The Star ­ Monday
Date: 19.10.2015
Page 28
Article size: 448 cm2
ColumnCM: 99.55
AVE: 175217.77
US SHOULD NOW
LIFT THE BLOCKADE
ON CUBA ­ RAMOS
Cuban ambassador to
Kenya RAUL RODRIGUEZ
RAMOS says people
reading about the
normalisation of relations
US blockade extends to the whole
relations with its neighbour to
world, and is effected even on
the north, the US. What does
this mean to ordinary citizens of Kenyan soil. Barclays is a British
both countries?
Very little practically. In spite
of the measures announced by
President Barack Obama on
bank but is applying American
law on Kenyan soil. This policy
ury and Commerce and in par­
ticular by the Office of Foreign
US dollar in its international
financial transactions nor can it
everywhere.
hold accounts in that currency in
of December, President Obama
renewed sanctions against Cuba
damaged the economy of Assets Control (OFAC).
under the Trading with the
Enemy Act of 1917, a foundation
There was an incident re­
his country and the lives
cently where Kenyan parents sent for the laws and regulations that
of its citizens. He spoke
make up the blockade against
money through Western Union
to Star Editor CHARLES
KERICH
to their son who is studying
in Cuba. The transaction was
Cuba, alleging the interests of
foreign policy.
rejected because the blockade
How is the relationship between means no Cuban can send money
Despite the new scenario, the
Cuba and Kenya?
period has seen a toughening of
through Western Union in dol­
We have been in talks with
the blockade in its financial and
lars, nor can any citizen of any
Kenya about cooperation in
country send money to Cuba. The extraterritorial dimension, which
medicine, biotechnology and
can be seen in the imposition of
money was stopped because this
other fields, as well as training
million­dollar fines on banks and
is an overall control that has been financial institutions as the result
human resources. 49 Kenyans
have trained in Cuba where they in existence and it is affecting our of the persecution of Cuban
studied medicine, engineering and nation negatively.
international financial transac­
economics. Trade has not been
A few weeks ago a Cuban who tions. The exclusion of Cuba
possible because of the long dis­ was attending a conference on
from the spurious list of State
tance. We would need a business
climate change at the United Na­ sponsors of international terror­
tions in Gigiri went to Barclays
council to facilitate agreements
ism on May 29, 2015, a list on
that would make trade easier.
Bank at the Village Market to
which it should never have been
We are however satisfied because change money from dollars
included, does not affect the rest
Kenya has started plans to open to shillings. Because she had a
of the laws and regulations that
an embassy in Havana. This step Cuban passport, the Barclays
compose the blockade, continuing
clerk told her that she was not in
by this government is very impor­
the financial siege against Cuba.
tant for us.
the system. So she had to go to a
Forex bureau and change money
How does this hurt you?
Cuba has been in the news
recently after it "normalised"
there.
These are examples of how the
from the US, it cannot use the
is extraterritorial as it is enforced
between his country and December 17,2014, and his
But don't you see the normalis­
declared willingness to engage
the USA think everything in a debate in Congress in order ing of relations as the beginning
of the end for this blockade?
is now okay in Cuba. But, to lift the blockade, the laws and
There is no effort currently by
regulations supporting this policy
the Americans to lift this unjust
he says, normal cannot
continue to be in force and are
and cruel blockade. Last Septem­
be possible unless the US being applied rigorously by US
ber 5, 2014, three months prior
government agencies, especially
to the historic announcement
lifts a blockade imposed
by the Departments of the Treas­
since 1962 that has
Cuba is still being prevented
from freely exporting and import­
ing products and services to and
has decided to undertake talks
despite the fact that for years the
Cuban government has expressed
its willingness to dialogue on the
basis of mutual respect, observ­
ance of the principles of Interna­
tional law and the Charter of the
banks of third countries. Nor is
United Nations, and respectful
Cuba permitted to have access to
talks about the differences exist­
credit in US banks, their branches
ing between the two countries.
in third countries and interna­
tional financial institutions such
as the World Bank, the Interna­
tional Monetary Fund (IMF) or
the Inter­American Development
Bank (IDB). Consequently, the
country's normal development
in all spheres of economic, social
and cultural life is still being seri­
ously impeded.
Many of the limitations being
imposed by the blockade against
Cuba could disappear should the
US President apply with determi­
nation the ample executive facul­
ties he has for those purposes,
even if the total dismantling of
that policy does require Congres­
sional approval.
Thus it is to be noted that the
economic damage on the Cuban
people due to the application of
the economic, commercial and
financial blockade of the United
In this new context, it is essential
to respect the 23 resolutions
adopted by the overwhelming
majority of the international
community at the United Nations
General Assembly asking to put
an end to the economic, commer­
cial and financial blockade of the
US against Cuba. The blockade
against Cuba should never have
existed and it must cease to exist
once and for all.
What would you want President
Obama to do?
The establishment of diplo­
matic relations between Cuba
and the United States has been an
initial positive step in the process
towards the normalization of
bilateral relations. In this context,
we welcome President Barack
Obama's express intention to
open a new chapter in the rela­
tions between both nations after
States against Cuba, considering
recognizing that the blockade is
the depreciation of the dollar in
harmful to the Cuban people and
regards to the price of gold on the urging the US Congress to put an
international market, amounts to end to that policy.
833.755 billion dollars, in spite
While the regulations issued
of the reduced price of gold as
by the Department of Commerce
compared to the previous period. and the Treasury on January 15,
At current prices, during all these 2015 were steps pointing in the
years, the blockade has caused
right direction in areas such as
damages for over 121.192 billion travel to Cuba, telecommunica­
dollars.
Finally, the US government
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
tions and remittances, these are
limited in scope and only modify
The Star ­ Monday
Date: 19.10.2015
Page 28
Article size: 448 cm2
ColumnCM: 99.55
AVE: 175217.77
TETE A TETE: Pope Francis talks with Cuban President Raul Castro
during a private audience at the Vatican.
ENVOY: Cuban ambassador Raul Rodriguez Ramos.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya