Cuba's official daily Granma interviewed the General Director of the US Division of the Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal who heads the diplomatic negotiations with the United States after establishing diplomatic ties a year ago which led to the opening of embassies in Washington DC and Havana.
"We have worked many years for the US to change its policy towards Cuba", said Josefina Vidal.
But she does not refer to the fact that Cuba has been dealing with that policy for a quarter of a century. "We must know the history and see how Fidel expressed in different moments Cuba's willingness to discuss and solve the differences with the US through negotiations without renouncing to one single of our principles. Cuban President Raul Castro has always affirmed the country's willingness to normalize relations with the US on an equal basis".
This process began on December 17th, 2015 after more than half a century of the Cuban people's resistance facing all types of aggressions. A few months later, on July 20th, 2015 diplomatic ties were established and embassies were opened both in Washington and Havana.
A year after the historic events, Granma daily talked to Josefina Vidal in her 6th floor office at US Division of the Foreign Ministry.
What has been achieved?
-To attempt to make a complete balance, we must analyze a period that extends for over a year. We must take into account the negotiations process of almost 6 months that preceded the reestablishment of diplomatic relations.
"I prefer to refer to what has been achieved in the last 19 months. In this stage we have obtained results in prioritized issues and of interest for Cuba in the political-diplomatic scene, cooperation and dialog in issues of bilateral and multilateral interests.
"Among the aspects of Cuba's priority we may highlight the return of three of our Five Cuban Heroes that were imprisoned in the US, Cuba's exclusion from the list of State sponsored terrorism and the renovation of the registry of the Havana Club brand in that country.
"In the political-diplomatic scene we must highlight the creation of the Cuba-US Bilateral Commission for a follow-up to the agenda after the reestablishment of relations. There has been three meetings alternating the sites and another two is scheduled to be held.
"It was important for us to create a mechanism of this type to discuss pending issues to be solved, cooperation in areas of mutual interests and talks on bilateral and multilateral affairs.
"Regarding cooperation, ten agreements have been signed and others are in the negotiating process, like fighting drug trafficking; application and compliance with the law; search and rescue; response to oil spills; meteorology; earthquakes; and protected areas. We have advanced in some and others might be able to conclude before the end of the year.
"For you to have an idea, between January 1st, 1959 to December 17th, 2014, Cuba and the US only signed 7 bilateral agreements including three migratory accords of which only five survived. If we count the reestablishment of diplomatic relations there are 11 accords in the last 19 months.
"Are these results irrelevant? No, we cannot say that they are not for two countries that did not have relations during half a century. Are these advances enough? No. There is still much to do".
How much has been achieved in the economic-commercial scene?
-We have barely have concluded the first agreements between Cuban and US companies in areas like telecommunication service, hotel management and cruise operations taking advantages of still limited spaced that offer the measures adopted by President Obama's administration to modify the application of some aspects of the blockade. Much more can be done if this policy is eliminated.
"The blockade is still valid. There are restrictions to US exports in key sectors of our economy, Cuba can barely import US products, and US investments in Cuba are not authorized with the general license, beyond the telecommunications. We have not been able to normalize banking ties. The US president has the executive power to allow all of the above
"The dissuasive and punitive components of the blockade, the extraterritorial aspect of the law continues to have negative consequences for Cuba. We continue being blocked from financial transfers, payments are frozen, even in other hard currencies, we are denied all types of services, including our diplomatic missions and offices abroad and banks and foreign entities that are linked with our country are fined.
"That is why, the lifting of the blockade continues to be a high priority for Cuba and will be essential for us to advance towards the normalization of relations. The blockade is a policy of the past and must end".
How is it possible that Cuba still cannot use the US dollar in its international transactions after the restrictions were lifted months ago?
-Cuba has not been able to carry out payments or deposit in US dollars. This policy continues to be intimidating to the banks in the US and the rest of the world with the 49 fines that the government of President Obama has imposed on US and foreign entities for legitimate ties with Cuba amounting up until today in over 14.3 billion dollars, an unprecedented figure in the history of the application of the blockade against our country.
