Cuba denounces US diplomats

Posted on Friday, 11.02.12

Cuba denounces US diplomats
By PAUL HAVEN
The Associated Press

HAVANA -- Cuba denounced the American diplomatic mission on the island
on Friday for what it called subversive activities designed to undermine
the government of Raul Castro, a shot across the bow just four days
before the U.S. election.

The Foreign Ministry said the Americans illegally give classes inside
the walls of the U.S. Interests Section, which Washington maintains
instead of an embassy, and provide Internet service without permission.

It vowed to defend Cuba's sovereignty "by any legal means" at its
disposal, but gave no details. There was no immediate comment from
American diplomats on the island.

"The U.S. Interests Section in Cuba continues to serve as a general
headquarters for the subversive policies of the North American
government," reads the statement, which was published in state-media on
Friday.

The statement said the Interests Section's aim was "the impossible task
of converting its mercenaries into a credible internal opposition movement."

Cuba considers all opposition figures to be stooges paid by Washington
to cause trouble.

The American mission has long provided Internet services to dissidents
on the island. It also runs cultural and language programs.

It was not clear why Cuba chose now to criticize the practice. But the
timing could be linked to next Tuesday's U.S. election.

Republican candidate Mitt Romney has launched a Spanish-language ad in
the key swing state of Florida implying that President Barack Obama is
supported by the Castros and leftist Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. The
Obama administration says the ad itself rewards Chavez and the Castros
with undeserved attention, and notes that relations with both countries
have remained chilly under Obama.

In its denunciation of the U.S. administration, Cuba charged that those
using the diplomatic facilities are indoctrinated into the opposition
and trained to work against Cuba's interests.

It said millions of dollars in so-called democracy-building funds went
into the effort, evidence, it said, that Washington was still living in
the Cold War.

American officials have said previously that they are doing nothing
illegal here, and that supporting free speech, cultural activities and
Internet access is a common practice at missions around the world.

Cuba and the United States have been at odds since shortly after Fidel
Castro's 1959 revolution, which ushered in a Communist government.

Paul Haven on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/paulhaven.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/02/3079109/cuba-denounces-us-diplomats.html