated to be released, said Bumgarner, who remains convinced the deaths were suicides. Harris, in an interview, also stood by that assessment. Bumgarner said he inadvertently helped facilitate the deaths by providing sheets, turning off bright lights at night, and taking other measures designed to be more closely aligned with the Geneva Convention — all in response to the hunger strikes.</p><p><br /></p><p>“I failed,” Bumgarner said. “There are two overarching missions that any prison commander has, one, nobody escapes, and two, nobody dies.”</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Hardened views</b></p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis’s service at Guantánamo Bay ended on Jan. 31, 2007, according to military records. He later served with the JAG Corps in Iraq before being elected to Congress in 2012.</p><p><br /></p><p>The conservative views DeSantis brought to his political career gestated during his Guantánamo service, according to former base officials — and were particularly driven by his direct path from the cloistered world of Yale and Harvard Law to a remote prison full of alleged terrorists.</p><p><br /></p><p>“It would have been shocking,” Bumgarner said. “You’ve seen the really bad side of human beings, of human nature. You know what bad can be and you dealt with it. And so I’m sure it hardened him.”</p><p><br /></p><p>As a House member, DeSantis became one of the leading proponents of keeping the prison open, insisting it was unsafe to transfer detainees to the country’s most secure prison.</p><p><br /></p><p>In a Fox News interview on Oct. 11, 2014, host Greta Van Susteren pressed DeSantis on why the detainees needed to be kept there at what she said was an annual cost of $2.7 million each compared with $78,000 at a highest maximum-security federal prison in Colorado known as the supermax.</p><p><br /></p><p>Calling the detainees “terrorists,” DeSantis blamed Guantánamo’s high costs in part on religious accommodations. “They get three special halal meals a day,” DeSantis said. “They get round-the-clock medical care, they get the Qurans when they want it. So they’re treated far better than they would be treated almost anywhere else. And that’s costly.”</p><p><br /></p><p>A spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons responded to questions about DeSantis’s comparison by providing documentation that says federal prisoners — including in supermax facilities — are entitled to a “religious diet,” “religious books,” “ministering to you at the level of your need,” and medical care.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis in the interview also maintained that detainees can’t be sent to the supermax because “they’re unlawful combat terrorists. They’re not common criminals. Supermax has common criminals.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Robert Hood, warden of the Colorado prison from 2002 to 2005, said in an interview that supermax was designed to hold the most dangerous inmates. Hood noted that current prisoners include Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, one of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers, and “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis, in a subsequent Fox News appearance, on Sept. 7, 2015, also argued against closing Guantánamo because detainees would be given an opportunity in U.S. court to dispute their cases. “There will be judges who are going to issue a writ of habeas corpus, and you either got to take them to trial or you got to release them at that time,” DeSantis said.</p><p><br /></p><p>In May 2016, DeSantis chaired a House national security subcommittee that examined what do with the 80 detainees who remained at the base. He said that he continued to oppose closing the base or transferring detainees to other countries out of concern that they would commit acts of terrorism. Nor did he support giving detainees normal rights that would be accorded to a typical defendant.</p><p><br /></p><p>“I fear that going in the other direction where you somehow need to give them a quasi-civilian trial with basic constitutional rights almost, at the end of the day in the normal battle you are not going to be able to do that without really diverting the mission,” DeSantis said at the hearing. “And I don’t want to be doing that.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Two years later, as DeSantis ran for governor, he made his service a major campaign theme, running an ad that showed him in his Navy uniform as a narrator said he “dealt with terrorists in Guantánamo Bay.”</p><p><br /></p><p>DeSantis’s commanding officer made clear he dealt with numerous detainees whom the administration deemed terrorists. DeSantis did not deal with the highest-level group of 14 top suspects, including Sept. 11 plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. While they were transferred to Guantánamo in 2006, access to those high-level detainees was restricted to senior officers, and McCarthy said DeSantis was “not granted access.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Of the 779 individuals once held at Guantánamo — about 400 of whom were there in 2006 during DeSantis’s main time of service — most have been released to their home countries or elsewhere, including Abdel Aziz and Adayfi, the two who say they remember encountering DeSantis.</p><p><br /></p><p>Today, a military spokesman said, 34 detainees remain at the Guantánamo facility, which requires about 1,000 personnel to run. President Biden promised in February 2021 to close the base by the end of his term, but it is not clear if he will succeed, because of opposition from Congress, complications with military trial procedures and other issues.</p><p><br /></p><p>With no definitive plan in place to close the prison, its fate could fall instead to whoever wins the 2024 presidential election.</p><p><br /></p><p>Alice Crites contributed to this report.</p><p><br /></p><p>Michael Kranish is a national political investigative reporter. He co-authored The Post’s biography "Trump Revealed," as well as biographies of John F. Kerry and Mitt Romney. His latest book is "The World's Fastest Man: The Extraordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor." He previously was the deputy chief of the Boston Globe's Washington bureau.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>2979 Comments as of 3/22/23</i></p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/19/ron-desantis-guantanamo-bay-force-feeding/">In Guantanamo Bay, Ron DeSantis backed force feeding amid violent crisis - The Washington Post</a></p><p>https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/19/ron-desantis-guantanamo-bay-force-feeding/</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My comment:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks to Michael Kranish and the Post for further
revealing the immoral character of Governor DeSantis and the perfidy of the
Guantanamo prison.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is long past time for the US to return this territory to
Cuba. US occupation is based on a classic unequal treaty, a condition for
allowing Cuba to achieve its independence and the withdrawal of US troops.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">President Biden should do what President Obama feared to,
follow-through on the negotiations by Ben Rhodes and Alejandro Castro that
provided a path for return of Guantanamo.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Imagine a twenty-year joint transitional administration of a
free trade zone that would permit cruise ships to use Cuba's best deep water
port to access the rich history of the US in Santiago, including San Juan
Hill. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The cruise companies will not have a legal problem in US
courts for use of nationalized docks with Cuban-American claimants as in other
parts of the country. The poorest region of Cuba will benefit from
employment by private and state companies and foreign investors.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">President Biden can turn a horror show into hope.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">John McAuliff</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">******************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><section class="boldSection bottomSemiSpaced btPageHeadline gutter topSemiSpaced wBackground cover btParallax btDarkSkin btBackgroundOverlay btSolidDarkBackground " data-parallax-offset="-250" data-parallax="0.8" style="background-attachment: fixed; 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box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 2.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 150px !important;"><header class="header btClear medium" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="dash" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="btSubTitle" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font-family: "roboto condensed"; font-size: 0.785em !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.65em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="btArticleAuthor" href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/author/gancarski/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #181818; display: block; line-height: 3em; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-144 photo grav-hashed" height="144" id="grav-4f8cc941097099be1b9663e8c40820d3-0" loading="lazy" src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4f8cc941097099be1b9663e8c40820d3?s=144&d=mm&r=g" style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.07); border-radius: 50%; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 120px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 120px;" width="144" />A.G. Gancarski</a><span class="btArticleDate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; line-height: 3em; margin-bottom: -2px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 0.8; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">March 8, 2023</span><span class="btArticleReadingTime" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0.909em; opacity: 0.8; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px !important; padding-top: 0px; width: 120px;">3<span style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">min</span></span></div></header><span class="btIco btIcoFilledType btIcoSmallSize btIcoFacebook" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 32px; 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border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px 0.2em;"><ul style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; float: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/tag/cuba/" style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-radius: 2px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; display: inline-block; float: left; font-family: "roboto condensed"; font-size: 0.785em !important; margin: 0px 0.3em 0.3em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0.625em 1em; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: capitalize; transition: all 300ms ease 0s;"></a></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="btArticleContent" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-left: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 15em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><div class="btArticleExcerpt" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 1.125em; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.55em; margin: 0px 0px 19.95px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">DeSantis condemned the Cuban regime as a 'crime against humanity.'</div><div class="btArticleBody portfolioBody btTextLeft" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="bt_bb_wrapper" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Gov. <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ron DeSantis </strong>is outraged over a <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/cuba-ambassador-dinner-tampa-sparks-215900645.html" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;">Cuban ambassador</a></strong> visiting Tampa earlier this month.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“I think they should go back to Cuba where they belong,” DeSantis declared, condemning a dinner at the tony <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.miseonline.com/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;">Mise en Place</a></strong> that included Cuban Ambassador <a href="https://www.international.ucla.edu/institute/event/15715" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;"><strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lianys Torres Rivera</strong></a> and Cuban Consul <a href="https://twitter.com/alberterisnora?lang=en" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;"><strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nora Albertis Monterrey</strong></a>, along with various politicians from the Tampa Bay region.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">While Mise en Place is known for a “delectable variety of innovative dishes” and “creative plates in a refined space,” Florida’s Governor couldn’t stomach the state visit to the Sunshine State.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“And so to wheel in a Cuban ambassador from a corrupt totalitarian regime, and acting like we have anything to benefit in Florida from that … no thank you,” DeSantis decried.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">DeSantis condemned the Cuban regime as a “crime against humanity,” asserting that they “extinguished people’s liberties and freedom on the island of Cuba.”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“I think that the folks that have fled that regime there and their descendants, particularly in southern Florida because of that experience, have represented the beating heart of freedom in this state because they understand that it could all be taken away,” DeSantis added.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">DeSantis’ outrage about the visit follows in the wake of a rage tweet from <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRickScott/status/1632049683127312387" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;"><strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Rick Scott</strong></a>, his predecessor as Governor who currently is in the U.S. Senate.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">“I’m furious that the ‘ambassador’ for Cuba’s illegitimate, communist regime was in Tampa last night. The evil she represents will NEVER be welcome in Florida. <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Joe Biden</strong> needs to wake up & condemn this NOW. It’s clear that his failed appeasement policies aren’t working.”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/cuba-ambassador-dinner-tampa-sparks-215900645.html" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181818; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 300ms ease 0s;">Tampa Bay Times</a></strong> reports that the following politicians were at the restaurant: <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Guido Maniscalco</strong>, a member of the Tampa City Council; <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Karen Perez</strong>, a Hillsborough County School Board member; and <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cindy Stuart</strong>, Clerk of Court and Comptroller in Hillsborough County.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/593721-go-back-to-cuba-ron-desantis-rages-after-ambassadors-tampa-trip/">https://floridapolitics.com/archives/593721-go-back-to-cuba-ron-desantis-rages-after-ambassadors-tampa-trip/</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-26310178170619426452023-03-21T10:01:00.003-07:002023-03-21T10:42:25.750-07:00Speech of Assistant Secretary Nichols in Miami (annotated)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(239, 239, 239); margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 15.6pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Assistant
Secretary Brian A. Nichols’ Remarks on Cuba Policy at the Cuban Research
Institute of Florida International University March 7, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://cu.usembassy.gov/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #003875; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Home </span></a><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">| </span><a href="https://cu.usembassy.gov/news-events/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #003875; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">News & Events</span></a><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> | Assistant
Secretary Brian A. Nichols’ Remarks on Cuba Policy at the Cuban Research
Institute of Florida International University March 7, 2023</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remarks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.
Embassy in Havana<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Havana,
Cuba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March
7, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello,
thank you all for joining me to discuss our policy toward Cuba and support for
the Cuban people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
honored to gather here today with an impressive group of Cubans and
Cuban-Americans who are incredibly knowledgeable about Cuba and U.S.-Cuba
policy. Your efforts, your expertise, and your commitment to a better
future for the Cuban people have never been more important than they are at
this moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
welcome your perspectives and thank you in advance for the insight you will
share with us here today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyone
in this room is aware that the Cuban people are facing among the most difficult
and dire political, economic, and social circumstances since Fidel Castro came to
power. Analysts suggest the economic situation is worse even than the so-called
Special Period of the 1990’s, and the human rights situation is grimmer than it
has been for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I am
sure you do, we hear over and over again from our contacts in Cuba and outside
that many Cubans believe there is no future left for them on the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">That sense of desperation and a
yearning for greater freedoms led to the protests in July 2021</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – the largest nationwide
demonstrations in Cuba in recent history. Instead of recognizing the moment and
addressing citizens’ legitimate concerns, the Cuban government responded with
characteristic repression, condemning hundreds of protestors to prison with
sentences up to 25 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>[The disappointing inability of the Biden Administration to reverse the destructive policies of the Trump Administration was a contributing factor, not least regarding remittances and travel.]</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately,
in the more than 18 months since these historic protests, the regime has only
doubled down. NGOs estimate that over 700 protestors are among the more than
1,000 total political prisoners that remain behind bars today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publicly
– and privately in discussions with Cuban officials – the U.S. government
continues to call for the release of political prisoners. And we always stress
that the Cuban people should be able to choose where to live and the government
should allow its citizens to return to Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">While we strongly oppose forced exile,
the United States will not turn its back on political prisoners, and if they
want to come to America, we will explore available avenues under U.S. law to
welcome them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>[A very important practical step that will facilitate Cuba's response to the Pope's call for amnesty.]</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Our
Embassy in Havana has constant communication with the dissident community on
the island, including the families of political prisoners. These dissidents and
families are an incredibly brave group of people, facing extremely difficult
conditions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would
like to review the key aspects of the Administration’s policy toward Cuba. As
this group is aware, President Biden directed us to take action in two primary
areas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First,
to </span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">promote accountability for human rights abuses. </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the President made
clear, the U.S. government supports the right of Cubans and people everywhere
to exercise their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. We
announced targeted sanctions against Cuban officials and security forces
involved in abuses related to the July 11<sup><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">th</span></sup> protests
and visa restrictions on officials implicated in attempts to silence the voices
of the Cuban people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Second,
the President directed us to explore </span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">meaningful ways to support the
Cuban people while limiting benefits to the Cuban regime</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[Ending the embargo would be the most meaningful way. Treating Cuba like Vietnam would enable, even force, the government to make significant reforms.]</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To that
end, on May 16 last year, we made several policy announcements. One of the most
important elements of that support is family reunification through legal
migration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As you
well know, the desperation that led to the protests also led to a wave of
migration, with more Cubans arriving at our southern border and the beaches of
Florida in the last year than during the waves of maritime migration in 1980
and 1994 combined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">In 2022, almost 300,000 Cubans crossed
the southwest border, representing almost three percent of Cuba’s estimated
population.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the
same time, the number of Cubans attempting to cross the Florida Straits also
surged. Both these dangerous routes put migrants at extreme risk and led to an
unknown number of deaths.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know
migration is a topic very close to home for this audience, as the vast majority
of Cuban migrants are ultimately settling right here in South Florida. Thank
you for your efforts to help new arrivals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
fulfill the President’s May 16 commitments, we have been working to expand safe
and legal migration options. Our Embassy in Havana is now fully open for
immigrant visa processing and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has
resumed processing under the Cuban Family Reunification Program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Additionally,
the Administration took the very bold and innovative step of launching a new
parole program. The Administration committed to granting parole to up to 30,000
individuals from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti each month.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About
10,000 Cubans have successfully used the program to enter the United States to
date. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Cubans from all
walks of life have benefited, including members of the human rights community.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am
pleased to report that since the launch of the parole program in particular,
the number of Cuban migrants attempting dangerous irregular migration has
plummeted. Recognizing it is still early days, we are pleased to see Cuban
families choosing these legal options.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">Our other areas of meaningful support
for the Cuban people aim to support greater freedom and expand economic
opportunities</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> while limiting benefits to the Cuban regime. These areas
complement the ever-present focus on and support for Cuban human rights
defenders and civil society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the
first time since 2019, flights are now operating between the United States and
cities outside of Havana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have
strengthened family ties and facilitated educational connections between the
American and Cuban people by <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">expanding
categories of authorized group travel</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">The United States is increasing support
for independent Cuban entrepreneurs and everyday citizens.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
example, we removed the cap on remittances and now allow for those in the
United States to send remittances to non-family members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Direct
remittance flows resumed in November 2022 for the first time since 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">We increased support for private Cuban
entrepreneurs by authorizing travel for professional meetings or conferences,
including those that help connect the U.S. private sector with Cuban
entrepreneurs, providing opportunities for networking and training. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Roboto;">{Conferences in Cuba will permit the greatest participation but they will be hard or organize if Americans can't use hotels.]</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">We are working to expand access to
technological services and tools that will enable trailblazing Cuban
entrepreneurs to start or grow their businesses and thrive in the global
digital economy, which will create jobs and opportunity for the Cuban people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">We are exploring expanded access to
cloud-hosted services and other development tools for the Cuban people</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. These tools will help
activists and civil society connect with each other and facilitate the flow of
information on and off the island. They will also help the Cuban people
access more services, including those that circumvent censorship.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Roboto;"><i>[All very good, but when will it happen? This technological opening has been discussed for more than a year. At the same time the US refused once again to allow a fiber optic connection to a nearby cable system.]</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
current crisis, as you well know, is marked by very high inflation and chronic
shortages of food, medicine, and electricity. The August 2022 fire at the
Matanzas oil storage facility demonstrated the fragility of Cuba’s energy
infrastructure and exacerbated pre-existing energy shortages which manifest in
widespread and lengthy blackouts around the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">The Cuban government is quick to try to
blame others for its economic woes without acknowledging the decades of
mismanagement that led to the current crisis. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">[Correct but only half the story and hypocritical if we never acknowledge the damage we intentionally do with the embargo and the still in place Trump restrictions, including State Sponsor of Terrorism.}</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">We continue to call on the Cuban
government to put in place economic policies that would improve the country’s
situation, such as greater freedom for private sector actors and much-needed
agricultural reforms.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 16px;">[Easy to criticize them, but how about us putting in place modest reforms to benefit the private sector and agriculture like a general license exemption from the embargo including agricultural supplies and equipment, U turn and other normal banking provisions.]</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These
are all crucial steps which the President believes are the best means to
support the Cuban people, while minimizing benefits to the regime.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">As we implement these measures</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, we will continue to
call on the Cuban regime to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for
all Cubans and unconditionally release all political prisoners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
support the Cuban people and protect our U.S. national interests, we also do
have direct engagement with the regime when it is in our interest to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">Such engagement includes discussions on
migration, scientific and technical cooperation including maritime and aviation
safety, and food and animal health protocols. It also includes law enforcement
cooperation as appropriate. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 16px;">[How can we have real law enforcement cooperation and keep Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism?]</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">The United States will consider all
options available to continue supporting the Cuban people as they call for
greater freedom, access to resources, and respect for human rights.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>[How about the option of ending economic warfare and regime change policies? Cuba should learn from Vietnam's successful economic policies. The US should learn from its successful bilateral relations with Vietnam.]</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank
you and I look forward to listening to remarks from the panelists and answering
your questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid rgb(221, 221, 221); mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 11pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 11.0pt 0in 11.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By </span><a href="https://cu.usembassy.gov/author/usembassyhavana/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #003875; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">U.S. Embassy Havana</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> |
8 March, 2023 | Topics: </span><a href="https://cu.usembassy.gov/category/news/" title="News"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #003875; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">News</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><a href="https://cu.usembassy.gov/category/us-and-cuba/" title="U.S. & Cuba"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #003875; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">U.S.
