Cuban foreign minister sees ‘no progress’ in US talks | Political Affairs

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez described talks with the United States as hitting a wall, with no steps taken to end sanctions on the Caribbean island.

“The talks between the Cuban and US governments are not showing any progress,” Rodriguez told a press conference on Tuesday.

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He also considered the ongoing negotiations with the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has increased pressure on the Caribbean island since returning to office for a second term.

“The actions of the representatives of the US government – which they usually respect – have been constant threats to Cuba, the use of coercive measures, and offensive words about the freedom of our country,” said Rodriguez.

Since the 1960s, the US has imposed a total trade embargo on Cuba, as part of a long-running conflict with the island’s communist leadership.

But Trump has signaled that he wants to see regime change in Cuba, and in January, effectively cut off Cuban oil by threatening to pay any country that supplies oil.

Trump also considered military action against Cuba when the US-Israel war against Iran ended.

In March, Cuban officials confirmed that they were in talks with the Trump administration, although the details of the talks were not confirmed.

Reports surfaced recently that Trump wants Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down, but the Cuban government. he has openly refused such demands.

On Tuesday, Rodriguez said that, despite the crisis, Havana “will remain open to dialogue”.

He also accused the US of trying to derail a debate planned at the United Nations General Assembly on July 7 to discuss Washington’s sanctions.

Almost every year, the UN votes overwhelmingly to support a symbolic resolution urging the US to end its long-standing economic embargo on Cuba.

Rodriguez explained that he called the July 7 session because of concerns about the growing tensions with the US.

“It is important because many of the attacks of the US government against Cuba are already going on,” Rodriguez said.

He also warned that the US State Department is “pressing and threatening” UN members not to participate in the talks.

Since the Trump administration began its enforcement campaign this year, Cuba has taken steps to address the human rights concerns that have plagued its government.

For example, in April, the government pardoned 2,010 prisoners in what is called “humanitarian aid”, although the opposition said that the release did not include political opponents who were arrested for “crimes against the regime”.

Then, earlier this month, the Communist Party of Cuba multiple approvals free market reform as part of an emergency economic package.

These changes included the possibility of increasing private investment and foreign investment in Cuba, which would reduce the government’s economic power.

Although economic reforms have not yet taken place, Cuba has declared that its political policies are non-negotiable and has pledged to resist any US aggression.

It has also criticized the US oil embargo and other sanctions as a form of collective punishment.

Cuba’s aging energy sector is heavily dependent on imported oil. However, as of January, all of that is gone, with only one Russian oil tanker arriving on the island in March.

The resulting fuel shortages have exacerbated recurring power outages that can last up to 40 hours in duration. Public transport has stopped in some areas, and hospitals are struggling to maintain electricity.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Rodriguez accused the US sanctions of “causing death” in Cuba.

His comments echo the concerns of aid officials, including Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief.

Last week, they showed figures showing that the infant mortality rate had doubled to about 9.9 per 1,000 births.

“Children are dying because doctors do not have access to essential drugs and medicines. This is unacceptable,” Turk said in a statement. “These sanctions must be lifted immediately.”

However, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban American, have continued increase the speed on the island.

In early June, The US imposed sanctions on President Diaz-Canel, his wife is the step-daughter, as well as the son and grandson of former President Raul Castro, the brother of former leader Fidel Castro.

The Trump administration too issued an arrest warrant last month against Castro, accusing him of participating in the 1996 downing of two fighter jets, killing four.

US as well as recent sanctions against the island’s state oil and gas company, Union Cuba-Petroleo.

In his speech, Rubio, who has been criticizing the Cuban government, said that Havana’s mismanagement is the reason for the growing problems on the island.

“Even as Cubans suffer from oil shortages and power outages due to decades of underinvestment in critical industries, Cuba’s communist leaders have diverted energy to line their own pockets,” Rubio wrote.

It has been almost five months since the island was placed under a US oil embargo.