All posts by JaimeM

The blockade has not ended Interview with Josefina Vidal, Ministry of Foreign Relations Director General for the United States

February 21, 2015 JaimeM

Author: Cristina Escobar | informacion@granma.cu

february 12, 2015 18:02:55

Cristina Escobar.- Cuba and the United States are entering a new stage of diplomatic relations. How can these relations be constructed after so many years of confrontation, and what do the recent talks between the two countries mean? These were the questions posed to Josefina Vidal, Ministry of Foreign Relations (Minrex) Director General for the United States, in an exclusive interview with Cuban television.

Photo: Juvenal Balán

Josefina Vidal stated, “The President of the United States has options, I would say unlimited, to gut the blockade of its fundamental content.”

Josefina, there are people on the street here in Cuba, and also in the international media saying, or asking, if the United States blockade of Cuba has ended. Is this true?
Josefina Vidal.- No, no, the blockade has not ended; what has happened is that the President of the United States, making use of his executive prerogatives, which he has, announced a series of measures modifying the implementation of some aspects of the blockade. It was within this context that a series of regulations were issued – mandated by him and formulated by the Departments of Treasury and Commerce – to expand travel to Cuba, expand as well allowances for remittances, and permit some commercial transactions, still of a limited nature, in spheres such as telecommunications, for example.

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CELAC

Declaration of Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries on the necessity to end the United States economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba

February 21, 2015 JaimeM

The Heads of State and Government from Latin America and the Caribbean, gathered in Costa Rica, in ocassion of the III CELAC Summit, made an appeal to end the United States blockade against Cuba.

SPECIAL DECLARATION OF THE COMMUNITY OF LATINAMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN STATES ON THE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL BLOCKADE IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES AGAINST CUBA

The Heads of State and Government of the Latin America and the Caribbean States gathered in Costa Rica, on the occasion of the III Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), on 28 and 29 January 2015:

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International

History absolves Cuba, by DR. Helen Yaffe

February 13, 2015 JaimeM

Helen Yaffe: History absolves Cuba, as US moves to restore diplomati

On 21 and 22 January, Cuba and the US held direct talks about
restoring diplomatic relations for the first time since 1961,
exploring cooperation on various issues and reviewing existing
migration accords. The meeting in Havana took place one month
after the historic announcements made simultaneously on 17
December 2014 by Presidents Obama and Raul Castro about a thaw in
US-Cuban relations. This included a prisoner swap which finally
freed the remaining Cuban anti-terrorist agents imprisoned in the
US, known as the Cuban Five. The announcements followed 18-months
of secret talks facilitated by Canada and the Vatican. The
tactical change by the US administration reflects the failure of
its Cuba policy, and economic and (geo)strategic developments
which put competitive pressure on US capitalists who do not
benefit from the blockade.

[Josefina Vidal press conference Jan 2015]

The head of Cuba’s delegation, Josefina Vidal, gives a
press conference following talks with US representatives in
Havana in January 2015.

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Baseball, Beisbol‏

Caribbean Baseball Series

February 10, 2015 JaimeM

Caribbean Baseball Series
After 55 years, the Cuban team returns to the throne of the Caribbean Baseball Series
Author: Oscar Sánchez Serra, Enviado especial | subdirector@granma.cu
february 9, 2015 08:02:41

SAN JUAN.— Sensational and indisputable was the Cuban team’s victory in the 57th Caribbean Baseball Series, which concluded February 8, in the city’s Hiram Bithorn stadium, where the Cuban squad gave a performance which captivated the island of Puerto Rico. The Cuban team played a perfect game, with good defense, and an offense which, in two days, defeated the best pitchers of the competition, firstly from Venezuela in the semifinals, and then Mexico in the final.

Casa de las Americas NY