Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Give U.S. and Cuba space to negotiate - OAS chief

Give U.S. and Cuba space to negotiate: OAS chief
BY LESLEY WROUGHTON
WASHINGTON Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:55pm EST

(Reuters) - Improving relations between the United States and Cuba will
take time, and both sides should be given the space to negotiate without
outside interference, the head of the Organization of American States,
Jose Miguel Insulza, cautioned on Tuesday.

"It would be very unhelpful to try to artificially push for immediate
results in every area," Insulza told Reuters as U.S. and Cuban officials
prepare for talks next week in Havana aimed at normalizing diplomatic
ties after decades of hostility.

"I think we should let Cuba and the United States negotiate their
matters and their problems and be as helpful as possible," he said. "I
don't think you can make the clock run faster by pushing from the outside."

The thawing of ties between Washington and Havana would ease years of
tensions that have often played out at annual meetings of the 35-member
OAS and allow for greater regional cooperation and trade, said Insulza.

Washington's policy toward Cuba has increasingly polarized a region
where many countries, including allies like Colombia and Mexico, believe
the United States' 50-year trade embargo has outlived its usefulness.

A meeting of the Americas in Panama in April will bring together all
countries, including leaders from Cuba and the United States, for the
first time ever.

"This opens the door for everyone," said Insulza, a former Chilean
foreign minister. "We can now deal with matters together. It releases a
lot of tensions and pressures."

He said he expected easing of U.S. travel, trade and financial
restrictions against Cuba to be announced shortly.

"I expect this to move quickly on matters that were agreed on, but then
the lifting of the embargo will have to wait, although I hope for not
too long," he added.

The OAS, with headquarters in Washington, suspended Cuba in 1962 for
being Communist. While the OAS agreed in 2009 to lift the Cold War
ruling, Cuba declined to rejoin the group.

Insulza said he hoped that as normalization talks progress Cuba will be
willing to fully come into the OAS fold.

"I hope to have (that conversation with Cuba) very soon," said Insulza.
"We are open to a relationship with Cuba and to help it come back. The
door is open."

Insulza said the release of 53 political prisoners by Cuba under a deal
with the United States showed that both sides are serious about
normalizing ties.

"We should feel optimistic because the Cubans have already released some
prisoners, but also realistic because probably not all of them will be
out tomorrow," he said. "We must also be practical. More negotiation may
be necessary."

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; editing by Gunna Dickson)

Source: Give U.S. and Cuba space to negotiate: OAS chief | Reuters -
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/13/us-cuba-usa-oas-idUSKBN0KM2HX20150113

No comments:

Post a Comment