"Up until today the US government has not issued a public statement or legal document informing the banks in the world that operations with Cuba are legitimate and that they will not be sanctioned".
Although the center of attention is the blockade, Cuba has other essential demands in its agenda towards the normalization......Are they on the negotiating table?
-The blockade, return of the illegally occupied US Naval base in Guantanamo, the exclusive migratory policy for Cubans, subversive programs, illegal radio and TV transmissions, compensations, protection of industrial property are permanent issues on the Cuban agenda in its official exchanges with the US.
"There is no one way to achieve a solution to the issues. For example, in only a few months, Cuba was excluded from the list of State sponsored terrorism which was a priority for us. The decision was in the hands of the executive. But there are complex issues that take more time. The solution to some of them exclusively depend on Congress.
"The return of Guantanamo is also essential for Cuba. It is the only case in the world in which an illegally occupied military base remains against the will of the government and people of the country where the enclave is located. We have included the issue on the negotiating table in all the meetings including the blockade.
"To advance in improving the bilateral ties other policies of the US government that continues to be implemented and which hurts Cuba's sovereignty must stop. They are inherited policies of a past of confrontation and hostility that affect Cuba and do not respond to the present bilateral environment.
"In the current stage there is a bilateral interaction with the existence of past policies reaffirming as we said before, that the process for normalization of relations with the US will be long and complex. But we will continue as always.
We have heard many times during the year that the changes have been carried out thanks to the US and Cuba has not given anything in return. Do we have to give something in exchange for justice to be made?
To rectify a mistaken policy on behalf of the US government cannot be called a concession.
"Both countries have taken the sovereign measure as part of this process which is to improve the bilateral environment.
"But the relations between Cuba and the US have been asymmetric. So it's up to the US to dismantle the unilateral hostile policies that imprinted a confrontational character in the ties between both nations. Cuba has not imposed similar policies towards the US".
Respect is a word that has been used a lot since December 17th, 2014. Is this just conventionalism?
The US government took 56 years to recognize the legitimate Cuban government. But it is very important to make it clear that every time that Revolutionary Cuba has sat to negotiate with the US, including the sporadic episodes that occurred in the past, have always been on an equal footing and on the basis of respect, reciprocity, without conditions, no concessions of any type in principles issues of our domestic and foreign policy.
One of the most important moments this year and an example of that recognition was the visit of President Obama to Cuba. Several months later, do you consider the visit positive in advancing in Cuba's interests and the normalization of relations?
It was an important step in the process of improving relations. It was also an opportunity to inform him about our positions on prioritized issues. It is important to point out that Obama came to revolutionary and socialist, sovereign and independent Cuba to meet with the historic leaders of the Revolution; and not like the only other President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge who visited the island 88 years ago to a neocolonial and under the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado.
US authorities including Obama have said that they are changing their methods but not their objectives. What implications does this have for Cuba?
When we established relations, we agreed on an equal basis and based on reciprocity, the development of respectful relations and cooperation, based in the principles and objective of the UN Charter and International Law. We have made the rules clear and we will not rest in demanding its compliance.
The United States has a history of not complying in these percepts....
Relations with the US has always been a challenge for Cuba. Since its genesis, they have always been marked by US attempts to dominate the island and the determination of the Cuban people's desire for independence. This will not change.
"We are not naïve, we know the strategic objective of the US government and we will not lower our guard, we will always be alert.
In the meantime, the current bilateral process represents opportunities in solving the pending problems for the first time in history, not only in the last 56 years, but centuries, and obtaining benefits for the nation and its development derived by the cooperation in issues of mutual interests and also in the slowly elimination and eventual lifting of the blockade allowing us to trade and place our products and services in that market. It deals in taking advantage of the opportunities while being clear and knowing how to manage the challenges".
Are we prepared?
We are as prepared as when we were when dealing with a confrontation and hostile policy, we are ready for this new period in bilateral relations.
