EMUN 2017
GA4 - The question of the restoration of the Cuban-American relations
2017
GA4 – The question of the restoration
of the Cuban-American relations
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EMUN 2017
GA4 - The question of the restoration of the Cuban-American relations
Index
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 3
Definition of key-terms ..................................................................................................... 4
General Overview ............................................................................................................ 7
Major parties involved and their views ............................................................................. 9
Timeline of important events/Documents ...................................................................... 11
UN involvement ............................................................................................................. 15
Possible Solutions ......................................................................................................... 16
List of Sources ............................................................................................................... 17
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GA4 - The question of the restoration of the Cuban-American relations
Forum: GA4
Issue: The question of the restoration of the Cuban-American relations
Student Officers: Florencia Pazos & Sol Igarzabal
Position: Chairs of GA4, EMUN 2017
Introduction
The Cuban – American relationship has been one of political antagonism since 1959.
Fidel Castro established a revolutionary socialist state after overthrowing a U.Sbacked right-wing regime. During the next fifty years several U.S. leaders would carry
out policies with the intention of blocking Cuba both economically and diplomatically.
In recent years, both countries have taken significant and astonishing steps towards
restoring full political relations. Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro (he
replaced his brother in 2008 as leader) met each other; ease travel and remittances
restrictions, among other measures. It’s important to note that the trade embargo still
remains in place.
It´s unclear whether the Donald J. Trump administration will walk the path of Obama
and continue the détente or take a more aggressive policy and remove some or all
executive actions; and whether the U.S. Congress, controlled by the Republican
Party, will lift the decades-old trade embargo.
.
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Definition of key-terms
Socialism A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of
production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a
whole.
Embargo Official suspension of import and/or export of some specific or all goods, to or from a
specific port, country, or region, for political, health, or labor related reasons, for a specified
or indefinite period.
Ten Years’ War Was part of Cuba's fight for independence from Spain. Cuban-born planters and other
wealthy natives led the uprising. On October 10, 1868, sugar mill owner Carlos Manuel de
Céspedes and his followers proclaimed independence, beginning the conflict. This was the
first of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other 2 being the Little War
(1879–1880) and the Cuban War of Independence (1895–1898). The final three months of
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the last conflict escalated with United States involvement and has become known also as
the Spanish–American War.
Treaty of Paris Was an agreement made in 1898 that involved Spain relinquishing nearly all of the
remaining Spanish Empire, especially Cuba, and ceding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the
Philippines to the United States. The cession of the Philippines involved a payment of $20
million from the United States to Spain. The treaty was signed on December 10, 1898, and
ended the Spanish–American War, which came into effect on April 11, 1899, when the
documents of ratification were exchanged.
Platt Amendment On March 2, 1901, the Platt Amendment is passed as part of the 1901 Army Appropriations
Bill. It stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in
Cuba at the end of the Spanish–American War, and an eighth condition that Cuba sign a
treaty accepting these seven conditions.
Good Neighbor Policy The policy's main principle was that of non-intervention and non-interference in the domestic
affairs of Latin America. It also reinforced the idea that the United States would be a "good
neighbor" and engage in reciprocal exchanges with Latin American countries. Overall, the
Roosevelt administration expected that this new policy would create new economic
opportunities in the form of reciprocal trade agreements and reassert the influence of the
United States in Latin America; however, many Latin American governments were not
convinced.
Cuban Project The Cuban Project, also known as Operation Mongoose, was a covert operation of the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that was commissioned in March 1960 during the final
year of President Dwight Eisenhower's administration. On November 30, 1961, covert
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operations against Fidel Castro's government in Cuba were officially authorized by President
Kennedy and after being given the name Operation Mongoose at a prior White House
meeting on November 4, 1961. The operation was led by United States Air Force General
Edward Lansdale and went into effect after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion.
Special Period In Cuba was a euphemism for an extended period of economic crisis that began in 1989
primarily due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and, by extension, the Comecon. The
economic depression of the Special Period was at its most severe in the early to mid-1990s
before slightly declining in severity towards the end of the decade. It was defined primarily
by the severe shortages of hydrocarbon energy resources in the form of gasoline, diesel,
and other petroleum derivatives that occurred upon the implosion of economic agreements
between the petroleum-rich Soviet Union and Cuba. The period radically transformed Cuban
society and the economy, as it necessitated the successful introduction of sustainable
agriculture, decreased use of automobiles, and overhauled industry, health, and diet
countrywide. People were forced to live without many goods they had become used to.
