OTTAWA – The Cuban ambassador to Canada says Washington’s “nonsensical” decision list Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism is one of several impediments to his country normalizing relations with the United States.
Julio Garmendia Pena’s speech at an Ottawa university Monday night was a rare public appearance by a Cuban diplomat following its historic easing of tension with the U.S.
The two countries announced on Dec. 17 they would try to normalize diplomatic relations after the 53-year U.S. embargo on the Caribbean island nation 135 kilometres off the coast of Florida.
But there’s been no substantive progress since then following three rounds of talks between Washington and Havana that have unfolded under a shroud of secrecy.
Canada hosted the historic talks that led to the initial breakthrough between the U.S. and Cuba – enemies since the 1959 Communist revolution – that remained a continental secret until U.S. President Barack Obama revealed them three months ago.
Pena shed little light on Canada’s role, except to say that Ottawa was a good place to hide from the prying eyes of the news media.
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