Statement by the President of the Counsels of State and Ministers Army General Raúl Castro on the occasion of the first anniversary of the announcements made on December 17, 2014, regarding the decision to re-establish diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.
One year has gone by since the simultaneous announcements made on
December 17, 2014, by the presidents of Cuba and the United States to
re-establish diplomatic relations between both countries and work to improve
our relations.
One year ago, on a day like yesterday, as part of the agreements reached
to find a solution to issues of interest for both countries, we were able to
announce, to the great joy of all of our people, the return to our homeland of
Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio, with which we made true the promise made by Fidel
who had asserted that our Five Heroes would return.
On that same date, in accordance with our reiterated disposition to hold
a respectful dialogue with the Government of the United States, on the basis of
sovereign equality, to discuss a wide variety of issues in a reciprocal way,
without any detriment to our people’s national independence and
self-determination, we agreed to take mutual steps to improve the bilateral
atmosphere and move on towards the normalization of relations between the two
countries.
It could be said that, since then, we have achieved some results,
particularly in the political, diplomatic and cooperation spheres:
• Diplomatic relations were re-established and the embassies
in both countries were re-opened. These actions were preceded by the
rectification of the unjust designation of Cuba as a State sponsor of
terrorism.
• High level meetings and visits have taken place.
• The already existing cooperation in areas of mutual
interest, such as aviation safety and security as well as the combat against
drug-trafficking, illegal migration, alien smuggling and migration fraud has
been expanded. The regular and respectful meetings between the military
commands of Cuba and the United States in the perimeter of the U.S. Naval Base
in Guantánamo have continued.
• New possibilities for bilateral cooperation have opened up
in areas of mutual benefit, such as environmental protection, law enforcement,
maritime and port security and health.
• New dialogues have been initiated on bilateral and
multilateral topics of interest, such as climate change, mutual compensations,
traffic in persons and human rights, this latter being the one on which we have
profound differences and about which we are having an exchange on the basis of
respect and reciprocity.
• We have signed agreements on environmental protection and
the re-establishment of direct postal services.
All of this has been achieved through a professional and respectful
dialogue based on equality and reciprocity.
Quite on the contrary, this year we have not made any progress in the
solution of those issues which are essential for Cuba to be able to have normal
relations with the United States.
Although President Obama has repeatedly stated his opposition to the
economic, commercial and financial blockade and has urged Congress to lift it,
this policy remains in force. The persecution of Cuba’s legitimate financial
transactions as well as the extraterritorial impact of the blockade, which
causes damages and hardships to our people and is the main obstacle to the
development of the Cuban economy, have been tightened.
The steps taken so far by President Obama, although positive, have
proved to be limited in scope, which has prevented their implementation. By
using his executive prerogatives, the President could expand the scope of the
steps that have already been taken and take new steps that would substantially
modify the implementation of the blockade.
Despite Cuba’s repeated claim for the return of the territory illegally
occupied by the Guantánamo Naval Base, the Government of the United States has
stated that is has no intention to change the status of that enclave.
The U.S. Government is still implementing programs that are harmful to
Cuba’s sovereignty, such as the projects aimed at bringing about changes in our
political, economic and social order and the illegal radio and television
broadcasts, for which they continue to allocate millions of dollars in funds.
A preferential migration policy continues to be applied to Cuban
citizens, which is evidenced by the enforcement of the wet foot/dry foot
policy, the Medical Professional Parole Program and the Cuban Adjustment Act,
which encourage an illegal, unsafe, disorderly and irregular migration, foment
human smuggling and other related crimes and create problems to other
countries.
The Government of Cuba will continue to reiterate that, in order to
normalize relations, it is imperative for the U.S. Government to derogate all
these policies that date from the past, which affect the Cuban people and
nation and are not in tune with the present bilateral context and the will
expressed by both countries to re-establish diplomatic relations and develop
respectful and cooperative relations between both peoples and governments.
No one should expect that, in order to normalize relations with the
United States, Cuba will renounce the principles and ideals for which several
generations of Cubans have struggled throughout more than half a century. The
right of every State to choose the economic, political and social system it
wishes, without any interference whatsoever, should be respected.
The Government of Cuba is fully willing to continue advancing in the
construction of a kind of relation with the United States that is different
from the one that has existed throughout its prior history, that is based
on mutual respect for sovereignty and independence, that is
beneficial to both countries and peoples and that is nurtured by the
historical, cultural and family links that have existed between Cubans and
Americans.
Cuba, in fully exercising its sovereignty and with the majority support
of its people, will continue to be engaged in the process of transformations to
update its economic and social model, in the interest of moving forward in the
development of the country, improving the wellbeing of the people and
consolidating the achievements attained by the Socialist Revolution.
Thank you.
