Udenrigsudvalget 2024-25
URU Alm.del Bilag 91
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Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
The United States takes steps in the right direction, but the blockade remains
in force.
On January 14, 2025, the government of the United States announced the following
decisions:
1. Remove Cuba from the State Department list of countries that allegedly sponsor
terrorism;
2. Make use of the presidential faculty to prevent US courts from taking action with
regards to lawsuits that might be filed by virtue of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act;
and
3. Eliminate the list of restricted Cuban entities that designates a group of institutions
which US citizens and institutions are not allowed to make financial transactions with,
which has had an impact on third countries.
Despite its limited scope, this is a decision that points to the right direction and is in
line with the sustained and firm demand by the government and the people of Cuba,
as well as the broad, emphatic and reiterated call by numerous governments,
particularly those of Latin America and the Caribbean; Cubans residing abroad;
political, religious and social organizations and numerous political figures of the
United States and other countries. The government of Cuba expresses its gratitude
to all of them for their contribution and sensitivity.
This decision puts an end to specific coercive measures, which, together with many
others, seriously damage the Cuban economy and have a severe impact on the
population. This is, and has been, an ever-present issue in all official exchanges
between Cuba and the Government of the United States.
It is important to point out that the economic blockade and a large part of the tens of
coercive measures entered into force since 2017 to further strengthen it,still remain
in force, with their full extraterritorial impact and in violation of International Law and
the human rights of all Cubans.
 URU Alm.del - Bilag 91: Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba - The United States takes steps in the right direction, but the blockade remains in force
The following are just a few examples: The illegal and aggressive persecution of the
fuel supplies that Cuba is legally entitled to import continues. The cruel and absurd
persecution of the legitimate international medical cooperation agreements that
Cuba has signed with other countries is maintained, thus threatening to deprive
millions of persons of health services and limiting the potential of Cuba’s public
health system. The international financial transactions of Cuba or those of any
national that might be linked to Cuba continue to be subject to prohibitions and
reprisals. Merchant vessels touching Cuban ports continue to be under threats.
Besides, US citizens, companies or subsidiaries of US corporations are not allowed
to trade with Cuba or Cuban entities, with very limited and regulated exceptions.
Harassment, intimidation and threats against a national from any country intending
to trade with Cuba or invest in this country continue to be part of the official policy of
the United States. Cuba continues to be a destination banned for US citizens by
their government.
The economic warfare is still in place and persists in posing a major obstacle to the
development and recovery of the Cuban economy, with a high human cost for the
population; and continues to be an incentive for emigration.
The decision announced today by the United States, rectifies, in a very limited way,
some aspects of a cruel and unjust policy. This is a rectification that is being
introduced right now, on the verge of a change of government, when it should have
been materialized years ago, as an elemental act of justice, without asking for
anything in return and without fabricating pretexts to justify inaction, if there was a
true intention to act properly. Recognition of the truth, the absolute absence of
reasons for such designation and the exemplary performance of our country in the
combat of terrorism, something that has been recognized even by several US
government agencies, should have sufficed to remove Cuba from the arbitrary list of
State sponsors of terrorism.
It is known that the government of that country could reverse in the future the
measures that have been adopted today, as has already happened in the past, and
as an expression of the lack of legitimacy, ethics, consistency and reason in its
behavior towards Cuba.
To do that, US politicians usually do not take time to find an honest justification, as
long as the vision described in 1960 by the then Deputy Assistant Secretary, Lester
Mallory, and his expressed intention to put Cubans on their knees by way of
economic siege, misery, hunger and desperation, remain in force. They will not take
time to find justifications as long as that government continues to be unable to
recognize or accept Cuba’s right to self-determination,
and as long as it remains
ready to pay the political cost meant by the international isolation caused by its
genocidal and illegal economic suffocation policy against Cuba.
 URU Alm.del - Bilag 91: Declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba - The United States takes steps in the right direction, but the blockade remains in force
Cuba will continue to face and condemn that economic warfare policy, the foreign
interference programs and the disinformation and discredit operations financed
every year with tens of millions of dollars of the US federal budget.
It will also continue to be ready to develop a respectful relation with that country,
based on dialogue and non-interference in the internal affairs of both countries,
despite the differences.
Havana, January 14, 2025