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Politics

United States: Sanctions on the Cuban Ministry of Interior

United States Places Global Magnitsky Sanctions on the Cuban Ministry of Interior and Its Minister Washington, DC (STL.News) Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary Of State released the following statement: Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on the Cuban Ministry of Interior (MININT) and Minister of Interior General Lazaro Alberto Álvarez Casas for their connection to serious human rights abuse under Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. MININT is designated for being responsible for, complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse. As minister of MININT, Álvarez Casas is also designated for being or having been a leader or official of an entity, including any governmen...

Politics

US announces designation of Cuba as a terror state

(STL.News) Donald Trump's administration has re-designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced to reverse the Obama-era decision. Wikipedia page - Cuba-US relations ? YouTube video provided courtesy of WION News

Politics

Department of State: Designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

Washington DC (STL.News) The US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo released the following statement: The State Department has designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism for repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbor to terrorists. The Trump Administration has been focused from the start on denying the Castro regime the resources it uses to oppress its people at home, and countering its malign interference in Venezuela and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. With this action, we will once again hold Cuba’s government accountable and send a clear message: the Castro regime must end its support for international terrorism and subversion of U.S. justice. For decades, the Cuban government has fed, housed, and provided medical care f...

Politics

Michael G. Kozak On Human Rights Concerns in Cuba

Briefing with Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Ambassador Michael G. Kozak On Human Rights Concerns in Cuba (STL.News) MR BROWN: Good afternoon. Welcome to this on-the-record call on human rights concerns in Cuba. Today we have Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Ambassador Michael Kozak with us to discuss the Cuban regime’s harassment of activists peacefully protesting the imprisonment of human rights defender Denis Solis Gonzalez, a member of the San Isidro Movement. Ambassador Kozak will begin with some remarks, and then take your questions. As a reminder, the content of the briefing is embargoed until the end of the call, and for the sake of efficiency, if you’d like to go ahead and get into the question queue, just dial 1 and then 0. ...

Politics

Removing the Cuban Military’s Grip from Cuba’s Banking Sector

Removing the Cuban Military’s Grip from Cuba’s Banking Sector (STL.News) The Department of State is announcing the addition of Banco Financiero International S.A. (BFI) to the Cuba Restricted List, effective upon publication in early January. BFI is a Cuban military-controlled commercial bank that benefits directly from financial transactions at the expense of the Cuban people. The Cuban military uses BFI’s key role in foreign exchange to give military and state companies preferential access, secure advantageous exchange rates, and finance government-controlled projects that enrich the regime. The profits earned from these operations disproportionately benefit the Cuban military rather than independent Cuban entrepreneurs, furthering repression of the Cuban people and funding Cuba’s inte...

General

Additions of Cuban Military Owned Companies

Additions of Cuban Military-Owned Companies to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (STL.News) The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added three Cuban military-owned companies to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). All property and interests in property of these entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction continue to be blocked and must be reported to OFAC. The companies are Grupo de Administración Empresarial SA (GAESA), FINCIMEX, and Kave Coffee S.A. GAESA is the Cuban military’s largest company, which controls large portions of Cuba’s economy for the military’s benefit. Cuban military-controlled FINCIMEX funnels remittanc...

Politics

US Department of State: Removing Cuba’s Military from Remittance Process

WASHINGTON, DC (STL.News) Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary Of State released the following statement: Yesterday, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action to remove Cuba’s military from the process of sending remittances to Cuba. Once these changes to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) are effective, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction will no longer be authorized to process remittances to or from Cuba involving any entity or sub-entity on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. These changes provide for a 30-day period before they are effective in order to allow for technical implementation. U.S. remittances to Cuba can still flow, but they will not flow through the hands of the Cuban military, which uses those funds to oppress the Cuban ...

Politics

US Department of State: Addition to the Cuba Restricted List

Washington, DC (STL.News) The US Secretary Of State, Michael R. Pompeo released the following statement: Today, the Department of State is adding American International Services (AIS) to the Cuba Restricted List. AIS is a financial institution controlled by the Cuban military that processes remittances sent to the Cuban people. The Cuban military also uses AIS, its parent company FINCIMEX, and other entities to charge fees and manipulate the remittance and foreign currency market as part of the regime’s schemes to make money and support its repressive apparatus. The profits earned from these operations disproportionately benefit the Cuban military, furthering repression of the Cuban people and funding Cuba’s meddling in Venezuela. President Trump has made it clear that he stands with t...

Politics

US Department of State: Announcement of Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List

Washington, DC (STL.News) The US Secretary Of State, Michael R. Pompeo released the following statement: Today, the Department of State is announcing the creation of the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations (CPA) List. The CPA List includes 433 properties that are owned or controlled by the Cuban regime or certain well-connected insiders. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced regulatory changes today to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) restricting certain transactions related to lodging at properties identified on the CPA List. The Cuban government’s profits from properties in the hospitality industry owned or controlled by the Cuban government, senior regime officials, Cuban Communist Party leadership, and their families, disproportionately b...

Politics

US Department of State: Overdue Release of Cuban Journalist, Roberto Quiñones

Washington, DC (STL.News) The US Department of State today released the following statement: The U.S. Government is gratified to see independent journalist Roberto de Jesús Quiñones reunited with his family after a year of undue suffering as a prisoner of conscience in Cuba. However, we repeat our strong condemnation of his unjust imprisonment for the simple act of doing his job. On August 7, 2019, the Cuban regime convicted Quiñones on dubious charges of resistance and disobedience and sentenced him to one year in a labor camp. His detention and trial were marked by the flagrant disregard for legal norms, which is typical of the Cuban regime. Cuban authorities did not inform Quiñones of the charges against him until minutes before the trial, and did not permit him legal representatio...

