SICA: US Unilateral Measures Trigger Migration of Cubans

Hugo Martinez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, said SICA countries plus Cuba, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico stated that unilateral measures applied by the United States are the factor that triggers the emigration of Cubans. In statements to Prensa Latina, the foreign minister described as discriminatory with other migrants such measures (Cuban Adjustment Act, the wet-foot, dry-foot policy, and the Parole Program for Cuban Medical Professionals).

He stressed that the benefits of those regulations do not apply to migrants from Central America.

During the special meeting SICA+4, diplomats agreed yesterday that "under no circumstances there can be a double standard: an unrestricted ease of entry is applied to certain migrants, and others are restricted on the way Central American people do," Martinez said.

He stressed that this is a problem encouraged from a country of destination with particular measures to favor the emigration of Cubans.

"Any Central American migrant who touches U .S. territory and that is not going on a regular emigration, is usually deported to his/her home country," he stressed.

Participants in the meeting agreed that the Cubans stranded in Costa Rica are victims of unscrupulous groups engaged in smuggling people across the Central American territory, the Salvadoran minister said.

The Salvadoran diplomatic head explained that they also agreed to look for a temporary solution to the problem of the flow and accumulation of Cuban migrants in Costa Rican territory, but also a comprehensive solution.

During the meeting held at the Official Hall of the "Oscar Arnulfo Romero" International Airport, located about 45 kilometers south of this capital, the foreign ministers converged that the principle of self-determination of each of the countries should be respected, he said.

He described as positive the two meetings held yesterday, the first of SICA countries and later, these with the invited nations, to which Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, attended.

He reiterated that the participating nations are willing to contribute to a solution to the economic situation of about 3,000 Cuban migrants.