& Cuba</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://cu.usembassy.gov/assistant-secretary-brian-a-nichols-remarks-on-cuba-policy-at-the-cuban-research-institute-of-florida-international-university-march-7-2023/">Assistant
Secretary Brian A. Nichols’ Remarks on Cuba Policy at the Cuban Research
Institute of Florida International University March 7, 2023 - U.S. Embassy in
Cuba (usembassy.gov)</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://cu.usembassy.gov/assistant-secretary-brian-a-nichols-remarks-on-cuba-policy-at-the-cuban-research-institute-of-florida-international-university-march-7-2023/<o:p></o:p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-91929682933435643282023-03-20T09:55:00.002-07:002023-03-21T08:11:05.794-07:00Larger Meaning of Cuba-US Baseball Semifinal<p> <span style="font-size: 3.125rem; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Political protests transform U.S.-Cuba WBC semifinal into something beyond baseball</span></p><div class="page-wrapper" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 40px;"><main class="page-main" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 300px;"><article class="story" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="page-lead-media" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 40px;"><figure class="figure" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><picture style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><source sizes="100vw" srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a0be4d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/320x213!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f529879/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/568x379!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0e383a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/768x512!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b350d17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/1024x683!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 1024w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e34b55d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/1200x800!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 1200w" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="Cuba manager Armando Johnson looks on from the dugout as fans hold a Cuban flag displaying the words "Patria y Vida” on it." class="image" decoding="async" height="800" sizes="100vw" src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5158258/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952" srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/06708b7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bb1c9a3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b863d6e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/baf6697/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/1024x683!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 1024w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5158258/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3606x2404+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Ff8%2F0ba1241b40a2ad7cdb294ec10c19%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474721952 1200w" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 834.667px;" width="1200" /></picture><div class="figure-content" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--primary-text-color); font-family: var(--service-font),arial,"helvetica neue",helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 0.75rem; line-height: 0.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><div class="figure-caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">Cuba manager Armando Johnson looks on from the dugout as fans hold a Cuban flag displaying “Patria y Vida” — the slogan and song linked to protests in Cuba in 2021 — during the United States’ 14-2 WBC semifinal win Sunday.</div><div class="figure-credit" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin-left: 5px;">(Eric Espada / Getty Images)</div></div></figure></div><div class="byline byline-enhanced" style="align-items: flex-start; 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box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.125rem;">MIAMI — </span> <p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 30px;">The sporadic “¡Libertad!” chants and the protesters running onto the field Sunday night were reminders that the <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-03-15/full-coverage-2023-world-baseball-classic" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">World Baseball Classic</a> semifinal between the United States and Cuba was not just another baseball game.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">This was the first time the Cuban national baseball team played in Miami, home to the largest Cuban community in this country, since the Cuban Revolution ended in 1959. It was played in, of all places, Little Havana, the neighborhood Cubans made their own when they began arriving in droves. The dynamic was impossible to ignore. As was <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-03-18/wbc-usa-defeats-venezuela-recap" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">Team USA</a>’s superiority between the lines in a <a class="link" href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cuba-vs-united-states/2023/03/19/719498/final/wrap" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">14-2 win</a> at loanDepot Park.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">Cuba took a quick 1-0 lead with three infield singles to start the game, but the U.S. dominated from there in the teams’ first WBC meeting. </p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">Former <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2022-05-23/trea-turner-smoothest-slide-in-mlb-dodgers" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner</a>, batting ninth for the second consecutive game, led the charge, going three for four with two home runs after blasting the go-ahead grand slam in <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-03-18/wbc-usa-defeats-venezuela-recap" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">Team USA’s quarterfinal victory over Venezuela</a> on Saturday. His four home runs in the tournament are the most for a U.S. player in a WBC. His 10 RBIs are tied for most.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">In all, the Americans had 14 hits, including four home runs. They scored in every inning they batted in but the seventh. They dismantled a Cuba team that surpassed expectations reaching this point without most of the Cubans playing in the major leagues. Team USA, the tournament’s defending champion, will face Japan or Mexico, which play Monday, in the final Tuesday.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;"></p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-nativo-module data-fetch-offset="1.0" data-hide-mobile="true" data-integration-script="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="nativo_1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"></div></ps-nativo-module></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“I usually don’t hit very well here,” said Turner, who <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/liveblog/mlb-winter-meetings-live" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">signed with the Philadelphia Phillies</a> in December. “But I’ll take these last few days. They’ve been fun for me.”</p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><figure class="figure" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><picture style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><source sizes="100vw" srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b58c435/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/320x213!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d8aaeb1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/568x379!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8550de2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/768x512!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/263c56c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/1024x683!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 1024w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa37ee2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/1200x800!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 1200w" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="A fan holds a sign protesting the Cuban government during Sunday's World Baseball Classic semifinal in Miami." class="image" decoding="async" height="800" loading="lazy" sizes="100vw" src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/340524e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190" srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b1a778/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eb1dd20/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c351bf7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/44c5599/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/1024x683!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 1024w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/340524e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5372x3581+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fc7%2F6862c8e040c7a6399d0ce5741844%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474726190 1200w" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 680px;" width="1200" /></picture><div class="figure-content" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--primary-text-color); font-family: var(--service-font),arial,"helvetica neue",helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 0.75rem; line-height: 0.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><div aria-hidden="true" class="figure-caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">A fan holds a sign protesting the Cuban government during Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal in Miami.</div><div class="figure-credit" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin-left: 5px;">(Megan Briggs / Getty Images)</div></div></figure></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">The Cuban team that took the field Sunday was the first to feature Major League Baseball players since the country’s revolution. Chicago Cubs left-hander Roenis Elías started Sunday. The Chicago White Sox’s Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert Jr., the team’s two best position players, batted second and third. Former Dodger <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-0223-dodgers-jamey-wright-20140223-story.html" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">Erisbel Arruebarrena</a> started at shortstop.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;"></p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-nativo-module data-fetch-offset="1.0" data-hide-mobile="true" data-integration-script="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="nativo_1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"></div></ps-nativo-module></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">Each of those players took a different path back to the national team. Elías and Robert escaped Cuba by boat. Moncada was given permission to leave in 2014. Arruebarrena defected in 2013 — after a failed attempt that barred him from the Cuban National Series — and signed a $25-million contract in February 2014. He appeared in 22 games for the Dodgers that season and never reached the majors again. Five years later, he repatriated to Cuba and resumed his career there.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">The Cuban team needed permission from the U.S. government — sanctions prohibit business with the country — to take part in the tournament. The Cuban Baseball Federation and players, however, weren’t allowed to receive money from the WBC, unlike the other participants.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">The Cuban Baseball Federation imposed two requirements for player eligibility: Players could not have criticized the government publicly or defected during international competition to play in the United States. That left the team without several MLB veterans and stars. Some declined an invitation. Others never received one.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;"></p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-nativo-module data-fetch-offset="1.0" data-hide-mobile="true" data-integration-script="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="nativo_1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"></div></ps-nativo-module></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">One of those players was <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-11-15/randy-arozarena-jonathan-india-al-nl-rookie-of-year-mlb" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">Randy Arozarena</a>. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder defected and established residency in Mexico in 2016. Last year, he became a Mexican citizen in order to play for the country in the WBC. He has played a starring role for Mexico, helping the team reach the WBC semifinals for the first time. He told reporters after Mexico’s workout Sunday that he hoped Cuba would beat the U.S. so he could have the chance to defeat his native country in the final.</p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><figure class="figure" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><picture style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><source sizes="100vw" srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e167b77/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/320x213!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e9f2c8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/568x379!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1dc71d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/768x512!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ad26a7f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/1024x683!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 1024w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5cf8b5f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/1200x800!/format/webp/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 1200w" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="Trea Turner, left, celebrates with his U.S. teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against Cuba." class="image" decoding="async" height="800" loading="lazy" sizes="100vw" src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6d5abe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348" srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/402a26d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/80ff9b5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/262fcca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/091b68c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/1024x683!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 1024w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6d5abe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3245x2163+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F4f%2Fb2fa8e2d466088ab07cb7a03bc2a%2Fhttps-delivery-gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1474727348 1200w" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 680px;" width="1200" /></picture><div class="figure-content" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--primary-text-color); font-family: var(--service-font),arial,"helvetica neue",helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 0.75rem; line-height: 0.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><div aria-hidden="true" class="figure-caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">Trea Turner, left, celebrates with his U.S. teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against Cuba.</div><div class="figure-credit" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin-left: 5px;">(Megan Briggs / Getty Images)</div></div></figure></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">Arozarena, who attended Sunday’s game, won’t get that chance. Team USA was too much for Cuba to handle. Adam Wainwright rebounded from the strange start to the game to limit Cuba to one run over four innings. Miles Mikola, his St. Louis Cardinals teammate, followed with the same pitching line before Angels left–hander <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2022-03-16/mlb-angels-aaron-loup-bullpen-new-left-hander-pitcher" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;">Aaron Loup</a> finished it off.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“I’ve been focused on our pitching,” Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “How do we get our pitching lined up to get us in the finals day in, day out? That’s been the biggest thing. How do we honor these parent clubs, get the guys the work they need?”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;"></p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-nativo-module data-fetch-offset="1.0" data-hide-mobile="true" data-integration-script="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="nativo_1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"></div></ps-nativo-module></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">The pregame news conference, usually a benign event, had a dose of tension. The room was filled with Cuban natives. Most defected to the United States from Cuba. A few others there still call Cuba home. At least one reporter was working for Granma — the official newspaper of Cuba’s Communist Party.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“Us, at this minute, are focused on what really truly matters — a game that’s going to be difficult, against a good team,” Cuba manager Armando Johnson said in Spanish. “I don’t think we’re thinking about what’s going to be said or done.”</p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-tweet-embed data-fetch-offset="1.0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="social-embed tweet-url" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: center; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; width: 680px;"><span style="font-size: 1.25rem;">A protestor ran onto the field during play. He appeared to hold up a sign in center field. He was escorted off to loud cheers. </span><a href="https://t.co/w44StRrw3n" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.25rem; text-decoration-line: none;">pic.twitter.com/w44StRrw3n</a>— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/jorgecastillo/status/1637629636010967041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">March 20, 2023</a></div></ps-tweet-embed></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">The dynamic bled onto the field in the sixth inning when a protester emerged from the crowd. He stopped in center field, where he held up a sign that called for freedom for a group of political prisoners before security escorted him off.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">Another protester scampered onto the field before the seventh-inning stretch. He eluded security guards until tripping on the infield. Another protester breached security in the eighth inning.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“I went up and asked if the run rule was still in effect here,” DeRosa said, “because I just wanted to get the guys off the field.”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;"></p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-nativo-module data-fetch-offset="1.0" data-hide-mobile="true" data-integration-script="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="nativo_1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"></div></ps-nativo-module></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“Patria y Vida” — the slogan and song linked to protests in Cuba in 2021 — was prominent on flags, signs and clothing. But<b> the crowd was, on the whole, on the Cuban team’s side. Fans roared during pregame introductions and after the Cuban national anthem. They exploded with each hit off a Cuban’s bat. Flags waved throughout the crowd. </b>The people were cheering for the players if not for the government they represented.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">Before the game, however, protests formed outside the ballpark, beyond the building’s perimeter. One attracted dozens of people by 5 p.m.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;"></p><div class="enhancement" data-align-center="" data-click="enhancement" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><ps-nativo-module data-fetch-offset="1.0" data-hide-mobile="true" data-integration-script="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="nativo_1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box;"></div></ps-nativo-module></div><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">The people gathered around photos of political prisoners and people said to have been killed under the Cuban government’s watch. A few wore red MAGA caps. Anger and the smell of cigar smoke hovered.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">One man took the microphone to address the group in Spanish. He thanked the police for allowing the protest and pleaded for it to remain peaceful. His peers complied. The group swelled as first pitch approached. Periodic chants broke out.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“¡Viva Cuba libre! ¡Viva!”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“¡Asesinos!”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px;">“USA! USA! USA!”</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 0px;">A few dozen feet away, on the other side of a fence, reggaeton music boomed and alcohol flowed. Fans searched for the best entrance to their seats. They arrived with mixed feelings. They left having witnessed history and a drubbing.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 0px;"><a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-03-19/trea-turner-powers-u-s-past-cuba-and-into-world-baseball-classic-final">https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-03-19/trea-turner-powers-u-s-past-cuba-and-into-world-baseball-classic-final</a></p></div></div></div></article></main></div><div class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><h1 class="gmail-jeg_post_title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><img class="myimg-responsive" src="https://walterlippmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/logo-oncuba-news.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">The ball is round… Baseball, politics and the nation</span></span></h1><h2 class="gmail-jeg_post_subtitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cuba is playing the semifinal of the World Baseball Classic today, with a team made up of players from its national league and professional leagues, which has relaunched baseball as a national passion.</span></h2><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Translated by Walter Lippmann for CubaNews.</span></div><div class="gmail-jeg_meta_container" style="box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit;"><div class="gmail-jeg_post_meta gmail-jeg_post_meta_1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><div class="gmail-meta_left" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit;"><div class="gmail-jeg_meta_author" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="gmail-meta_text" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">by</span> <span class="gmail-pp-multiple-authors-layout-inline gmail-author_index_1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a class="gmail-author gmail-url gmail-fn" href="https://oncubanews-com.translate.goog/author/juliocesarguanche1/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="avatar photo" class="gmail-avatar gmail-avatar-96 gmail-photo gmail-lazyloaded myimg-responsive" height="96" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DSC_6201-96x96.png" style="border-radius: 100%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 30px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 35px;" width="96" /> Julius Cesar Guanche</a></span></span></div> <span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span> <div class="gmail-jeg_meta_date" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <a href="https://oncubanews-com.translate.goog/opinion/columnas/la-vida-de-nosotros/la-pelota-es-redonda-beisbol-politica-y-nacion/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">March 19, 2023</a></span></div> <span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span> <div class="gmail-jeg_meta_category" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span class="gmail-meta_text" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">in </span><a href="https://oncubanews-com.translate.goog/opinion/columnas/la-vida-de-nosotros/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the life of us</a></span></div></div> <div class="gmail-meta_right" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; text-align: right;"><div class="gmail-jeg_meta_comment" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://oncubanews-com.translate.goog/opinion/columnas/la-vida-de-nosotros/la-pelota-es-redonda-beisbol-politica-y-nacion/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp#comments" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">0</a></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail-jeg_featured gmail-featured_image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="gmail-thumbnail-container" style="background: 50% 50% / cover rgb(247, 247, 247); box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: 0px;"> </div><p class="gmail-wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: right;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Photo: Kaloian.</span></p></div><div class="gmail-jeg_share_top_container" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><img class="gmail-wp-post-image gmail-lazyloaded myimg-responsive" height="495" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pelota-en-Cuba-Kaloian00008-750x495.jpg" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; display: inline-block; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 697.5px;" width="750" /></span></div><div class="entry-content gmail-with-share" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="gmail-content-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">“The passion begins”, I always heard at the beginning of the broadcasts of ball games in Cuba. "Ball" was synonymous with passion on the island for a long time, although it alluded more to sexuality. "What a ball Carlota has", said a rumba by Alberto Villalón. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">Cuba is playing the semifinal of the World Baseball Classic <a href="https://oncubanews-com.translate.goog/deportes/beisbol/cuba-estados-unidos-el-otro-clasico-empieza-ahora/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">today , with a team made up of players from its national league and professional leagues, which has relaunched baseball as a national passion.</a></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">In the best tradition, everything is discussed. Among others, the debates on the name of Team Asere for the team members, the claims not to politicize the sport, and the type of integration that the Cuban team supposes, issues that run through this text, may have a greater scope.</span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">the asere</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">The name of Team Asere was born from a meme and caught on until it stayed. Some have pointed out "vulgarity" in the phrase. It is an old problem of Cuban culture and its “anxiety”, as the American academy likes to say, to account for the difficulty of accepting —and above all of including— popular and racialized expressions.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Asere is a Cuban term “loosely translatable in its use as 'brother', which means a good or trustworthy friend” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">1</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> . For the Abakuá culture of Cuba, according to Pedro Pérez Sarduy, as in the ancient Carabalí religion, it is a form of greeting. For Sergio Valdés Bernal, its use is part of the sub-Saharan linguistic legacy in Cuban Spanish, “another identity nuance of our variant of the Spanish language” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">2</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">Due to its origin, the expression has historically been marked with “vulgarity”. Juan Formell questioned many times the vision of public dances as spaces where only "the aseres", "the handsome ones" went, when, according to the founder of the Van Van, it was a cultural event of great importance for the Cuban nationality.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">However, Formell's phrase has an echo throughout national history.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Dances in meeting places for the poor and blacks have always been accused of "degenerating into a scandal." A party held in 1936 in Llinás and Subirana (Havana) was dissolved by a police captain who arrested the “men and women who scandalously danced sones and rumba” for “moral offenses” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">3</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Cuban popular culture learned to deal with it. Ignacio Piñeiro composed “Los cantares del abacuá” (1923), with terms typical of that culture: “The bongó goes out of tune / If we don't sing Asere, asere, asere”. Arsenio Rodríguez sang “Los Sitios asere / they call a happy neighborhood” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">4</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> . Both of them, together with María Teresa Vera, were the first to incorporate expressions of Afro origin in Cuban popular music, in a context in which their liturgical celebration was literally a crime, accused of "witchcraft".</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">Today, they are classics of Cuban national and universal culture. George Gershwin used the famous “Échale salsita”, by Piñeiro, in the introduction to his “Cuban Overture”. Arsenio is one of the founding fathers of Latin jazz. María Teresa Vera is the founding mother of the Cuban trova recognizable around the globe.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The term <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">asere</em> reminds us that the barracón, like the independence war and the port market, are the central sources of Cuban culture. It also happens with the terms </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">palo</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> (coitus), </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">tumbadero</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> (brothel); </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">botar paja</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> (masturbation) and </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">bollo</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> (vulva), which are transpositions of the culture of the sugar mill into Cuban popular speech <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">5</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">These terms are marks of the violence that gave birth to Cuban nationality, of the forms of sociability that resisted slavery, and of the centrality of racism in the production of national culture from its origins until today. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Ricardo Sánchez Porro gathers a theory according to which the term </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">lukumí</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> , used in Cuba to identify even different cultural expressions, perhaps "obeys the treatment between equals that the Yoruba gave themselves", which is "as saying asere nowadays" <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">6</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">The current use of asere perhaps expresses like no other word —señor, compañero, míster, pana— the demands for equality and inclusion, for equal treatment, in today's Cuba, and the complexities of how to achieve it.</span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">The “politicization” of sport</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The first official ball club arose in Cuba in 1868. The first competition was held in 1878. It is the period of the Great War. Its diffusion in Cuba responded to a political context: the image of American modernity, and not the reality of Spanish colonial oppression, should provide, says Lisandro Pérez, the desirable symbols for a nascent nationality committed to a "clearly modernist, progressive orientation." and secular” </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">7</span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">The most prominent of those symbols was baseball, which quickly became filled with Cubanisms that were rarely translated from English, such as "ponche."</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The Cuban emigration in New York in the 19th century, as soon as he learned English, says Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof, discussed baseball while paying homage to Maceo </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">8</span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">A cartoon —reminiscent of the name "old cat" for the ball—reveals the Spanish animosity towards baseball, its association with the United States and the political references that baseball's phrases kept against the colonial regime.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">On the other hand, baseball, especially professional baseball—amateurism was for decades an aristocratic luxury, which made Kid Chocolate exclaim, in the boxing field, that he couldn't afford to be an Olympic champion—was a channel for social mobilization.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">It represented one of the few avenues available for poor people to "get ahead" as well as dignify the "black race." </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">This is how the anti-racist movements of the first half of the 20th century </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">celebrated </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Cuban and foreign athletes such as Kid Charol, Black Bill, José — </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">the Black Diamond —</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> Méndez, or Jesse Owens. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Roberto González Echeverría has shown another facet of the nationalist politicization of baseball in Cuba, by studying the emergence of players from the interior of the country in the 1930s and 40s, who embodied “an ideal type of the Republic” </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">9</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Those players were guajiros, the mythical site of the "redeeming bush." They represented “a kind of amateur aristocracy”, used by the nationalism reworked in Cuba after the revolution of 1930. “El </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Guajiro</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> de Laberinto”, Conrado Marrero, was one of them.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">Part of this process was the 1940 Constitution, the first, perhaps in the world, to recognize racial discrimination as a punishable crime, and to ensure affirmative action mechanisms for discriminated sectors. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The ball played a role here: the Sports Directorate was required, in Prío's time, to put an end to "discriminatory practices in amateur sports and especially in baseball, where the exclusion of blacks became a ' scandal'” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">10</span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">That is, the link between politics and baseball is well established in Cuban history. It by no means started in 1959.</span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">The integration of the team to the Classic: politics and sport</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">The conformation of the current team is not the first conflictive integration that Cuban baseball has experienced in its history.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Cuba had an integrated team, black and white, 47 years before the United States. After 1908, José de la Caridad Méndez “was the first great popular idol of sports in Cuba, recognized by whites and blacks” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">11</span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> . Another Cuban, Silvio Garcia, may have preceded Jackie Robinson in breaking the color barrier in baseball in that country.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">For Ada Ferrer, “many members of the segregated Negro Leagues in the United States loved to play baseball in Cuba. They could play all their games in world-class integrated stadiums, in a beautiful and fascinating city, without having to suffer the humiliations they suffered in the past of the Jim Crow era” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">12</span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the complete integration between whites and blacks took place on the ball. It happened in 1962, at the beginning of the national series that abolished professionalism (which allowed black players), while denying the tradition of Cuban amateurism in baseball, and its frequent refusal to accept blacks </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">13</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> .</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">Since then, another kind of “disintegration” began. It is the one that is being discussed today about the current team to the Classic: that of the former Cuban professional baseball players —prohibited at that time from playing baseball in Cuba—, of the Cuban League with respect to professional leagues, and of the cancellation, stigmatization and exclusion of those who played in them. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">The succession of successes of this new era was widely celebrated in Cuba, while its competitive prestige strengthened in the world, although under the shadow, not always fair, of not playing against "the best."</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The Cold War also provided context: the use of sport as a State policy to affirm the superiority of a system, in a competition that did not leave any of the contenders unscathed <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">14</span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> . Cuba, in its scale, was part of this global process of instrumentalization of sport, in its case as a socialist achievement and a nationalist victory.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">In 2023, the situation is very different. If, as González Echeverría says, “the symbolism of scoring in baseball is as complicated as a modernist metaphor”, the symbolism of this Clásico, and of the integration of the team, is as complicated as the current Cuban political grammar.</span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Metaphors and consequences of Team Cuba</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">El Clásico has generated many symbols, both articulations and contradictions, and perhaps it will yield results for the future.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">For its part, the Cuban government took the first, essential and long-desired step in the integration of professional baseball players. With all its problems (the exclusion of Yasmani Tomás is the most scandalous slab of the selective integration criteria), it is also a good metaphor for national integration. There should be no going back. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">On the other hand, the agreement with the MLB was suspended by Trump. The result of the Clásico may prompt demands to resume the agreement, also from the United States.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Some eight of the 30 players on the team play </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">only</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> in Cuba. It was hard to expect this to be a “normal” integration. However, they have coexisted with each other, and celebrated their triumphs with songs from a shared national soundtrack, until now without news that a civil war has broken out in the locker room.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">Cuban contradictions have also made an appearance:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">The Cuban government has eagerly accepted the name of Team Asere. However, in 2021, in the face of popular protests, he did not hesitate to call a very large number of "aseres" "vandals and criminals" —the racialized background of these protests does not go unnoticed—, a significant part of whom have been imprisoned to this day with very disproportionate penalties.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit;">On the other hand, the fundamentalist areas of Cuban exile reject the idea of Team Asere, as if all its members were until today Moncadista pioneers. In this, they have called for a boycott of games and wished for the defeat of the team that “does not represent them”, when there are their idols among them when they play in the MLB.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">El Clásico has misplaced many compatriots, which may be part of a more general misplacement about what to do in and with Cuba. Now, no tradition becomes </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">national</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> by choice, nor has it been deployed for 150 years without generating consequences and possibilities.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">In a documentary by Rolando Díaz, an amateur assures: "it is that everything that the people like is round and square." Hearing him, seeing his face when he says it, explains the best declaration of love, and wisdom, that I have heard both about the ball, and about the core of a national policy that deserves to bear that name.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></span></p><hr style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Grades:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">1 </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Afrocuba. An Anthology of Cuban writing on race, politics and culture</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> , Edited by Pedro Pérez Sarduy and Jean Stubbs, Ocean, Published in association with the Center for Cuban Studies (New York), 1993, p. 157.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">2 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Sergio Valdés Bernal, «Oh, what happiness! How I like to speak Spanish!», in </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Catauro</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> . </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Cuban Journal of Anthropology. </span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Year 4, number 6. 2002, p.95.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">3 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">“Three detained by the national police, moral offenses.” </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The Crucible. </span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">26.12.1936.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">4 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">The texts of both songs appear in the compilation, in two volumes, </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">¡Oh Cuba Hermosa! The social political songbook in Cuba until 1958,</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> by Cristobál Díaz-Ayala.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">5 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Manuel Moreno Fraginals. The wit. Social economic complex of sugar, Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, Havana, 1986, p. 40.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">6 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Reinaldo Sanchez Porro. "History of the main African ethnic groups brought to Cuba", in </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Black presence in Cuban culture,</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> Coordination and introduction by Denia García Ronda, Ediciones Sensemayá, Havana, 2015, p.30</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">7 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Lisandro Perez. </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution The Making of Cuban New York,</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> New York University Press, New York, 2018, p. 6</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">8 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof. </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Racial Migrations: New York City and the Revolutionary Politics of the Spanish Caribbean</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> , Princeton University Press, Year: 2019, p. 154.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">9 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Roberto González Echevarría, Cuban baseball players. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Three testimonies, </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Nueva Sociedad</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> No. 154 March-April 1998, pp. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">87-100, see also Gloria de Cuba: History of baseball on the island, Editorial Colibrí, Madrid, 2004.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">10 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Alejandro de la Fuente, </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">A Nation for All: Race, Inequality, and Politics in Cuba, 1900-2000. </span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Madrid, Spain: Editorial Colibrí, p. 308.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">11 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Felix Julio Alfonso and Victor Joaquin Ortega. «Black Cuban athletes in the Republic», in </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Black presence in Cuban culture,</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> Coordination and introduction by Denia García Ronda, Ediciones Sensemayá, Havana, 2015, p.264.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">12 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Ada Ferrer. </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Cuba. An American history</span></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"> , Scribner, 2021, p. 223.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">13 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">Felix Julio Alfonso and Victor Joaquin Ortega. Ob. cit.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">14 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;">This is a brief reminder of this: The German Federal Republic (GDR) certified its cultural birth as a new nation, after World War II, with the conquest of the soccer world championship in 1954. The USSR celebrated, after much scandal, the triumph of his Olympic basketball team in 1972, against the sport of “imperialism”. In the United States, they celebrated the victory at the 1980 Winter Olympics of their non-professional hockey team over the USSR, nicknamed none other than the “Red Army”, as if it were the final victory over communism. The GDR imposed a model of mass surveillance on athletes, and state doping practices. The latter, with less fame, were also organized in that context by the United States.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit;"><a href="https://groups.io/g/cubanews/topic/97722858">cubanews@groups.io | *important* ON CUBA NEWS/Guanche: The ball is round… Baseball, politics and the nation</a></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">**************************************</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">PROGRESO WEEKLY: Inclusión is the Key</h4><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><table class="table table-condensed table-striped table-fixed" id="records" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 836px;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="background-color: #f9f9f9; box-sizing: border-box;"></tr><tr class="test" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><hr class="sr-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;" /><a name="23031" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7;"></a><div class="row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;"><div class="col-md-12" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 856px;"><div class="pull-left" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left;"><span class="fa fa-user fa-3x" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Pro"; font-size: 3em; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 900; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> Walter Lippmann</div><div class="pull-right" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; text-align: right;"><span class="text-muted" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Mar 19, 2023 9:55pm">Mar 19</span> </span> <a href="https://groups.io/g/cubanews/message/23031" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="hidden-xs" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#23031 </span><span class="fa fa-link fa-lg" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Pro"; font-size: 1.33333em; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 900; line-height: 0.75em; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: -0.0667em;"></span></a></div></div></div><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><div id="msgbody219703042" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="forcebreak" dir="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: roboto; font-size: 13px; width: 384px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 384px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; width: 384px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="myimg-responsive" height="387" src="https://progresoweekly.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jit-23-CM-Cuba-Australia-Fto-Morejon-2-580x387-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="580" /></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: inherit; font-size: 35px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px;">Inclusion: The key</h1><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #717171; font-family: "frank ruhl libre"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">The stubborn reality, like the mangrove swamp, seems – I am prudent – to have been imposing itself.</h2><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3a3a3a; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit;"><a href="https://progresoweekly.us/author/progreso-weekly/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; max-width: 150px;">By <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 2px;">Progreso Weekly</span></span></a> <span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.44)" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;">On <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 2px;">Mar 19, 2023</span></span></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto;"><span style="border-radius: 3px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4d4d; display: inline-block; font-size: 12px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: fontawesome; font-size: 15px;"></span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 2px;">Compartir</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fprogresoweekly.us%2Finclusion-la-clave%2F" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: fontawesome; font-size: 16px; height: 30px;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px;">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: fontawesome; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; text-align: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Here, There and Everywhere</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">javier toledo</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Translated by Walter Lippmann for CubaNews.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit;">Thee expected baseball game this afternoon between the teams (teams) Asere Cuba and the United States in the afternoon today, has moved the ground on both shores.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Opinions, comments, of all kinds, radicalization of positions, especially in Miami, etc. There is everything, like in an apothecary, demanding the attention of sociologists and psychosociologists so that they carry out a serene study of what is happening and is happening on each side of the 90 miles from the situation created by a baseball game.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Some argue for linguistic delicacies about the use of Asere-Cuba, merged, intertwined, imbricated, exceed, in my opinion, an important moment. Let me explain: Asere, monina, ecobio, ambia, they are worth a friend, acquaintance, partner. And it happens that for the first time the Cuba team is made up of players from the country and by Cubans who emigrated and play in foreign leagues. It hadn't happened before.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Asere=friend, not enemy, not stranger, you=Cuba Cuban, regardless of what you think in political terms because some of our baseball players, Cubans like you, me, that other one, do not sympathize with the Cuban government, but they are from the team , of the team They are Cuban. Cuba is more than a government.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The key to the success achieved in being in the big four lies in the option to INCLUDE to win. The stubborn reality, like the mangrove, seems – I am prudent – to have been imposing itself. And curious: the exclusions "swarm" (abundant) in Florida right now, not only in the networks, but at political levels where they have even explored the possibility that the Cuba-Asere team be prohibited from playing at the LoanDepot Park in Miami ; or find out if any of the players who play in the US MLB have violated the law by joining the Cuba-Asere team.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Regardless of the result of today's game, the Cuba team has already won by reaching the semifinals and it is worth insisting that a key point has been the inclusive policy. Hopefully INCLUDE, a positive experience, will be fully extended to all areas of national life.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Photo taken from Jit</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Progreso Semanal/ Weekly authorizes the total or partial reproduction of the articles by our journalists as long as the original source and author are identified.</em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Follow us on </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/progresosemanal/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARBKQi_Lfh0GFRIXlexE-KB5sWbVmMj6mgydTmuxpRVZMwOKkvVJrom3RlE_EEOTMMequVIo_tnC1Shw" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Facebook</span></a><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> , on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ProgresoHabana?s=09" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">@ProgresoHabana</span></a><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> and on </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ft.me%2Fprogresosemanal%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1zVIuygU5wf6KxgKSDeN-xx8FamVmfdXjBovhslz9Bcn7JmKqRtTDLfis&h=AT2gAq5VDuHlTX9C_xEYkwqTZAbfnURrht4S3DHMpyACyCMPZYeG1uAqrueuKwJzKLQeO5F0S463i-G_jrJPBlVeVj6k8gJYgJqhD702QMLvvaBX2jJ6p0uhbOSXt2mreQ" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Telegram</span></a><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> .</em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-18637112117950356922023-03-19T15:32:00.002-07:002023-03-19T15:32:36.732-07:00Havana Syndrome Discredited<p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Foreign Adversaries
‘Very Unlikely’ to Blame for Havana Syndrome, Intelligence Review
Finds</span></b></p>The assessment concluded that there was no credible
evidence that any adversaries had developed a weapon capable of causing the
injuries that U.S. officials have reported.<br /><br />
<h1><b><a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/us/politics/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report.html?searchResultPosition=1">https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/us/politics/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report.html<br /><br /><br /></a>Cuba
blasts U.S. for years of disregarding evidence on 'Havana Syndrome'</b></h1>By
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/authors/dave-sherwood/">Dave Sherwood</a>
March 3<br /><br /><a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-blasts-us-years-disregarding-evidence-havana-syndrome-2023-03-03/">https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-blasts-us-years-disregarding-evidence-havana-syndrome-2023-03-03/<br /><br /></a>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-83355654043821165022023-03-19T14:39:00.000-07:002023-03-19T14:39:14.755-07:00Western Union Restores Service to Cuba<p> </p><h2><b>Western Union Reopens Remittance Services To Cuba</b></h2>Mar 7, 2023 |
By <a href="https://www.cigaraficionado.com/author/peter-kornbluh">Peter
Kornbluh</a>
<dl>
<dd><a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/western-union-reopens-remittance-services-to-cuba">https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/western-union-reopens-remittance-services-to-cuba<br /><br /><br /></a>
</dd><dd>Western Union announcement of expanded service to Cuba
</dd><dd><a eudora="autourl" href="https://corporate.westernunion.com/2023/03/02/western-union-expands-initial-test-service-from-the-united-states-to-cuba/">https://corporate.westernunion.com/2023/03/02/western-union-expands-initial-test-service-from-the-united-states-to-cuba/</a><br /><br /><br />
</dd><dd>Form to send funds with Western Union to Cuba <br /><br />
</dd><dd><a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/web/sendmoney/start?SrcCode=12345&ReceiveCountry=CU">https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/web/sendmoney/start?SrcCode=12345&ReceiveCountry=CU<br /><br /></a>
</dd><dd></dd></dl>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-36170929491901622372023-03-13T16:09:00.006-07:002023-04-13T08:54:18.871-07:00FITCuba 2023 in Havana May 1-5<p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">FITCuba May 1-5, 2023 Havana</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">FITCuba website is <a href="https://www.fitcuba.net/" target="_blank">here</a> https://www.fitcuba.net/</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Click on <i>Acreditacion</i> to register. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Manual for exhibitors is <a href="https://www.fitcuba.net/pdf-exhibitors-manual" target="_blank">here</a> https://www.fitcuba.net/pdf-exhibitors-manual</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Current program</span></b></p><p><span face="Montserrat, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">1ro de mayo:
19:00 horas: Recibimiento en el Recinto Ferial a los invitados del Ministerio de
Turismo. (Por invitación). </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">2 de mayo:
10:00-17:00 horas: Jornada de Presentaciones:
✓ Presentación “La Habana: Cultura y Patrimonio”
✓ Presentación Patrimonio y Sostenibilidad
✓ Presentación Cartera de Oportunidades del Turismo de Negocios e
Inversión Extranjera
✓ Presentación Grupo Gaviota. “Patrimonio y Cultura”
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">✓ Presentación de la Agencia de Viajes ECOTUR, lanzamiento del
TURNAT 2024.
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">✓ Lanzamiento de la Nueva Campaña en los 30 años de Iberostar en Cuba.
✓ Campaña “Cuba Única” por la Agencia de Comunicación DISSET.</span></p><p>Full program <a href="https://www.fitcuba.net/pdf-programs" target="_blank">here</a> https://www.fitcuba.net/pdf-programs (may be incomplete)</p><p><span face="Montserrat, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Montserrat, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">*****************************</span></p><p><span face="Montserrat, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #616161; font-size: large;"><b>Cuba’s next tourism fair draws the attention of markets</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">April 6, 2023</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">CDT12:12 (GMT) -0400</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">Published by: Alina Ramos Martin</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">Havana, Apr 6 (Prensa Latina) The upcoming 41st International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2023-May) is already drawing the attention of travel markets with significant strength, based on the recovery tasks of the sector in this island.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">This is reflected on the websites of the main hotel chains operating in Cuba and by tour operators and travel agents who bring vacationers to the island.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">By holding the Fair, the island’s authorities seek to reinforce the presence of the country’s travel industry in the main markets.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">That’s why the 2nd and 5th of May meetings in Havana will be a very special moment, this time dedicated to culture and heritage as significant elements.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">ith Havana as the venue and cultural heritage as the center of attention, the Fair should have a good turnout following the line of the gradual recovery of the country’s tourist activity that in January had an upturn despite the complexities that persists, as pointed out in a message from the Gaviota Group.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">Precisely, this is the most representative company of the recreational activity in Cuba and therefore it is expected to have strong proposals and presence in the May event.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">The last Havana FITCuba meeting, in 2019 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), registered a record of more than 7,500 tourism industry professionals from 53 countries.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">Therefore, comparatively (in 2022 it took place again in Varadero), it is expected that this time it will attract an abundant representation of international tourism businessmen, in their various specialties.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">In Varadero last year, the fair gathered 6,000 participants from 54 countries, with 17 hotel chains, 38 airlines and 254 tour operators and travel agencies.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">For the Cuban capital, one of the great urban treasures of the Caribbean, Gaviota has been working for years to expand its reception capacities and reinforcement of a hotel product to honor the so-called Wonder City.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">The Group has 3,500 rooms in Havana, nearly a thousand of them in the Historic Center, a World Heritage Site, where the Habaguanex Hotels are concentrated, in an environment of colonial squares, small palaces, cobblestone streets, craft stalls, theaters, art galleries, museums,the Hotel Marqués de Cárdenas de Montehermoso, located in the Plaza de las Palomas and, above all, the comings and goings of its people.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">FitCuba 2023 will focus precisely on the island’s enormous heritage, culture and patrimonial resources, with proposals for new products, excursions and specialized circuits, in an additional effort to promote and diversify the destination.</span></p><p><span style="color: #616161;">arm/mem/rfc.</span></p><p><b style="color: #616161;">#Cuba #FITCuba 2023 #tourism</b></p><p><b style="color: #616161;"><a href="https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/04/06/cubas-next-tourism-fair-draws-the-attention-of-markets/">https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/04/06/cubas-next-tourism-fair-draws-the-attention-of-markets/</a></b></p><p><br /></p><p>******************************</p><section class="elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ffd8815 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default" data-element_type="section" data-id="2ffd8815" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #262626; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative;"><div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1140px; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7be6ce4" data-element_type="column" data-id="7be6ce4" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); min-height: 1px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 1046.86px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 10px; position: relative; width: 1046.86px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-71ccc4aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading" data-element_type="widget" data-id="71ccc4aa" data-widget_type="heading.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 1026.86px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);"><h1 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var( --e-global-color-primary ); font-family: "Helvetica condensed", sans-serif; font-size: 54px; line-height: 60px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cubasol Group prepares broad representation at FitCuba 2023</h1></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c6b2f22 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default" data-element_type="section" data-id="5c6b2f22" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #262626; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative;"><div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1140px; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f32730d" data-element_type="column" data-id="f32730d" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); min-height: 1px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 697.893px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 10px; position: relative; width: 697.893px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-76eb2b17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt" data-element_type="widget" data-id="76eb2b17" data-widget_type="theme-post-excerpt.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); margin-bottom: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 677.893px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);">Havana, Apr 13 (Prensa Latina) The Cubasol business group is preparing today its facilities and products for the International Tourism Fair, FitCuba 2023, to be held from May 1 to 5 in this capital and where it will have a broad representation.</div></div><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-24350df2 elementor-share-buttons--view-icon elementor-share-buttons--skin-minimal elementor-share-buttons--shape-circle elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons" data-element_type="widget" data-id="24350df2" data-widget_type="share-buttons.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --e-share-buttons-primary-color: #FFFFFF00; --e-share-buttons-secondary-color: #262626; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --grid-bottom-margin: 10px; --grid-column-gap: 3px; --grid-row-gap: 10px; --grid-side-margin: 3px; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); margin-bottom: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative; text-align-last: var(--alignment,inherit); text-align: var(--alignment,inherit); width: 677.893px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0px; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);"><div class="elementor-grid" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: calc(-1 * var(--grid-row-gap)); width: 677.893px; word-spacing: var(--grid-column-gap);"><div class="elementor-grid-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: var(--grid-row-gap); min-width: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-label="Share on facebook" class="elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); cursor: pointer; display: flex; font-size: 10px; height: 4.5em; justify-content: center; overflow: hidden; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: filter, background-color, border-color;" tabindex="0"><span class="elementor-share-btn__icon" style="--e-share-buttons-icon-size: 2.6em; align-items: center; align-self: stretch; background-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-secondary-color,#fff); display: flex; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color; width: 4.5em;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fab fa-facebook" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Brands"; font-size: var(--e-share-buttons-icon-size,1.7em); font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></span></div></div> <div class="elementor-grid-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: var(--grid-row-gap); min-width: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-label="Share on twitter" class="elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_twitter" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); cursor: pointer; display: flex; font-size: 10px; height: 4.5em; justify-content: center; overflow: hidden; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: filter, background-color, border-color;" tabindex="0"><span class="elementor-share-btn__icon" style="--e-share-buttons-icon-size: 2.6em; align-items: center; align-self: stretch; background-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-secondary-color,#fff); display: flex; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color; width: 4.5em;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fab fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Brands"; font-size: var(--e-share-buttons-icon-size,1.7em); font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></span></div></div> <div class="elementor-grid-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: var(--grid-row-gap); min-width: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-label="Share on whatsapp" class="elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_whatsapp" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); cursor: pointer; display: flex; font-size: 10px; height: 4.5em; justify-content: center; overflow: hidden; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: filter, background-color, border-color;" tabindex="0"><span class="elementor-share-btn__icon" style="--e-share-buttons-icon-size: 2.6em; align-items: center; align-self: stretch; background-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-secondary-color,#fff); display: flex; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color; width: 4.5em;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fab fa-whatsapp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Brands"; font-size: var(--e-share-buttons-icon-size,1.7em); font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></span></div></div> <div class="elementor-grid-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: var(--grid-row-gap); min-width: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-label="Share on telegram" class="elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_telegram" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); cursor: pointer; display: flex; font-size: 10px; height: 4.5em; justify-content: center; overflow: hidden; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: filter, background-color, border-color;" tabindex="0"><span class="elementor-share-btn__icon" style="--e-share-buttons-icon-size: 2.6em; align-items: center; align-self: stretch; background-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-secondary-color,#fff); display: flex; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color; width: 4.5em;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fab fa-telegram" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Brands"; font-size: var(--e-share-buttons-icon-size,1.7em); font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></span></div></div> <div class="elementor-grid-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: var(--grid-row-gap); min-width: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-label="Share on email" class="elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); cursor: pointer; display: flex; font-size: 10px; height: 4.5em; justify-content: center; overflow: hidden; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: filter, background-color, border-color;" tabindex="0"><span class="elementor-share-btn__icon" style="--e-share-buttons-icon-size: 2.6em; align-items: center; align-self: stretch; background-color: var(--e-share-buttons-primary-color,#ea4335); border-radius: 99.9em; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--e-share-buttons-secondary-color,#fff); display: flex; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; position: relative; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color; width: 4.5em;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-envelope" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Free"; font-size: var(--e-share-buttons-icon-size,1.7em); font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 900; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-45c88f0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default" data-element_type="section" data-id="45c88f0" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 677.893px;"><div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1140px; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c73582" data-element_type="column" data-id="3c73582" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); min-height: 1px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 33.8929px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="--e-column-margin-left: 0px; --e-column-margin-right: 0px; align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin: 0px; padding: 10px; position: relative; width: 33.8929px;"></div></div><div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a11fe0" data-element_type="column" data-id="1a11fe0" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); min-height: 1px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 643.991px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 10px; position: relative; width: 643.991px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-0163418 elementor-hidden-phone elementor-widget elementor-widget-dce-acf-repeater-v2" data-element_type="widget" data-id="0163418" data-settings="{"dce_acf_repeater_format":"grid"}" data-widget_type="dce-acf-repeater-v2.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); font-size: 14px; gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); margin-bottom: 0px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 623.991px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);"><div class="dce-acf-repeater" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="dce-acf-repeater-grid" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></section><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-7764bafd elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info" data-element_type="widget" data-id="7764bafd" data-widget_type="post-info.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); margin-bottom: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 677.893px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);"><ul class="elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: flex-start; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px -8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-d466577 elementor-inline-item" itemprop="datePublished" style="align-items: center; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: 16px; justify-content: flex-start; margin: 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"><span class="elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c6c6c; display: inline-block;">April 13, 2023</span></li><li class="elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-8c625a6 elementor-inline-item" style="align-items: center; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: 16px; justify-content: flex-start; margin: 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"><span class="elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-time" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c6c6c; display: inline-block;">CDT10:53 (GMT) -0400</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-30f8dda3 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info" data-element_type="widget" data-id="30f8dda3" data-widget_type="post-info.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); margin-bottom: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 677.893px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -18px 0px 0px; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);"><ul class="elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: flex-start; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px calc(0px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-d466577 elementor-inline-item" itemprop="author" style="align-items: center; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: 16px; justify-content: flex-start; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px calc(0px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"><a href="https://www.plenglish.com/news/author/jav/" style="align-items: center; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc3366; display: flex; font-size: inherit; justify-content: flex-start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-author" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2060f2; display: inline-block;"><span class="elementor-post-info__item-prefix" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c6c6c; display: inline;">Published by: </span>Javier Arana Villasusa</span></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-319197f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content" data-element_type="widget" data-id="319197f6" data-widget_type="theme-post-content.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); font-size: 18px; gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 677.893px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s,border 0.3s,border-radius 0.3s,box-shadow 0.3s,transform var(--e-transform-transition-duration,0.4s);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">According to the vice-president of that entity, Liubersy Pérez, the actions include a broad program of improvements and the restoration of all the units of the Palmares company in Havana, for a better preparation of its product for the fair.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">We are focused on rescuing emblematic restaurants such as La Torre, El Floridita, La Bodeguita del Medio, among others, the director said, adding that the aim is to return to the original menus of those places, to the dishes that made them famous.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">They are also working on the recovery of the city’s nightlife after the Covid-19 pandemic, in which the reopening of renowned places such as the Gato Tuerto restaurant-bar and the Alibar highlights.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">Pérez also commented on the improvements in the network of stores of the Caracol group, as well as the launching of new products by Marlin, a company devoted to nautical activities.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">Camino Paraiso is one of the novelties that FitCuba 2023 will bring, a route that will connect Havana with Cayo Jutía, in Pinar del Río (west), a natural resort of singular beauty, Marlin’s commercial director, Daybelis Pérez, pointed out.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">Nautical options, such as diving initiation course and diving courses adapted for people with limited mobility, in addition to the relaunching of the Tarara program, are also among the proposals that will be offered at the beginning of May.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">The Turarte agency, meanwhile, will be in charge of all the event’s entertainment.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">There will be a large presence of the Cubasol group, said its vice-president, who added that all the proposals will be available on the fair’s website in the next few days.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/04/13/cubasol-group-prepares-broad-representation-at-fitcuba-2023/">https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/04/13/cubasol-group-prepares-broad-representation-at-fitcuba-2023/</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></section><p><span style="color: #616161;"><b>************************************************</b></span></p><p><span face="Montserrat, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #616161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">16 feb. 2023</span></p><h4 _ngcontent-serverapp-c15="" class="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a237e; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">International Tourism Fair, FITCuba 2023.