US Seeks To End Cuba Consular Service Suspension

WASHINGTON, D.C. CMC – The United States says it is “actively” assisting the Cuban diplomatic mission here in finding a new bank willing to handle its accounts so it can resume issuing passports and visas to visitors to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country.

“We would like to see the Cuban missions return to full operations,” said the US Department of State in a statement, on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Cuban Interests Section in Washington said it was suspending immediately consular services because its bank, M&T Bank, no longer wished to provide financial services to foreign missions.

The Interests Section said it was informed by M&T Bank on July 12 of the impending decision.

The statement blamed the half century-old US economic and trade embargo against Cuba for not being able to find another bank.

“Due to the existing restrictions stemming from the policy of economic, commercial and financial blockade by the North American government against Cuba, it has been impossible for the Interests Section to find until now a US bank or any other bank based in the United States willing to take over the bank accounts of Cuban diplomatic missions,” the statement said.

“The Interests Section regrets the impact this situation will cause to Cuban and North American citizens, given the inability of the consular section to continue issuing passports, visas and document processing,” it added.

Meanwhile, the US Interest Section in Havana, Cuba, said the shutdown of consular operations in Washington “has no impact” on its operations.

“All visa appointments will take place as scheduled,” it said in a statement.