US, Cuba to hold migration talks in Havana

[webfact]

US, Cuba to hold migration talks in Havana
By PETER ORSI

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban and U.S. representatives are set to meet in Havana for a new round of restarted migration talks on Thursday, a signal of the longtime Cold War foes' recent willingness to engage in areas of mutual interest but unlikely to be a harbinger of a major thaw in relations.

The meetings are supposed to be held every six months to discuss the implementation of 1990s accords under which the United States agreed to issue 20,000 immigration visas annually to Cubans.

"Under the Accords, both governments pledge to promote safe, legal and orderly migration between Cuba and the United States. The agenda for the talks reflects longstanding U.S. priorities on Cuba migration issues," the U.S. State Department said in a brief statement. "This does not represent any change in policy towards Cuba."

Cuban authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the past, the talks have also been used as opportunities to broach other topics — a rare chance for dialogue between nations that do not have full diplomatic ties and have been at each other's throats since shortly after the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

The migration talks, along with separate discussions aimed restarting direct mail service, were suspended in 2011 after the arrest of U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross in Cuba in 2009. Discussions held on migration in July 2013 were the first between the two countries since 2011. Multiple meetings on mail service were also held last year.

Gross was accused of acting against Cuba's national sovereignty and sentenced to 15 years. He maintains that his work setting up hard-to-detect Internet networks for the island's Jewish community posed no threat to the state.

His imprisonment remains a major point of contention between Havana and Washington. But diplomats say privately that the Obama administration decided early last year not to let the case stand in the way of all engagement.

Representatives of the two governments met multiple times in 2013, and diplomats on both sides say they enjoy cordial personal relationships with their counterparts.

The most recent discussions in Havana in September focused on mail delivery. The State Department called the talks "fruitful" and Cuba called them "respectful," though no deal has yet been struck.

One issue that may come up this week is Cuba's recent banking woes at its diplomatic missions in Washington and at the United Nations. The institution that had processed Cuba's diplomatic banking in the United States moved to sever the relationship in late 2013, prompting Cuba to suspend nearly all consular services in the country.

The bank offered an extension and Cuba resumed visa processing and other services Dec. 9. But Havana has yet to find a permanent U.S. banking partner, and is only guaranteeing consular services through the Feb. 17 extension.

The State Department says it has been working with Cuba to try to resolve the matter.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-09

[umbanda]

GOOD! Cuba may have the opporunty to "send" to the US all the vagabonds not happy with Cuba Government jobs and looking for

US Government free money and benefits...and a drug dealing or prostitution profitable "business" in the side.

[Scott]

GOOD! Cuba may have the opporunty to "send" to the US all the vagabonds not happy with Cuba Government jobs and looking for

US Government free money and benefits...and a drug dealing or prostitution profitable "business" in the side.

The granting of immigrant visas would not include people who have connections to drug dealing (or use), prostitution or other illegal activities. They are excluded from resettlement in the US. People who are likely to become a public charge (welfare recipient) are also excluded from an immigrant visa.

The main advantage of granting visas, is that there is a process of and a method of determining who gets to come and when.

Some of the experienced garnered from the Orderly Departure Program, which was operated out of Bangkok, for Vietnamese Refugees and immigrants may be in place in this program.

Many of the people who wish to immigrate, wish to do so because they have family in the US. It is not necessarily that they wish to escape Cuba.

[rickirs]

Gen. Prayuth seems to have a paternal feeling towards totalitarian states. I wonder how long it will take him to show Thailand unity with Cuba. I am sure Cuba will understand and sympathize with the necessity for a military coup in Thailand to "restrain" an out of control democracy.

[rotary]

Just what the US needs.........more immigrants. The US should write a book titled "How To Ruin Your Country"

[JingerBen]

Just what the US needs.........more immigrants. The US should write a book titled "How To Ruin Your Country"

For some areas of the country it's just too late.

I remember years ago hearing, "Will the last American to leave South Florida, please bring the flag with them."

[umbanda]

GOOD! Cuba may have the opporunty to "send" to the US all the vagabonds not happy with Cuba Government jobs and looking for

US Government free money and benefits...and a drug dealing or prostitution profitable "business" in the side.

The granting of immigrant visas would not include people who have connections to drug dealing (or use), prostitution or other illegal activities. They are excluded from resettlement in the US. People who are likely to become a public charge (welfare recipient) are also excluded from an immigrant visa.

The main advantage of granting visas, is that there is a process of and a method of determining who gets to come and when.

Some of the experienced garnered from the Orderly Departure Program, which was operated out of Bangkok, for Vietnamese Refugees and immigrants may be in place in this program.

Many of the people who wish to immigrate, wish to do so because they have family in the US. It is not necessarily that they wish to escape Cuba.

Have 2 Cubas.

1) The one used for US propaganda and for some kind of people interested in "invest" in Cuba.

2) The real Cuba

In the real Cuba is not, and never was, any restrictions for the Cuban people move to other countries. Like any other country, people with money to travel and getting proper visas was free to go. The US always mades very hard to get the visa, even for people with money to pay its way to.

Some Cuban were risking it lives crossing the ocean because US refugee laws was giving the residence and financial help to every Cuban reaching its land, by the ocean and by any border crossing.

But, in the real Cuba, that is the only reason some Cubans wants to move to the US. Most educated Cuban people, move freely around the world, and most are very loyal to the Government, even living in modesty. Cuba is a poor country, but there is not misery in Cuba, it is poverty, that it is totally different. Not hunger in Cuba, no people living or sleeping on the streets, free education and free health care, unemployment it is an option, crime and drug traficking is lowest than most world countries.

The end of the embargo will be convenient for Cuba economically because it is a poor country and honest investments will be welcome. The Cuban Government will make sure that Batista's time will no come back, the US Mafia will not come back, the slavery situation of the Cuban workers under US corporations will not come back, corruption will not come back.

And again....will be good for Cuba if the US will get all the "dreamers unemployees" wondering the streets of Cuba with families and "sponsors" in Miami. Also in the US there are "visa services" that will make everything posible for the right money.

Edited January 9, 2015 by umbanda

[Scott]

Umbanda, you are probably right.

I don't want to get into the middle of a fight over immigration, but my work with immigrants and refugees has shown me that it is better that there is some order and planning in the number of people who are allowed to enter and the conditions than a free for all and anybody who get one foot on dry land being allowed to stay.

The current situation has not been beneficial to either country, IMO. Hopefully any changes will be positive for both.

[kleelof]

Just what the US needs.........more immigrants. The US should write a book titled "How To Ruin Your Country"

Yeah, it will be written by 'native' Americans.

You're an idiot.