Cuba's envoy in Washington: channels with US open, but no formal negotiations
Cuba's chargé d'affaires in Washington told Reuters that Havana and Washington keep "channels of communication" but no formal talks. A US State Department spokesperson, in the version carried by the Jerusalem Post, said talks are ongoing.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Cuba and the United States have maintained "channels of communication" but are not engaged in any formal negotiations, Lianys Torres Rivera, chargé d'affaires at Cuba's embassy in Washington, told Reuters in an interview on Monday 5 October. The Straits TimesRC “Cuba and the United States have maintained “channels of communication” but are not currently engaged in any formal negotiations” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “In an interview on Monday, Lianys Torres Rivera, chargé d'affaires at the embassy in Washington” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Torres Rivera said recent contacts have included meetings, phone calls and WhatsApp messages, but that the two sides have made no progress toward a negotiating agenda or restarting official talks; they declined to give details on timing, topics or participants. The Straits TimesRC “The latest US-Cuba diplomatic contacts have involved meetings as well as phone calls and WhatsApp messages”“She declined to provide details on the timing, topics and participants.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 2Reuters noted this appears to fall short of President Donald Trump's claim at the United Nations last month that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was "deep into negotiations" with Havana; Trump also called Cuba a "failed state", predicted its government would fall, and the Cuban delegation walked out in protest. The Straits TimesRC “Trump’s assertion at the United Nations last month that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was “deep into negotiations” with Havana” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “The Cuban delegation walked out in protest.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 2A State Department spokesperson, quoted in the Jerusalem Post's version, called the Cuban account "propaganda", said "talks are ongoing" and said the Cuban government had been unwilling to agree to anything that would help the Cuban people. A US official reiterated that the US "will not allow a haven for foreign adversaries to threaten America on our own doorstep". The Straits Times version says the White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Jerusalem PostRC “talks are ongoing, and the regime has been unwilling thus far to agree to anything that would help the Cuban people”“we will not allow a haven for foreign adversaries to threaten America on our own doorstep” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Torres Rivera said Cuba remains open to "respectful" dialogue but is "not naïve" about Trump's threats and is increasing its preparations to defend itself against any US military action. Cuba's "red line" is that it will not negotiate changes to its political system, and it sees demands to remove its leadership as a violation of sovereignty. The Straits TimesRC “Cuba remains open to a “respectful” dialogue but is “not naïve” about President Donald Trump’s threats”“Cuba’s “red line” remains that Havana is unwilling to negotiate any changes in its political system” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Torres Rivera rejected US claims that Cuba threatens US national security or interferes in US domestic affairs, saying Washington uses them as a pretext for what they called "collective punishment". They said the embargo tightening last week, which further restricts travel by Americans and access to US banking for Cuba's private sector, contradicts US insistence that it wants Cuba to expand private enterprise. The Straits TimesRC “what she called “collective punishment.””“further restricting travel there by Americans and access to US banking for its private sector.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Right · 1Trump has said his goal is to fundamentally change Cuba's government, and a US-imposed oil blockade has caused fuel shortages and blackouts, worsened by failing infrastructure; UN human rights experts have condemned the blockade as a violation of international law. The Straits TimesRC “Trump has openly stated that his goal is to fundamentally change Cuba's government.”“UN human rights experts have condemned the oil blockade as a violation of international law.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said at the end of June that talks begun earlier this year had stalled, and in early September that none were under way or planned. In June Cuba unveiled free-market reforms; Washington says they do not go far enough and has called for "free and fair" elections. Trump predicted late last month that the two countries "will make a deal" and said "I don't think we'll need the military". The Straits TimesRC “in early September that no talks were under way or planned.”“But Washington says the reforms do not go far enough and has also called for "free and fair" elections.”““will make a deal,” adding, ”I don't think we'll need the military.”” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run Reuters copy on the Cuban envoy's interview, as a challenge to Trump's claim of negotiations. Because the text is the agency's, it shows little about the outlets' own slant. The Jerusalem Post's headline stresses 'Trump pressure mounts' and adds subheads and a US response.
- Emphasis
- The Jerusalem Post adds the State Department rebuttal and a US official's quote, under subheads on US-Cuba talks and tightened restrictions. The Straits Times version notes that US agencies did not respond.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Straits Times version lacks the State Department and US official responses that the Jerusalem Post version includes.
- Charged language
- “propaganda”“the Cuban regime”“collective punishment”
- For example
-
“It does not come to our surprise that the Cuban regime is circulating this propaganda.” — The Jerusalem Post
“Cuba says US contacts fall short of formal talks as Trump pressure mounts” — The Jerusalem Post
“The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Torres Rivera told Reuters on 5 October that Cuba and the US have 'channels of communication' but no formal negotiations.
- Contacts have included meetings, phone calls and WhatsApp messages, with no progress toward a negotiating agenda.
- Cuba says it will not negotiate changes to its political system.
- The Trump administration tightened the embargo last week, and a US oil blockade is straining Cuba.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether US-Cuba talks are under way
- Right
- Reuters copy in both outlets: Cuba's envoy says only channels of communication exist, not formal negotiations. The Jerusalem Post's version adds a State Department spokesperson saying 'talks are ongoing' and calling the Cuban account 'propaganda'; the Straits Times version says the White House and State Department did not immediately respond.
Cuba place
Through chargé d'affaires Lianys Torres Rivera, Cuba says it has communication channels but no formal talks, is open to respectful dialogue, will not negotiate its political system, and is boosting its defences.
““What we have with the US is channels of communication,” Torres Rivera said.” — The Straits Times
““And we are increasing our capabilities now more than ever before” — The Straits Times
Trump administration organisation
A State Department spokesperson says talks are ongoing and the Cuban side is unwilling to agree to anything helpful to its people. A US official says the US will not allow a haven for foreign adversaries nearby. The White House did not immediately comment in the Straits Times version.
“talks are ongoing, and the regime has been unwilling thus far to agree to anything” — The Jerusalem Post
“we will not allow a haven for foreign adversaries to threaten America on our own doorstep” — The Jerusalem Post
Donald Trump person
Trump said at the UN that Rubio was 'deep into negotiations' with Havana, predicted the US and Cuba 'will make a deal' and said he does not think the military will be needed. He has said he wants to change Cuba's government.
“Trump predicted late last month that the US and Cuba “will make a deal,”” — The Straits Times
“Trump has openly stated that his goal is to fundamentally change Cuba's government.” — The Straits Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Cuba and US maintain 'channels of communication' but no negotiations, diplomat says
Neutral Reuters wire copy run by the Straits Times, leading with the Cuban envoy's account and noting US agencies did not respond.
-
Cuba says US contacts fall short of formal talks as Trump pressure mounts
Neutral Reuters wire copy run by the Jerusalem Post, with added subheads and a State Department rebuttal calling the Cuban account propaganda.
- 5 Oct 21:13 First The Straits TimesRC Cuba and US maintain 'channels of communication' but no negotiations, diplomat says via Reuters
- 6 Oct 03:56 +6h 42m The Jerusalem PostRC Cuba says US contacts fall short of formal talks as Trump pressure mounts
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.