Miguel Díaz-Canel has categorically denied on January 12 that there are any new official conversations with the U.S. administration.
His statement comes amidst a wave of reactions prompted by the recent remarks of President Donald Trump, who claimed on Sunday night that “there is communication with Cuba”, without specifying the nature or scope of that contact.
Early on this Monday, Díaz-Canel a message on his social media that was clear and unambiguous.
"There are no conversations with the U.S. government, except for technical contacts in the migration field,” he wrote, without making direct reference to Trump’s previous statements.
“We have always been willing to engage in serious and responsible dialogue with various U.S. governments, including the current one, based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, principles of international law, reciprocal benefit without interference in internal affairs, and full respect for our independence,” he added.
Subsequently, Díaz-Canel once again criticized the economic embargo imposed by the United States and accused the political class of South Florida of betraying Cuban migrants.
"The origin and extreme hardening of the blockade have no relation to Cubans living in the U.S., who were pushed there by that failed policy and the privileges of the Cuban Adjustment Act. They are now victims of the change in policies towards migrants and of the betrayal by Miami politicians," he wrote.
Reinforcing the stance that Cuba adheres to its migration commitments, he added that "there are bilateral Migration Agreements in force that Cuba complies with meticulously.”
“As history shows, for relations between the U.S. and Cuba to progress, they must be based on International Law rather than hostility, threats, and economic coercion,” he concluded, staying true to the narrative upheld by the regime for decades.
The origin of the controversy: What did Trump mean?
Díaz-Canel's statement indirectly responds to the remarks made by Donald Trump on Sunday night, when, aboard the presidential plane and in front of reporters, he was asked about the type of agreement he was seeking with Cuba.
Her response was brief, cryptic, and laden with expectations.
"Cuba, you will discover it very soon. We are talking to Cuba, you will know very soon.", he responded.
He did not provide further details nor clarified whether it was a political, economic, or migratory agreement. However, he made a special mention of the Cuban exiles:
"One of the groups I want to be looked after is the people who came from Cuba and were forced to leave or abandoned under pressure, and who are now great citizens of the United States."
And he insisted, “You have many people unjustly forced to leave Cuba, so we will focus on what is most important right now. We will take care of the people who came from Cuba, who are American citizens.”
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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