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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2007 
Cuban Diplomat Says Immigration Accord Needed with Mexico
 Associated Press
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| | Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez speaks during a meeting in Mexico City. The U.S. economic embargo against Cuba has deprived its communist government of funds it might otherwise have used for military adventures, Gutierrez said. (Henry Romero/Reuters) |
Mexico City - A sharp increase in the number of Cubans migrating to the U.S. through Mexico requires a new immigration accord between Mexico and the communist-run island, Cuba's ambassador to Mexico said Tuesday.
Manuel Aguilera de la Paz told reporters that such an agreement is one of the few remaining issues that needs to be resolved before the two countries can fully normalize relations.
Aguilera de la Paz said both countries want migration to be "legal, orderly and not dangerous for immigrants."
In a new trend, more Cubans — about 10,000 in the past year — are now emigrating to the United States by traveling to Mexico and then north to the U.S. border, compared with the 7,693 that tried to reach Florida directly in the same period.
Relations between Mexico and Havana deteriorated under former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who criticized Cuba's human rights record. Both countries recalled their respective ambassadors for a few months in 2004, and relations have been tense ever since.
President Felipe Calderon has said he wants to normalize relations with Cuba, and Aguilera de la Paz said the Mexican leader could visit the island once full ties have been restored. |
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