Havana, 20 Dic (Notimex).- Cuba denounced today the strengthening of the United States blockade due to the application of millionaire fines to two foreign banks for negotiating with the Caribbean island.
A statement from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) recalls that on December 11 the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of
the Treasury Department announced the imposition of a fine of 375 million dollars against the Bank HSBC Holdings (Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation).
The reason to punish the financial institution, based in London, is the alleged violation of the United States unilateral sanctions against several countries, including Cuba.
On December 12, OFAC, announced the implementation of another fine, for 8 634 571 dollars to the Japanese bank Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, for the same reason.
The MINREX note warns that the application of these “unfair and illegal” penalties shows that the US policy of persecution against those who hold a legitimate elationship with the island has toughened.