United Nations — Havana will not abide by any American “ultimatums” to release political prisoners Part of the new conversationsA Cuban diplomat said Thursday, stressing that leaders are “preparing for all scenarios” if US President Donald Trump implements his policy. Threats of intervention In the island state.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations Ernesto Soberon Guzmán said that internal issues related to the detainees “are not on the negotiating table.” The release of political prisoners has been a major demand of the United States as long-time adversaries Discussions were held in Cuba this month for the first time in a decade.
“We have our legal system, just like here in the United States, they have theirs,” he said. “So we have to respect our internal affairs.”
In response, the State Department said in a statement that the administration remains “committed to the release of all political prisoners.”
The statement continued: “The Cuban regime must stop playing games while direct talks are taking place. It has a small window to reach an agreement.”
A US delegation arrived for secret meetings in Havana on April 10 in a diplomatic effort to urge Cuba to make major changes in its economy and political government or face continuing economic pressures and threats. This would likely lead to the risk of US military escalation. Neither side said who participated, but Guzman said participation was at the level of undersecretary of state for Americans and deputy secretary of state for Cubans.
Despite the recent revival of diplomatic relations. Tensions between the two countries It has increased steadily in the past few months due to the US energy blockade, which has led to more economic tension and other crises in the United States. Caribbean country.
Trump did Threatened tariffs On any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba, she said the United States might have the “honor of seizing Cuba” after military operations in Venezuela and Iran. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Guzmán’s statements.
Siege next to the island Severe water and electricity shortagesThis has exacerbated poverty and increased hunger throughout Cuba as severe power outages continue.
In late March, the Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels became the first fuel shipment Cuba had received in three months. Guzman said the shipment was only able to meet a small portion of what the country needs to function.
The Associated Press reported that other concerns raised by the United States during the meeting this month focused on the influence of foreign powers on the island. The Americans also discussed proposals to compensate hundreds of thousands of them Legal Claims by Cuban Americans whose homes, businesses and land were seized after revolutionary leader Fidel Castro took power in 1959.
Guzmán confirmed that such compensation was among the topics discussed in the meeting and that Havana accepts it. But he added that this could only happen in conjunction with a mutual economic easing of the decades-long economic embargo on Cuba.
He added: “There is not only this claim, but there is also a claim on our part because the blockade has an economic impact.” “This is a two-way highway.”
Asked whether Cuban officials could trust diplomatic efforts amid US threats, Guzmán said that although they were optimistic about creating a “new approach” to US-Cuban relations, the Trump administration’s foreign policy approach last year put them on high alert.
“We have seen what is happening all over the world, in our region, and in the Middle East, so we are not naive people,” he said. “We are preparing for all scenarios. I insist that our first option – what we really want – is a successful dialogue with the US government.”
But he added that if US military aggression occurs, “we are ready to respond.”