The Deputy Director General for the United States at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johana Tablada, stated this Friday that, to date, “the United States has not made any concrete offer, nor has it responded to the questions raised regarding the announcement made by the Secretary of State.”
In statements to the press from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the official emphasized that “the Cuban government has in no way imposed extraordinary conditions” for receiving international aid, and recalled that in recent years, in the face of disasters, the U.S. government has made offers “respectfully to Cuba and the Cuban people, which have materialized.”
Tablada also specified that mechanisms are in place to channel donations from U.S. organizations and citizens to the victims, their families, or specific groups. “These channels are working,” she affirmed, although she acknowledged that those who wish to contribute must face “restrictions imposed by the U.S. government.”
The statements come in the context of recent official announcements regarding possible gestures of cooperation, the details of which have not yet been confirmed by the U.S. side.
Below, Cubadebate reproduces the press statements of Johana Tablada, Deputy Director General for the Directorate General for the United States:
Yesterday, our Embassy in Washington contacted the State Department regarding their published statement. I can assure you that, to date, the United States has not made any concrete offers nor responded to the questions raised about the announcement made by the Secretary of State. Other countries and United Nations agencies have made offers, and these have already been fulfilled or are in the process of being fulfilled.
In no case has the Cuban government imposed extraordinary conditions. In recent years, in the face of disaster situations, the United States has respectfully made offers to Cuba and the Cuban people, which have materialized. Regarding individuals and organizations in the United States that are willing and interested in offering assistance, in general, to the victims or their families, or to specific individuals and groups, there are several ways to do so, and these channels are operational.
Naturally, they have to overcome restrictions imposed on them by the United States government.
(Transcript from Cubaminrex)
IMAGE CREDIT: Johanna Tablada, Deputy Director General for the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Cubaminrex.
