US says won't return Guantanamo to improve ties with Cuba
The American official leading negotiations with Cuba says the return of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay to Havana is not on the table, rejecting a key demand of the Cuban government for restoring bilateral relations.
Roberta Jacobson, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, made the remarks on Wednesday during a hearing at the US House of Representatives hearing on Cuba.
“The issue of Guantanamo is not on the table in these conversations,” Jacobson said.
Cuban President Raul Castro demanded last week that Washington return the base which hosts a notorious US military prison.
“Obviously the Cuban government has raised Guantanamo, we are not interested in discussing that. We are not discussing that issue or return of Guantanamo,” Jacobson said.
Roberta who leads the negotiations aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between the countries added that the White House has no plans to shut down the US government-funded Radio and TV Marti that support the opposition of the Cuban government.
Presidents of the two long-time foes, in surprise announcements on December 17, said they are working to renew diplomatic ties.
The United States and Cuba have not had formal diplomatic ties since 1961. However, Washington has maintained an interest section on the island.
The two became ideological foes soon after the 1959 revolution in Cuba that brought Fidel Castro to power.
The United States imposed a partial trade embargo on the Caribbean island nation in October 1960. Washington imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba in February 1962.
Jacobson said the main US objective in current talks is to establish diplomatic ties.
“I want to be clear that what we are talking about right now is the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, which is only one first step in normalization,” said Jacobson.
GJH/GJH
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