Havana – Cuba accused former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson of “blackmail” and slander on Wednesday, categorically denying his claims that he was invited to the island to negotiate the release of a jailed American government subcontractor.
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In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, the Foreign Ministry’s head of North American affairs, Josefina Vidal, said Cuba refused Richardson’s request to even see imprisoned Maryland-native Alan Gross after the American politician described him as a “hostage,” in an interview with AP.
“His request to see the prisoner … became impossible due to his slanderous statements to the press in which he described Gross as a ‘hostage’ of the Cuban government,” Vidal said.
She said Richardson undertook the trip on his own initiative and was never led to believe he would leave the island with Gross.
“The release of the North American prisoner Alan Gross was never on the table,” she said, adding that Cuba was caught by surprise when word of Richardson’s visit was leaked amid news reports that he was coming to take Gross home.
Richardson is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations with a long history of negotiating the release of prisoners around the world. He also had enjoyed a particularly warm relationship with Cuba’s leaders until this trip.
He said Tuesday that he was treated so poorly that he doubted he could ever return to the island as a friend.
The feeling appears to be mutual.
Vidal said Richardson’s behavior amounted to a crude attempt to box the Cuban government into a corner.
“We explained to Mr. Richardson that Cuba is a sovereign country which does not accept blackmail, pressure or posturing,” she said.
She also took exception to statements by Richardson and others that described Gross as seriously ill, saying his health is “normal, in accordance with his age and chronic ailments.”
She said he received close medical attention, as well as regular consular visits.
Richardson told it like it is. This man is a hostage of the Cuban government and I’d rather Richardson tell it like is and expose these filthy animals for what they are, even if it means this poor man has to spend more time in prison. We should NEVER deny what he and that is a hostage in the hands of a brutal dictator.
I can only hope that someone in this country finally wakes up to realize that Castro (either of them) is no different than Qaddafi. They are brutal people without a shred of humanity. They cause untold suffering to their people. We (conveniently) already have a base in Cuba… it wouldn’t be THAT hard to topple the regime. What would they fight back with? Spoons?
It is high time for the Castros to go join the Qaddafi family… on the run!
Cuba accusing Richardson of blackmail and slander is hilarious.
The fact remains, such a harsh sentence of 15 years for such a victimless crime.
No wonder that stupid little Island is still using cars from the 1950’s.
is that coffee spilled on his shirt??