CUBA: “Human Chain” Surrounds Spanish Embassy

By Dalia Acosta Reprint | | Print |

Dalia Acosta

HAVANA, Nov 27 1996 (IPS) - Spain’s embassy in the Cuban capital awoke surrounded by a “human chain” Wednesday preventing vehicles and passersby from approaching the building.

On Tuesday, thousands of construction workers were persuaded to stop any mass attempts to storm the embassy by asylum seekers.

“Leaving the country,” was the first idea that sprang to mind for one 27 year-old, when he heard rumours the Spanish embassy would open its doors to anyone wishing to emigrate.

Groups started to form in the parks around the diplomatic headquarters at midday Tuesday, awaiting the signal for a mass attack.

However, late in the afternoon, sources within the embassy said the situation was normal and no one had made an illegal entry, although the word on the street claimed they had.

This Wednesday, on request from the Spanish embassy, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry stated the European country was not disposed to grant “accelerated or extraordinary” visas.

According to the press release issued by the National Information Agency, the Spanish consulate in Cuba is continuing with its normal services for the public.

This incident was the first direct consequence of the new diplomatic crisis between the Cuban and Spanish governments this week.

Relations between the two nations deteriorated Tuesday when Cuba’s Foreign Ministry withdrew its support for Spain’s ambassador in Havana, Jose Coderch Planas.

This measure, classed as “strong” and “unusual” by Cuba’s vice foreign minister, Isabel Allende, was made in reaction to Coderch’s declarations published on Oct. 30 in Madrid daily “ABC.”

But the truth goes beyond this, as the quarrel is also backed by Cuban President Fidel Castro’s disapproval of the Spanish head of government, Jose Maria Aznar’s, policy on Cuba.

Cuba’s government accused the Spanish diplomat of having a “meddling” attitude, said Spain’s policy on the island was absurd and added that the Spanish government was slowly becoming “the United States’ spearhead in the European Union.”

For months the Caribbean nation had been biting its tongue on Aznar’s policy, but the foreign ministry said its “patience had now come to an end.”

Allende said his government was interested in keeping up the normal links with Spain, only asking for them to “rethink their policy,” in line with the United Nations document and not to break the rules of the diplomatic game.

Marianela Ferreol, spokeswoman for the Cuban foreign ministry, said “a thaw in relations” with Spain was not expected, and that the island’s government was calling for “calm and confidence” from Spanish entrepreneurs with interests in the country.

Local observers added the root of the problem stemmed from Coderch’s declaration on his disposition to open the doors of the Spanish embassy to the Cuban opposition reported in the Communist Party daily “Granma.”

Cuban people who had no hope of getting an exit visa by legal means remembered the days in July 1990, when 18 people sought refuge in the Spanish embassy during the last diplomatic conflict between Havana and Madrid.

Faced with the new crisis, the Cuban government combined its accusations with expressions of its will to maintain and develop relations with Spain, one of the countries which trades with and invests most in the island.

Spain provides a full third of European exports to Cuba, and in 1995, the European Union accounted for 45 percent of its trade.