</span></h4><div _ngcontent-serverapp-c15="" class="ck-content html-content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 16px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">With Havana as the venue and cultural heritage as the center of attention, the Cuba 2023 International Tourism Fair, scheduled for <b>May 1-5*</b>, should have a good turnout following the line of gradual recovery of the country's tourist activity that in January it had a rebound despite the complexities that persist. </span></p><figure class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #616161; display: table; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em auto; text-align: center;"><img src="https://api.gaviota-grupo.com/v1/public/570d2d3e-21a9-482c-8225-7d485b0a9d4a.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-width: 50px; vertical-align: middle;" /><figcaption style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 0.75em; outline-offset: -1px; padding: 0.6em; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Plaza of the Cathedral of Havana.</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The last Havana call for FITCuba, in 2019, the event recorded a record of more than 7,500 professionals from the tourism industry, from 53 countries; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">and it is expected that this time it will attract a large representation of the international tourism business community, in its various specialties. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In Varadero, last year, the fair brought together six thousand participants from 54 countries, with 17 hotel chains, 38 airlines and 254 tour operators and travel agencies. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In the Cuban capital, one of the great urban treasures of the Caribbean and the most prominent city in our country in terms of culture and history, Gaviota has worked for years on expanding its reception capacities and consolidating a cult hotel product. to the Wonder City, providing it with new spaces and values. </span></p><figure class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #616161; display: table; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em auto; text-align: center;"><img src="https://api.gaviota-grupo.com/v1/public/792b42f0-e37c-4d23-bad6-6c873a5ca86a.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-width: 50px; vertical-align: middle;" /><figcaption style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 0.75em; outline-offset: -1px; padding: 0.6em; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Hotel Gran Muthu Habana, recently inaugurated. </span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The Group has 3,500 rooms in operation in Havana, close to a thousand, by the way, in the Historic Center, a World Heritage Site, where the beautiful Habaguanex Hotels are concentrated, in an environment of colonial squares, nineteenth-century mansions, streets of cobblestones, craft stalls, theater halls, art galleries, beautiful museums and, above all, the comings and goings of its hospitable and cheerful neighborhood.</span></p><figure class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #616161; display: table; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em auto; text-align: center;"><img src="https://api.gaviota-grupo.com/v1/public/060d4108-ee22-4085-a75b-ce55413c752b.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-width: 50px; vertical-align: middle;" /><figcaption style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 0.75em; outline-offset: -1px; padding: 0.6em; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Hotel Marqués de Cárdenas de Montehermoso, located in the Plaza de las Palomas.</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">FitCuba 2023 will place an accent precisely on this enormous heritage, the culture and heritage resources of our country, with proposals for new products, excursions and specialized circuits, in an additional effort to promote and diversify the destination, recognized worldwide for its depth. of his artistic work, the richness of his history and the creative projection of his people.</span></p><figure class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #616161; display: table; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em auto; text-align: center;"><img src="https://api.gaviota-grupo.com/v1/public/481daa61-2bed-4ea7-bea3-6db189ca2e8a.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-width: 50px; vertical-align: middle;" /><figcaption style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #333333; display: table-caption; font-size: 0.75em; outline-offset: -1px; padding: 0.6em; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Excursion of the Gaviota Tours Travel Agency: City Tours Havana.</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">With this particular approach, work is being done, for example, on the design of entertainment proposals in our hotels, while Gaviota Tours reinforces the preparation of its guides and has conceived its catalogs of optional activities and tours through territories, seeking precisely to promote the promotion and contact of visitors with local culture and traditions, topics of patrimonial, historical or geographical interest; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">along with relevant identity or cultural issues, which is the focus of a significant number of the agency's excursions. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">For more information about FITCUBA 2023 see </span><a href="https://www.gaviota-grupo.com/www.fitcuba.com" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007bff; text-decoration-line: none;">www.fitcuba.com</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #616161; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #616161;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">https://www.gaviota-grupo.com/news/154</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #616161;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #616161;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #616161;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* Original article said May 2-5. The FITCuba web site says May 1-5 </b></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Participation in conferences is legally authorized by the Biden Administration. </b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: x-large;">The only hotels that are not forbidden to Americans by OFAC are the Grand Aston and the Royalton Habana Paseo del Prado</b><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>, an official conference hotel--click on </b></span><a _ngcontent-cmr-c54="" href="https://ventas.fitcuba.net/hotel?filter=%7B%22basicFilters%22:%7B%22startDate%22:%222023-05-01T00:00:00.000Z%22,%22endDate%22:%222023-05-07T00:00:00.000Z%22,%22destination%22:%7B%22name%22:null,%22id%22:null,%22latitude%22:null,%22longitude%22:null,%22type%22:null%7D,%22capacity%22:%7B%22rooms%22:%5B%7B%22name%22:%22habitaci%C3%B3n%201%22,%22adults%22:2,%22childrenCount%22:0,%22childrenList%22:%5B%5D%7D%5D%7D,%22ContractId%22:null,%22hotelId%22:null%7D,%22moreFilters%22:%7B%22minPrice%22:0,%22maxPrice%22:100000,%22rating%22:0,%22plans%22:%7B%22allIncluded%22:false,%22hasBreakfast%22:false,%22hasLunch%22:false,%22hasDinner%22:false%7D,%22hotels%22:%7B%22sunwing%22:false,%22grancaribe%22:false,%22melia%22:false,%22iberostar%22:false,%22sandals%22:false%7D,%22roomviews%22:%7B%22city%22:false,%22rural%22:false,%22beach%22:false%7D,%22services%22:%7B%22hasSpa%22:false,%22hasBar%22:false,%22hasRestaurant%22:false,%22hasSauna%22:false,%22hasGymnasium%22:false,%22hasSwimmingPool%22:false,%22hasBeach%22:false,%22hasTerrace%22:false,%22hasGarden%22:false,%22hasAquaticPark%22:false,%22hasReception24Hours%22:false,%22smokingAllowed%22:false,%22hasNonSmokingRooms%22:false,%22allowsParties%22:false,%22allowsNoise%22:false,%22hasFamilyRooms%22:false%7D,%22roomincludes%22:%7B%22hasRoomService%22:false,%22hasHydromassageBathtub%22:false,%22hasAirConditioning%22:false,%22hasAirTransfer%22:false%7D,%22langs%22:%7B%22rus%22:false,%22en%22:false,%22fr%22:false,%22it%22:false,%22es%22:false%7D,%22maximalDistance%22:20,%22approximateDays%22:0%7D,%22query%22:%7B%22limit%22:10,%22offset%22:0,%22order%22:%22-price%22%7D%7D&serviceSelected=2&_gl=1*se8l58*_ga*MjAyNjM4Njc0MS4xNjgwNzYwNTEy*_ga_5T31LFJ19F*MTY4MDc2MDUxMi4xLjEuMTY4MDc2MTg3NC4yMC4wLjA." style="background-color: #0a2371; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f5aa2; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><button _ngcontent-cmr-c54="" class="package" style="appearance: button; background: rgb(253, 190, 63); border-color: initial; border-radius: 4px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 22.24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 9px;">RESERVA PAQUETE</button></a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Montserrat, "sans-serif"; font-size: x-large;">For further information or to join a special program for American travel professionals (journalists, advisers and tour operators) contact John McAuliff, director@ffrd.org</b></p></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-73062258713300608412023-03-04T20:38:00.000-08:002023-03-04T20:38:15.572-08:00Rafael Hernandez: Cuba and the Carter Administration<p> </p><div class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="jeg_post_title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.04em; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px 0px 0.4em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">In search of lost time: Carter and Cuba</h1><h2 class="jeg_post_subtitle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.83em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Carter administration’s rapprochement with the island was not a bolt of lightning in a clear sky. Let’s go further to examine the real theater of politics, where the intentions and wills of the characters have to sail with opposite winds.</h2><div class="jeg_meta_container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_post_meta jeg_post_meta_1" style="align-content: flex-start; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="meta_left" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_meta_author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="meta_text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="pp-multiple-authors-layout-inline author_index_1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author url fn" href="https://oncubanews.com/en/author/rafael_hernandez1/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Avatar photo" class="avatar avatar-30 photo" data-pin-no-hover="true" decoding="async" height="30" loading="lazy" src="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-Rafael-hernandez-30x30.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-Rafael-hernandez-60x60.jpg 2x" style="border-radius: 100%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; height: 30px; margin: auto 5px auto auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 35px;" width="30" /> Rafael Hernández</a></span></div><div class="jeg_meta_date" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://oncubanews.com/en/cuba-usa/in-search-of-lost-time-carter-and-cuba/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">March 4, 2023</a></div><div class="jeg_meta_category" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; 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font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Presidente-Jimmy-Carter-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="thumbnail-container" style="background: 50% 50% / cover rgb(247, 247, 247); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 335.892px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 0;"><img alt="Jimmy Carter. Cuban government" class="attachment-jnews-750x536 size-jnews-750x536 wp-post-image" decoding="async" height="536" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Presidente-Jimmy-Carter-1-750x536.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Presidente-Jimmy-Carter-1-750x536.jpg 750w, https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Presidente-Jimmy-Carter-1-120x86.jpg 120w, https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Presidente-Jimmy-Carter-1-350x250.jpg 350w" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font: inherit; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 470px; z-index: -1;" width="750" /></div><p class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Former President Jimmy Carter in 2014. Photo: LBJ Library.</p></a></div><div class="jeg_share_top_container" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="jeg_ad jeg_article jnews_content_top_ads" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ads-wrapper" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><div class="entry-content with-share" style="background-color: white; 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font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><table id="trinity-audio-table" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #7b7b7b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 1em 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; overflow-x: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td id="trinity-audio-tab" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.85em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="trinity-audio-player-label" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="trinityAudioPlaceholder" data-trinity-mount-date="2023-03-05 00:01:02" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I traveled to Havana several times in late 1979 and early 1980. Without an immigration agreement since 1973, the Cuban government was concerned about the </span><a href="https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/vuelos-robados-otra-vez-arriba-las-manos-i/" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">hijackings of planes</a><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and ships, and the assaults on embassies. Fidel has warned it, before the crisis broke out. I shared his concern. </span><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/a-cuarenta-anos-del-exodo-del-mariel/" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Mariel</a><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> could have been avoided.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is how Peter Tarnoff, Special Assistant to the two Secretaries of State that the </span><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/james-carter/#:~:text=Jimmy%20Carter%20served%20as%20the,promote%20economic%20and%20social%20development." rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Jimmy Carter administration</a><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (1977-1981) had, told me. More than two decades had passed since then, but his interest in Cuban things was still alive, and I wondered what was going on here, as we made plans to teach U.S.-Cuban relations in a course we would both give.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The years of rapprochement</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Just as Obama’s turnaround on December 17, 2014 cannot be understood without the background and context in which it took place, neither can the Carter administration’s rapprochement with Cuba be explained as a bolt of lightning in a clear sky. Doing so requires going beyond declassified documents, to examine the real theater of politics, where the intentions and wills of the characters, as in Greek tragedies, have to sail with opposite winds.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Between 1970 and 1974, Chile, Peru, Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Argentina, Panama and Venezuela were reestablishing diplomatic and commercial relations with Cuba. In 1975 Colombia would do it; and the Organization of American States (OAS), without U.S. resistance, would leave each state free to normalize relations with the island. The total hemispheric isolation maintained for six years, with the sole exception of Mexico and Canada, crumbled.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This attitude towards Cuba made it clear that if the United States proposed a renewed policy towards the region, a change in relations with the island was essential.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The select committee that had toured the region in 1974, and that sponsored the Linowitz Report, would ratify it: Cuba and the sovereignty of the Panama Canal were the test-cases to measure a new U.S. policy, according to what the governments themselves said.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Within the framework of the so-called “new dialogue” for Latin America, promoted by Henry Kissinger, certain secret talks had begun with Cuba in 1974. President Ford would authorize U.S. subsidiaries in South America to trade with the island. In the diplomatic field, progress was made along a path that seemed to lead to rapprochement.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since 1971, initiatives to end the embargo and normalize relations had been presented in the United States Congress itself. Senators like Fulbright, Kennedy, Javitts, McGovern, and Pell,and representatives like Solarz and Whalen, had traveled as congressional ambassadors to Havana.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the same time, and despite the signing of an agreement on plane hijacking in 1973, piracy and terrorism intensified. The swine fever virus would devastate the Cuban livestock population in 1971. A wave of attacks against embassies and fishing boats would be at their height in 1974. For its part, Congress had rejected, in 1975, the resolution to lift the blockade proposed by Representative Bingham.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The virulence of the opposition to a change in policy towards Cuba was still alive.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When, in December 1975, Cuban troops crossed the Atlantic to defend the recently launched MPLA government in Angola against the South African invasion from the south and the Zaire attack from the north, the U.S. reaction was to freeze the dialogue with Cuba. Even so, in the first months of 1976, Fidel Castro would declare that “we would be willing to maintain normal relations with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality, without renouncing a single one of our principles, and without ceasing to fight so that in the international sphere the norms of peaceful coexistence are applied.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and for figures who would play a prominent role in the diplomacy of the next Carter administration, such as Andrew Young, that military collaboration was a factor of stability and peace in sub-Saharan Africa.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the last year of the Ford-Kissinger administration, acts of terrorism would pick up again, reaching their climax with the attack on the Cubana Airlines plane in Barbados. Cuba would denounce the agreement on plane hijackings, alleging that the United States was responsible for the sabotage carried out by terrorists residing in its territory and historically linked to the CIA. It is not by chance that these operations were felt in countries that had reestablished relations with the island in recent years.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although Angola and terrorism slowed down the dialogue, the factors in favor remained. In addition to the attempt to renew its relationship with Latin America, the post-trauma of the U.S. defeat in Southeast Asia prompted the search for a renewed political projection. Those were the years of the Vietnam syndrome and détente with the USSR. This climate favored Jimmy Carter winning the 1976 elections.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the first year of the new administration, two diplomatic offices with the range of interest sections were agreed upon in Havana and Washington and an agreement on fishing and maritime limits was signed, still in force. For the first time Cuba and the United States collaborated in the prevention of terrorism. The prohibition to visit the island printed in U.S. passports disappeared, the application of the blockade regulations was reduced, the spending of dollars was allowed and certain food sales were authorized. Although the plot of economic restrictions was maintained, groups of businesspeople visited the island, reaching more than two hundred corporations interested in exploring the possibilities of bilateral trade.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to Alamar Associates executive Kirby Jones’ list, these included mining and chemical-energy companies such as Amax and Engelhardt; aerospace transportation, such as Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas; linked to the agro-industrial sector, such as Caterpillar and International Harvester; electronic equipment and computers, such as General Electric, RCA, Xerox and HoneyWell; food, such as Coca-Cola and Uncle Ben’s Food; entertainment, such as CBS Records and the New York Yankees; and financial institutions, such as Prudential Insurance:, Security Pacific, First National Bank of Chicago and American Express. Some of them had been nationalized in 1960 but were interested in exploring new businesses with a post-blockade Cuba.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the normalization plan towards Cuba with which Carter began his term, the adverse factors did not disappear. In the first hundred days of the new administration, the invasion of the Zairian province of Shaba by a group of Katangese rebels gave rise to a premonitory incident, which would determine an incessant series of contingencies — never fully clarified — that contributed to once and a while clouding relations.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since mid-1978, together with a second incident — also insubstantial — about Shaba, some surprising “Cuban MiG 23” would appear, with a “strategic reach” capacity, which served to justify the decision to resume military intelligence flights over the island.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the negative trends, the forces driving the dialogue continued to advance. This year an agreement was signed on the coast guard — which included the prevention of drug trafficking and terrorism — and high-level diplomatic meetings were held.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cuba made the unilateral decision to release 3,000 prisoners (some convicted since the years of the Escambray war), as well as to allow visits by the Cuban community, within the framework of a dialogue initiated with a broad sector of emigrants, in November 1978.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fidel Castro would declare, on January 1, 1979: “Cuba is not opposed to normal commercial and even diplomatic relations with the United States. We sincerely believe in the need for peace and coexistence between different social regimes.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the Cuban side, the main obstacle in relations with the United States was the blockade. For the United States, in that second year of the Carter administration (1978), it was neither the Cuban alliance with the USSR nor the guerrillas in Latin America (Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala), but military collaboration in Africa. That year, the sending of Cuban troops to Ethiopia to repel the Somali attack on the Ogaden territory revived concern.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 1979 new problems would appear. These took the appearance of Soviet submarines in Cienfuegos and of a “Soviet combat brigade” near Havana, where the 6th Summit of Non-Aligned Countries was about to open.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the fact that none of the incidents yielded anything concrete (the “Soviet brigade” had been here since 1962), Carter issued Directive 52, which increased surveillance of Cuba, established the Caribbean Joint Task Force in Key West, increased military maneuvers in the region and increased the number of forces at the Guantánamo naval base.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At this point, however, it was not the presence of Soviet military advisers on the island or Cuban troops in Africa that set the course for U.S. concerns in the hemisphere directly related to Directive 52. It was about events taking place in the Caribbean Basin, in two countries much smaller than Cuba: Nicaragua and Grenada.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Carter had identified a new “contentious issue” surrounding Nicaragua as early as February 1979, when the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) had not yet overthrown Anastasio Somoza, but the scenario of a plausible “Cuban intervention” was emerging. Barely a month later, in March, the New Jewel movement, led by Maurice Bishop, had overthrown the Gairy regime on the island of Grenada.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These specific events had the virtue of turning on that old light bulb, which nobody remembered: “other Cubas” in the backyard of the United States.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fidel Castro would state: “We do not follow a deliberate policy of confrontation with the United States. We do not even refuse to talk and we are not against an effort to improve relations if that in some way helps to create a climate of peace in this hemisphere or in the international arena.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, as would happen so often — before and since — the factors that usually determine U.S. policy, regardless of what was happening in Cuba or elsewhere, had unleashed their own dynamics.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mariel would be the last episode of that collision course already underway. More than a cause, it was a consequence of the chain of adverse factors that would put an end to the rapprochement between the United States and Cuba. Back then there was no economic crisis like today; but migratory pressure, encouraged by the very policy of dialogue with emigration initiated by Cuba in 1978.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In his speech on Women’s Day, March 8, Fidel stated that the United States “encourages illegal departures from the country, the hijacking of boats, little less than receiving as heroes those who hijack a boat…. We have asked them, we have demanded that they take action and discourage such activities….” Forty-three days later, the port of Mariel was opened.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For three weeks, President Carter welcomed the Marielitos with “open arms and hearts,” in his own words. That crisis, once again, would get out of the hands of the U.S. government and would be used by the Republicans to dress their table at the juncture of the election year. The last months of the Democratic administration passed under a strong anti-Cuban campaign regarding Central America.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite everything, Carter let the Cuban government know that if he won the elections, he would persist in his goal of dialogue and normalization.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Extensive examination of the Ford and Carter years makes it possible to appreciate that the decisive factors in the erosion of dialogue were not bilateral (they have almost never been). Despite the Vietnam syndrome, the détente with the USSR and the rethinking of the policy towards Latin America, Cuba remained a “domestic” issue in the United States.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Domestic” did not mean then, as now, the Cuban-American right in Miami, but rather the electoral struggle between Democrats and Republicans, present in Cuba policy since 1960.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In this reading, Cuban policy in Africa was deciphered as a Soviet move on the board of that continent, the same as the revolutions in Nicaragua and Grenada, the rise of the national liberation struggle in El Salvador and Guatemala, so that the “Cuban threat” would return to the Latin American agenda of the United States. The way was prepared for a new cycle of hostility centered on the Central American wars, which would take over the 1980s.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An open epilogue</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Twenty years later, I met Bob Pastor in Havana, in charge of Latin America at the Carter administration’s National Security Council. We talked for a couple of hours about Cuban things, which I later heard covered in Carter’s speech on May 14, 2002, at the University of Havana, during the first visit by a former U.S. president to Cuba.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Listening to him in the Aula Magna was Fidel Castro. His words were broadcast live, on radio and television, throughout the country. The following day, they were reproduced in their entirety in </span><i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Granma</i><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carter advocated a peaceful and harmonious coexistence, demanded the lifting of the blockade and the ban on travel to the island. In addition, the advance in human rights was a main flag of his foreign policy in his years in the White House, and he recognized that in the United States they were not “perfect.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He defended the idea of a Cuba integrated into Latin America, reincorporated into the OAS, a participant in the Summits of the Americas; a Cuba in which there could be disagreement with the government, Cubans could travel freely, an exchange between Cubans from inside and outside would be fostered. He asked that the precepts of the Constitution that consecrate democracy and freedom be applied, so that Cuba could once again join “the community of democracies.” He claimed that </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Um2UzFja00" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> the United States should take the initiative</a><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. And that for the majority of Americans, including himself, economic and political changes should be decided only by the Cubans.</span></p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font: inherit; margin: 5px auto 1.25em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1024px;"><img alt="Jimmy Carter visiting Cuba in 2002. Photo: The Carter Center." data-pin-no-hover="true" decoding="async" height="667" loading="lazy" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jimmy-carter-en-Cuba-The-Carter-Center-1024x667.jpg" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">Jimmy Carter visiting Cuba in 2002. Photo: The Carter Center.</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2002 the Bush administration was not very in agreement with that visit to Havana. Rather, he took advantage of it to invent that Cuba was producing weapons of mass destruction, making use of its biotechnological facilities. Carter limited himself to responding that none of the information shared with him by U.S. security agencies prior to his trip included that “Cuban threat.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The reader will guess what points of that speech in the Aula Magna Pastor and I had debated, including the question of the main actors in a domestic political change, the reinsertion in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in the international system.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rereading the speech now, I find, however, that things have changed a lot more on the side of Carter’s and Pastor’s wishes than many thought then or think now. What has moved the least is the part of those wishes about U.S. policy.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The hope that those ideas can prevail is enough to recognize their merits, as well as to learn that agreeing to our disagreements is a step on that path.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p><span class="pp-multiple-authors-layout-inline author_index_1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author url fn" href="https://oncubanews.com/en/author/rafael_hernandez1/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Avatar photo" class="avatar avatar-30 photo" data-pin-no-hover="true" decoding="async" height="30" loading="lazy" src="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-Rafael-hernandez-30x30.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-Rafael-hernandez-60x60.jpg 2x" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; height: 30px; margin: auto 2px auto auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 30px;" width="30" /> Rafael Hernández</a></span></div><div class="content-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div class="content-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/en/cuba-usa/in-search-of-lost-time-carter-and-cuba/">In search of lost time: Carter and Cuba | OnCubaNews English</a></div><div class="content-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div class="content-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">https://oncubanews.com/en/cuba-usa/in-search-of-lost-time-carter-and-cuba/</span></div><div class="content-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div class="content-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><br /></div></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-40255070805352574172023-02-20T12:04:00.009-08:002023-03-17T10:21:04.178-07:00Reasons for Hope (from John McAuliff)<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Will we finally turn a corner on US-Cuba relations?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With the caveat that I am prone to see an overflowing glass where others see a
bit of dew on the bottom, there are encouraging signs, not counting the impact
of the appointment of Senator Chris Dodd as advisor to the President on Latin
America. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />1) The inconclusive dialogue in the State Department
press briefinga on January 13 and 18 about whether the US delegation that
visited Havana to discuss cooperation on legal issues was inconsistent with
listing Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (or preparatory to removing it).
<a eudora="autourl" href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/state-department-press-briefings-2023.html">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/state-department-press-briefings-2023.html<br /><br /><br /></a>2)
Senator Ron Wyden reinvigorated his attack on the embargo after his late
December visit to Cuba. He put special emphasis on a partial lifting that would
enable the private sector. <a eudora="autourl" href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/senator-wyden-urges-real-us-support-for.html">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/senator-wyden-urges-real-us-support-for.html<br /><br /><br /></a>3)
The very positive and wide ranging visit in late January by Delaware's Secretary
of State and Secretary of Agriculture seems unlikely if there had been objection
by the state's most powerful political figure and long time Senator who is now
the President.<br /><a eudora="autourl" href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/delaware-state-officials-positive-visit.html">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/delaware-state-officials-positive-visit.html<br /><br /></a>(We
will hear more about the trip from Paul Johnson.)<br /><br /><br />4) The appeal to
Cuba's leaders by a high level envoy of the Pope to amnesty July 11-12
prisoners, potentially laying groundwork for a Papal Visit.
ttps://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/papal-appeal-for-release-of-july-2021.html<br /><br /><br />5)
Reaffirmation by the head of the US Interests Section that their release is a
necessary step to change US policy. (Cuba will never concede that to the US,
but a response to the Pope is a different matter.) <a eudora="autourl" href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/papal-appeal-for-release-of-july-2021.html">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/02/papal-appeal-for-release-of-july-2021.html<br /><br /><br /></a>6)
President Biden's C-Span recorded comment to Senator Menendez
</span><dl>
<dd><span style="font-size: medium;">"Bob, I gotta talk to you about Cuba...I'm serious"
<br /><br /><br /></span></dd></dl><span style="font-size: medium;">7) Fabiola Santiago's freak out that
Biden may make big changes in US policy <a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.newstrail.com/fabiola-santiago-a-hot-mic-is-latest-sign-that-biden-may-make-big-changes-in-u-s-cuba-relations-but/">https://www.newstrail.com/fabiola-santiago-a-hot-mic-is-latest-sign-that-biden-may-make-big-changes-in-u-s-cuba-relations-but/<br /><br /><br /></a>8)
Lula's meeting with Biden; Pres. Obredor's pledge to lead a new campaign against
the embargo. <a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/12/698093/Mexico-says-will-lead-movement-to-remove-the-US-blockade-on-Cuba">https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/12/698093/Mexico-says-will-lead-movement-to-remove-the-US-blockade-on-Cuba<br /></a></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">9) Richard Branson calls for change in both US and Cuban policy, not always
accurate and with a history of accommodating US policy shifts, most dramatically
during the Trump/Bolton assault on Venezuela</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/entrepreneurship-is-cubas-best-way-forward">https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/entrepreneurship-is-cubas-best-way-forward</a><br /><br /><br />10) International
visitors increased substantially in January. US numbers are presumably still
way down but this upbeat story of a Troy University faculty led trip is
encouraging. <br /><br /></span><a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.troymessenger.com/2023/02/14/troy-students-give-back-in-cuba-over-holiday-break/"><span>https://www.troymessenger.com/2023/02/14/troy-students-give-back-in-cuba-over-holiday-break/<br /></span><br /><span><br /></span></a></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a eudora="autourl" href="https://www.troymessenger.com/2023/02/14/troy-students-give-back-in-cuba-over-holiday-break/">1</a>1) "Humanitarian parole" is taking pressure off the migration crisis, reducing risk and removing profit from human traffficking.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">12) An upbeat change of pace, a CNN story about the renewal of musical exchange, although the reporter overlooks Cuba's rich classical tradition manifested by the National Symphony, Camarata Romeu, Ars Longa, etc.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">https://mailchi.mp/0dc41390a0d4/cayo-makes-international-headlines?e=167f1e8b1c</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> 2/13/23</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">************************</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Addendum 3/3/23</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Cuba is changing because it needs to change.<br /><br />
The question is whether it adopts the Russian oligarchic model of economic and social development or the more open Vietnamese one.<br /><br />
Supporters of both positions within the Communist Party are in increasingly visible conflict. <br /><br />
It is in the interest of both the Cuban and US people that the Vietnamese path is taken.<br /><br />
The counter-revolutionary path favored by dissidents, Miami exiles and some in Washington is not viable in any conceivable peaceful scenario. <br /><br />
For better or for worse, the Cuban state was created and is sustained by a completely national force not imposed from outside. The core of its legitimacy is sovereignty and resistance to US and exile economic and political domination. However its prosperity, if not survival, depends on a rational mutually respectful relationship with both.<br /><br />
Holding out for US and exile imagined pre-revolutionary democracy makes it more likely that the Russian model will win. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">***************************</span></span></div><div><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></div><div><br />
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Posted on the White House contact
form</b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>March 17, 2023<br /><br /><br /></i></span><span style="color: green; font-size: large;">Dear Mr.
