|
Cuban Interests Section in the United
States to suspend consular services
ON
July 12, 2013, M&T Bank informed the Cuban Interests
Section in Washington, D.C., about its decision to
no longer provide banking services to foreign
missions and a limited period of time was given to
the Cuban Interests Section and the Cuban Permanent
Mission to the United Nations to close all accounts
and find a new bank to do business with.
Due
to the restrictions still in force, derived from the
U.S. policy of economic, commercial and financial
blockade against Cuba, and despite the numerous
efforts made with the Department of State and
several banks, it has been impossible for the Cuban
Interests Section to find a U.S. or international
bank with branches in the U.S. to operate the bank
accounts of the Cuban diplomatic missions.
This
situation will seriously affect the normal
performance of the functions of the Cuban Interests
Section and the Permanent Mission to the United
Nations.
Due
to this circumstance of force majeure, the
Cuban Interests Section is forced to interrupt
consular services, starting from November 26, 2013,
until further notice. Consular services will only be
provided for humanitarian cases and other of
specific nature.
The
Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C., has
reiterated to the U.S. Department of State the legal
duty of the U.S. Government to meet the commitments
undertaken under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Relations of April 18, 1961, and the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963,
which stipulate that the receiving State shall
accord full facilities for the performance of the
functions of the diplomatic missions and consular
offices. Likewise, the U.S. government is legally
bound to comply with the agreement signed on May 30,
1977, which established the interests sections in
both countries, as part as the reaffirmation of the
commitment with the letter of International Treaties
governing the diplomatic and consular relations.
The
Cuban Interests Section particularly regrets the
effects this may have on Cuban and U.S. citizens,
due to our Consular Section’s impossibility to
continue offering the services related to passport
and visa issuance, authentication of documents and
other services, with the negative impact on family
visits, academic, cultural, educational, scientific,
sports and other kind of exchange between Cuba and
the United States.
Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C.
November 26, 2013
|