Guantanamo Bay Is a bay located in Guantánamo Province at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the largest
harbor on the south side of the island and it is surrounded by steep hills, which create an
enclave that is cut off from its immediate hinterland. The United States assumed territorial
control over the southern portion of Guantánamo Bay under the 1903 Lease agreement.
The United States exercises complete jurisdiction and control over this territory, while
recognizing that Cuba retains ultimate sovereignty. The current government of Cuba regards
the U.S. presence in Guantánamo Bay as illegal and insists the Cuban–American Treaty
was obtained by threat of force and is in violation of international law. Some legal scholars
judge that the lease may be voidable. It is the home of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp located within the base, which are both governed
by the United States.
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General Overview
U.S. – Cuba Relations
Relations between the Spanish Cuban colony and North America began in the early 18th century
through commercial contracts. The United States express several times the desire to annex Cuba to
the North American Union due to the richness of the territory in matters of tobacco and sugar. While
the integration of the Cuban economy into the North American system grew, the ties the colony had
with Spain slowly weakened.
The Spanish-American war began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of the USS Maine in the
Havana harbor leading the United States intervention in the Cuban War for independence. On 1898
Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris in which Spain surrender all righst to Cuba.
U.S ruled the island up until 1902 when Cuba was granted formal independence.
Around the 1930s, General Fulgencio Batista rose to a de facto leader and President of Cuba. The
Batista era was one of close co-operation between both countries, but also, Cuba witnessed the
almost complete domination of its economy by the U.s. Armed conflict broke out around 1959, as a
young lawyer named Fidel Castro lead a revolution against Batista and successfully overthrew the
government. Castro established a socialist state.
The Eisenhower administration became increasingly concern by Cuba´s agrarian reform and the
nationalization of industries owned by U.S. citizens. As state intervention continued in Cuba, the U.S.
began imposing gradual trade restrictions on the island. This led Cuba to turn to their newfound
trading ally, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). The administration quietly authorized de
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to organize a guerrilla force to overthrow Castro.
In 1960 the U.S. broke off all diplomatic relations as Cuba began to consolidate trade relations with
the USSR. Later on the Kennedy administration formulated new plans aimed to destabilized Cuba;
this was to be a coordinated program of political, psychological, and military sabotage, involving
intelligence operations as well as assassination attempts on key political leaders. Kennedy deploys a
brigade of 1,500 CIA train exiles at the Bay of Pigs, but Cuba resisted the armed invasion.
The political relation reached its highest point in 1962 when U.S. spy satellites discover that Cuba let
the USSR build intermediate-range missile sites. This discovery led the Cuban Missile Crisis. The
U.S. initiates a naval quarantine of the island. Kennedy warned Khrushchev on national television
that any missile launched from Cuba aimed at the U.S. would provoke “a full retaliatory response
upon the Soviet Union”. The confrontation is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating
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into a full-scale nuclear war. The soviets demanded the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey, in
exchange to dismantle the nuclear bases in Cuba.
The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union on the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaving
Cuba without its major international ally. U.S. President Bush tightened sanctions and declared that
Cuba was one of the “outposts of tyranny” remaining in the world. After Fidel Castro handed the
power to his brother in 2008, the U.S. stated that they will maintain the trade embargo. That same
year Barack Obama became President of the United States, and since then, the relation between
both nations have improved significantly.
Obama eased economic sanctions and travel restrictions, among other measures, but stated that he
would only lift the embargo if Cuba underwent political change.
In the beginning of 2013, Cuba and the U.S. held secretive meetings hosted by Canada and The
Vatican. 18 month later and Obama and Castro announced they would normalize relations despite
the embargo still remaining in place.
On 2015 President Barack Obama announced that formal diplomatic relations between Cuba and the
United States would resume, and embassies would be opened in Washington and Havana
As of January 2017 the state of relations between both parties are unclear. With the election of
Republican businessman Donald J. Trump as the new U.S. president its still unknown the positions
he’ll take towards Cuba. During his campaign he condemned Obama administrations change in
policy and suggested that que could break off relations with Cuba unless he could negotiate “a good
agreement”
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Major parties involved and their views
USA (United States of America)
The USA has recently restored their diplomatic ties with Cuba, when it had been separated
during the Cold war. The USA used to have fruitful trade with Cuba, and Cuba was
prospering from their tobacco and sugar industries. However, the USA saw this as an
opportunity and after several years of negotiations, the USA got to handle Cuban affairs.