President,<br /><br /><b>Happy St. Patrick's Day <br /><br /></b>Discover Irish
and Irish American links to Cuba here <a eudora="autourl" href="https://tinyurl.com/irish2cuba">https://tinyurl.com/irish2cuba<br /><br /></a>It may surprise
you that many Cubans look at the US in the way many Irish look at Britain. Both
see a history of political dominance and economic exploitation by their large
inescapable neighbor.<br /><br />Chris Dodd should bring you a Good Friday
Agreement with Havana.<br /><br />John McAuliff<br />Fund for Reconciliation and
Development</span> <br /></div></div><div><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-size: x-large;">Second post to the White House contact
form:</i></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: green; font-size: large;">Dear Mr.
President,<br /><br />More thoughts for a fulfilling celebration of St. Patrick's
Day in the spirit of Father Felix Varela, the advocate for independence,
anti-slavery and equal education for women who "taught the Cubans to think" and
was the much loved defender of Irish immigrants in New York.<br /><br />To
supplement my earlier message about the Cuba-US, Ireland-England comparison,
here's the positive side. <br /><br />I recognize and welcome the equally inherent
positive relationship of neighbors; the cultural, psychological, religious,
intellectual and familial links; the occupational flow of temporary or permanent
migration. A normal level of economic integration is inevitable and
beneficial.<br /><br />Undeniably the solution of political conflicts based on
mutual respect, most notably by the more to the less powerful, opens many
doors.<br /><br />While some Irish people remain cautious about British attitudes
and ambitions, the achievement of independence and the Good Friday peace
agreement, even if the country is still divided because of England, created more
open and natural ties.<br /><br />If the US approached Cuba the way we do Viet Nam,
with critical but nonintrusive recognition of differences about political
systems and human rights practices, and ended unilateral hostile policies like
the trade embargo and State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, identification of
common interests and our influence will grow substantially.
<br /><br />Opportunities provided to hostile competitors will also diminish
significantly.<br /><br />John McAuliff<br />Fund for Reconciliation and
Development</span></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">***************************</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>[ For greater success, US policymakers should consider the latest cross-cultural </span><span>insights </span><span>from sociologist and Temas editor Rafael Hernandez</span></span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2023/01/rafael-hernansz-united-states-cuba-to.html ]</i></span></div><div><br /></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-39769454654727041702023-02-12T20:52:00.000-08:002023-02-12T20:52:24.509-08:00Papal Appeal for Release of July 2021 Prisoners<p> </p><div class="grid-6 region region-content-top" id="region-content-top" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 460px;"><div class="region-inner region-content-top-inner" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block block-delta-blocks block-page-title block-delta-blocks-page-title odd block-without-title" id="block-delta-blocks-page-title" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block-inner clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="title" id="page-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 31.2px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.05em; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pope seeks release of Cubans arrested during 2021 protests</h1><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="grid-6 region region-content-main" id="region-content-main" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 460px;"><div class="region-inner region-content-main-inner" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block block-system block-main block-system-main odd block-without-title" id="block-system-main" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block-inner clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ds-1col node node-openpublish-article view-mode-full clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="jg-published" style="border: 0px; color: #a67a00; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published:<span class="jg-published-created" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday | February 8, 2023 | 9:16 PM</span></span><div class="quicktabs-wrapper quicktabs-style-nostyle quicktabs-novideo jquery-once-1-processed" id="quicktabs-article_image_video" style="background: black; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="item-list" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="quicktabs_main quicktabs-style-nostyle" id="quicktabs-container-article_image_video" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="quicktabs-tabpage " id="quicktabs-tabpage-article_image_video-0" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block block-views block-article-content-block-3 block-views-article-content-block-3 odd block-without-title" id="block-views-article-content-block-3" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block-inner clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="view view-article-content view-id-article_content view-display-id-block_3 view-dom-id-3573b1326b536a5f4ada90dd3a686ac7" style="border: 0px; 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font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div aria-labelledby="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_content-block_3_1_0" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-1 views-row-first views-row-odd" id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_content-block_3_1_0" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 460px;"><div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-odd views-row-first" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="views-field views-field-field-op-main-image-1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="field-content" style="border: 0px; font-size: 10.8px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="345" src="https://jamaica-gleaner.com/sites/default/files/styles/jg_article_image/public/media/article_images/2023/02/08/pope_cropped.jpg?itok=Q2N4TOOa" style="border: none; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" typeof="foaf:Image" width="460" /></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-author" style="border: 0px; float: right; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="field-content" style="border: 0px; font-size: 10.8px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-caption" style="border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="field-content" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel (right) talks with Cardinal Beniamino Stella during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of St Paul II's apostolic journey to Cuba, at Havana University in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Stella arrived in Cuba as Pope Francis’ special envoy on January 24. (Adalberto Roque/Pool photo via AP)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="quicktabs-tabpage quicktabs-hide" id="quicktabs-tabpage-article_image_video-1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block block-views block-article-content-block-5 block-views-article-content-block-5 even block-without-title" id="block-views-article-content-block-5" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="block-inner clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="view view-article-content view-id-article_content view-display-id-block_5 article-brightcove-video view-dom-id-f01615de05dc92ce2b50b09d12e27253" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="view-content" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="views-field views-field-field-video" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="field-content" style="border: 0px; font-size: 10.8px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="field-items" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="article-content " style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HAVANA (AP) — Pope Francis hopes Cuban authorities will release and grant amnesty to people arrested and sentenced after the historic protests that took place in 2021, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, who travelled to the island as the pontiff's special envoy, said Wednesday.</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During an act at the University of Havana to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to the island, Cardinal Stella also said the Catholic Church hopes that Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and US President Joe Biden can hold talks amid current tense relations between the countries.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stella, who arrived in Cuba in mid-January and will remain there until February 10, recalled the figures of Father Félix Varela and José Martí, considered national heroes in Cuba, and emphasised the need for understanding among Cubans.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asked by journalists about the possibility the Catholic Church could intercede to have Cuban authorities grant amnesty to people imprisoned during the 2021 protests, the first in decades on the island, Stella said he had talked with the pontiff about the issue before the trip to Cuba.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to non-governmental groups, about 1,300 people were arrested following the protests.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some of the demonstrations turned violent, including looting and rioting, and one person was killed.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Authorities reported about 700 sentences handed down related to the protests, with sentences ranging from a fine and community work to up to 30 years in prison for sedition.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 1.2em 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16.8px;">https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/caribbean/20230208/pope-seeks-release-cubans-arrested-during-2021-protests</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-81367851118687540042023-02-12T19:44:00.002-08:002023-03-22T13:02:10.246-07:00Senator Wyden Urges Real US Support for Private Sector<p> March 15, 2023</p><p>The Honorable Joseph R. Biden</p><p>President of the United States</p><p>The White House</p><p>1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW</p><p>Washington, DC 20500</p><p><br /></p><p>Dear President Biden:</p><p><br /></p><p>The U.S. embargo against Cuba has failed. It has neither facilitated regime change, nor advanced</p><p>any notable improvements in human rights, democracy or economic freedom in Cuba. Instead, </p><p>the embargo has limited the U.S. government’s ability to advocate for U.S. interests in Cuba, </p><p>stifled opportunities for American businesses, farmers and ranchers, and hurt both Americans </p><p>and Cubans in Cuba. </p><p><br /></p><p>Small, private sector Cuban entrepreneurs have been clamoring for access to capital that could </p><p>help their businesses thrive, support private sector employment, and make it less likely Cubans </p><p>seek to migrate to the United States due to lack of hope for a better future. Rather than continue </p><p>the failed policy of broad-based sanctions, your Administration should undertake efforts to </p><p>increase economic exchange between the United States and the Cuban people. This should </p><p>include risk-based, targeted efforts, including narrow changes to U.S. licensing and regulations, </p><p>to support Cuba’s small and medium-sized private enterprises in accessing U.S. financial </p><p>services to legitimate the Cuban private sector and facilitate its growth. Easing restrictions on </p><p>trade and travel will also increase demand for U.S. commodities and make it easier for U.S. </p><p>exporters to reach the Cuban market, benefiting American workers, farmers, ranchers, and </p><p>businesses that comprise the thriving U.S. export sector. In addition, increased trade and </p><p>investment from the United States will provide an important counterbalance to funds offered by </p><p>China, which has shown an increasing interest in the island nation’s finances. As the </p><p>Administration seeks to increase economic ties with Cuba’s private sector, however, it must </p><p>exercise proper care and oversight to guard against money laundering or support of the Cuban </p><p>regime. </p><p><br /></p><p>We understand that the Administration supports changes to U.S.-Cuba policy, and we appreciate </p><p>the steps the Administration has already taken to improve relations with Cuba. That said, the </p><p>United States can, and should, do more. We urge you to swiftly take the following steps to ease </p><p>restrictions on private-sector financing, trade, communication and travel with Cuba: </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Support Small, Private-Sector Cuban Businesses by Providing Targeted Access to U.S. </b></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Financial Services</b></p><p><br /></p><p>● Assess the extent to which the Cuban government controls banks in Cuba and explore a </p><p>licensing framework allowing transactions between U.S. financial institutions and Cuban </p><p>banks that have been determined to be civilian-managed; </p><p><br /></p><p>● Establish a targeted Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license to allow U.S. banks</p><p>to provide financial services to small, private sector Cuban businesses, potentially </p><p>through Cuban banks, with appropriate risk management controls to prevent the flow of </p><p>funds to entities controlled by the Cuban government. The licensing regime should </p><p>include both payments activity and microfinancing of the private sector in Cuba, </p><p>including agricultural cooperatives; </p><p><br /></p><p>● Reinstate OFAC general licenses for U.S. financial institutions to process “U-turn” </p><p>transactions—transactions between Cuban and non-U.S. persons that pass through the </p><p>U.S. financial system; </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Increase Trade in Food and Agricultural Products Between the U.S. and Cuba </b></p><p><br /></p><p>● Encourage the Cuban government to end its requirement that all imports from the United </p><p>States be facilitated through a Cuba state entity. This requirement is not imposed on all of</p><p>Cuba’s trading partners, creating a competitive disadvantage for U.S. farmers and </p><p>ranchers relative to other exporting countries; </p><p><br /></p><p>● Foster further collaboration between the U.S. and Cuban agriculture sectors by improving</p><p>and revitalizing existing Memoranda of Understanding between the U.S. Department of </p><p>Agriculture (USDA) and Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture; </p><p><br /></p><p>● Work with stakeholders to encourage the use of USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP)</p><p>and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program funds, authorized by the 2018 Farm </p><p>Bill, to educate U.S. farmers and ranchers and facilitate the export of U.S. agricultural </p><p>commodities to the Cuban market;</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Support Access to Information and Person-to-Person Contact in Cuba</b></p><p><br /></p><p>● Publish specific regulations and/or guidance to support internet access in Cuba, which </p><p>would facilitate access to e-commerce and the free flow of information and </p><p>communication across Cuba and between the U.S. and Cuba; </p><p><br /></p><p>● Publish guidance to allow U.S.-based firms to provide cloud-based services, fee-based </p><p>platforms, e-commerce services and digital banking in Cuba, with appropriate risk </p><p>management controls; </p><p><br /></p><p>● Reinstate OFAC general licenses for individual person-to-person educational travel; and</p><p><br /></p><p>● Reinstate OFAC general licenses for participation in, or organization of, public </p><p>performances, clinics, workshops, athletic or nonathletic competitions, and exhibitions in </p><p>Cuba. </p><p><br /></p><p>To be clear, we continue to have serious concerns about the Cuban government’s repression of </p><p>peaceful, pro-democracy advocacy. We strongly support your Administration’s efforts to hold </p><p>the Cuban government accountable for violations of human rights, civil rights and worker rights, </p><p>including forced labor. That said, unilateral sanctions have not brought about democratic change.</p><p>In contrast, they have arguably strengthened the Cuban government’s hand by acting as a readily </p><p>available scapegoat for the Cuban government’s own political and economic failures. We believe</p><p>that the thoughtful, targeted lifting of restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba would facilitate </p><p>the development of a thriving private sector and increase the pressure on Cuba’s leaders to be </p><p>more responsive to the Cuban people, while also increasing U.S. influence on the island. </p><p><br /></p><p>We thank you for considering these requests and look forward to working with you to improve </p><p>U.S.-Cuba relations for the benefit of the American and Cuban people. </p><p><br /></p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Ron Wyden</p><p>United States Senator</p><p>Cynthia M. Lummis</p><p>United States Senator</p><p>Chris Van Hollen</p><p>United States Senator</p><p><br /></p><p>cc: Secretary Blinken </p><p>Secretary Vilsack</p><p>Secretary Yellen</p><p>Secretary Raimondo</p><h1 class="main_page_title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: DINNextW01-CondensedBol; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/03152023%20Wyden%20Lummis%20Van%20Hollen%20Letter%20to%20President%20Biden%20on%20Cuba.pdf</span></h1><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: DINNextW01-CondensedBol; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 500;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: DINNextW01-CondensedBol; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 500;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: DINNextW01-CondensedBol; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 500;">*******************************************</span></span></div><h1 class="main_page_title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: DINNextW01-CondensedBol; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px;">Wyden: Cuban Private Sector Small Businesses Should Get Strong U.S. Support</h1><h2 class="subtitle" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: DINNextW01-CondensedBol; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">Following Fact-Finding Trip to Cuba, Wyden Renews Call to Normalize Trade Relations; Wyden Raised Need to Improve Human Rights In Meeting with Cuban President</h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "DIN Next W01 Regular"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Washington, D.C.</i></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> – </span>U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is calling on the Biden Administration to strengthen support for Cuba’s small and medium-sized private enterprises by creating more general licenses, as well as giving the private sector access to international banking, following his fact-finding trip to Cuba. Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and was the first Senator to visit Cuba in four years, intends to discuss his ideas with Senate colleagues over the weeks ahead. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "DIN Next W01 Regular"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">“During my visit to Cuba I was told by entrepreneurs that the vibrant Cuban private sector would benefit from narrow changes to U.S. licensing and other rules,” </span>Wyden said. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">“Specifically, the entrepreneurs told me that general licenses, allowing them to operate in spite of the sanctions, would bring legitimacy and credibility to them and their businesses. They told me they expected these changes to lead to the creation of thousands of new businesses. In addition, they said bank accounts would make it easier to attract investment capital, and knowing that I authored the U.S. e-commerce law, they requested that I assist with their e-commerce initiatives.” </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "DIN Next W01 Regular"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Wyden believes the U.S. rule changes would benefit private sector Cuban companies, and developing Cuban economic opportunities would help reduce Cuban migration to the United States. He believes a growing middle class of entrepreneurs and family businesses will lay the foundations for fundamental political and economic reforms in one of our closest neighbors. The senator also saw growing involvement by China in the Cuban economy, which can present national security as well as economic security concerns for Americans.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "DIN Next W01 Regular"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">In addition to Wyden’s work on these new small business proposals, the senator continued his ongoing efforts to build support for three of his long-standing priorities – ending the economic embargo, normalizing U.S.-Cuban trade relations and removing Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism – while emphasizing the need to improve human and worker rights in the country. In a meeting on December 28, 2022, Senator Wyden urged Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to offer clemency for the July 2021 Cuban protestors.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "DIN Next W01 Regular"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">On his last day in Cuba, January 1, 2023, the senator visited with Miguel Calderon Gomez, the famous former coach of the Cuban national basketball team, to discuss how basketball and sports can contribute to better relations between nations. Calderon Gomez also reminisced with Wyden about how the United States “Dream Team” beat the Cuban squad he coached 30 years ago in Portland, Oregon, before the Barcelona Olympics.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "DIN Next W01 Regular"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Wyden is the sponsor of <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-introduces-bill-to-end-cuba-embargo-and-establish-normal-trade-relations" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0085b8; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">legislation to end the trade embargo of Cuba</a>, and last year <a href="https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-leahy-lead-colleagues-in-urging-biden-harris-administration-to-abandon-broken-trump-era-cuba-policy" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0085b8; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">urged the Biden-Harris administration</a> to reverse Donald Trump’s failed Cuba policies. He last visited Cuba in 2018, as part of a Senate delegation.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-cuban-private-sector-small-businesses-should-get-strong-us-support</span></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-73066001448464610142023-02-12T18:39:00.000-08:002023-02-12T18:39:18.556-08:00Delaware State Officials Positive Visit<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 28.5pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">State
of Delaware seeks to strengthen its relations with Cuba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 2; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #a0a0a0; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week an American
delegation met on the island with authorities from various ministries and state
entities, and also learned about the experience of new private companies.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">by</span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/author/oncuba/"><span style="color: #333333; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/estado-de-delaware-busca-estrechar-sus-relaciones-con-cuba/"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">January 27, 2023</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">in <a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/"><span style="color: #333333;">Cuba-USA</span></a></span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/delaware-efe.jpg"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"><img alt="The Secretaries of State and Agriculture of the state of Delaware (USA), Jeffrey Bullock (d) and Michael Scuse, during a press conference in Havana. Photo: Ernesto Mastrascusa / EFE." border="0" height="436" src="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/10/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6" width="750" /></span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="border: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-no-proof: no; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 2.25pt; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/delaware-efe.jpg"><span style="color: #a0a0a0; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Secretaries
of State and Agriculture of the state of Delaware (USA), Jeffrey Bullock (d)
and Michael Scuse, during a press conference in Havana. Photo: Ernesto
Mastrascusa / EFE.<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A delegation from
Delaware (USA), headed by the state secretaries of State and Agriculture, is
visiting Cuba these days with the intention of exploring <a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/comercio/" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">trade</span></b></a> and
cooperation opportunities with the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throughout this week,
the US delegation has met with Cuban authorities from ministries such as
agriculture and foreign trade and foreign investment, as well as the Foreign
Ministry, while visiting institutions such as the Center for Genetic Engineering
and Biotechnology ( CIGB) and has also known the experience of new private
companies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The objective of the
trip is to strengthen relations between their state and the island, and
"find ways to improve the lives of people in Cuba and Delaware," as
explained Thursday at a press conference by the leaders of the visiting
delegation, who qualified of "fantastic" the experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although for the
moment it is an exploratory visit, the Delaware delegation appreciated the
opportunity to learn first-hand about the current situation in Cuba and, in
particular, the changes experienced in recent years in its economic
functioning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Based on what was
seen, they recognized opportunities to increase agricultural trade with Cuba
and to collaborate in sectors such as education and research, according to the
Secretary of Agriculture, Michael Scuse, who pointed out that the potential for
bilateral exchange "is greater now than Never before".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this sense, and in
response to a question from </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">OnCuba</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> on the subject, Scuse pointed out that
the emergence of private companies in Cuba "is definitely a great step
both for the government and for the Cuban people in general, and deserves to be
taken into account." in the United States” when establishing businesses
and collaborations with the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For his part, the
Secretary of State, Jeffrey Bullock, commented that, upon his return to his
country, they will study ways to materialize these opportunities and will
advocate for closer ties between the two countries, which experienced a notable
setback with the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House and they have not
returned to the level expected after the election of Democrat Joe Biden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/biden-y-cuba-lo-bueno-y-lo-malo-en-estos-dias/"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Biden and Cuba, the good and the bad… these days</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition, Bullock
thanked the "warm and kind" reception by the Cuban authorities and
acknowledged being impressed "by how sincere and how direct the Cuban
officials were in our conversations."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They referred to
practical issues, aimed at solving specific problems, step by step, which helps
a lot for people like me, who work at the state level, to start thinking about
how we can find a way to materialize the existing opportunities and give a next
step”, he replied to </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">OnCuba</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this sense, the
Delaware authorities said that with the possible exchanges and projects that
they can carry out with Cuba they hope to contribute to strengthening bilateral
relations, and expressed their hope that "sooner rather than later"
both countries can return to the "thaw" reached. in the final years
of Barack Obama's term.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Our hope is that
eventually we can return to where we were in Obama's time," said Scuse,
who hoped that "at least" gradual steps in this direction would be
achieved and the latest sanctions imposed on the island by the Trump
government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this regard, he
recognized that Cuba's permanence on the list of countries considered to be
sponsors of terrorism is a serious difficulty for relations between the two
countries and also for projects that can be undertaken from the state of
Delaware, because "it does everything a bit more difficult".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He reiterated that the
biggest obstacle to strengthening bilateral ties is "political",
"the same one for 60 years", and said that "this is the barrier
that we have to try to break down."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The visit of the
Delaware delegation to Cuba takes place at a time when the island is going
through a severe economic crisis and a strong wave of migration, and after some
steps of bilateral rapprochement have been taken since last year and exchanges
have taken place between authorities of the two countries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/estado-de-delaware-busca-estrechar-sus-relaciones-con-cuba/<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-36116215876384430922023-02-12T15:59:00.000-08:002023-02-12T15:59:51.477-08:00State Department Press Briefings 2023<p><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Department
Press Briefing – January 4, 2023</span></b></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Switching topics. Cuba. The embassy I
believe today resumed visa operations for immigrants. What does this say both –
does this have any implications more broadly for relations with Cuba? And also,
what does it say about Havana Syndrome – so-called Havana Syndrome that was the
original reason for reducing staff levels there? Is there a perception that
there’s no longer the same threat level, at least in Havana?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PRICE:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> A couple things on this. So as you
mentioned, starting today, the U.S. Embassy in Havana is processing all
immigrant visa categories in addition to current services provided in Cuba,
which include American citizen services as well as official diplomatic and
emergency non-immigrant visas. This is a significant step in the restoration of
consular services in Havana. It means all Cuban immigrant visa applicants
scheduled for interviews starting this month will no longer have to travel to
Georgetown, Guyana, where processing was taking place. Immigrant visa
applicants whose appointments were originally scheduled in Georgetown, Guyana
must still complete case processing in Guyana. Those cases will not be transferred
to Cuba, but going forward new cases will be processed from our embassy in
Havana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The embassy began expanding consular services in May of 2022 by
expanding immigrant visas for parents of U.S. citizens, and in July of 2022
expanded to include all other categories of immediate relatives – relative
immigrant visas, including spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens as well.