"Cuba has many strengths like the patriotic sentiments of the Cuban people, attachment to our independence and sovereignty, national unity, strong national culture, including political culture, solidarity, among many other values that have been cultivated throughout our history and consolidated in almost 60 years of Socialist Revolution under the leadership of our Party and which will accompany us in this new stage. We cannot neglect in defending our values and symbols and continue conveying them from generation to generation.
"The Cuban people will overcome, said Fidel at the 7 th Party Congress. I believe in that".
There is a counteroffensive of the right wing at this moment in Latin America that coincides with the changes in relations between Havana and Washington. Many have attempted to manipulate the facts. To have a civilized relation with Washington implies leaving aside the anti-imperialism of the Revolution?
Absolutely not. Cuba has never been anti American, but is and will always be profoundly anti-imperialist. The fact that we are attempting to construct a new type of relations with the US does not imply that Cuba will renounce to its foreign policy committed with the just causes of the world, the defense of the self determination of the peoples and its support to its sister nations, without renouncing to one single of its principles.
There is a strong bid regarding Cuba in the US Congress, those in favor and against. How has the US Congress evolved in this past year?
The reestablishment of diplomatic relations, by the bilateral dynamics that it generates and interests that stimulate domestic issues in the US, it is a step that can contribute in speeding the solutions of pending issues, including the lifting of the blockade. We have seen the surveys of 60 percent support to the policy of President Obama towards Cuba, freedom to travel to our country and the elimination of the blockade. All this generates a growing movement of support already seen in Congress.
"There is still opposing forces: those that oppose the process towards normalization and attempt to revert the advances and are isolated by the day and lacking support, although there is still certain capacity of maneuvering and internal mechanisms within Congress; and those that favor the current course of policy and lifting of the blockade in both parties and has the support of the majority of the US public opinion and broad sector of the society.
"Initiatives have been presented in favor and against the normalization of relations. What finally happened in 2015 was that they mutually annulled and were excluded of the draft legislations in discussion. Some analysts consider that since it's an electoral year the issues that are not a priority will not be included.
"One sees new forces and sectors uniting in actions in favor of changes. I believe this is the tendency that will predominate because it represents the sense of the majority of the US citizens"
What more can Obama do before leaving the Oval Office?
In the measures adopted by the US to modify the application of some aspects of the blockade are the authorization of private credits and the use of the US dollar and the recognition of the role of the Cuban state enterprises in bilateral trade, although its implementation has been affected by the validity of the blockade.
"Cuba has reiterated the importance for the President to use its executive powers within his possibilities to continue introducing changes in the policy which would make a contribution to the continuity of the current process in the future.
"Summarizing, he can do much more to make the process irreversible in face of the future".
Do you think the change towards Cuba will be part of his legacy?
Having changed the policy towards Cuba which was applied by 10 successive Presidents undoubtedly will remain in history and will be part of the legacy of President Obama in foreign policy.
"Not only is it due to that reason, but also the resistance of the Cuban people and Obama's recognition that the policy implemented for over five decades was a failure and the damage that it has inflicted on the Cuban people and the isolation that it has caused above all in Latin America and the Caribbean. December 17th had an importance both in the United States and the international community. The world knows the advances but is conscious that more can be done and that is why they raise their voices each year at the UN to condemn the blockade".
What impact will the outcome of the elections have in US relations with Cuba?
We expect that whoever becomes President of the United States will continue in correspondence to the feeling of the majority of the US public opinion who have expressed great support to the current course of its policy towards Cuba.
What can we expect of a "normalization of relations with the United States? Is it possible?
How I see it, although some day the pending issues, including the blockade and return of the illegally occupied Naval Base in Guantanamo, are resolved, for a normal relation with the United States they will have to renounce to their historic objective of deciding and controlling Cuba's destiny. If they remain with those objectives normal relations will not be possible.
"In any case, we can achieve living together in a civilized way, based on respect and not centered in our differences, something which will always exist, but always in favor in benefiting both nations and peoples.
Nos reservamos el derecho de no publicar los comentario que incumplan con las normas de este sitio