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Cuba hits back over Trump policy: 'We will never negotiate under pressure' 'A grotesque spectacle': Cuba decries Trump's policy toward island
(35 minutes later)
Cuba’s foreign minister has rejected Donald Trump’s new policy toward the island, saying that “we will never negotiate under pressure or under threat” and refusing to return US fugitives who have received asylum in Cuba. Cuba’s foreign minister has described Donald Trump’s speech outlining a new policy towards the island as a “grotesque spectacle”, saying that “we will never negotiate under pressure or under threat” and refusing to return US fugitives who have received asylum in Cuba.
In a combative response to the policy announced Friday, the foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said in Vienna that Trump’s restrictions on transactions with the Cuban military would not achieve their objective of weakening the government.In a combative response to the policy announced Friday, the foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said in Vienna that Trump’s restrictions on transactions with the Cuban military would not achieve their objective of weakening the government.
Trump announced a partial rollback of the normalization of relations with Cuba on Friday, in Miami, the heartland of Cuban exiles, in a theater named after the leader of the failed US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of the island in 1961.
“It was a grotesque spectacle straight from the cold war,” Rodriguez said in Vienna, during a tour of European countries, in a news conference broadcast live in Cuba.
“We will never negotiate under pressure or threat,” he told reporters.“We will never negotiate under pressure or threat,” he told reporters.
“Cuba will make no concessions on its sovereignty and its independence, will not negotiate over its principles and will never accept [imposed] conditions,” he added.“Cuba will make no concessions on its sovereignty and its independence, will not negotiate over its principles and will never accept [imposed] conditions,” he added.
Rodriguez added that the island’s government will continue working towards better relations with the majority of Americans who back detente.
Rodriguez also said that fugitives such as Assata Shakur – formerly known as Joanne Chesimard – would not be returned because the US had no “legal or moral basis” to demand their return.Rodriguez also said that fugitives such as Assata Shakur – formerly known as Joanne Chesimard – would not be returned because the US had no “legal or moral basis” to demand their return.
“Cuba conceded political asylum or refuge to US fighters for civil rights,” Rodriguez said. “These persons will not be returned to the United States.”“Cuba conceded political asylum or refuge to US fighters for civil rights,” Rodriguez said. “These persons will not be returned to the United States.”
Shakur was granted asylum by Fidel Castro after she escaped from the prison where she was serving a sentence for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973 during a gun battle after being stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike.Shakur was granted asylum by Fidel Castro after she escaped from the prison where she was serving a sentence for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973 during a gun battle after being stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Shakur – who has maintained her innocence – was the rapper Tupac Shakur’s step-aunt and godmother.Shakur – who has maintained her innocence – was the rapper Tupac Shakur’s step-aunt and godmother.
Rodriguez denounced the “grotesque spectacle” of Trump’s announcement in front of a crowd of anti-Castro activists at a theatre in Miami.
“[Cuban] policy cannot be brought to its knees by a presidential directive by the United States,” he said.
Trump announced that the US would impose new limits on US travelers to the island and ban any payments to the military-linked conglomerate that controls much of the island’s tourism industry. Trump also declared: “The harboring of criminals and fugitives will end. You have no choice. It will end.”Trump announced that the US would impose new limits on US travelers to the island and ban any payments to the military-linked conglomerate that controls much of the island’s tourism industry. Trump also declared: “The harboring of criminals and fugitives will end. You have no choice. It will end.”
He said the US would consider lifting those and other restrictions only after Cuba returned fugitives and made a series of other internal changes including freeing political prisoners, allowing freedom of assembly and holding free elections.He said the US would consider lifting those and other restrictions only after Cuba returned fugitives and made a series of other internal changes including freeing political prisoners, allowing freedom of assembly and holding free elections.
“When Cuba is ready to take concrete steps to these ends, we will be ready, willing, and able to come to the table to negotiate that much better deal for Cubans, for Americans,” Trump said.“When Cuba is ready to take concrete steps to these ends, we will be ready, willing, and able to come to the table to negotiate that much better deal for Cubans, for Americans,” Trump said.
Rodriguez’ response Monday was a clear signal that there could be very little, if any, high-level US-Cuba negotiation during Trump’s time in office.Rodriguez’ response Monday was a clear signal that there could be very little, if any, high-level US-Cuba negotiation during Trump’s time in office.
While working-level meeting on topics such as search-and-rescue have taken place since Trump took office, no meetings between top diplomats have occurred.While working-level meeting on topics such as search-and-rescue have taken place since Trump took office, no meetings between top diplomats have occurred.
It’s a sharp contrast to Obama’s last year as president, during which top US and Cuban diplomats met regularly to discuss topics including law-enforcement cooperation and compensation for Americans whose property was taken during the 1959 Cuban revolution.It’s a sharp contrast to Obama’s last year as president, during which top US and Cuban diplomats met regularly to discuss topics including law-enforcement cooperation and compensation for Americans whose property was taken during the 1959 Cuban revolution.
“Cuba will not make concessions that harm its sovereignty,” Rodriguez said. “We have never done in the history of the revolution.”“Cuba will not make concessions that harm its sovereignty,” Rodriguez said. “We have never done in the history of the revolution.”