Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo told The Associated Press that his government is not engaged in dialogue with the United States, but is open to it if certain criteria are met, as tensions remain high between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deputy foreign minister spoke days after US President Donald Trump said his administration is beginning talks with Cuban leaders after he threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies oil to the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are not yet talking specifically about negotiations. That is another matter. We are open to dialogue.\u201d \u201cIf we can engage in dialogue, perhaps we can reach a negotiation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo added that Cuba is willing to have an \u201cinformal dialogue\u201d with the U.S. \u201cwith the goal of ensuring that we can have a respectful and serious coexistence despite the differences between our two countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that certain things are off the table for Cuba, including the Constitution, the economy, and the country\u2019s socialist system of government. \u201cBut there are many, many other issues we can discuss,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anger and anxiety are spreading throughout the country following the news of Trump\u2019s tariff threat against oil suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cuba, of course, is preparing with creativity, stoicism, and austerity. What can Cuba do? \u201cJust watch us,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Trump signed an executive order late last week imposing tariffs, he called Cuba a \u201cfailed nation\u201d and said that \u201cit looks like it\u2019s something that just isn\u2019t going to be able to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House occupant asked Mexico to suspend oil shipments to Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Sunday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she would send food and other humanitarian aid to Cuba, adding that her government was trying to \u201cdiplomatically resolve everything related to the oil shipments\u201d to the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the brief interview, Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo emphasized that the Caribbean nation is not a threat to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCuba is a peaceful country. We only wish to engage with the United States as we have with the rest of the world. The United States is the exception today,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[ SOURCE: CUBA DEBATE ]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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