Havana condemns forced staff reduction at Washington embassy

World Today

Havana condemns forced staff reduction at Washington embassyCuba’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez gives a press conference in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

Havana reacted to Washington’s move with suspicion, saying the staff reduction is politically motivated and will do nothing to help get to the bottom of the so-called “sonic attacks” on American personnel in Cuba.

CGTN’s Michael Voss reports.

The country’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, told a press conference the action was unjustifiable, while also complaining that the U.S. was not giving Cuban authorities access to evidence on the alleged attacks.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protests and condemns this unfounded and unacceptable decision as well as the pretext used to justify it,” the official said.

“According to the information available, and the data supplied by the United States, there is no evidence of the occurrence of the alleged incidents, or the causes and the origin of the health disorders reported by the US diplomats and their relatives.”

With the cutting back of staff at both embassies, especially in their consular sections, it is ordinary Cubans and Cuban-Americans who will be most affected.

By not being able to get visas, it will be more difficult for Cubans to visit the U.S., and for Americans to visit Cuba. This will impact everything from academic to cultural exchanges.