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On 16 Aug 2015 8:33 pm, Herrn Edward Mulindwa <mulin...@look.ca> wrote:
US Should Give Guantanamo Bay Back to Cuba - Congressman
© AFP 2015/ MLADEN ANTONOV
US
22:26 14.08.2015(updated 23:41 14.08.2015) Get short URL
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Congressman Jim McGovern claims that the US government should return the
territory occupied by its naval base at Guantanamo Bay to the Cuban people
regardless of how provocative the issue is back in the United States.
AVANA (Sputnik) — The US government should return the territory occupied by its
naval base at Guantanamo Bay to the Cuban people regardless of how provocative
the issue is back in the United States, Congressman Jim McGovern told Sputnik
on Friday.
"I think that’s a controversial issue in the United States," McGovern said when
asked about the status of Guantanamo Bay. "My own opinion is we should give it
back to the Cubans."
Since 1903, the United States has had a lease on Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay, where
the US naval base is located. Once the United States severed relations with
Cuba in 1959, Havana has demanded the return of Guantanamo Bay, calling the US
control of the territory illegal.
© AP Photo/ ANDRES LEIGHTON
Pentagon Blocking Release of Guantanamo Prisoners Held Without Charge
Now that the United States and Cuba have restored diplomatic ties, McGovern
argued, issues like Guantanamo can be addressed openly and in a straightforward
manner.
"These are the things we [the United States and Cuba] ought to be talking about
directly," McGovern explained. "Our relationship shouldn’t be based on speeches
on the floor of Congress or on the steps of the Capitol building."
The United States and Cuba are neighbors, McGovern added, that should work
together to address disagreements on policy issues like Guantanamo.
"We [the United States and Cuba] ought to talk like grownups to one another and
talk about our differences and the things we have in common," he added.
On Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the arrangement at Guantanamo Bay
was not one of the issues under discussion between Washington and Havana.
A Cuban and US delegation met in Havana earlier on Friday to celebrate the
normalization of relations between the two countries.
The United States and Cuba officially restored diplomatic ties on July 20,
2015, when they reopened embassies in Washington, DC and Havana.
McGovern also claims that the United States should eliminate all economic
restrictions on Cuba immediately as opposed to taking a piecemeal approach to
lifting its embargo.
"I think it should be lifted all at once," McGovern said when asked about
lifting the trade embargo in stages. "Congress ought to just do the right
thing, revoke the embargo [and] continue to build on our relationship."
Washington had imposed a full trade ban against Cuba in 1962. The embargo on
Cuba is one of the longest standing trade embargoes in US history.
"Congress is behind American public opinion and I think right now is on the
wrong side of history by not voting to lift the embargo," McGovern argued.
McGovern warned that it might take another election cycle before US lawmakers
are ready and willing to lift economic restraints on Cuba. He recommended
exploiting opportunities so President Barack Obama’s effort to normalize
relations with the island nation is not undone by Congress or the next
administration.
"We [the United States] ought to push to the limits all that we can do under
the executive orders that President Obama has put on the books," McGovern
added. "What limited business opportunities [in Cuba] can be pursued, we ought
to do that to make sure whatever we’ve done here can’t be turned around."
© AP Photo/ Desmond Boylan
US Needs to End Embargo to Fully Normalize Relations With Cuba - Havana
US Senator Jeff Flake also claims that easing travel restrictions is the next
step underway to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba.
"I think there will be some more regulatory changes to make it easier for
Americans to travel," Flake said of immediate actions President Barack Obama
could take.
Flake noted that the next step for both governments is to enter into a civil
aviation agreement. President Obama could unilaterally make the arrangement,
which would allow US citizens to travel directly to Cuba, as opposed to
travelling only on chartered flights.
"I think that is coming," Flake said of the direct flights.
Congresswoman Karen Bass in her turn has doubts that the 114th US Congress will
lift trade embargo against Cuba.
"Now it is up to Congress to lift the blockade and hopefully that will be done
in the next couple of years," Bass said. "I don’t know if it will be done in
this Congress though."
"After 54 years, the United States is finally doing the right thing," Bass
said. "I have waited for this day for many decades, and I am very glad that
this day is finally here."
The congresswoman added it will take "a couple of years" for members of
Congress who oppose restoration of relations with Cuba to accept the change of
the political course.
"After a certain amount of time has passed and they realize that this is a
permanent change that they will take the next step and end the embargo," Bass
said.
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
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machafuko"
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