U.S. says Cuba obstructing consular work

U.S. says Cuba obstructing consular work
By Anthony Boadle
Reuters
Tuesday, July 17, 2007; 5:22 PM

HAVANA (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it cannot meet an
agreed quota of 20,000 visas for Cuban emigres this year because Cuba is
obstructing its consular work in Havana.

"Unfortunately, the Cuban Government has thwarted our efforts to treat
Cuban refugees in a respectful manner due to the numerous constraints
placed on the U.S. Interests Section," a statement issued by the
American diplomatic mission said.

The constraints include denying visas to essential U.S. diplomatic staff
to work in Cuba, denying entry of materials and supplies to improve visa
facilities, and not authorizing the hiring of local staff to fill 47
vacancies, it said.

The U.S. Interest Section said it needed the personnel and materials
function effectively.

Cuba earlier accused the United States of issuing too few visas for
Cuban emigres, alleging the delay was part of Washington's efforts to
overthrow the Cuban government.

Washington broke off diplomatic ties with Havana in 1961, two years
after Cuban leader Fidel Castro took power in a revolution that steered
Cuba toward communism. Low-level interest sections were opened in both
capitals in 1977.

Under migration accords aimed at discouraging Cubans from taking to the
sea illegally in makeshift crafts after the 1994 rafter exodus, the U.S.
government agreed to issue 20,000 visas a year to Cubans seeking to
emigrate to the United States.

But in the first nine months of fiscal 2007, the U.S. consular service
has only granted 10,724 visas to Cubans and may not meet the annual
target in the three months left, Cuba's Foreign Ministry complained.

"This failure to comply (with the quota) will encourage further illegal
emigration," the ministry said in a statement published by the ruling
Communist Party newspaper, Granma.

It said Washington was deliberately dragging its feet on the visas to
undermine the migration accords, which are meant to ensure legal,
orderly and safe migration between the two countries.

The migration agreements are opposed by anti-Castro exiles concentrated
in Miami because they include the repatriation of emigres who are
intercepted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard.

After 35,000 Cubans took to the sea in boats, rafts and inflated inner
tubes in 1994, the United States changed its policy of automatically
welcoming any Cuban emigre. Under the current "dry-foot, wet-foot"
policy, those stopped at sea are returned to Cuba, those that make it
ashore get to stay.

Havana insists U.S. policy still encourages Cubans to leave illegally,
often risking their lives in precarious vessels.

"This irresponsible policy ... is a permanent cause of unjustified and
unnecessary deaths, and the victims are often women and children," the
ministry statement said.

Critics of the Cuban government say the flow of emigration to the United
States, legal or illegal, acts as a escape valve for simmering
discontent over economic hardship in Cuba.

With calmer waters in the Florida Straits during the summer, more Cubans
are leaving by sea, in makeshift boats or aboard powerful "cigarette"
speed boats that whisk emigres across to Florida for about $8,000 a trip.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported a rise in the number of Cuban migrants it
has picked up in the last few weeks, though interceptions are below last
year's levels. Last week it repatriated 94 Cubans, the week before 100.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071701370.html