Havana, April 16.- A broad agenda with priority topics will occupy the stage of the round of migration talks between Cuba and the United States today in Washington DC, announced at a press conference Johana Tablada, deputy director general for the United States of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs of Cuba (DGEE.USA).
The diplomat explained to national and foreign journalists accredited in the Antillean nation that the Cuban delegation will be headed by Carlos Fernández de Cossío, vice minister of Foreign Affairs (Minrex), and on behalf of the United States by Eric Jacobstein, deputy undersecretary of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs. of the Western Hemisphere.
Among the priorities of the vast agenda appear to reiterate that the blockade imposed by the US government and the additional measures of fence and maximum pressure constitute the issue that weighs most in the bilateral migration scenario, and the impact of these inhumane measures on the population is the main incentive for the unprecedented increase in the current migratory flow.
Cuba will insist on the resumption of the granting of non-immigrant visas in Havana, since nothing justifies the obligation for people, including the elderly, to travel to a third country to apply for that visa, when there is a US consulate open in the capital of the Island. ; It is something that affects Cuban families, exchanges in various areas and stands as an additional incentive to emigrate, leaving no other option for those who wish to visit family in the United States.
Johana Tablada recalled that the cooperation of the Caribbean country with the United States on migration matters has been serious and effective. Cuba will reiterate this Tuesday its willingness to maintain cooperation to promote regular, safe and orderly migration, as it has already demonstrated in multiple actions..
Other points that Cuba will propose at the meeting are related to requesting that the right of travelers from third countries to visit it freely and without reprisals such as those they suffer today due to the inclusion of the Antillean country in the list of states supposedly sponsoring terrorism be respected. , an immoral outrage that also affects Cuban emigrants who reside in 41 countries in the world included in the online visa program, said the official.
This is the fourth round of migration talks that both nations will develop, after these meetings resumed in 2022, and Cuba will also insist that the US government comply with the agreements, including the return of all Cuban citizens who migrated from irregularly since January 12, 2017, and of all those intercepted at sea; as well as the elimination of privileged treatment for those who emigrate irregularly.
Tablada said that during 2023 and so far in 2024, the US government granted more than 20,000 travel documents to Cuban migrants, returned most of those intercepted at sea and expanded bilateral cooperation. , the holding of rounds of migration talks and the resumption of return flights for irregular migrants. (ACN) (Photo: Taken from the Internet)