Additionally, in August of last year DHS resumed processing cases in Havana
under the Cuban Family Reunification Program. The – we remain committed to
facilitating the safe, orderly, and regular migration of Cuban citizens to the
United States.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">To the first part of your question, what this speaks to when it comes to
our broader approach to Cuba, I think it makes real what we have consistently
said that we seek to find practical ways to support the Cuban people. As I said
just a moment ago, this visa processing, much of it is directed in very
practical ways to support the Cuban people, including through family
reunification. That has been a focus of our visa processing since the start of
this administration. It will continue to be a focus now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">When it comes to anomalous health incidents, we have reviewed our
staffing posture at our embassy in Havana at the direction of the President,
and we’re exploring options to augment staffing to facilitate diplomatic,
consular, and civil society engagement with an appropriate security posture, as
we do around the world. Our top priority remains the health of – and safety of
U.S. citizens overseas, including of course our diplomats and their family
members, and we’re working to get to the bottom of anomalous health incidents
and to provide top-notch care and support to everyone affected.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The investigation into what has caused these incidents and how we can
protect our people is ongoing. And this represents a major effort that is
underway within the interagency – among the White House, the Defense
Department, Intelligence Community, as well as Congress and leading scientists,
all with the input of the State Department, of course.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">So the fact that we have been able to augment our staffing posture at
our embassy in Havana is a signal that we are confident in our ability to
mitigate the risks, confident in our ability to take prudent steps to protect
our people. But this is something we evaluate and re-evaluate on a – virtually
a daily basis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Just briefly, you say you’re
confident about the – the State Department is confident about the ability to
mitigate the risk, in the sense that it’s not – there’s not seen as a
particular risk in Havana from anomalous health incidents as opposed to other places?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PRICE:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Well, diplomacy is never a risk-free
endeavor, and our goal— is never a risk-free endeavor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> What? Oh, “risk-free.” I thought you
said “risky endeavor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PRICE:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Yes. Yes, it is never a risk-free
endeavor. And our intention is never to eliminate risk, because we know that’s
impossible. Our goal is to mitigate risk, and to conduct our operations
responsibly, safely, taking into account all of the prudent precautions that
are necessary in posts around the world. And that’s what we’re doing here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> But you’re – but just to be specific
as to this, you’re looking to add people, not reduce people, to Havana?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PRICE:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Over the course of the last year, we
have —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> No, I know, but now, from now —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PRICE:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Yes, we have added people, and as we
restart this visa processing out of our embassy in Havana, our intention, our
hope will be to add people so we can expand those services that we’re able to
provide from Havana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> *********************************</o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Department
Press Briefing – January 13, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Can I ask a question on Cuba?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> There’s a high-level delegation
that’s going to be visiting Cuba soon, U.S. delegation. Does that indicate that
maybe relations with Cuba is becoming more normalized or we’re on the cusp of
normalized relations with Cuba?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Are you speaking about the law
enforcement —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Law enforcement, international law
and all that stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Yeah, sure, sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> But I’m sure that they will probably
discuss —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> Said, let me – if you’ll let me offer
some broader thoughts. So to – for those that might be tracking, U.S. and Cuban
officials will meet as part of the U.S.-Cuba Law Enforcement Dialogue in Havana
next week to discuss topics of bilateral interest on international law
enforcement matters, increased international law enforcement cooperation, and
this is an opportunity to enable the U.S. to better protect U.S. citizens and
bring transnational criminals to justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">The Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security will co-chair
the dialogue for the United States. And broadly speaking, Said, to your
question, improved law enforcement coordination between the United States and
Cuba is in the best interest in the United States and the Cuban people. And
during the dialogue, the U.S. and Cuba will address topics of bilateral
interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">*********************<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">I had a follow-up on the question on Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">So you said that this meeting on law
enforcement issues is in the best interest of the United States. Would you
consider that it would be now in the best interests of the United States to
actually normalize relations with Cuba?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">And then second, so there’s this meeting on law enforcement issues,
criminality, transnational, etc., but the United States still has Cuba on the
supporting terrorism list, on its list of supporting – states supporting
terrorism. How do you justify having that meeting in Cuba while the country is
still on your official list of sponsoring terrorism?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Can you repeat the second part of your question,
Leon? Sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Basically how do you justify having this
kind of meeting on specifically law enforcement issues in general while at the
same time keeping the country on the terrorism list?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Well, Leon, there continue to be,
obviously, concerns and human rights concerns that exist. But I would say
broadly, to widen the aperture a little bit, Leon, following the large-scale
protests that we saw last summer, President Biden directed the department to
act in two primary areas. The first was to promote accountability for human
rights abuses, for which we have announced previously several rounds of
sanctions targeting those individuals and entities with direct ties to human
rights violations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Specifically within the context of these – this dialogue, let me see if
I have some more information for you. But as I said, engaging in these talks
underscores our commitment to pursuing constructive discussions with the
Government of Cuba where appropriate to advance U.S. interests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 13.5pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Our belief is, is that establishing and increasing channels for law
enforcement cooperation to better address transnational threats is not at the
expense of the serious human rights concerns that we continue to have. And
we’ve integrated these human rights concerns and protections into all of our
interactions with the Cuban Government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Vedant, isn’t the real answer that this
administration does not agree with the previous administration’s determination
to put Cuba back on the SSOT list, and that you’ve been looking for a way to
take them off since —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">I don’t have any —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">— coming into office —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">I don’t have any update to offer that —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">— and therefore, that a law enforcement
dialogue is not inappropriate, given what you believe is —<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL: </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Oh, a law enforcement dialogue is not
inappropriate for a variety of reasons, including the ones that I just
outlined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p> *************************************</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #0A314D; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "EB Garamond"; font-size: 27.0pt; letter-spacing: -.55pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">department
Press Briefing – January 19, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">QUESTION:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> I have a last one on Cuba. Since
United States is having contact with the Cuban regime, is this administration
thinking in withdraw Cuba from the list of countries supporting terrorism?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 21.0pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">MR PATEL:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> I have no change in policy to
announce. I addressed this a little bit last week; the engagements that you’re
referring to were specifically related to some security dialogues, regional
security dialogues. I don’t have any other updates to offer beyond that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-78294087372447884982023-01-30T10:10:00.002-08:002023-07-19T09:11:32.287-07:00Rafael Hernandez United States-Cuba: To peel an onion<p> </p><div class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="jeg_post_title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.04em; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px 0px 0.4em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">United States-Cuba: To peel an onion (I)</span></h1><h2 class="jeg_post_subtitle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em; margin: -5px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">I have found that the closest thing to cold-examining US-Cuba relations is peeling an onion; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">there is shell and successive layers.</span></span></h2><div class="jeg_meta_container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_post_meta jeg_post_meta_1" style="align-content: flex-start; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="meta_left" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_meta_author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="meta_text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">for</span> <span class="pp-multiple-authors-layout-inline author_index_1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author url fn" href="https://oncubanews.com/author/rafael_hernandez/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="avatar photo" class="avatar avatar-96 photo ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-pin-no-hover="true" data-src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-96x96.jpg" data-srcset="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-192x192.jpg 2x" decoding="async" height="96" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-96x96.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-192x192.jpg 2x" style="border-radius: 100%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; height: 30px; margin: auto 5px auto auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.4s ease 0s; vertical-align: middle; width: 35px;" width="96" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Raphael Hernandez</span></span></a></span></div><div class="jeg_meta_date" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/estados-unidos-cuba-para-pelar-una-cebolla-i/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">December 21, 2022</a></div><div class="jeg_meta_category" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="meta_text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">in </span></span></span><a href="https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/" rel="category tag" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">with all its lyrics</span></span></a></span></div></div><div class="meta_right" style="border: 0px; 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Photo: Kaloian." class="wp-post-image ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/embajada-de-los-estados-unidos-en-Cuba-enero-2022-Kaloian-750x501.jpg" decoding="async" height="501" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/embajada-de-los-estados-unidos-en-Cuba-enero-2022-Kaloian-750x501.jpg" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font: inherit; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.4s ease 0s; vertical-align: middle; width: 709.2px; z-index: -1;" width="750" /></div><p class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; 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color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Whenever I talk about Cuba-USA. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In the US, I warn you that when it comes to cyclones, the ball game and relations with the North, all Cubans know a lot.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">However, differences arise when dealing with these issues. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">When a cyclone approaches, no one hesitates to listen to the meteorologists. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The only credible predictions about baseball are made by seasoned veterans. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">When it comes to the relationship with the United States, anyone throws the snails. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The same in official, state, non-state, private, anti-government, pro-government media. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Literally.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Perhaps because politics and international relations are more fodder for conversation than for knowledge. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Or perhaps due to global currents, such as the devaluation of the political, its reduction to the content of speeches, the rejection of everything that smacks of rhetoric, the declining credit of government institutions. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In our case, it could also be due to the very Cuban tendency to confuse the causes of everything (what we don't know how to explain) with ideological motivations, from here or there.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">If a physicist, a filmmaker, a doctor, an engineer, or a chef, say a nonsense in their own fields, they risk being discredited. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">When any of them judges politics, the same thing does not happen. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">As if it were simple opinions or beliefs. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">And in matters of belief, there is no truth or falsehood.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Having researched US-Cuba relations for some time, and having been wrong many times, I have discovered that the closest thing to examining them in the cold is peeling an onion.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The first thing is to put on glasses, against tearing; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">and go removing the shell, and separating its successive layers. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The shell becomes the wish list that everyone has the sovereign right to make regarding those relationships and their future; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">but better book for another time. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">To reason them out, the next step is to separate the cluster of topics around which Cuba and the US have convergent or divergent policies, which could fill drawers. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Then it would be necessary to peel the repertoire of accumulated problems, a long list that is identified as "the dispute." </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">To get to the short list, which is the negotiable agenda of the moment.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In the drawer of topics is, let's say, the nuclear issue. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Having been the only country in the region threatened by a nuclear attack, Cuba refused for a long time to give up arming itself, with the same right as the US. Why should they and not us? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In the end, he would sign the </span></span><a href="https://www.opanal.org/tratado-de-tlatelolco/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e5; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Treaty of Tlatelolco</a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> , which outlaws nuclear weapons in the region, in 1995, almost twenty years after it was proclaimed. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">He did not do it precisely to go against the US, but rather in response to the call of Latin Americans, and Mexico in particular. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">And he decided to do so, by the way, in a world where the proliferation of nuclear weapons outside the great powers is spreading like wildfire.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">On the long list of the "bilateral dispute" has always been, for example, the Guantánamo naval base. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Strictly speaking, some other topics of this "dispute" are not exactly bilateral. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">For example, the Cuba-Venezuela relationship, put as a reason for the reinforced isolation measures applied by the Trump administration. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Let's say that, in order to discern whether or not these accumulated problems are part of a negotiable agenda, we must relate them to the scale of priorities, and also to the spectrum of reality.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">For example, the Cuban side has said that Guantanamo cannot be waived; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">but it is not his priority. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">As for relations with Venezuela on the US-Cuba agenda, the evolution of the US-Venezuelan conflict has been in charge of putting them where they are going. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">As has been seen, the ball was not exactly on Cuba's side, where the Bolton-Claver Carone-Rubio brand rhetoric had wanted to place it.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">As self-evident as all of the above may be, some observers confuse the content of negotiable agendas with wish lists or pronouncements. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Thus, they put “human rights and individual liberties”, “economic opening and legal security”, “approvingly (sic) of a greater and irreversible opening”; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">“formal, legal and real recognition of entities and organizations of civil society”. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The approach attributes to the diplomatic teams that meet with Cuba an inability to differentiate between priority items on a negotiable agenda and political goals to pursue.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">If, on the contrary, one decides to learn from what happened, one will see that Obama affirmed from the beginning that the US did not intend to intervene in internal changes, that they were only "a thing of the Cubans", although to the US. he would like Cuba to be more democratic, pluralistic, etc. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Raúl Castro, for his part, had declared long before that he was ready to “dialogue on any subject with the United States.” </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Of course, talking or discussing is not the same as negotiating, much less reaching agreements. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Starting with the most difficult is not what a negotiator does.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">If, in order to analyze the dynamics of a possible negotiation, one took the trouble to appreciate what happened between the two sides in the recent past, one would verify, first of all, that almost all the memorandums of understanding (2015-2017) are still alive, although they They keep in hibernation. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">And if you look closely at the main layers of that onion, you'll see that more than a third of the deals focused on national security issues.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Of course, we must not go back to December 2014, nor assume that we are back to the future we believed in then. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Now, is it that this dynamic consisted only of the will of Presidents Obama and Raúl Castro? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In an unrepeatable situation? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Didn't it reflect national interests at stake that are still there?</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In other words, those 23 MoUs no longer address priority issues for both sides? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Is the US interested in preserving areas of cooperation with Cuba under the terms provided for in those agreements? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Nothing less than about migration, interception of drug trafficking, air and naval security; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">prosecution of crime, money laundering, passport forgery, human trafficking; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">coordination between the Coast Guard Service (USCG) and Border Guard Troops (TG), including joint action to anticipate and act against oil spills in deep waters.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Since </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it takes two to tango,</em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">As they say there, is Cuba willing to respond to any action, no matter how partial or restricted, that releases or reduces the iron fence of the multilateral and global embargo (ie, the blockade), even if it is limited or partial? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">To do so even when the declared objective of these exemptions is to erode socialism from within, and strengthen a sector that they see as a herald of capitalism (private entrepreneurs), its main beneficiary? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Even if admitting a privileged treatment for these actors would have the rejection of those who, on the side here, also suspect them as potential allies of the United States? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Of those who only tolerate them as a "necessary evil" foreign to the system, despite the fact that the Constitution and the laws identify them as legitimate subjects of a new socialist economic and social order?</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Given that all these agreements amount to mutual confidence measures (MCMs), as strategic experts call them, is Cuba willing to continue to trust institutions of the </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">national security </span></span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">establishment , such as Homeland Security, FBI, DEA, USCG? </em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">To come to an understanding with the US armed forces occupying the Guantánamo naval base, to the point of dialogue, coordination and cooperation, in joint exercises that preserve the security of both sides? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">To update agreements and sign new ones, giving them the benefit of trust? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Even though an eventual US administration might push them all back, or put them into hibernation again?</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Instead of speculating about what is possible, what is next, or what is desirable on the part of Cuba, one could listen to the answers to these questions from a vice minister of the Minrex and senior officials from the Minint at an academic event on bilateral relations held in Havana, In the past week.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In the panel on security issues, the cooperation achieved up to mid-2018, the date contacts ceased, under pressure from the White House and Trump's State Department, was shown in great detail. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">For those of us who think that politics consists more of actions than phrases, the most impressive thing was the degree of rapport between institutions on both sides. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">At times, I had the feeling that these were two countries with not only normal relations, but very good ones.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">In spite of everything, some commentators there and their epigones still often wonder what Cuba gave up, in response to "everything the US conceded." </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">under Obama. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">To verify this, it is enough to see the balance of uncertainty on both sides.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Those national security institutions that have led the way in Cuba since 1960, despite pressure from the anti-communist Cuban-American </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lobby</em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> inside and outside of Congress, have reached agreements with less fear that they will be canceled or frozen on this side.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">On the other hand, as is the case with all of Latin America and the Caribbean, Cuba has had to get used to seeing its relations with the United States suffer "collateral damage" due to the fluctuations between administrations, and depending on the general or partial electoral cycles, which either they could be called “even year syndrome”. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The agreements can become water with salt by virtue of an upcoming election.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Will we have a guarantee that this inertia will not run its course in 2023, an odd year?</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">The main obstacle between Cuba and the US is not the blockade, but the legacy of mistrust. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Some readers might ask: If cooperation around these issues of common interest is likely to resume, will progress on the negotiable agenda take us back to where we were in 2017, when Obama's short summer ended? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Will building trust get back on track? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">A conservative answer would be: too soon to tell. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Mine is: it depends on invisible currents on both sides.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">When they ask me what the weakest link in the blockade is, I say that people-to-people contact —that is, travel. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">First, because the </span></span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">freedom to travel</em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"> ban is the most absurd of all bans, in terms of American political culture. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Second, because I don't know anyone who comes to Cuba who doesn't end up reviewing their stereotypes about the country and its people, including their ideas and behaviors. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Third, because if those who leave “vote with their feet”, according to the popular adage in migration studies, those who visit also express very tangible interests and motivations, although not precisely ideological ones.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">If we know that from 2017 to 2019, for the first time, more than a million annual visitors arrived from the US to the island, most of whom were not Cuban-Americans, the figures for 2022, the first year post COVID-19 They are eloquent. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">According to data from the Mintur, until November the Cubans from there were the second largest group of visitors after Canadians, with a quarter of a million; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">and the third were the other Americans, more than 85 thousand; </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">above Spanish, German, French, and Cubans in other countries.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Despite the deterioration in bilateral relations, the rampant economic crisis and its effects on daily life, the ban on staying in many hotels, the placement of Cuba on the State Department's list of terrorist countries, and other adversities, they visited the island more residents in the US, Cubans and non-Cubans, than from any other country in Europe, Latin America, or the rest of the world.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">What do these data mean to assess trends in relations between the two countries, which may continue in 2023? </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Although the policies in Cuba are not guided by the logic of the relationship with the United States, but by the search for effective responses to the crisis, to the problems and needs of the transition to the new order, to what extent does what happens in Cuba —not only in the economy, but in politics, culture, public debate, laws— can it directly influence these relations?</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;">Getting to those layers of the onion naturally requires slow peeling.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/estados-unidos-cuba-para-pelar-una-cebolla-i/</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="jeg_post_title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.04em; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px 0px 0.4em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">United States-Cuba: to peel an onion (II and end)</h1><h2 class="jeg_post_subtitle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em; margin: -5px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Learning to live with them, with benefits and inevitable challenges, and to deal with the challenges of peace, is a way of anticipating a future that may arrive sooner than imagined.</h2><div class="jeg_meta_container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_post_meta jeg_post_meta_1" style="align-content: flex-start; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="meta_left" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_meta_author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="meta_text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="pp-multiple-authors-layout-inline author_index_1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author url fn" href="https://oncubanews.com/en/author/rafael_hernandez/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Avatar photo" class="avatar avatar-30 photo" data-pin-no-hover="true" decoding="async" height="30" loading="lazy" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-30x30.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-60x60.jpg 2x" style="border-radius: 100%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; height: 30px; margin: auto 5px auto auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 35px;" width="30" /> Rafael Hernández</a></span></div><div class="jeg_meta_date" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://oncubanews.com/en/opinion/united-states-cuba-to-peel-an-onion-ii-and-end/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">January 6, 2023</a></div><div class="jeg_meta_category" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="meta_text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; 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padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Cayo-Hueso-EFE-750x500-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="thumbnail-container" style="background: 50% 50% / cover rgb(247, 247, 247); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; height: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 472.8px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 0;"><img alt="Queuing for photos at Southernmost Point, Key West, the southernmost point in the United States, 90 miles from Cuba. January 2, 2023. Photo: EFE/EPA/Cristóbal Herrera." class="attachment-jnews-750x536 size-jnews-750x536 wp-post-image" decoding="async" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Cayo-Hueso-EFE-750x500-1.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Cayo-Hueso-EFE-750x500-1.jpg 750w, https://oncubanews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Cayo-Hueso-EFE-750x500-1-300x200.jpg 300w" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font: inherit; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 709.2px; z-index: -1;" width="750" /></div><p class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 3px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Queuing for photos at Southernmost Point, Key West, the southernmost point in the United States, 90 miles from Cuba. January 2, 2023. Photo: EFE/EPA/Cristóbal Herrera.</p></a></div><div class="jeg_share_top_container" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="jeg_ad jeg_article jnews_content_top_ads" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ads-wrapper" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><div class="entry-content with-share" style="background-color: white; 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font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.625em; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;"><table id="trinity-audio-table" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #7b7b7b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 1em 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; overflow-x: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 709.2px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td id="trinity-audio-tab" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.85em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="trinity-audio-player-label" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="trinityAudioPlaceholder" data-trinity-mount-date="2023-01-30 17:05:00" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The 50th anniversary of the </span><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acuerdos_de_paz_de_Par%C3%ADs#:~:text=Los%20acuerdos%20de%20paz%20de,y%20la%20estabilizaci%C3%B3n%20de%20Asia." style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paris Agreements</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, which ended the U.S. invasion known as the Vietnam War, is nearing. Those agreements, negotiated by Le Duc Tho and Henry Kissinger, decided the definitive withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Vietnam. In addition, they paved the way for a national unification that was the exclusive work of the Vietnamese.</span><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a propitious occasion to remember that it was Ho Chi Minh, not the CIA or USAID, who had the idea of creating, at the height of the war, the people-to-people track. It would be the communicating vessel with the anti-war movement in the United States, to consolidate a political and social combat front and contribute significantly to simply weakening the military force.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">That Vietnamese strategy was not limited to resisting in the theater of war. In addition, it forced the enemy to fight on several fronts at the same time, including the moral one. In this, its troops were exhausted, subjected to increasing political isolation, also within the United States.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">If it is a question of thinking about Cuban policy towards the United States today, are those Vietnamese lessons of any use?</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The reader will tell me that I am dreaming of a Cuba that is for the United States like the Vietnam War. Or that it has the sympathies it had in the 1960s among the progressive and civil rights movements in the United States. Naturally not. However, it is relevant to think about that Ho strategy. Despite the vast differences, his lessons of realism and intelligence remain. As well as the attachment to the principles that founded the cause of national liberation and the ideology of the socialist revolution in Southeast Asia.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">In <a href="https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/estados-unidos-cuba-para-pelar-una-cebolla-i/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the previous article</a> I mentioned that the weakest link in the blockade is people-to-people contact. And that, despite the blacklist of terrorist countries, the <a href="https://cubaminrex.cu/es/node/4048" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">more than 240 Trump measures</a> and everything that comes with them; the acute economic crisis; the anxieties of everyday life; the ban on staying in numerous hotels; despite the return to the mirror of the tropical gulag and the reflection of “the repressive scenes of July 11” and “people fleeing to freedom”…. Despite all that black cloud, large numbers of Americans and a quarter of a million Cuban Americans visited Cuba in 2022.<span face="Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #212121; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="jnews_inline_related_post_wrapper left" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jnews_inline_related_post" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_postblock_21 jeg_postblock jeg_module_hook jeg_pagination_nextprev jeg_col_2o3 jnews_module_263195_0_63d7f8bc68cfc" data-unique="jnews_module_263195_0_63d7f8bc68cfc" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_block_navigation" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="jeg_block_nav" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="next" href="https://oncubanews.com/en/opinion/united-states-cuba-to-peel-an-onion-ii-and-end/#" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 30px;" title="Next"><span class="fa fa-angle-right" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></a></div></div></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Having reviewed the scene of uncertainties that continues to characterize U.S. policy toward Cuba, and the factors that frame it, I wondered if anything could be done here to take steps toward a more normal relationship. And, although the compass of Cuban policies at this moment cannot be other than the search for effective responses to the crisis, to the problems and needs of the transition to the new order based on the 2019 Constitution, I wondered to what extent what happens in Cuba, both in the economy and in politics, culture, public debate, laws, could directly affect these relations.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Penetrating the layers of the problem, beyond the legitimate and heartfelt wishes and hopes of one and all, requires <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">peeling</em> them back with a cool head.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Cuba has managed to get almost the entire United Nations to condemn the U.S. multilateral, global, extraterritorial embargo, summarized in the term blockade. It has been a repeated victory for Cuban diplomacy. Having reached the 30th voting, however, it can be seen that the armored defense of that blockade has prevailed. Not only do bilateral transactions remain at a standstill, but around the world commercial and financial institutions, corporations, banks, continue to fear the implications of acting against it — including those of our allies.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Obama’s short summer demonstrated that Cuba and the United States had common interests, on which more than twenty agreements could be built; and that the political will of the two governments was enough for the confrontational tone of the Cold War to vanish. That a U.S. president could visit the island; appearing on the most popular comedy show and attending a ball game at the Latino stadium; meet in public with the civil society chosen by him and with TV coverage and, even, fulfill the rite of meeting in private with the organized opposition.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the dissatisfaction with the rapprochement, not only in Miami, but also in Havana, what happened in those twenty-five months showed that Cuba was prepared to respond to the dynamics of normalization and, in particular, to accept the challenges of the people-to-people track.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Later it would be revealed that a presidential election over there was enough for the progress to be frozen, and a part even reversed. Six years have passed, and we continue to lament that fatality, as if the time of relations had been put on hold and we were trapped in some kind of limbo.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">However, that probability was always part of the premises of normalization. It is a process that does not occur in a test tube or contained in MOUs. In addition, it suffers from the contradictions of politics. </p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Instead of the daily complaint about the bad luck of the blockade, shouldn’t we learn from what happened, and continue to prepare for more normal relations with the United States? Instead of remaining stuck in the alley of miracles, waiting for those who can push towards the recovery of the other side, and want to do it, what is within our reach that does not require resources, but rather political decisions?</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">If it’s a question of people-to-people initiatives, the first thing to note is that they do not depend on the institutions in charge of foreign policy. For the existing Cuban civil society to contribute to multiplying the channels of meta-diplomacy, internal policies are required to facilitate it.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The example of Vietnam is inspiring. A broad coalition of organizations and groups called the Nation Front actively managed people-to-people relations. The coalition, capable of communicating with very diverse sectors of U.S. society, included social, labor, youth, religious, cultural, and also political organizations, such as the Viet Cong, the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party of Vietnam. Under the arch of the Vietnam Nation Front there was room for various ideological expressions, in a wide left-wing, nationalist and progressive spectrum.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Let’s say one of these organizations, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) has been much more than an interlocutor with solidarity groups in the world. Its functions have included, for example, “diversifying and multilateralizing fraternal relations, to promote the cause of the defense of the Nation of the Vietnamese people”; “encouraging overseas Vietnamese to orient to their nation and support activities that enhance friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and other countries in economy, culture, education, science, technology”; as well as taking charge of everything that falls within “people-to-people diplomacy.”</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Those Vietnamese who reside outside the country (the majority in Orange County, California) do not constitute a socially and ideologically homogeneous group. Their political representatives in the state legislature and in Washington are not exactly sympathetic to the Communist Party of Vietnam, rather the opposite. But their relations with the government of Hanoi do not go through the connection to the U.S. political system. They go through a policy built outside of U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relations. It is based on legitimate interests towards a common nation, the promotion of their standard of living, culture, economic development, religious creeds, traditions.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">In the case of Cuba-United States, people-to-people relations have occurred rather spontaneously. The churches, for example, have taken the initiative, especially since the years of the Special Period. They have interacted with their counterparts from both sides, facilitated visits, exchange programs (including donations and charity actions towards vulnerable groups). Of course, this flow makes use of prerogatives granted by regulations and established policies that enshrine religious freedom and church-state relations.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Other exchanges have been academic, cultural, scientific, developed since the 1980s. Against the grain of difficulties and restrictions due to lack of visas; little access to field research, technologies, databases, and larger-scale student exchange programs by both sides. Although Cuban policy has generally supported these initiatives, the exchanges have had as protagonists teachers, artists, scientists, and other intellectuals who have managed to overcome the legacy of suspicion and distrust enthroned in our institutions.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite these advances, professional associations, unions, student and youth organizations on the island could have a much more active presence in relations. As with the many organizations that express, in the United States, social movements such as women’s liberation, LGBT+, civil rights, environmental protection, community interests….</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Cuba finally promulgated a <a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/cuba-entran-en-vigor-normativas-sobre-micro-pequenas-y-medianas-empresas/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Law of Enterprises</a>, which allows micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. But it has not just given birth to an Association Law. In theory, under the current law, issued almost forty years ago, there could be an Association of MSMEs — although my acquaintances in the sector consider it unlikely. If tomorrow the Alabama Chamber of Commerce wanted to meet with representatives of the private sector, it would do so with a group of entrepreneurs selected at random or deliberately by the person in charge of coordinating the meeting. The absence of an institutionalization that represents and galvanizes their interests and purposes harms the private sector, but also the country. Especially since institutions are not built overnight.<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Of course, civil society is much more than ventures and churches. The first time I had a long stay in the United States, I slipped into a municipal assembly, in which the neighbors exercised direct democracy, a town meeting. Listening to parents intervene around the problems of the schools, and the head of education of the municipality responding to them, sounded familiar to me. How could we find out that we have things in common in the exercise of government at the local level if we don’t know each other? Or is it that someone fears that we will catch capitalism by sharing how we solve things on both sides?</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">As regards “sister cities,” “subnational” foreign relations generated by local governments and institutions, they can exist and multiply, like so many others, despite the blockade. Increasing the contact surface between both societies contributes to opening holes in the wall. Make it look more like a sponge or Swiss cheese.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">It is about learning to live with them, with benefits and inevitable challenges, and to deal with the challenges of peace. It is a way of anticipating a future that may come sooner than imagined. Drawing strength from internal changes to renew foreign relations, with the world and with the United States, is also learning about ourselves. After all, wasn’t that the Revolution?</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><i>https://oncubanews.com/opinion/columnas/con-todas-sus-letras/relaciones-eeuu-cuba-para-pelar-una-cebolla-ii/</i></span></p><span class="pp-multiple-authors-layout-inline author_index_1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author url fn" href="https://oncubanews.com/en/author/rafael_hernandez/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e4; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Avatar photo" class="avatar avatar-30 photo" data-pin-no-hover="true" decoding="async" height="30" loading="lazy" src="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-30x30.jpg" srcset="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/97422115_488148865233552_6781165959181762560_n-60x60.jpg 2x" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font: inherit; height: 30px; margin: auto 2px auto auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 30px;" width="30" /> Rafael Hernández</a></span></div></div>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-3978017480049145662022-12-19T21:36:00.002-08:002023-03-22T21:24:10.821-07:00US Opposes New Cable to Cuba<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #212121; font-size: 28.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">U.S. Justice Recommends Preventing Submarine Cable from Connecting U.S.
