Most Americans support a change in the policy of its government toward Cuba, a scenario that weakens the voices opposed to rapprochement, activists said here today that promote better bilateral relations.
Leaders of the coalition addressed Cuba Engage with Cuban journalists accredited here to cover a new round of dialogue between Havana and Washington on restoring links diplomats, the current context and perspectives about ties to leave behind decades of hostility of House Blanca to the island.
According to the chief adviser of the nonprofit organization, Luke Albee, the issue of the Greater Antilles will be among those included in the process ahead of the 2016 elections presidencies in the United States.
We see the position of some Republican candidates, but we also appreciate that Americans are in favor of change with the island, said in response to a question from Prensa Latina this political consultant, who accumulated 27 years of experience in the actions of Congress.
18 months away of the elections, the party Red applicants to the White House Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz harshly criticized the decision of President Barack Obama to seek normalization of relations with the Caribbean country.
There are a few stubborn voices, but is much larger group that supports the change, said for his part James Williams, president of Engage Cuba, to be officially launched on June 16 to promote from American society a position in Congress of friendly approach, prioritizing the removal of the ban on travel and trade imposed by Washington.
Both activists agreed on the importance of harnessing the positive context created in recent months, following the announcement on 17 December by the Presidents Raul Castro and Obama to boost ties in the future are difficult to reverse.
This opportunity should not be lost, the more you progress in bilateral relations, the harder it is to return them to the past, Williams estimated.
The facts on the ground speak louder than anything, said Albee.
Since the decision to initiate the approach, the parties focused their efforts on restoring diplomatic ties and reopening embassies, objectives that seem close to materialize, after progress in the exclusion of Cuba from the unilateral sponsors of terrorism list and access Interests Section in Washington Island to banking services.
In parallel, both parts held several meetings on issues of mutual interest, such as migration, telecommunications, postal mail, technologies of information, the response to oil spills in the Gulf and scientific affairs.
Also in response to Prensa Latina during a meeting with Cuban journalists here, academic and analyst Julia Sweig US policy advocated to seize the next 18 months to help strengthen the approach.
It is capitalizing on that moment in the political, economic and diplomatic, to make it very difficult for the next president, Republican or not, reverse the steps initiated by Obama, said yesterday Sweig, former Director of Studies for Latin America think tank Council on Foreign Relations.
She said that since the issue of public opinion are favorable positions to shift to the island, nothing easy to minimize.
“While more Americans traveling to Cuba, the less likely the reversal, we see that it is almost impossible to search a room in a hotel there,’ added the author of two books on Cuba and its relations with the powerful neighbor.
In terms of economics, I think it’s very important for the two countries to seek success in this area, translated into opportunities for investment, trade and exports and imports in both directions, Sweig said.
(Prensa Latina)