This is also when the USA obtained Guantanamo bay. Following the Cold war, the embargo
on Cuba was tightened even more, causing huge deterioration of relations and trade. Things
changed since the time Obama was elected as president of the USA, the ties between the
two countries have changed. Obama reduced restrictions place upon Cuban travel, and met
with the president of Cuba, to restore their diplomatic ties. However, it must be noted that
the tight embargo between the nations still exists.
Cuba
Cuba had a flourishing industry for tobacco and sugar, and was prospering greatly from the
trade between them and the USA. However, when Fidel Castro took over Cuba and
converted it into a communist rule, Castro imposed taxes on American imports, and made
ties with the Soviet Union. In retaliation the USA placed large embargoes as well as cutting
off diplomatic ties. After continually increasing the embargo and restrictions on Cubans, the
USA arrested 5 Cuban counterintelligence officers, while they were supposedly committing
espionage. This in 2014 led to the restoration of ties, as the USA had a ‘prisoner swap,’ as
two American soldiers were swapped for the five Cuban officers. From then on the ties have
gotten increasingly better, as travel bans have been released and Cubans have more
leeway in entering and immigrating to the USA.
China
China had a surprisingly large impact on the decisions made by Fidel Castro, and Cuba in
the 20th Century. When Castro came to power, he made strong ties with both Russia and
China. When considering ties, Castro didn’t want to jeopardize the strong ties with Russia or
China, and therefore acted in the way that they did. But China also had other incentives.
They created the strong ties with the Cubans in order to gain vital influence of Chinese
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products in Latin America. Thus boosting the economy, and hindering their competitor-the
USA.
Russia
Cuba’s relationship with Russia is even more Anti-America than their ties with China.
Russia aimed to combat international isolation, and decided to open their doors to Cuba.
After removing 90% of Cuba’s debt, the Russian had large investments in oil and agriculture
in Cuba. However, the Russians has even more going for them, making them vital for
Cuba’s economic survival in the future. Furthermore, Cuba are almost trapped in this ChinaRussiaCuba tie, as restoring ties with the USA, would seem like a major betrayal to their
historic alliance.
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Timeline of important events/Documents
Date
Description of event
1959
Cuban Revolution
Establishment of a revolutionary socialist
state conducted by Fidel Castro against
right-wing
authoritarian
President
Fulgencio Batista. Castro later build up a
strong relationship with the Soviet Union.
1961
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Failed military invasion executed by the
Einsenhower administration (later carried
by the Kennedy administration) through a
CIA-sponsored
paramilitary
group,
Brigade 2506, to overthrow Fidel Castro.
The invading force was defeated within
three days by the Cuban Revolutionary
Armed Forces.
1962
Full Embargo Announced
The Kennedy administration imposes a
commercial,
embargo
financial
on
Cuba.
and
economic
The
Cuban
government estimated that they had
suffered
economic
losses
of
approximately $1.126 trillion over the past
50 years.
1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
13 days confrontation between the United
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States and the Soviet Union.
US Air Force U-2 spy plane discover that
Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to build
nuclear missile bases on the island.
In response, Kennedy orders a naval
quarantine
The US and the USSR negotiates via
back
channels.
withdraw
US
Kennedy
nuclear
agrees
missiles
to
from
Turkey if the USSR withdraws its missiles
from Cuba.
Kennedy pledges not to further invade
Cuba
Khrushchev orders the missiles to be
removed
The confrontation is often consider the
closest the Cold War came to escalating
into a full-scale nuclear war
1982
U.S labels Cuba a terrorism sponsor
President Ronald Reagan designates
Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism. Due to
heavy economic santions already in
place,
the
designation
is
largely
a
symbolic act
1996
Helms- Burton act signed into law
Clinton signs the Cuban Liberty and
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Democratic Solidarity Act, which tightens
and codifies the US embargo. the statue
penalizes foreign companies that do
business with Cuba, provoking some US
allies to denounce it as a violation of
international law
The law may only be lifted after Fidel
Castro and his brother Raul are no longer
in office.
1998
Cuban 5 arrested
The Clinton administration charged five
Cuban
intelligence
conspiracy to commit
commit
murder,
and
officers
with
espionage,
other
to
illegal
activities. They were sent by Castro to
infiltrate Cuban-American exile groups in
Miami; arrested in 1998 and found guilty
in 2001.
2009
Obama signals potential Thaw
Warming of Cuban-American relations
President Obama eases restrictions on
travel and remitances.
The step is widely consider the most
noable move yet towards normalizing
relations, though the trade embargo
remains in place
2014/2015
Obama & Castro announce they will
restore full diplomatic ties
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Barack
Obama
and
Raul
Castro
announce they will restore full diplomatic
ties following the exchange of a jailed US
intelligence officer for exchange of the
remaining Cuban Five.
