US Diplomatic Personnel to Face Travel Restrictions in Cuba - Senator

Majority of US diplomatic personnel stationed in the new embassy in Havana will be restricted in their freedom of movement, despite the formal restoration of US-Cuba diplomatic relations, US Senator Bob Menendez’s spokesperson told Sputnik on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States and Cuba formally reestablished diplomatic ties on Monday with the opening of embassies in Havana and Washington, DC.

The US State Department has stated that normalizing relations would allow for greater freedom of movement for US diplomatic personnel serving on the island.

“Only four US officials will get unrestricted movement in Cuba. The rest will have to submit prior written notification to the Cuban regime, outlining where they'll be going. That is not considered unrestricted travel.”

In a Monday press release, Senator Menendez criticized US President Barack Obama for conceding to a “one-sided deal” with the Cuban government that “wasn’t able to guarantee full staffing and freedom of movement for all diplomats.”

The senator added that the Raul Castro government has refused to make “any substantial changes” to upholding democratic principles and human rights, since the Obama administration announced the normalization of relations in December 2014.

Following the embassies reopening, US Secretary of State John Kerry encouraged resuming travel and commercial relations between the United States and Cuba.

Kerry will make a historic trip to Cuba on August 14 for a ceremony to open the US embassy in Havana after more than 50 years of restricted trade, travel, and diplomatic exchanges.