U.S. Congressional delegation visits Cuba
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- Published: Monday, 19 February 2018 17:30
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Photo: RHC.Havana, Feb 19.- A U.S. bicameral Congressional delegation is visiting Cuba, headed by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt). during the congressional recess.
The purpose of the visit is to assess on the ground the impact of changes in Washington's policy towards Cuba under the Trump Administration, the Cuban Foreign Ministry reported.
Other members of the U.S. Congressional delegation include two other senators and three members of the House of Representatives, among them Kathy Castor (D-Florida).
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the office of US Representative Kathy Castor issued a communique saying that during their stay in Cuba, which runs through Wednesday, the U.S. visitors will meet with Cuban authorities, entrepreneurs and experts in such sectors as education, health, the economy and biotechnology.
Besides addressing the impact of the anti-Cuba moves by the Trump administration, the two sides will debate the health and safety of US diplomats, after alleged health incidents reported by some diplomats, which Washington and ultra-right wing U.S. politicians are using as a pretext to rollback progress in bilateral ties achieved under the Barack Obama Administration.
Other issues for discussion include cooperation on maritime security, search-and-rescue, narcotics and human trafficking, migration issues, the impact of the withdrawal of U.S. Embassy and Cuban Embassy personnel, law enforcement, scientific, environmental, commercial, educational and cultural relations.
For two decades, Senator Patrick Leahy has been centrally involved in efforts to replace the failed nearly 60-year-old U.S. Cuba policy of isolation with a new path toward normalization.
He is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and also serves as the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations, which oversees the State Department’s budget. (RHC)
