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Cuba Denies Move to Offend Argentine People
The Cuban government denied Friday it aims at offending the Argentine people, and blamed the authorities of the South American country for the current political conflict between the two nations.
At a press conference here, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque emphatically denied that the island's official position is to harm the Argentines.
Last February 2, at the closing ceremony of the International Economists Forum of Havana, Cuban President Fidel Castro criticized the Argentine government for following the U.S. move of condemning Havana's human rights policy in Geneva and the Cuban leader was reportedly accused Argentina of "licking the Yankee boot".
The remarks of the Cuban leader were interpreted by Argentine Foreign Minister Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini, who were visiting Washington, as a severe offense against the Argentine people. Rodriguez Giavarini recalled the Argentine ambassador in Havana.
"We are not interested in offending the people of Argentina, who we respect and are united with by deep ties," said Perez Roque.
Also, he rejected the assertion of the Argentine minister that Cuba has caused this conflict.
"Rodriguez Giavarini is accountable for the situation because evidently he has prepared conditions to repeat the Argentine voting stance against Cuba in the Human Rights Commission in Geneva," said the Cuban diplomat.
At the same time, he supported the declarations made by the Cuban ambassador in Buenos Aires, Alejandro Gonzalez, last Wednesday, saying that "those are not his personal opinions."
On that occasion, Gonzalez told a press conference in the Argentine capital that Cuba rejects a formal note of protest presented by the Argentine Foreign Ministry.
The Cuban diplomat termed the document as unacceptable as it represents a threat with the announcement of a "detailed analysis of the bilateral relations, aiming at determining the course of action to be followed."
"Cuba does not have doubt whatsoever, that a new treason is prepared, particularly driven by Foreign Minister Rodriguez Giavarini," said Gonzalez who reiterated the island "cannot be sacrificed in the altar of alms the U.S. gives."
Perez Roque said that despite the reports that the Argentine ambassador received instructions to indefinitely stay in Buenos Aires, Gonzalez will continue his work in that capital to clarify Cuba's position.
Argentine FM Declines to Comment on Ties With CubaArgentine Foreign Minister Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini declined Friday to comment on the current relations with Cuba.
"I will not comment on the relations, but manage it," said the diplomat, who just came back to Buenos Aires Friday after his visit to the United States. He evaded from stating Argentina's position on whether to cast its vote in the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations against Cuba.
In declarations to the press after meeting with the Argentine President Fernando De la Rua on the same day, Rodriguez Giavarini indicated the government will act "with prudence and respect for the Cuban people," referring to the recent diplomatic dispute between both countries.
The Minister said that during the meeting that lasted many hours, "we only talked about Cuba for a few minutes."
"National interests are defined in every issue, analyzing with objectivity how is the situation and giving answers that indicate, first, national interests and then, international diplomatic procedures," he added.
Relations between Cuba and Argentina have become tense this week after the declarations of the Cuban President Fidel Castro, who criticized last February 2, Argentina for following the same policy as the United States, referring to its possible vote against Cuba in the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
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