Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in press conference in Washinton. Autor: Telesur Publicado: 03/11/2017 | 05:36 pm
Cuba’s Foreign Minister stated that no attack, no deliberate act, no specific incident has occurred regarding US diplomats that, according to the authorities of their country, were victims of alleged sonic attacks, and anticipated that if the US Government continues to take actions against Cuba the interest of both countries and peoples will be much more harmed.
The existence of differences between both Governments is a good reason for maintaining and promoting bilateral dialogues and mutual cooperation, which is the civilized way to deal with them, he said.
His statements were made in a meeting, he assessed as beneficial, with reporters in the National Press Club in Washington, as part of a Thursday’s program which included meetings with senators and congressmen, as well as with businessmen and representatives from academic centers, to set out the opinions of Cuba’s Government about the bilateral relations in the current situation.
“I challenge the US Government to present evidence on the alleged attacks”, he stressed and indicated that time has come for the US to come clean or present evidence.
Rodríguez Parrilla, who also regretted that unjustified politically motivated decisions are made under the guise of the alleged sonic attacks, by initiating his speech he asked why instead of cooperating with the Cuban authorities for establishing the alleged facts, the Governemnt of that country has decided to politicize the incidents and revert the relations to the confrontation and Cold War era.
This reversion has been worsened after the latest decisions of the administration of reducing the staff of its Embassy in Havana and expelling groundlessly 17 diplomats from the Cuban headquarters in Washington, on the pretext of the alleged incidents.
This has had a negative effect on the work of the Cuban Embassy and its economic-commercial Office, as well as the consulate, he said.
What is the aim of this decision, leaving the business sector without interlocutor and causing consular difficulties to the Cuban residents in the US, who want to visit their relatives and to the Americans who want to visit Cuba?
What’s the purpose behind suspending the issuance of visas at the United States Consulate in Havana, by bringing the procedures of Cubans wishing to emigrate to the United States to a standstill, transfering them to third countries, which makes those procedures more costly and almost unfeasible?, the Minister asked.
Rodríguez Parrilla also highlighted the negative impact of the actions on topics of mutual interest, as it was evident in the cancellation of a technical meeting on agriculture, the delay of cooperation in health, the cancellation of cultural, sport and educational events, as well as the groups of American students visiting the island.
The Minister also recalled the deep and comprehensive investigation implemented by Cuba to clarify the facts and Cuba’s willingness to continue the investigations, and denied any involvement of the Cuban Government in the alleged incidents.
President Donald Trump and spokesmen of his Government has said the US diplomats and relatives were object of attacks and have held the Cuban Government responsible, but have failed to present evidence, he stressed.
Rodríguez Parrilla ratified Cuba’s stance toward the respectful dialogue and the formal and committed cooperation, as well as to advance the thorough investigation of the facts, and stated that the United States should stop politizicing this.
