Cuban Community in Dominican Republic Backs Diplomat Expulsion

The Cuban Association in the Dominican Republic has expressed its support for the Dominican government's decision to request the withdrawal of nine members of Cuba's diplomatic mission and their families. José Alberto Fernández Negrin, president of the association, stated that while the specific reasons for the measure are unknown, he has previously warned about potential political influence activities linked to the Cuban representation and other suspicious actions.

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We agree with the decision made by the Government of the Dominican Republic; I believe that, without yet knowing in depth what the motives might be that led to this measure, we understand as an association that it should have been done a long time ago.

"We agree with the decision made by the Government of the Dominican Republic; I believe that, without yet knowing in depth what the motives might be that led to this measure, we understand as an association that it should have been done a long time ago," Negrin said. He suggested that espionage is a plausible hypothesis for the expulsion, given the Cuban delegation's activities in the Dominican Republic, even without concrete proof.

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We have alerted on several occasions that the Embassy of Cuba, beyond being a diplomatic headquarters, has been used and is used, we understand that this is the case, to influence the country and possibly carry out subversive acts, espionage, in short, and one must be very careful with that.

The association has repeatedly alerted that the Cuban Embassy, beyond its diplomatic function, has been used for political influence and potentially "subversive acts, espionage." Negrin believes the Dominican authorities have sufficient grounds under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to justify their action. The organization also called for the closure of the Cuban Embassy in Santo Domingo, arguing that a representation of a "dictatorial and totalitarian government" is incompatible with the democratic principles of the Dominican Republic.

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We understand that a country where democracy is respected, as is the case in the Dominican Republic, should not coexist or allow a headquarters of a dictatorial and totalitarian government to exist in its territory.

The Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not disclosed the reasons for its decision but formally requested the departure of the nine Cuban mission members and their families within seven days, a deadline ending this weekend. The ministry stated it acted in accordance with international law and would handle the matter discreetly through established diplomatic channels. Negrin rejected Cuba's response, which attributed the Dominican measure to U.S. pressure, calling it an "act of subordination" to Washington's policy. He characterized such accusations as a common tactic by Cuban authorities when facing adverse diplomatic decisions.

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Blaming the United States is part of an argument habitually used by Cuban authorities when other countries adopt decisions adverse to their diplomatic interests.