MIAMI, United States. – The permanent representative of the Cuban Government to the UN, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, described as “speculation” the information about alleged contacts between the Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, and Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castrograndson of Cuban dictator Raúl Castro, and assured that Havana is guided by “public and verifiable facts,” as he declared to EFE.
“Those same media later say that they have no confirmation of what they are publishing. Therefore, to me that sounds like speculation. I base it on facts,” said Soberón, referring to the information disclosed by the American portal Axios.
According to that medium, Rubio would have held “secret conversations” with Rodríguez Castro in the context of increased pressure from Washington on the Island.
Soberón avoided commenting on specific contacts that could alleviate the situation derived from the fuel shortage and reiterated Havana’s position of keeping the door open to dialogue, as long as it is carried out under specific conditions. “Cuba is willing to dialogue on the basis of mutual respect, equal conditions, respect for sovereignty, respect for independence and non-interference in the internal affairs of the countries,” he said.
The diplomat added that this provision “is not new” and recalled that in previous stages of the bilateral relationship it allowed “advances in previous stages of the bilateral relationship,” according to EFE. However, he stressed that for a dialogue process to have real chances of prospering “it is necessary that both parties agree on basic rules” that guarantee a “serious” conversation with options for progress, according to his statements.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, affirmed on Monday night that his Government is holding talks with “senior officials” of the Cuban Executive, in line with what he has already indicated several times in recent weeks, despite Havana’s denials.
Asked about a possible role for Mexico as a mediator, Soberón limited himself to thanking the “historical solidarity” of that country with Cuba, both in sending aid and in diplomatic efforts.
The Cuban representative to the UN also insisted that any conversation would have to take place in an environment that allows progress “without additional pressures” and reiterated that Havana will not accept external conditions. Along these lines, he stated that Cuba does not require prior conditions for dialogue, but it does not admit impositions either. “We do not impose conditions on anyone, but we do not accept that they are imposed on us either,” he declared.
