The Dominican Republic’s decision to expel 10 Cuban diplomats and their family members prompted a reaction from Havana. Cuba’s Foreign Ministry rejected the decision, arguing that there was no justification for the move.
The ministry said the diplomats had acted in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the laws of the Dominican Republic.
Cuba links the decision to U.S. pressure
Cuba’s Foreign Ministry alleged that the Dominican Republic’s government made the expulsion decision after yielding to pressure from the U.S. government. Havana argued that Washington aimed to isolate Cuba and damage its diplomatic relations with countries in the region.
The ministry also cited the Dominican Republic’s exclusion of Cuba from the postponed 10th Summit of the Americas and its change of vote on a draft resolution opposing the U.S. embargo on Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly as examples of this alignment.
Move could damage relations between the two governments
Cuba said the expulsion of the diplomats would significantly damage relations between the two governments. The ministry said, however, that the decision could not weaken the longstanding ties between the peoples of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.