ABC [Spain]
June 8, 2009

Cuba complains because many Cubans want to become Spanish
The regime is upset at the image
of many Cubans claiming [Spanish] nationality

By Luis Ayllon
A CubaNews translation by Giselle Gil.
Edited by Walter Lippmann.

The Cuban regime is not happy with the situation created in the country, after the law Historic Memory was approved. This law allows grandchildren of Spanish nationals to claim Spanish nationality. The great number of people applying at the [Spanish] consulate upsets Castro authorities. Reliable sources informed ABC that the [Cuban] authorities have said so to Spanish executives.

The formal complaint is that the great number of files being studied has also increased the work load of official Cuban offices like the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Register office, because Cubans have to go to these offices to obtain or notarize documents. One of these documents the legal entry of their parents or grandparents to Cuba.

A bad image

Nevertheless, besides these bureaucratic motives, Cuban authorities are not pleased because Cuban citizens lining up in front of Spanish consulates waiting for a document that many want to leave the country because of the lack of political and economic perspectives, does not put their the image in a good light. Cubans who have the possibility of becoming Spanish citizens have turned on their know. capacity for “solving” problems to get the documents they need.

Every day around 325 people are received at the Spanish consulate. It is estimated that more than 150,000 applications will be received before the end of 2010.

One of the facts that upset the regime was the attention the media gave to the first Cuban who received a Spanish passport thanks to the popularly known “law of grandchildren”. This law allows emigrant grandchildren to request the Spanish nationality even though their parents were not born in Spain or had been forced to renounce their nationality after being exiled during the Franco regime.

«¡Viva España!»

This first Cuban was cardiologist Norberto Luis Diaz grandson of a native of the Canary Islands whose parents had been born in Cuba. When he received the documents that recognized him as Spanish he yelled “¡Viva España!” (Long live Spain) and said he was planning to travel to Spain soon, where he had received a job offer.

Those who receive Spanish nationality can also retain their Cuban nationality if they so desire, because this is allowed by Spanish law. For Cuba, in any case, these people are still considered Cubans, even though they possess a Spanish passport which gives them a freedom of movement Cubans do not have. It also allows them to leave the island in search of more freedom or a better standard of living.

Some sources assured this newspaper that because the authorities are upset at what is happening they have sometimes made veiled threats of suspending aid or favors to those who apply for the Spanish nationality. They also said that Cuban Communist Party members have been forbidden to apply.

The period to submit applications was opened on December 29 last year and the file processing is moving along as expected. After overcoming some difficulties in January and February the Consulate in Havana, which is the one that receives the most applications, receives 325 persons every day and in May only 2,800 applications were solved favorably.

Around 35,000 applications have been received and it is estimated that in the two-year period stipulated by law, until December 27, 2010 the Consulate will receive more than 150,000 applications. This number can grow up to 200,000 in the extension year that the law also stipulates.

To respond to this demand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a great effort providing the Consulate with the needed human and material resources. Some 35 people are dedicated exclusively to managing the applications. Also, to comply with the complaints received from Cuba, they have offered the authorities to help with the extra workload that this process has created for Cuban officials.

Cuba is one of the countries where more applications are expected because, since they achieved their independence in 1898, and until 1930, almost one million Spaniards settled on the island. The number of exiles after the Spanish Civil War who chose Cuba as destination, on the contrary, was small compared to Mexico or France. 

The larger number of applications received are coming from Argentina and Uruguay, in addition to  Cuba.

                                                                 
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Castroite Ambassador in Madrid
will be replaced after the summer

By Luis Ayllón A CubaNews translation by Giselle Gil.
Edited by Walter Lippmann.

MADRID

Alberto Velazco San Jose, Cuban Ambassador in Madrid will be relieved later this summer according to Europa Press quoting diplomatic sources. It seems that the Havana regime has asked the Spanish government for a placement for the new ambassador, although his name is not yet known.

The replacement of Velazco San Jose who has already been five years in this post, will come months after the removal of Vice president Carlos Lage and Foreign Relations Minister Felipe Perez Roque.

A few days ago Velazquez was asked in Galicia about the removal of both officials. He told the journalist “You read too many newspapers, this is not good.”