U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Statement on U.S.-Cuba Agreement to Reinstate Embassies

U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Statement on U.S.-Cuba Agreement to Reinstate Embassies

NEW YORK, NY- Congressman Gregory Meeks released the following statement regarding the Administration’s announcement that the United States and Cuba have reached an agreement to reopen embassies in each other’s capital cities:

“I welcome the announcement by President Obama that after more than 50 years, the United States and Cuba have reached an agreement to reopen embassies in each other’s capital cities. This historic agreement signifies a great step in restoring our diplomatic relationship and I look forward to a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with Cuba. American policy towards Cuba for the past five decades has kept families apart and left us out of sync with our neighbors in the region. These policies have impeded investment and trade opportunities for U.S. businesses, especially agriculture, and stifled progress for both our nations. Throughout my years in Congress, I have visited Cuba on numerous occasions and worked to improve relations between our countries. I have witnessed first hand that engagement with our partners provides us with leverage to expand our influence and improve basic and fundamental rights, that as Americans we hold dear, such as human rights, labor rights, environmental protections, and better standards of living. With today's historic announcement, we can be reassured that these longstanding broken policies are changing.

“Thanks to the President's leadership on this issue and reliance on diplomacy and dialogue, hope can now return to millions of American and Cuban families struggling to reunify after five decades of separation.”