Press release issued by the Cuban delegation to the second meeting of the Cuba-US Bilateral Commission, Washington, November 10, 2015
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The second meeting of the Cuba-US Bilateral Commission was held in Washington D.C. on November 10, 2015. This mechanism was created to define and follow up on the agenda both countries are working on as part of the process towards the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States.
The Cuban delegation was headed by Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Director-General of the US Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the US delegation was headed by Edward Alex Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
In this meeting, the Cuban delegation insisted on the necessity to lift the blockade as a top priority, for it continues to affect the Cuban people as well as Cuba’s operations and relations with third countries, given its extraterritorial scope, and hinders the development of normal economic and commercial relations with the United States. Likewise, the Cuban delegation reiterated that the elimination of this policy is essential for the normalization of relations, in addition to the solution of other pending problems that are harmful to the sovereignty of Cuba, such as the illegal occupation of a portion of Cuban territory by the Guantánamo Naval Base, and the continuation of the illegal radio and television broadcasts from the United States to Cuba and the programs intended to destabilize and subvert Cuba’s constitutional order.
During the meeting, which took place in a constructive climate, both delegations reviewed the current status of the agreements adopted at the first meeting of this Commission held on September 11 this year in Havana.
Both sides discussed the steps taken so far, which could be conducive to the adoption, in the short term, of concrete agreements in areas of mutual benefit, such as the establishment of regular flights between both countries, the protection of the environment, the resumption of direct postal service and the combat of drug-trafficking.
They also evaluated the new exchanges initiated on bilateral and multilateral topics of common interest, such as maritime and port security, law enforcement and climate change; and scheduled other dialogues that will continue soon about migration and trafficking in persons. Both delegations agreed to continue discussing, on the basis of reciprocity, human rights, an area where there are profound differences. Aditionally, they reiterated their interest to expand cooperation in order to include new areas, such as health.
The representatives from Cuba and the United States positively assessed the high level visits paid and discussed others that could take place in the next few months.
Both sides agreed that the Bilateral Commission will meet again in February, 2016, in Havana.(Cubaminrex)
The first meeting of the law enforcement dialogue between Cuba and the United States was held in Washington
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UNITED STATES, November 9th, 2015.- The first meeting of the law enforcement dialogue between agencies from Cuba and the United States was held in this capital on November 9, 2015 with the purpose of improving bilateral cooperation in this area associated to the security of both nations. The discussion took place in a respectful and professional climate and in a constructive spirit.
The Cuban delegation was co-headed by Abel E. González Santamaría, deputy advisor at the National Defense and Security Commission; and Yuri Gala López, Director of Bilateral Affairs at the US General Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The US delegation was co-headed by Edward Alex Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Bruce Swartz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division at the United States Department of Justice.
Both delegations were made up by a broad representation of law enforcement agencies which, in the case of the United States, are under the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security and, in the case of Cuba, are under the Ministry of the Interior, the Attorney General’s Office and the General Customs of the Republic of Cuba.
The representatives from both countries agreed on the importance of making progress in the cooperation and establishment of mechanisms to promote cyber-security and combat terrorism, drug-trafficking, trafficking and trade in persons, money laundering, smuggling and other transnational crimes. Likewise, they addressed other issues, such as the case of fugitives from the justice systems of Cuba and the United States.
Both sides agreed to follow up on this dialogue and promote the holding of technical meetings between law enforcement agencies from both countries with the purpose of materializing bilateral cooperation. (Cubaminrex)
