Cuba says US talks at standstill, announces UN debate on oil embargo
8 reported
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez announced Tuesday that talks between Cuba and the United States are at a standstill, despite Cuba recently approving a series of free-market reforms. Rodríguez stated that the newly unveiled reforms were neither mentioned nor discussed in earlier talks between the two nations. He said the reforms are a matter of Cuban sovereignty and that Cuba is not interested in the U.S. government’s opinion on them. Rodríguez noted that the reforms were met with a new package of unilateral coercive measures against Cuba. Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel and other officials, as well as on companies key to the island’s economy. Rodríguez also announced a July 7 debate at the U.N. General Assembly on the energy embargo imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in late January. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What’s reported
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said talks between Cuba and the U.S. are at a standstill.
Cuba recently approved 176 free-market economic measures, the biggest economic shift since the revolution.
Rodríguez said the reforms were not discussed in earlier talks and are a matter of Cuban sovereignty.
The U.S. imposed new sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel, other officials, and companies key to the economy.
Rodríguez announced a U.N. General Assembly debate on the U.S. oil embargo for July 7.
The oil embargo was imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in late January.
Rodríguez said the blockade and U.S. policy are a threat to the Cuban people and their human rights.
He denied Cuba is a threat to the U.S., calling the U.S. a major military and nuclear power.
Key figures
Bruno Rodríguez, Cuban Foreign Minister
Miguel Díaz Canel, Cuban President
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Sources: abcnews.com