US removes Cuba from its list of state
sponsors of terrorism.
2015
U.S & Cuba reopen embassies
The US and Cuban embassies, which
had been closed since 1961, reopen.
The trade embargo remains in place, and
it cannot be lifted without congressional
approval.
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UN involvement
Since the embargo was imposed in Cuba, United Nations, in conjunction with all Member
States have condemned this action and have called on the United States repeatedly to lift
and end the embargo through resolutions of the General Assembly
For all those time a new resolution pass in the GA aiming to put an end to the decades-old
embargo, the U.S. always voted against it. But surprisingly, in 2016 for the first time the U.S.
abstain against a resolution.

General Assembly, adopting Resolutions,
1. A/46/193 - 19 August 1991
2. A/RES/47/19 - 17 March 1993
3. A/RES/48/16 - 11 November 1993
4. A/RES/49/9 - 8 November 1994
5. A/RES/50/10 - 15 November 1995
6. A/RES/51/17 - 21 November 1996
7. A/RES/52/10 - 12 November 1997
8. A/RES/53/4 22 - October 1998
9. A/RES/54/21 - 18 November 1999
10. A/RES/55/20 - 9 January 2001
11. A/RES/56/9 - 4 December 2001
12. A/RES/57/11 - 16 December 2002
13. A/RES/58/7 - 18 November 2003
14. A/RES/59/11 - 16 December 2004
15. A/RES/61/11 - 5 December 2006
16. A/62/92 - 3 August 2007
17. A/71/L.3 - 5 October 2016
On the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by
the United States of America against Cuba.
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Possible Solutions
Bringing an end to the decades-old US-Cuba embargo is urgent in order to restore normal
economic ties. In broad terms, both countries want national security and economic
opportunity, and there are mutual opportunities in three areas which are agricultural trade,
energy development and immigration.
The opening of Cuban markets would lead to lucrative and feature low transportation costs,
which would lead to benefits from greater liberalization which are relaxed payment options
for Cuba and the end of licenses and quotas for US farmers. Despite the embargo, the US is
Cuba’s largest supplier of food and its sixth-largest trading partner.
Direct US engagement could allow two of the nation’s largest revenue generators, the
Cuban nickel and sugar industries, to expand into more capital-intensive energy research
through university and private-sector partnerships.
Finally, retiring the wet-foot dry-foot policy and normalizing immigration laws could stop
Cuban brain drain, end charges of a US immigration double standard, and save hundreds of
millions of dollars for the US taxpayers who must fund four different agencies to implement
this policy.
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List of Sources
Browning, Mark, Amy Lang-Tigchelaar, Patrick; Vocke Karen McGuire, Fern, and G.
HODGE. "Cuba." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 01 Jan. 2007. Web. June 2016.
<http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Cuba.aspx>.
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. June 2016.
<http://www.cfr.org/cuba/timeline-us-cuba-relations/p32817
Ramani, Samuel. "Why A Genuine Normalization of Relations Between America and Cuba
Is an Uphill Struggle." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. June 2016.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-ramani/why-a-genuine-normalizati_b_9655864.html
"United States Embargo against Cuba." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. June
2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_Cuba
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 24 June 2016.
Ramani, Samuel. "Why A Genuine Normalization of Relations Between America and Cuba
Is
an Uphill Struggle." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 24 June 2016.
"Timeline of Events." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web.
24 June 2016.
"United Nations Official Document." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 24 June 2016.
"The History of Cuban-American Relations." History of Cuban-American Relations. N.p., n.d.
Web. 01 Aug. 2016.
"Anti-Communism in the 1950s." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p.,
n.d.
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Web. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/fifties/essays/anti-communism-1950s>.
"Cuba: A Country Study." Librar of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web.
<https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.cubacountrystudy00huds/?sp=205>.
"Cuba." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web.
<http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/cu/index.htm>.
"The Cuban American Influence." Al Jazeera English. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insideusa/2008/04/200861505358823829.html>.
"Cuban Immigrants in the United States." Migrationpolicy.org. N.p., 06 Apr. 2015. Web.
<http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/cuban-immigrants-united-states>.
"Cuban-Americans: Politics, Culture and Shifting Demographics - Journalist's Resource."
Journalists Resource. N.p., 14 Dec. 2015. Web.
<http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/immigration/cuban-americanspoliticsculture-demographics>.
"Cubans in the United States." (2014): 34-47. Pewhispanic. Web.
<http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/factsheets/23.pdf>.
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