Cuba suspends US consular services

-DR. ABDUL RUFF COLACHAL 

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At Nelson Mandela's funeral in December, Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro shook hands for the first time. That was indeed an unplanned gesture from sides. Shortly after that Cuba and the US also announced the resumption of official talks on immigration and postal services between the two countries.

However, the realignment of strained equations between the traditional foes was not in true spirits. Their mutual hatred and cross fears have remained intact even while trying for  some friendship at some point.

Recently, the Cuban government has suspended consular services in the United States after an American M&T bank decided to withdraw its facilities. The M&T bank announced last year that it would stop accepting deposits from 17 February, which is a public holiday in the US.

The bank said its decision was taken for business reasons.

Cuba says it will not be able to renew passports and process visas unless it finds an alternative to the M&T bank.

The US broke off diplomatic relations with the communist-run island in 1961 and imposed an economic embargo a year later. In the absence of bilateral contacts, consular services have been handled by the Cuban Interests Section in Washington.

More than 40,000 people on average travel to Cuba from the US every month, most of them Cuban-Americans, according to the Miami-based Havana Consulting Group. Americans who do not have Cuban nationality are also allowed to travel if they are taking part in cultural exchange programmes.

The suspension of consular services comes amid a recent slight thaw in relations. The move is likely to prevent tens of thousands of people travelling from the US to Cuba every month and could have a big impact on the economy there.

Earlier this week, the European Union agreed to open negotiations aimed at restoring full relations with Cuba. Last week, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said President Obama should proceed with a similar gesture and follow the example of the EU.

Possibly the USA does not fully trust the former foe of the Cold war era.