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Ignacio Ramonet sends open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden

Journalist Ignacio Ramonet has sent an open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, arguing that he should exclude Cuba from the list of States sponsoring terrorism.

6 September, 2024 - 12:24pm

In the text, Ignacio Ramonet highlights that given Biden’s presidential term is about to end, he could repair “a profound injustice committed on January 12, 2021 by his predecessor, Donald Trump, when, a few weeks before leaving the White House, he decided — without real legal basis — to re-inscribe Cuba on the infamous list of States sponsoring terrorism.”

Below is the full text of the open letter to Biden.  

Havana-based Casa de las Americas has written an introductory paragragh, inviting others to sign-on to the letter.

Our dear friend Ignacio Ramonet sent us this open letter to the President of the United States.  Casa de las Américas supports this noble initiative and invites writers, artists, cultural promoters, academics, activists and social fighters, members of non-governmental organizations and people sensitive to the daily suffering of the Cuban people to support it with their signature.

To join, please do so by email: casadelasamericas2024@gmail.com

A huge embrace from Havana.

OPEN LETTER FROM IGNACIO RAMONET TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

“Take Cuba off the list of sponsors of terrorism!”

Professor. Writer. Journalist

President of the United States of America

Mr. President Joe Biden,

Your presidential term ends in a few months. I would like to write to you, with all due respect, on behalf of a significant number of people, social movements, unions, humanitarian associations and non-governmental organizations throughout the world who are signing this letter with me and who are expecting a gesture from you to repair a profound injustice committed on January 12, 2021 by your predecessor, Donald Trump, when, a few weeks before leaving the White House, he decided — without any real legal basis — to re-inscribe Cuba on the infamous list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT list).

Mr. President, as you know, the SSOT list is a foreign policy mechanism designed by the United States Department of State to sanction those countries that “repeatedly support acts of international terrorism.”

Mr. President, in an act of justice and political lucidity, the Administration of President Barack Obama, of which you were a part, had removed Cuba from that dishonorable list in 2015.  This represented a very positive step towards forging, at last, a more constructive relationship with Havana.  During the Government of Barack Obama, when you were Vice-President of the United States, it was indeed possible to move towards a normalization of diplomatic relations between two neighbors with different political systems. but willing to understand each other based on mutual respect.

Mr. President, you are not unaware that Cuba has always denounced and fought terrorism. It has never encouraged or sponsored it.  It has never practiced it.  For 65 years, despite the tensions that may have existed between the United States and Cuba, not a single case of violent action occurring on U.S. soil that was sponsored, directly or indirectly, by Havana can be cited.  Not a single case!  On the other hand, Cuba has been one of the countries most attacked by terrorist organizations.  More than 3,500 Cuban citizens have died in attacks committed by terrorist groups financed, armed and trained by violent organizations based, for the most part, in the United States.  In other words, it is the world upside down.  And you know........

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