Cuba says US withdrawal of embassy staff will affect ties
(VOVWORLD) - Cuba on Friday slammed as "hasty" a US decision to withdraw more than half of its embassy staff from Havana, and warned the move would affect ties.
 US Embassy in Havana, Cuba (Photo: VNA) |
Josefina Vidal, head of the US Department at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, told the Cuban press that the decision announced by the State Department will affect cooperation on issues of mutual interest and exchanges of a different nature between the two countries. The government of Cuba has no responsibility whatsoever for the alleged acts relating to recent medical issues of the US embassy staff, she said, adding that Cuba is willing to continue an active cooperation between the authorities of the two countries. US State Secretary Rex Tillerson said the US maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba, and will cooperate with Cuba in further investigation.
Senior US officials had announced that the US will pull roughly 60 percent of its staff out of Cuba, warn American travelers not to visit, and halt visa processing in Havana, in response to mysterious sonic attacks that have caused several health problems to at least 21 diplomats.