(15 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Havana, Cuba – 15 January 2025
1. Cuban and American flags at the American Embassy
2. Various of American Embassy, cars, city, streets
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Odalys Maresma, retired:
“For us, it won’t mean anything at any time (taking Cuba off the list of countries that sponsor terrorism) because the blockade won’t be lifted. It’s more about an embargo and our internal issues than the external problems we face in this country.”
4. Yeny Sanguesa walking with a friend
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Yeny Sanguesa, homemaker:
“I have French citizenship, so it would benefit me to go to the United States to see my relatives, as I now have many who have crossed the borders due to this immigration boom. This measure would help me greatly."
6. Capitol, people, cars, city
7. Juan Carlos Quintana walking
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Carlos Quintana, radio sound producer:
“Even though it was late in (Joe) Biden’s term, similar to what occurred with (Barack) Obama. It was a correct, positive measure; the unfortunate part is that it will be short-lived.”
9. American old car, people
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Pedro Freyre, Chair of Akerman LLP:
++VIDEO CALL++
“The consensus is that the measures will be short-lived. The incoming administration will likely reverse it, and there is the likelihood they will impose even further restrictions. So, it is not a positive scenario.”
11. Screen, video call interview
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Pedro Freyre, Chair of Akerman LLP: ++Via Zoom++
“Cuban groupies and Cuban watchers are scratching their heads as to the whys and wherefores of this move now. If this had happened, for example, two years ago or if this had happened prior to the presidential campaign, it would have made sense – some kind of sense, but now it is a phyric victory, there is no substance in the vast perception for people who are Cuba watchers – there is no permanence to this.”
13. Man buying popcorn
14. City view
STORYLINE:
As President Biden moves to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, Cubans refrain from getting their hopes up.
Since the White House announcement on Tuesday, the Cuban government has responded with official written statements, while local media has informed the population.
The U.S. would also ease some economic pressure on Cuba, as well as a 2017 memorandum issued by then-President Donald Trump that toughened the U.S. posture toward Cuba.
On Wednesday, The Associated Press spoke to several people in the streets of Havana, the capital, who expressed skepticism about change and concern that the decision of the outgoing one-term Democrat might be reversed as early as next week after Trump, the Republican president-elect, takes office.
“It was a correct, positive measure; the unfortunate part is that it will be short-lived.” Said Radio sound engineer Juan Carlos Quintana.
However, for some individuals, such as Cubans with European passports, the measure would provide immediate benefits, including the ability to apply for visas to the United States.
Yeny Sanguesa has relatives who crossed the border into the United States during the mass migration two years ago. “I have French citizenship, so it would benefit me to go to the United States to see my relatives,” said Sanguesa.
Among the business community, the main concern is the life span of the measure.
Pedro Freyre is a lawyer and Chair of Florida-based Akerman LLP, whose clients have businesses or financial interests in Cuba.
AP Video shot by Ariel Fernández and Milexsy Durán
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