with Cuba</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 28.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.95pt; margin: 9.95pt 0in 15pt; mso-outline-level: 2; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #a0a0a0; font-size: 15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ARCOS-1 USA
Inc. underwater cable system made the request to the FCC to adapt its network
to include the first and only connection of its kind between the U.S. and Cuba</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #212121; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The U.S. </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Department
of Justice</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> recommended Wednesday to the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to deny a permit for </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the installation of the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/internet-en/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">first</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> submarine
telecommunications cable that would connect the United States with Cuba.</span><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Cuban government represents a
"counterintelligence threat" to the US and, given that the state
communications company Etecsa would manage the cable landing system, Havana
could "access sensitive US data traveling through the new cable
segment," the US Justice explained in a statement cited by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Efe</span></i></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">
agency</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"As long as the Government of Cuba
remains a counterintelligence threat to the United States and is allied with
others doing the same, the risks to our infrastructure are simply very
great," Deputy Homeland Security Attorney Matthew G. Olsen said in a statement.</span><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the Department of Justice,
Cuba's relations with other "foreign adversaries" such as China or
Russia, represent a risk to the government if there were such a connection.</span><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Olsen noted that the U.S., however,
"supports a secure, reliable and open Internet network around the world,
including Cuba."</span><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ARCOS-1 USA Inc. underwater cable
system made the request to the FCC to adapt its network to include the first
and only connection of its kind between the U.S. and Cuba.</span><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ARCOS-1 network connects 24 landing
points in 15 countries on the continent, including the U.S., Venezuela,
Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua and Mexico.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The U.S. has criticized Cuba's government for limiting </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/internet-en-cuba/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">internet
access</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> on the island</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, especially after
protests erupted on the island this summer. Havana, for its part, maintains
that the embargo imposed by the US governments has prevented it from accessing
any of the dozens of cables that pass near its coasts.</span><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Efe/OnCuba.</span></i><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/justicia-estadounidense-recomienda-impedir-que-un-cable-submarino-conecte-eeuu-con-cuba/"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">U.S. Justice Recommends Preventing
Submarine Cable from Connecting U.S. with Cuba | OnCubaNews</span></a></span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-51283803214282685232022-12-19T20:38:00.001-08:002023-03-22T15:43:34.866-07:00Deputy Foreign Minister Accepts pro Private Sector US Policies<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #212121; font-size: 28.5pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Cuba would not oppose easing the blockade if only to benefit the private
sector</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 28.5pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.95pt; mso-outline-level: 2; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #a0a0a0; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Cuban deputy
foreign minister declared that if partial exceptions to the blockade allow
"greater prosperity for any sector of the economy, we will not put up
obstacles."</span></b><b><span style="color: #a0a0a0; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/cuba-no-se-opondria-a-flexibilizacion-del-bloqueo-aunque-sea-solo-para-el-sector-privado/#comments"><span lang="EN" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #212121; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cuba would not oppose any initiative to relax the
economic and financial sanctions imposed by the United States government, even
if it only brings benefits to the emerging </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/sector-privado-en-cuba/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">private
sector on the island</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"If exceptions to the blockade are introduced with
the dream of ending the Revolution, we are not going to oppose it," Carlos
Fernández de Cossío, deputy head of the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/minrex/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex),</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> said
Wednesday </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">during his speech at an academic forum dedicated to
analyzing the state of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/relaciones-cuba-ee-uu/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">relations
between Cuba and the United States</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in the current
international context.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #222222; mso-line-height-alt: 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">01:17</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The diplomat acknowledged that these steps
would be aimed at "subverting the country's political system" and
described the idea as a "major mistake."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The push for greater support for Cuban
private entrepreneurs is among the measures announced last May by the
administration of Democrat Joe Biden, something that the Cuban government
describes as "a political weapon."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fernández de Cossío explained that the
purposes are not focused on contributing to the economic development of the
country, nor to the improvement of the living conditions of a broad sector of
the population.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"If this allows greater prosperity of
any sector of the economy, we will not put up obstacles. If they manage to
devise exceptions that benefit some and continue to punish others, we will not
try to prevent it either," he said.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the current scenario of relations
between Cuba and the United States, the Cuban deputy foreign minister said that
"it has not had perceptible changes," although he acknowledged that
during 2022 important steps were taken, and that these were not unilateral.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He mentioned the exchanges on migration
issues held in May in Washington, and then in Havana last November, because it
is a phenomenon that "affects both countries."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In turn, he recalled that this type of
meetings had not been held since July 2018, and that during all that time the
United States did not honor the agreements signed by both countries.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He also valued the talks as
"constructive", since they served "to verify the validity of the
agreements, reiterate the mutual political commitment, identify areas that
require greater attention, and analyze issues that are not included in the
agreements, but have great influence on the agreements."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fernández de Cossío confirmed that at the
end of the most recent fiscal year the US government complied with the delivery
of at least 20,000 visas, something that had not happened since 2017, and
considered as positive the announcement that as of next January the US embassy
in Havana would resume all consular services interrupted by the government of
Donald Trump.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The diplomat highlighted other exchanges
held this year, including that of experts on false documentation, and that of
specialists from the Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) and
the United States Coast Guard, which maintains the safe repatriation to the
island of people intercepted at sea.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Cuban diplomat also referred to other
dialogues held in the area of confronting oil spills at sea, in the area of
health, and announced that others related to the protection of the environment
are being prepared.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"There has been a greater degree of
dialogue between Minrex and the State Department and other agencies. They are
mutual steps of some importance that cannot be ignored," he said.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #212121; font-size: 18.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the opposite
direction</span></b><b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 18.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fernández de Cossío also emphasized issues
in which the relationship between the two countries has not been able to
advance. He mentioned among them the inclusion of Cuba in a list of nations in
which there is concern about religious freedom, accusations that, he said, were
made "without foundation and with dishonest arguments."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He also referred to other steps announced
"with much fanfare" and without the commitment to dismantle the
sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, such as the relaxation in the
sending of remittances to Cuba.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"There is still no regular flow of
remittances... and if it happens in the near future, it is due to steps that
Cuba has taken and not to decisions taken by the United States," he said.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The deputy minister also considered as
incoherent the objective of the United States to promote Internet connectivity
in Cuba, "because it is the decision of that government that many private
commercial sites in your country are prohibited in Cuba," he said.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To illustrate this contradiction, he also referred to the
</span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/justicia-estadounidense-recomienda-impedir-que-un-cable-submarino-conecte-eeuu-con-cuba/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">recent negative recommendation</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> of the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the installation of the first
submarine telecommunications cable that would connect the United States and
Cuba.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As a measure taken in the right direction,
he explained the reopening of flights from the United States to several Cuban
provinces and the facilities promised for group travel for U.S. citizens, which
have worked well so far.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"They are a contrast to the last two
years of the Trump administration and to the year 2021, and it is part of what
describes the bilateral relationship," he said.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, the diplomat described the current Democratic administration as
the one that "with more aggressiveness and effectiveness has applied the
blockade" against Cuba, adding that these sanctions "continue to be the
central and defining factor of the bilateral relationship between Cuba and the
United States."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/cuba-no-se-opondria-a-flexibilizacion-del-bloqueo-aunque-sea-solo-para-el-sector-privado/"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cuba would not oppose easing the blockade
if only to benefit the private sector | OnCubaNews</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #212121; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 28.5pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Cuba no se opondría a flexibilización del
bloqueo aunque sea solo para beneficiar al sector privado<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.95pt; mso-outline-level: 2; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #a0a0a0; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El
vicecanciller cubano declaró que si excepciones parciales al bloqueo permiten
"una mayor prosperidad de cualquier sector de la economía, no vamos a
poner obstáculos."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">por</span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/author/oncuba/"><span style="color: #333333; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"><img alt="Foto del avatar" border="0" height="96" src="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_22" width="96" /></span><!--[endif]--></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> Redacción OnCuba</span></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/cuba-no-se-opondria-a-flexibilizacion-del-bloqueo-aunque-sea-solo-para-el-sector-privado/"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">diciembre 15, 2022</span></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">en </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cuba</span></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/cuba-no-se-opondria-a-flexibilizacion-del-bloqueo-aunque-sea-solo-para-el-sector-privado/#comments"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #212121; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #212121; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">0</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cossio-presiden-delegacion-a-eeuu-tema-migratorio.jpg"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cossio-presiden-delegacion-a-eeuu-tema-migratorio.jpg"><span style="color: #00a7e5; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_23" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="El vicecanciller cubano Carlos Fernández de Cossío. | Foto: Otmaro Rodriguez / Archivo OnCuba."
href="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cossio-presiden-delegacion-a-eeuu-tema-migratorio.jpg"
style='width:562.5pt;height:372pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'
o:button="t">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg"
o:title=" Archivo OnCuba"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"><img alt="El vicecanciller cubano Carlos Fernández de Cossío. | Foto: Otmaro Rodriguez / Archivo OnCuba." border="0" height="496" src="file:///C:/Users/jmcau/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_23" width="750" /></span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="border: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-no-proof: no; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 2.25pt; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #a0a0a0; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cossio-presiden-delegacion-a-eeuu-tema-migratorio.jpg"><span style="color: #a0a0a0; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">El vicecanciller
cubano Carlos Fernández de Cossío. | Foto: Otmaro Rodriguez / Archivo OnCuba.<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cuba no se opondría a ninguna iniciativa para
flexibilizar las sanciones económicas y financieras impuestas por el gobierno
de Estados Unidos, aunque solo suponga beneficios para el emergente </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/sector-privado-en-cuba/" target="_blank"><b><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sector privado en la Isla</span></b></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Si se introducen excepciones al bloqueo con el sueño
de acabar con la Revolución, no nos vamos a oponer”, expuso este miércoles
Carlos Fernández de Cossío, vice titular del </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/minrex/" target="_blank"><b><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ministerio
de Relaciones Exteriores (Minrex)</span></b></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, durante su
intervención en un foro académico dedicado a analizar el estado de la </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/tag/relaciones-cuba-ee-uu/" target="_blank"><b><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">relaciones entre Cuba y Estados
Unidos</span></b></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> en el actual contexto internacional.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Video Player</span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">00:00</span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #222222; mso-line-height-alt: 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">01:17</span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El diplomático reconoció que esos pasos
estarían encaminados a «subvertir el sistema político del país» y calificó la
idea como un «error mayúsculo».<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El impulso a un mayor apoyo a los
emprendedores privados cubanos está entre las medidas anunciadas el pasado mes
de mayo por la administración del demócrata Joe Biden, algo que el gobierno
cubano califica como “un arma política”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fernández de Cossío explicó que los
propósitos no están enfocados en contribuir con el desarrollo económico del
país, ni al mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida de un amplio sector de la
población.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Si esto permite una mayor prosperidad
de cualquier sector de la economía, no vamos a poner obstáculos. Si logran
concebir excepciones que beneficien a unos y continúen castigando a otros,
tampoco vamos a tratar de impedirlo”, afirmó.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sobre el actual escenario de las
relaciones entre Cuba y Estados Unidos, el vice canciller cubano afirmó que “no
ha tenido cambios perceptibles”, aunque reconoció que durante el 2022 se dieron
pasos importantes, y que estos no fueron unilaterales.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mencionó los intercambios en temas
migratorios realizados en el mes de mayo en Washington, y luego en La Habana
durante el pasado mes de noviembre, pues se trata de un fenómenos que “afecta a
ambos países”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A su vez, recordó que este tipo de
encuentros no se realizaban desde julio de 2018, y que durante todo ese tiempo
Estados Unidos no honró los acuerdos suscritos por ambos países.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">También valoró como “constructivas” las
conversaciones, pues sirvieron “para comprobar la validez de los acuerdos,
reiterar el compromiso político mutuo, identificar áreas que requieren mayor
atención, y analizar temas que no están recogidos en los acuerdos, pero tienen
gran influencia en los acuerdos”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fernández de Cossío confirmó que al concluir
el más reciente año fiscal el gobierno estadounidense cumplió con la entrega de
al menos 20 000 visas, algo que no sucedía desde 2017, y consideró como
positivo el anuncio de que a partir del próximo mes de enero la embajada de
Estados Unidos en La Habana retomaría todos servicios consulares interrumpidos
por el gobierno de Donald Trump.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El diplomático puso en valor otros
intercambios celebrados durante el presente año, entre ellos el de expertos
sobre documentación falsa, y el de especialistas de las Tropas Guardafornteras
del Ministerio del Interior (Minint) y el Servicio de Guardacostas de Estados
Unidos, que mantiene la repatriación segura hacia la Isla de las personas
interceptadas en el mar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El diplomático cubano también se refirió
a otros diálogos sostenidos en materia de enfrentamiento a derrames de petróleo
en el mar, en el área de salud, y adelantó que se preparan otros relacionadas
con la protección del medio ambiente.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">«Ha existido un mayor grado de
interlocución entre el Minrex y el Departamento de Estado y otras agencias. Son
pasos mutuos de cierta importancia que no pueden desconocerse», aseguró.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #212121; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 18.5pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">En la
dirección contraria<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fernández de Cossío también hizo énfasis
en temas en los que las relación entre ambos países no ha podido avanzar. Mencionó
entre ellas la inclusión de Cuba en un listado de naciones en las que existe
preocupación por la libertad religiosa, acusaciones que, según dijo, fueron
hechas «sin fundamento y con argumentos deshonestos».<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">También se refirió a otros pasos
anunciados «con mucha fanfarria» y sin el compromiso de desmantelar las
sanciones impuestas por la administración Trump, como la flexibilización en el
envío de remesas a Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">«Todavía no existe un flujo regular de
remesa… y si llega a haber en un futuro cercano, se debe a pasos que ha dado
Cuba y no a decisiones tomadas por Estados Unidos», dijo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El viceministro también consideró como
incoherente el objetivo de Estados Unidos por impulsar la conectividad a
Internet en Cuba, «porque es decisión de ese gobierno que muchos sitios
comerciales privados de su país estén prohibidos en Cuba», afirmó.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Para ilustrar esta contradicción, se refirió también a
la </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba-ee-uu/justicia-estadounidense-recomienda-impedir-que-un-cable-submarino-conecte-eeuu-con-cuba/" target="_blank"><b><span lang="es-CU" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #00a7e5; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">reciente
recomendación negativa</span></b></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> de la Comisión Federal de
Comunicaciones (FCC) para la instalación del primer cable de telecomunicaciones
submarino que conectaría a Estados Unidos y Cuba.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Como medida adoptadas en la dirección
correcta expuso la reapertura de vuelos desde Estados Unidos hacia varias
provincias cubanas y las facilidad prometidas para la realización de viajes en
grupo para ciudadanos estadounidenses, que hasta el momento han funcionado
bien.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">«Son un contraste con los dos últimos
años del gobierno de Trump y con el año 2021, y es parte de lo que describe la
relación bilateral», sentenció.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sin
embargo, el diplomático calificó a la actual administración demócrata como
la que «con más agresividad y eficacia ha aplicado el bloqueo» contra
Cuba, y añadió que esas sanciones «continúan siendo el factor central y
definitorio de la relación bilateral entre Cuba y Estados Unidos».<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oncubanews.com/cuba/cuba-no-se-opondria-a-flexibilizacion-del-bloqueo-aunque-sea-solo-para-el-sector-privado/"><span lang="es-CU" style="mso-ansi-language: #5C0A;">Cuba no se opondría a
flexibilización del bloqueo aunque sea solo para beneficiar al sector privado |
OnCubaNews</span></a></span><span lang="es-CU" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #5C0A; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-21617756961749458352022-10-19T08:14:00.005-07:002022-11-06T09:06:51.738-08:00Updates on Pinar del Rio and Matanzas<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hurricane Ian</span></b></p><header class="entry-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 28px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">EMERGENCIA POR HURACÁN IAN</h1><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><div class="date" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 3px; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.ccrdcuba.org/2022/10/19/emergencia-por-huracan-ian/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; opacity: 0.8; text-decoration-line: none;" title="EMERGENCIA POR HURACÁN IAN">19 octubre, 2022</a> </div></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18669" class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_18669" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; max-width: 100%; text-align: center; width: 300px;"><a href="https://www.ccrdcuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1.-Junto-a-otras-instituciones-ecumenicas-y-a-traves-del-Consejo-de-Iglesias-de-Cuba-se-hizo-un-donativo-a-los-damnificados-por-el-huracan-Ian-de-la-provincia-Pinar-del-Rio.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #c80000; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Junto a otras instituciones ecuménicas y a través del Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba, se hizo un donativo a los damnificados por el huracán Ian, de la provincia Pinar del Río" class="size-medium wp-image-18669" height="250" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.ccrdcuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1.-Junto-a-otras-instituciones-ecumenicas-y-a-traves-del-Consejo-de-Iglesias-de-Cuba-se-hizo-un-donativo-a-los-damnificados-por-el-huracan-Ian-de-la-provincia-Pinar-del-Rio-300x250.jpg" srcset="https://www.ccrdcuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1.-Junto-a-otras-instituciones-ecumenicas-y-a-traves-del-Consejo-de-Iglesias-de-Cuba-se-hizo-un-donativo-a-los-damnificados-por-el-huracan-Ian-de-la-provincia-Pinar-del-Rio-300x250.jpg 300w, https://www.ccrdcuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1.-Junto-a-otras-instituciones-ecumenicas-y-a-traves-del-Consejo-de-Iglesias-de-Cuba-se-hizo-un-donativo-a-los-damnificados-por-el-huracan-Ian-de-la-provincia-Pinar-del-Rio-1024x853.jpg 1024w, https://www.ccrdcuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1.-Junto-a-otras-instituciones-ecumenicas-y-a-traves-del-Consejo-de-Iglesias-de-Cuba-se-hizo-un-donativo-a-los-damnificados-por-el-huracan-Ian-de-la-provincia-Pinar-del-Rio-768x640.jpg 768w, https://www.ccrdcuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1.-Junto-a-otras-instituciones-ecumenicas-y-a-traves-del-Consejo-de-Iglesias-de-Cuba-se-hizo-un-donativo-a-los-damnificados-por-el-huracan-Ian-de-la-provincia-Pinar-del-Rio.jpg 1200w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" width="300" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-18669" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">Junto a otras instituciones ecuménicas y a través del Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba, se hizo un donativo a los damnificados por el huracán Ian, de la provincia Pinar del Río</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">Early response</i></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">HURRICANE IAN
EMERGENCY</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">19 October, 2022 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Together with
other ecumenical institutions and through the Council of Churches of Cuba, a
donation was made to the victims of Hurricane Ian, from Pinar del Río province.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Together with
other ecumenical institutions and through the Council of Churches of Cuba, a
donation was made to the victims of Hurricane Ian, from Pinar del Río province.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Accompanying and
providing solidarity aid to those most in need is one of the main motivations
and objectives of the CCRD-C. In recent days our country, mainly the western
territory, has been greatly affected by the passage of Hurricane Ian, which
left disastrous consequences, material and spiritual, in the lives of many
people.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>F</o:p>rom the cyclonic
alert stage, the Emergency Committee was activated in our institution, which
monitored the trajectory of this meteorological phenomenon and put all our
departments and premises safe.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Center joined
the solidarity call of the Council of Churches of Cuba (CIC), in support of so
many people who are suffering right now in Pinar del Río. Our donations were
transported there. In addition, we cooperate with financing the account that
was activated to help the victims monetarily.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>We are here to
serve, to always provide our support to those who are needed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.ccrdcuba.org/</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/ccrdcuba/</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Tax deductible contributions can be made in the US through the Fund for Reconciliation and Development </span></b><a href="https://tinyurl.com/donateFRD"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://tinyurl.com/donateFRD</span></b></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">******************************</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* "U.S. will provide $2 million of hurricane aid in Cuba" by Karen De Young, Washington Post, October 18, 2022 <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/18/biden-cuba-hurricane-ian/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00abff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/18/biden-cuba-hurricane-ian/</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 15.04px;">* "10 days later, Cubans still recovering from Hurricane Ian" </span></span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15.04px;">by Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15.04px;">https://apnews.com/article/hurricanes-health-caribbean-covid-storms-848c52622a1e03a50b93a5013be0df72</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* "Disaster diplomacy: Why Biden should rush to help Cuba after Hurricane Ian" by Professor William LeoGrande, Responsible Statecraft <a href="https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/09/30/disaster-diplomacy-why-biden-should-rush-to-help-cuba-after-hurricane-ian/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00abff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/09/30/disaster-diplomacy-why-biden-should-rush-to-help-cuba-after-hurricane-ian/</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* Letter from Representatives Lee, McGovern and Meeks calling for US humanitarian aid to Cuban victims of Hurricane Ian <a href="https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairs-lee-meeks-and-mcgovern-issue-statement-regarding-humanitarian-assistance-to-cuba-following-hurricane-ian" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00abff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairs-lee-meeks-and-mcgovern-issue-statement-regarding-humanitarian-assistance-to-cuba-following-hurricane-ian</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* <span style="background-color: transparent;">John Kavulich</span><b style="background-color: transparent;"> </b><span style="background-color: transparent;">sees the situation in </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">Pinar del Rio</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> as an
opportunity for US investment and financing and for sale of privately produced
tobacco to the US. *</span><a href="https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2022/10/14/btp57fk33e91zot1jfyvaexiknd5o1" style="background-color: transparent;">I"mpact
Of Hurricane Ian Upon Privately-Owned Tobacco Plantations In Cuba Opportunity
For U.S.-Origin OFAC-Authorized Direct Investment And Direct Financing? U.S.
- Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Inc.</a>"</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* "We appreciate humanitarian assistance offer made by the US. This material contribution that is worth 2 million USD, channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross, will add up to our recovery efforts in support of the victims of the ravages caused by #HurricaneIan" Tweet by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Matanzas Oil Fire</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* "Cuba’s enormous blaze fuels fears of instability even as flames are doused" by Ed Augustin <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/10/cuba-fire-government-power-cuts" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00abff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/10/cuba-fire-government-power-cuts</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* "Did U.S.-Cuba dysfunction prevent a quicker end to the Matanzas oil fire disaster?" by Tim Padgett <a href="https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-08-19/did-u-s-cuba-dysfunction-prevent-a-quicker-end-to-the-matanzas-oil-fire-disaster" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00abff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-08-19/did-u-s-cuba-dysfunction-prevent-a-quicker-end-to-the-matanzas-oil-fire-disaster</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">* Letter from FFRD to USAID <a href="https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2022/08/letter-to-usaid.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00abff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2022/08/letter-to-usaid.html</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Broader National & Bilateral Focus</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">* "Inflation, blackouts and collapsing peso pile pressure on Cuban govt" b</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">y Marc Frank </span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/cuba-economy/inflation-blackouts-and-collapsing-peso-pile-pressure-on-cuban-govt-idINL1N31C2T7" style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">https://www.reuters.com/article/cuba-economy/inflation-blackouts-and-collapsing-peso-pile-pressure-on-cuban-govt-idINL1N31C2T7</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;">* "<a href="https://progresoweekly.us/did-the-cuban-government-request-help-from-the-u-s-because-of-hurricane-ian/">Did
the Cuban government request help from the U.S. because of Hurricane Ian?" -
Progreso Weekly</a> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b>Interviews with Jesús Arboleya and Manuel R. Gomez</p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804646918595691520.post-4869837212075993902022-09-18T21:14:00.002-07:002022-09-18T21:42:18.740-07:00Democracy Programs: Depends on Whose Ox is Gored<p><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> An unresolved and deep conflict between the US and Cuba is the expenditure of at least $20 million dollars per year for democracy programs in Cuba, largely through grants from USAID. They were documented by The Cuba Money Project. It no longer exists but many of the ground breaking posts can be found <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/sitemap/http://cubamoneyproject.com" target="_blank">here</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/sitemap/http://cubamoneyproject.com">https://web.archive.org/web/sitemap/http://cubamoneyproject.com</a></b></span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>It is illegal for US candidates to accept donations from people who are not US citizens. The controversy of Russian influence still dominates debate about the first Trump campaign. Yet very few American politicians question the legitimacy of covert interference in Cuba's social and political life. USAID is accepted and plays a positive role in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia because its programs are public and negotiated between the governments. The fundamental difference is that the US, despite many disagreements about human rights and democratic practice in all three former enemies does not aspire to regime change.</b></span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The following interview with a Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, article about Russian political interference worldwide and discussion of US opposition to China's government funded Confucius Institutes illustrate the inherent hypocrisy in our democracy programs. My solution is at the end.</b></span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> --John McAuliff</b></span></i></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Cuba slams US funding
to “promote democracy” as illegal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By <a href="https://www.reuters.com/authors/dave-sherwood/"><span style="color: blue;">Dave
Sherwood</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HAVANA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Cuba slammed U.S. funding for
"democracy promotion" programs as interventionist and illegal, aimed
at toppling the government just as the island nation faces its worst economic
crisis in decades, the country's Vice Foreign Minister said on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Biden
Administration in July announced a call for applications to award up to $6.25
million to nongovernmental organizations and individuals as part of a
decades-long program authorized by U.S. law to "promote peaceful,
nonviolent democratic change in Cuba."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vice Foreign Minister
Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters in Havana that the programs - which
over several decades have spent upwards of $200 million on Cuba-related projects
- in fact leverage foreign funding to foment unrest on the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"In any nation,
this is illegal," he said, noting the United States has legislation
against people who act as foreign government agents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"That is
precisely what the United States is trying to promote in Cuba today," he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The U.S. State
Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) call for applications warned of the
challenges and risks of working in Cuba, and said recipients "will not
serve as an agent or act under the direction of USAID."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">De Cossio's
allegations come as the island nation suffers its worst economic crisis in
decades, with widespread blackouts and hours-long lines for such basic supplies
as food, fuel and medicine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cuba has long blamed
the U.S. Cold War-era embargo and financing of dissidents for its economic and
social woes, but De Cossio said the most recent U.S. funding for pro-democracy
groups was specifically crafted to topple the communist-run government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"They (the U.S)
are depressing the standard of living of the population and at the same time
pouring millions of US taxpayer dollars into urging people to act against the
{Cuban} government," De Cossio told Reuters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The United States
called for applications from groups that would provide humanitarian assistance
for persecuted individuals and for those "empowering Cubans through access
to information."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The deputy foreign
minister's statements on Friday follow the first high-level talks between the
two countries in four years, at the time characterized as constructive by the
long-time foes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 24.0pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Relations have
nonetheless remained tense, with the United States and human rights groups
accusing Cuba of stifling free speech and wrongly imprisoning protesters
following widespread anti-government rallies on the island last July 11. Cuba
has denied those allegations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reporting by Dave
Sherwood; Editing by Josie Kao<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-slams-us-funding-promote-democracy-illegal-2022-09-02/">https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-slams-us-funding-promote-democracy-illegal-2022-09-02/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">**************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Russia
Secretly Gave $300 Million to Political Parties and Officials Worldwide, U.S.
Says<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #999999; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Top of Form<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Bottom of Form<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">By <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/edward-wong"><span style="color: blue;">Edward Wong</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Sept. 13, 2022</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WASHINGTON — Russia has covertly given
at least $300 million to political parties, officials and politicians in more
than two dozen countries since 2014, and plans to transfer hundreds of millions
more, with the goal of exerting political influence and swaying elections,
according to a State Department summary of a recent U.S. intelligence review.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Russia has probably given even more
that has gone undetected, the document said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Kremlin and its proxies have
transferred these funds in an effort to shape foreign political environments in
Moscow’s favor,” the document said. It added, “The United States will use
official liaison channels with targeted countries to share still classified
information about Russian activities targeting their political environments.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The State Department
document was sent as a cable to American embassies around the world on Monday
to summarize talking points for U.S. diplomats in conversations with foreign
officials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ned Price, the State
Department spokesman, confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday that the
findings on Russia were the result of work by U.S. intelligence agencies. He
added that Russian election meddling was “an assault on sovereignty,” similar
to Russia’s war on Ukraine. “In order to fight this, in many ways we have to
put a spotlight on it,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The State Department cable and release
of some of the intelligence findings amount to an initial effort by the Biden
administration to use intelligence material to expose the scope of Russian
interference in global political processes and elections, and to rally other
nations to help combat it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S. intelligence agencies have
determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election in favor of
Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate who defeated Hillary Clinton, the
Democratic nominee. Its methods included the use of cyberoperations to spread
online disinformation. U.S. intelligence officials also found that President
Vladimir V. Putin of Russia <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/16/us/biden-news-today"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: blue; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">authorized a campaign</span></a> to try to hurt the candidacy
of Joseph R. Biden Jr. when he ran for office against Mr. Trump in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The new document says that a range of
Russian agencies and individuals carry out the global operations, including the
Federal Security Service and other security agencies, as well as business
figures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The document named
two men, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/world/europe/prigozhin-russia-indictment-mueller.html"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: blue; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Yevgeny Prigozhin</span></a> and Aleksandr Babakov, both
close associates of Mr. Putin, as involved in the influence or interference
campaigns. In April, the Justice Department charged Mr. Babakov, who is also a
Russian lawmaker, and two other Russian citizens with conspiring to violate
U.S. sanctions and conspiring to commit visa fraud while running an
“international foreign influence and disinformation network to advance the
interests of Russia.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/sports/basketball/wnba-charter-flights-finals.html?action=click&algo=identity&block=editors_picks_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=339015903&impression_id=2ead3e10-36a6-11ed-ba2c-dd87271cc5ba&index=1&pgtype=Article&pool=editors-picks-ls&region=ccolumn&req_id=762835848&surface=home-featured&variant=0_identity&action=click&module=editorContent&pgtype=Article&region=CompanionColumn&contentCollection=Trending"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Russians pay in
cash, cryptocurrency, electronic funds transfers and lavish gifts, the document
said. They move the money through a wide range of institutions to shield the
origins of the financing, a practice called using cutouts. Those institutions
include foundations, think tanks, organized crime groups, political
consultancies, shell companies and Russian state-owned enterprises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The money is also given secretly
through Russian Embassy accounts and resources, the document said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In one Asian country, the Russian
ambassador gave millions of dollars in cash to a presidential candidate, the
document said. U.S. agencies have also found that Russia has used false
contracts and shell companies in several European countries in recent years to
give money to political parties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Some of Russia’s covert political
financing methods are especially prevalent in certain parts of the world,” the
document said. It added, “Russia has relied on state-owned enterprises and
large firms to move funds covertly across a number of regions including Central
America, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and on think tanks and
foundations that are especially active across Europe.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As of last year, the document said, a
Russian business figure was trying to use pro-Russian think tanks in Europe to
support far-right nationalist parties. The document warned that in the coming
months, Russia might use its “covert influence tool kit,” including secret
political financing, across broad swaths of the globe to try to undermine the
American-led sanctions on Russia and to “maintain its influence in these
regions amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although U.S. intelligence agencies
have been studying Russian global election interference and influence for
years, the intelligence review was ordered by senior administration officials
this summer, U.S. officials said. Some of the findings were recently
declassified so they could be shared widely. The review did not examine Russian
interference in U.S. elections, which intelligence agencies had been
scrutinizing in other inquiries, a U.S. official said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Officials say one aim of the U.S.
campaign to reveal details about Russian political interference and influence
is to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/us/politics/biden-democracy-threat.html"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: blue; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">strengthen democratic resilience</span></a> around the world,
a pillar of President Biden’s foreign policy. Administration officials are
focused on ensuring that nations that took part in last year’s Summit for
Democracy, which Mr. Biden held in Washington, can buttress their democratic
systems. The administration plans to convene a second summit soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The State Department
summary listed measures that the United States and partner nations could take
to mitigate Russia’s political interference campaigns, including imposing
economic sanctions and travel bans on known “financial enablers” and “influence
actors.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The department also
recommended that countries coordinate intelligence sharing, improve foreign
investment screening, strengthen investigative capabilities into foreign
financing of political parties and campaigns, and enforce and expand foreign
agent registration rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It said governments should also expel
Russian intelligence officers found to be taking part in related covert
financing operations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The State Department said in the
summary that it was urging governments to guard against covert political
financing “not just by Russia, but also by China and other countries imitating
this behavior.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julian
E. Barnes contributed reporting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://www.nyti/">https://www.nyti</a> mes.com/2022/09/13/us/politics/russia-election-interference.html</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">********************************</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Controversy
in the US About Chinese government funded Confucius Institutes</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes</a><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute" title="Confucius Institute"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Confucius Institute</span></a> (CI)
program, which began establishing centers for Chinese language instruction in
2004, has been the subject of criticisms, concerns, and controversies during
its international expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many such concerns stem from the CI's relationship to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party" title="Chinese Communist Party"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Chinese Communist
Party</span></a> (CCP) authorities, giving rise to criticisms about
undermining academic freedom at host universities, engaging in industrial and
military espionage, surveillance of Chinese students abroad, and attempts to
advance the Chinese government's political agendas on controversial issues such
as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan" title="Taiwan"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Taiwan</span></a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_China" title="Human rights in China"><span style="color: #0645ad;">human rights in China</span></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet" title="Tibet"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Tibet</span></a>.</span><sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes#cite_note-1"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[1]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes#cite_note-2"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[2]</span></a></span></sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Additional concerns have arisen over the institutes'
financial and academic viability, teaching quality, and relations with Chinese
partner universities…..</span><sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></sup></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In August 2020, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_State" title="United States Department of State"><span style="color: #0645ad;">United
States Department of State</span></a> designated the headquarters of the
Confucius Institutes in the U.S. as a "foreign mission" of China.</span><sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes#cite_note-158"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[158]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes#cite_note-159"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[159]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes#cite_note-160"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[160]</span></a></span></sup></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As of 2022, all of the Confucius Institutes located on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUNY" title="SUNY"><span style="color: #0645ad;">SUNY</span></a> campuses
were closed because federal research funding was jeopardized. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_National_Defense_Authorization_Act" title="2021 National Defense Authorization Act"><span style="color: #0645ad;">2021
National Defense Authorization Act</span></a> is the act that could
restrict federal research funding to universities that host Confucius
Institutes.</span><sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Confucius_Institutes#cite_note-161"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[161]</span></a></span></sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><sup><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#Criticism_and_controversies<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Confucius Institutes are
used as a form of "soft power" by the Chinese government in which it
spends approximately $10 billion a year on CIs and related programs to exercise
these initiatives.</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-10"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[10]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party" title="Chinese Communist Party"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Chinese
Communist Party</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (CCP) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Secretary_of_the_Chinese_Communist_Party" title="General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">general secretary</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping" title="Xi Jinping"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Xi Jinping</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> in 2013 stated that the intentions are to "give a
good Chinese narrative".</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-medi_guoji-11"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[11]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> Being
affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education, CIs have received increasing
skepticism over its censorship of content taught, such as topics related to
individual freedoms and democracy, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan" title="Taiwan"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Taiwan</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet" title="Tibet"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Tibet</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang" title="Xinjiang"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Xinjiang</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">…..</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></sup></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">In the short time-frame of
their rapid expansion, the institutes have been the subject of much
controversy. Criticisms of the institutes have included administrative concerns
about finance, academic viability, legal issues, and relations with the Chinese
partner university, as well as broader concerns about improper influence over
teaching and research, industrial and military espionage,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-Michel_Juneau-Katsuya_2009._pp_160-56"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[56]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-canada.com-57"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[57]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> surveillance
of Chinese abroad, and undermining Taiwanese influence.</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-58"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[58]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> There
has also been organized opposition to the establishment of a Confucius
Institute at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Melbourne" title="University of Melbourne"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Melbourne</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-59"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[59]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba" title="University of Manitoba"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Manitoba</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-60"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[60]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_University" title="Stockholm University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Stockholm
University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-61"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[61]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-62"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[62]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago" title="University of Chicago"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Chicago</span></a><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-63"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[63]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and
many others. More significantly, some universities that hosted Confucius
Institutes decided to terminate their contracts. These include Japan's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka_Sangyo_University" title="Osaka Sangyo University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Osaka Sangyo
University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> in 2010;</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-64"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[64]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> Canada's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMaster_University" title="McMaster University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">McMaster
University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universit%C3%A9_de_Sherbrooke" title="Université de Sherbrooke"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Université
de Sherbrooke</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-65"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[65]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-66"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[66]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and
France's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Lyon" title="University of Lyon"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Lyon</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> in 2013;</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-World_should_watch_for_Confucius-35"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[35]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> the
University of Chicago, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_University" title="Pennsylvania State University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Pennsylvania
State University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, and the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_District_School_Board" title="Toronto District School Board"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Toronto
District School Board</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> in 2014,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-insidehighered.com-67"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[67]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-68"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[68]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-69"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[69]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> the
German </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hochschule_der_Medien" title="Hochschule der Medien"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Stuttgart Media
University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Hohenheim" title="University of Hohenheim"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Hohenheim</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> in 2015,</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-70"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[70]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-71"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[71]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrije_Universiteit_Brussel" title="Vrije Universiteit Brussel"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Vrije
Universiteit Brussel</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Kansas" title="University of Kansas"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Kansas</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> in 2019…..</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">A
U.S. law passed in 2019 that prohibits universities hosting Confucius
Institutes from receiving funding for Chinese language studies from the
Department of Defense led to more closures of Confucius Institutes. Unable to
obtain a waiver from the Department of Defense, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_University" title="Indiana University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Indiana University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Minnesota" title="University of Minnesota"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Minnesota</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rhode_Island" title="University of Rhode Island"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University
of Rhode Island</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_State_University" title="San Francisco State University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">San
Francisco State University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oregon" title="University of Oregon"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Oregon</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Kentucky_University" title="Western Kentucky University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Western Kentucky
University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_State_University" title="Arizona State University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Arizona
State University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Hawaii_at_Manoa" title="University of Hawaii at Manoa"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University
of Hawaii at Manoa</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_State_University" title="San Diego State University"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">San Diego
State University</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> closed
their programs in 2019.</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-105"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[105]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-106"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[106]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-107"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[107]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-108"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[108]</span></a></span></sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> In
2020, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Maryland" title="University of Maryland"><span style="background: white; color: #0645ad; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">University of
Maryland</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> also announced the
closure of its Confucius Institute, the oldest one in the U.S.</span><sup><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute#cite_note-109"><span style="color: #0645ad;">[109]</span></a></span></sup></p><p class="MsoNormal"><sup><br /></sup></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align: super;">***********************************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Message to Samantha Power from John McAuliff</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><br /></span></p><table bgcolor="#f0f0f0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;" text="#000000">
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<div>To: Samantha Power </div>
<div>Subject: USAID democracy programs</div>
<div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Ms. Power,</p><div><br />
<div>I hope you have seen this story from Reuters about USAID democracy programs
in Cuba. Deputy Foreign Minister de Cossio who was interviewed is a serious and
balanced person. His point about the US attitude on the receiving end can be
seen in the concern about Chinese government funded Confucius Institutes on US
campuses.</div><br /><br />
<div><a eudora="AUTOURL" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-slams-us-funding-promote-democracy-illegal-2022-09-02/">https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-slams-us-funding-promote-democracy-illegal-2022-09-02/</a></div><br /><br />
<div>It would be a far more effective contribution to democracy in Cuba if the
embargo were ended and the natural influences of unrestricted tourism,
investment, cultural exchanges and trade were allowed to play out.
</div><br /><br />
<div>Hard-liners in both countries would lose leverage on their respective
governments, including the Cubans who characterized President Obama's
initiatives as a Trojan Horse. Regrettably Trump's maximum pressure policies
confirmed their suspicion.- and the Biden Administration has done far too little
to undo the damage.</div><br /><br />
<div>I could make a proposal to USAID, perhaps in partnership with an
organization like the Institute of International Education, to set up a broad
two way exchange of academics, business, lawyers, professionals, athletes,
artists, etc. One commonality between our two countries is the array of
associations and conferences that provide a natural point of
entry.</div><br /><br />
<div>The critical factor is that the design of the program and the choice of
participants must be the joint responsibility of representatives of both
countries. Inevitably for the first few years, Cuban participants will be
carefully vetted for reliability. However my expectation is that as trust is
developed, the parameters will widen. Cuban attendance in the annual congress
of the Latin American Studies Association is a useful example.</div><br /><br />
<div>Regards,</div><br /><br />
<div>John McAuliff</div><br /><br />
<div>P.S. Our petition to you regarding aid to Matanzas is growing slowly but
steadily <a eudora="AUTOURL" href="https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/help-matanzas-recover">https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/help-matanzas-recover</a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><sup><br /></sup></p>John McAuliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738853658043094283noreply@blogger.com0