The Cuban government wants the United States to remove it from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, in exchange for release—with conditions— jose daniel ferrer, felix navarro, Michael Osorbo why Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara to be confirmed cybercuba Havana, with various sources in Europe and the United States; Opposed to the regime’s retaliation against opponents.
A State Department source neither confirmed nor denied the Cuban government’s claim to be removed from the list of sponsors of terrorism in exchange for the release of the four; but made it clear that it is not a “priority” on the United States’ agenda, which has been achieved Cuban exile flights resume and considered it “unlikely” that the Biden administration would accede to such demands from Havana.
In recent months, the Cuban government increased pressure against the four and their families Closest, in his attempt to persuade them to accept deportation, but two of the four refused to do so and the quartet did not agree to leave the cells for the airport, as demanded by the authorities. , who had previously devoted himself to reducing morale. of the quartet, subjecting him to isolation, restrictions such as the suspension of family visits and torpedo visits to prisons by American and European consular officials.
Another demand of the government is that Amnesty; that they agree to go into exile, going directly from prisons to airports of departure; for the measure of grace would involve the removal of all four; reprisals, including close relatives, which half of the dominant group of prisoners do not accept because they want to stay on the island; while those who choose to leave are first sought to pass by their homes to say goodbye to family, friends and opposition comrades.
The Diaz-Canel government makes a single claim of deportation for the more than 1,100 political prisoners held in its prisons, but focuses on these four cases because of its interest in leaving the list of sponsors of terrorism, a source said. Said Catholic Church.
A former Cuban diplomat with experience in bilateral negotiations with the United States described Havana’s claim as “complicated and impractical”. However, he admitted that he was not aware of contacts between the two administrations.
Washington, Brussels and the Vatican remain silent about Havana’s claims, but officials from three states have expressed their “disappointment” with the timing and management of the Cuban government, which has recently been weakened by the popular uprising in Camánera and its suppression. is described as “cruel and useless” to the United States.
Initially, the parties had agreed to release 9/11 prisoners around Christmas and New Years, but Inconsistencies within the Cuban government Díaz-Canel’s weak leadership and Europe’s refusal to accept more than a thousand prisoners and their families thwarted the agreement and provoked an unusual reaction from the Vatican, reluctant to return them to their homes and answer to the government. told. An apology, which was a legal figure, was a mere formality.
So far, Cuba has not ruled out political prisoners who refuse to accept their release in exchange for leaving the country and seeking to return to their homes and rejoin their peaceful protest work; while a section of the anti-Castro opposition calls for political dissent to be decriminalized in the coming months to “prevent prisons from refilling”.
In Havana, opinion is not unanimous on the plight of the 9/11 prisoners; Although immobilists continue to dominate reformists, they believe that Cuba should have gotten out of this “complexity months ago, when Americans were more inclined to close a deal before the election cycle.”
The radical sector speculated on the idea – copied from Daniel Ortega – of depriving deported political prisoners of their nationality, but reformist groups were directly opposed and managed to block the initiative, which was controlled in military and political circles. I went.
Cuba’s persistence on the list of state sponsors of terrorism complicates the regime’s access to external funding; Especially serious, when strategic allies such as Russia, China, Iran or Vietnam agree only to specific donations; While Cubans with European nationalities have lost the visa privilege Sacrifice and is required to apply for a B1/B2 visa as appropriate.
