Havana, Cuba. – Only that is left from the Bush Plan is a wake of failures. Nevertheless, a powerful minority still exerts a significant influence in the United States. They are allies of the historical enemies of Cuban independence and have turned anti-Cuban policies into very profitable business. 
 
Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said the overwhelming majority of Cuban migrants and nearly all the States that voted against the blockade in United Nations claim for the end of the obsolete, arbitrary and hostile politics against our country. He made this statement in his opening speech of the Meeting of Cubans Living Overseas, held at the Conventions Palace.  
 
The Minister told the 400 migrants who attended the meeting that the history of our Homeland has always remained close to its migration. Our migrants were persecuted for their support to the cause of independence during the Ten Years War. Jose Marti leaned on them to found the Cuban Revolutionary Party that launched the 1895 War. 
 
He affirmed that “The vast majority of Cuban migration has stood until today by its Nation and Homeland, attacked and besieged. They suffer the use of US migration policies as a weapon against Cuba that seeks to justify aggressions, internal destabilization and subversion.”  
 
He assured that the purpose of increasingly facilitate contacts and communication between Cubans living overseas and their families in our country remains invariable. However, he reminded that “the economic, commercial and financial blockade that stands between us remains intact. Nothing has changed in US politics for Cuba.”  
 
Bruno Rodriguez reiterated the Cuban position, open to dialogue with the United States on all matters. He said we are willing to negotiate all our bilateral problems, on the basis of respect, sovereign equality and no detriment for our independence and self-determination. 
 
The Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the growing interest of an increasing number of migrants to maintain links with our country. The fact that more than one million Cuban migrants have used the services of our consulates proves this. More than half a million maintain a steady relation with their country and have normalized their migratory status. Over 400 000 keep their passports valid. 
 
Finally, he informed that the visits of Cubans living abroad keep growing every year. In 1994, 37 000 visited Cuba on the occasion of the first “Nation and Migration” Conference. In 2009, the figure of visitors was 296 000, that is to say, eight times more.  

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )