MIAMI, United States. – The United States Embassy in Cuba shared this Tuesday, International Human Rights Day, two photos of its Chief of Mission, Mike Hammer, with Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White, and Martha Beatriz Roque, the only woman in the group of 75 activists and opponents imprisoned during the so-called Black Spring, in 2003.
In the note that accompanies the photosHammer described it as “an honor” to meet with Soler and Roque, and made “a call for greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.”
Berta Soler, in exclusive statements to CubaNetexplained that the meeting took place a few days after the appointment of Hammer as Head of Mission of his country’s embassy on the Island.
Soler also assured that, during the meeting, he addressed urgent issues such as the situation of political prisoners in the country and the repression against activists. “The topics were political prisoners and the police repression of the Cuban regime against human rights activists,” he explained.
The leader of the Ladies in White also pointed out the need for the United States to facilitate safe routes for the exit of former political prisoners, through the opening of an office to serve beneficiaries of political refuge. “The opening of the political refuge office is very necessary so that many former political prisoners have a safe exit through that program,” Soler emphasized.
Furthermore, the activist insisted that any rapprochement between Washington and Havana must be conditional on improvements in human rights: “I told him [a Hammer] that, if there is any rapprochement with the Cuban regime, it must be conditioned in terms of human rights and freedom for all political prisoners, and that the repression of the Cuban regime cease.”
Soler assured that Hammer was “very receptive” during the meeting and listened to his proposals.
The diplomat was appointed as the new Head of Mission of the United States diplomatic headquarters in Havana in mid-November of this year.
According to Embassy detailsthe official, with more than 35 years of diplomatic career, has served as ambassador in Chile and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also worked as special envoy for the Horn of Africa, and has held key positions in the State Department and the White House.
Born in Washington DC, Hammer grew up in Latin America: he lived in Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, and speaks fluent Spanish.
While serving as Undersecretary of Public Affairs at the United States Department of State, Hammer saidfollowing the death of the opposition leader Oswaldo Payá Sardiñasthat the Cuban Government should, “in the interest of all, carry out a thorough investigation” into the circumstances under which he died.
Hammer also highlighted Payá’s courage in his fight for human rights and for a democratic future in Cuba. “It is a great loss and we honor his memory,” he added on that occasion.
