Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo confirmed to a Bloomberg podcast that Cuba and the United States maintain lines of communication and have held meetings, though he stated that Havana sees no progress as long as Washington continues to impose new sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe continue to communicate and are willing to meet. We have met from time to time,\u201d he stated. He explained that both sides have agreed to keep these contacts discreet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he drew a distinction between holding talks and achieving results: \u201cWe don\u2019t see progress,\u201d he said, arguing that as long as the United States continues to implement \u201cnew measures, new pressures, and new sanctions,\u201d it is difficult to speak of advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sovereignty and relations with Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo rejected U.S. statements regarding political change in Cuba and defended the country\u2019s right to determine its own political system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His response was direct: \u201cCuba is not calling for regime change in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite their differences, he listed areas where he believes bilateral cooperation is possible: the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime, as well as scientific research and academic exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also delivered a clear message: Cuba is open to greater U.S. business involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe welcome U.S. business in Cuba,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the deputy minister, the problem would not be a greater U.S. economic presence, but rather if that relationship entailed excluding other international partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe want to engage with the whole world, not just one country, not just one nation,\u201d he noted. Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo further maintained that Cuba does not want to depend on or be dominated by any power: \u201cWe do not want to be dominated by any other country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two or three hours of electricity a day<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most striking moments of the interview came when he described the living conditions caused by the energy crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo, for the past eight or nine months, the Cuban population has lived with approximately three hours of electricity a day\u2014and sometimes barely two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interviewer asked if this reality affected him personally as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recounted that while he was away from Cuba, he would speak with his wife daily to find out when the power had come on. On one occasion, it was between noon and 3:00 p.m.; on another day, between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you do when the electricity comes on from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He even recounted that during some summer days, they had five or six hours of electrical service: \u201cWe didn\u2019t know what to do with it because we aren\u2019t used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prolonged lack of electricity, he explained, has even reduced the usefulness of refrigerators because it is impossible to properly preserve food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI leave the house without electricity. I return without electricity. I leave the house without running water. I return without running water,\u201d he described.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And he summed up the gravity of the situation with another phrase: \u201cWe are going back to the beginning of the 20th century.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanctions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo stated that Washington has managed to intimidate countries and companies into preventing them from supplying fuel and other products to Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked if these difficulties are causing discontent among the population, he openly acknowledged that they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople are upset. People are irritated,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economic reforms: \u201cWe are trying to change\u201d
Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo linked that very discontent to the need to transform the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are trying to be innovative, to change,\u201d he declared. He explained that Cuba is attempting to venture into economic areas where it lacks prior experience, seeking solutions amidst a situation he described as uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also acknowledged that there is no guarantee of success: \u201cWe are hopeful. It is not clear whether we will be able to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deputy foreign minister asserted that maintaining U.S. pressure would significantly hinder those reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But he also outlined the opposite scenario:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf the United States reduces the level of pressure, then those transformations in Cuba could go very far and truly become irreversible\u2014which is our goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This statement positions internal economic transformations as a central element of his message: the Cuban government seeks change but maintains that sanctions limit the possibilities for carrying it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Could the crisis end at the negotiating table?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interview concluded with a direct question: could the current standoff between Cuba and the United States be resolved through negotiation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo replied: \u201cWe would welcome that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He clarified that he could not predict the U.S. government\u2019s stance, but maintained that Cuba would be willing to accept the outcome of a genuine negotiation, even if it fell far short of all its aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is what negotiation is,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He spoke from his diplomatic experience: \u201cI worked for many years at the United Nations and have participated in other negotiations with the United States. That is how negotiations end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IMAGE CREDIT: Bloomberg screenshot<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[ SOURCE: CUBA DEBATE ]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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