The newly appointed Cuban Ambassador to the UK, Her Excellency Ismara Mercedes Vargas Walter, was welcomed to Parliament by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba. This comes amid significant diplomatic developments as the U.S. State Department has removed Cuba from its list of countries that do not fully cooperate with anti-terrorism efforts, as reported by Martí Noticias. The decision has sparked varied reactions, with some U.S. lawmakers applauding the move as a step towards improved relations and others expressing concern over its implications. Rep. Jayapal stated, 'Now, we must remove Trump's listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism to further our security, humanitarian, and hemispheric goals.' Similarly, Ilhan Omar commented, 'Real progress requires removing them from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism and ending the embargo that has restricted food and medicine to ordinary Cubans for far too long.' The removal follows Cuba's indication that it would not take steps to improve relations, such as releasing political prisoners, unless it was removed from the list of states sponsoring terrorism. Calls to end the U.S. sanctions and embargo on Cuba, which have had severe economic impacts, have also been reiterated.
This week, MPs met with the new Cuban ambassador to the UK @IsmaraWalter. The US blockade of Cuba continues to have devastating consequences for the Cuban economy and its people. It needs to be brought to an end. https://t.co/oVuns2geSs
.@MaElviraSalazar manages to spend 2 minutes denouncing Biden for taking Cuba off the list of countries that don’t “cooperate fully” in anti-terrorism efforts...without providing a single reason why Cuba does not cooperate fully in anti-terrorism efforts. 🙃 https://t.co/UbF79rS8lg
This is a start. But real progress requires removing them from the list of of countries sponsoring terrorism and ending the embargo that has restricted food and medicine to ordinary Cubans for far too long. https://t.co/Py2wBskgp4
Preocupa que la Administración Biden quite a Cuba de la lista de países que “no cooperan con la lucha antiterrorista”. ¿Qué viene después? ¿Los quitarán de la lista negra del terrorismo? https://t.co/o2gJBRREx8
I applaud @POTUS for taking this important first step, recognizing our security cooperation with Cuba. Now, we must remove Trump's listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism to further our security, humanitarian, and hemispheric goals. https://t.co/7gebef9yCj
The removal comes after #Cuba signaled it won't take a first step to improve relations, including releasing any of about 1,000 political prisoners it is currently holding, if Biden does not remove Cuba from the list of states sponsoring terrorism first. https://t.co/64yaska4qR
My comment following @StateDept's recent decision to remove Cuba from its list of countries that are not cooperating fully against terrorism👇🏽 https://t.co/dryecj0YX6 https://t.co/k5sundGv47
El Departamento de Estado de EEUU retiró a Cuba de la lista de países que no cooperan plenamente con los esfuerzos antiterroristas de Estados Unidos, conoció Martí Noticias. Qué dices. #cuba #CubaTerrorismo #EEUUCuba https://t.co/8iPYekOSTJ
It was an absolute pleasure to meet @IsmaraWalter the new Cuban ambassador to the UK, who was welcomed to Parliament yesterday by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba. @EmbaCuba_UK https://t.co/t05lYPFZVi
Fantastic to welcome to Parliament the newly appointed Cuban Ambassador, Her Excellency Ismara Mercedes Vargas Walter. My solidarity with the people of Cuba remains resolute. End the US sanctions and imperialist blockade of Cuba https://t.co/HRZh7dhqMq