Letter by President Barack Obama
to Raul Castro
HAVANA, Cuba, July 1 – Up next, the
English language version of the letter sent by the President of the
United States, Barack Obama, to Army General Raul Castro, President
of the councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, as published by the
Prensa Latina news agency:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 30, 2015
His Excellency
Raul Castro Ruz
President of the Council of State
and the Council of Ministers
of the Republic of Cuba
Havana
Dear Mr. President,
I am pleased to confirm, following
high-level discussions between our two governments, and in
accordance with international law practice, that the United States
of America and the Republic of Cuba have decided to re-establish
diplomatic relations and permanent diplomatic missions in our
respective countries on July 20, 2015. This is an important step
forward in the process of normalizing between our two countries and
peoples that we initiated last December.
In making this decision, the Unites
States is encouraged by the reciprocal intention to develop
respectful and cooperative relations between our two peoples and
governments consistent with the Purposes and Principles enshrined in
the Charter of the United Nations, including those related to
sovereign equality of States, settlement of international disputes
by peaceful means, respect for the territorial integrity and
political independence of States, respect for equal rights and
self-determinations of peoples, non-interference in the internal
affairs of States, and promotion and encouragement of respect for
human tights and fundamental freedoms for all.
The United States and Cuba are each
parties to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, signed at
Vienna on April 18, 1961, and the Vienna Convention on Consular
Relations, signed at Vienna On April 24, 1963. I am pleased to
confirm the understanding of the United States that these agreements
will apply to diplomatic and consular relations between our two
countries.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
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