Politics

Suspension of Private Charter Flights between the United States and Cuba

Washington, DC (STL.News) Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of the US Department of State released the following statement: Today, I requested that the Department of Transportation suspend private charter flights to all Cuban airports, including Havana. This action will suspend all charter flights between the United States and Cuba over which the Department of Transportation exercises jurisdiction, except for authorized public charter flights to and from Havana and other authorized private charter flights for emergency medical purposes, search and rescue, and other travel deemed in the interest of the United States. This Administration will continue to target and cut the revenue the Cuban government earns from landing fees, stays in regime-owned hotels, and other travel-related income. The...

Politics

US Department of State: Pan American Health Organization Transparency

Washington, DC (STL.News) The Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo released the following statement: The United States government welcomes the Pan American Health Organization’s decision to initiate an independent review of its role in the Mais Medicos program, pursuant to which PAHO provided well over a billion dollars to Cuba. The United States and other key PAHO member states have actively worked with PAHO leadership to design this review into how Mais Medicos was initiated and operated. The review is designed to answer the questions that the U.S. government has raised. The United States will work to protect our partner institutions from any malign attempts to corrupt their true mission, while preserving the interests of the U.S. taxpayer. CLICK to VIEW SOURCE

General

Morgan Ortagus: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Washington, DC (STL.News) Press Statement by Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson: On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we honor and support victims and survivors throughout the world. We observe this day on the anniversary of the date on which the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into effect; 166 countries including the United States have since ratified the Convention. The United States is committed to using all available tools to promote accountability for those who engage in these practices, which can destroy the lives of victims. Sadly, we continue to receive reports of torture from across the globe. The Iranian regime employs a wide range of officially and unofficially sanctioned torture to ...

Politics

Pompeo: On the Hypocrisy of UN Human Rights Council

Washington DC (STL.News) Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary Of State released the following statement: The United Nations Human Rights Council, now comprised of Venezuela and recently, Cuba and China, has long been and remains a haven for dictators and democracies that indulge them. It is a grave disappointment to those genuinely seeking to advance human dignity. Even so, the Council’s decision to vote yesterday on a resolution focusing on policing and race in the United States marks a new low. The ongoing civic discourse about the tragic death of George Floyd in the United States is a sign of our democracy’s strength and maturity. Americans work through difficult societal problems openly, knowing their freedoms are protected by the Constitution and a strong rule of law. We are serious abou...

General

Department of State: José Daniel Ferrer gets Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom Award

Washington DC (STL.News) Press Statement by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary Of State: Human rights defender José Daniel Ferrer has spent most of his adult life imprisoned for trying to make Cuba a free nation. Ferrer has worked tirelessly to ensure all Cubans have a voice in the affairs of their own country. The Castro regime has responded by beating and torturing Ferrer, harassing and threatening his family and colleagues, and imprisoning him simply for demanding a better life for Cubans. Despite these abuses, Ferrer has persisted. It is this persistence, this courage in the face of physical danger, and this resolve to help Cubans who yearn to be free that has earned José Daniel Ferrer the prestigious Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom Award. The United States government joins in the chorus...

General

United States Restricts Scheduled Air Service to Cuban Airports

Washington, DC (STL.News) The US Department of State released the following statement: At the request of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of Transportation suspended until further notice scheduled air service between the United States and Cuban international airports other than Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport to prevent the Cuban regime from profiting from U.S. air travel. U.S. air carriers will have 45 days to discontinue all scheduled air service between the United States and all airports in Cuba, except for Jose Marti International Airport. In line with the President’s foreign policy toward Cuba, this action prevents revenue from reaching the Cuban regime that has been used to finance its ongoing repression of the Cuban people and its support for Nicolas Maduro i...

Politics

State Department News: On the Prosecution of Cuban Journalist Roberto Quinones

Washington DC (STL.News) - The US Department of State released the following statement: The U.S. government strongly condemns the prosecution of Roberto Quinones. We call upon the Cuban regime to immediately release Mr. Quinones and to cease their abuse and mistreatment. On April 22, Cuban police arrested journalist Roberto Quinones. His “crime” was reporting a story regarding a pastor and his wife who were imprisoned for home-schooling their child. On August 7, the Cuban regime convicted Quinones on dubious charges of resistance and disobedience and sentenced him to one year in a labor camp. His detention and trial were marked by the flagrant disregard for legal norms that are typical of the Cuban regime. Cuban authorities did not inform Quinones of the charges against him until mi...

Politics

US Department of State News: The United States Sanctions Companies Enabling Shipment of Venezuelan Oil to Cuba

WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) The US Department of State released the following statement: Today, the United States sanctioned two companies, Ballito Bay Shipping Inc. and ProPer in Management Inc., operating in Venezuela’s oil sector and the vessel Despina Andrianna used to transport oil to Cuba. Additional vessels, in which Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA has interests, are being identified as blocked property, pursuant to Executive Order 13850. These actions target entities and vessels that have been enabling the former Maduro regime to continue undermine the prosperity and democracy that Venezuelans deserve. The former Maduro regime continues to line its pockets with the profits from natural resources that properly belong to the people of Venezuela. Meanwhile, Cuba is proppin...