The U.S. State Department rejected on Friday the recent statements made by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío against the U.S. chargé d'affaires in Havana, Mike Hammer.
The reaction occurred following an interview given by the Cuban official to the EFE agency, in which he accused the diplomat of "interfering behavior" and left the door open for declaring him a persona non grata.
Sources from the State Department exclusively stated to CiberCuba that the accusations are part of "another unfounded attack by a member of the corrupt and oppressive Cuban regime."
According to these sources, "there is nothing that the Cuban dictatorship fears more than truly free and fair elections through a democratic process on the island."
The American statement emphasizes that "the Cuban people are fed up with the regime's incompetence and the failed communist policies that have led to blackouts, shortages of food, medicine, and essential services."
It also reaffirms that the administration of Donald Trump "supports the Cuban people's yearning for a nation where human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected."
In that regard, the entity led by Cuban-American Marco Rubio demanded the "immediate release of all political prisoners unjustly detained on the island."
During the interview with EFE, Fernández de Cossío questioned Hammer's role on the island, accusing him of seeking media attention and acting as a "scarecrow" that, in his words, "drives people away."
Hammer has faced several accusations in recent weeks for visiting various Cuban families, activists, and opponents across the island.
This time, the diplomat was criticized for moving with an audiovisual production team and a vehicle convoy that, in the opinion of the Cuban official, tries to "impress the population."
The deputy minister also suggested that the actions of Hammer are in response to instructions from sectors in the United States with a "very aggressive policy," specifically citing the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
"He has been given the task of being a sort of scarecrow in Cuba," he stated.
From Washington, support for the head of the Mission in Cuba is strong. The consulted diplomatic sources believe that the accusations from the Cuban regime are yet another attempt to discredit the work of the United States in favor of the rights and freedoms of the Cuban people.
Filed under:
