NEWS: Cuba And Panama Restore Diplomatic Relations

Cuba and Panama have restored diplomatic relations after they were severed last year. The diplomatic standoff occured last year when the outgoing Panamanian President, Mireya Elisa Moscoso, pardoned 4 men that were imprisoned for trying to assassinate Cuban President Castro. Diplomatic relations were restored by a signing ceremony in Havana attended by Castro and the current Panamanian President Torrijos.



Chalk up a another win for diplomacy I find it incredibly heartening when differences between countries can be solved without bloodshed and through purely peaceful means.

Both the Panamanians and Cubans should be proud at how their two countries have behaved in such a tense situation. The releasing of assassins that have tried to murder a head of state would ruffle any countries feathers. It would be akin to Pakistan releasing Osama Bin Laden if they caught him amnd jailed him. It is just not the right thing to do.

[edit on 21/8/05 by subz]

The signing ceremony in Havana today

Luis Posada Carriles — branded by Havana as the hemisphere's top terrorist — as well as Gaspar Jimenez, Guillermo Novo and Pedro Remon, were found innocent of plotting to kill the Cuban president, but were sentenced to terms of seven to eight years in Panamanian prisons on lesser charges. They were allowed to go free on Moscoso's orders.

Cuba, Panama Restore Diplomatic Ties

Well it seems they werent convicted of attempting to assassinate Castro, but the ex-President would have to be insane if she thought that the Cubans would accept their release.

Posada, who is also suspected to of blown up a civilian airliner in 1976 killing 73 people and hotel bombings in Cuba in 1997 is being held in Texas for illegally entering the United States. Venezuela is seeking Posada's extradition.

[edit on 21/8/05 by subz]