Georgia welcomes efforts to restore US-Cuba diplomatic relations

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry is welcoming a joint decision of the United States (US) and Cuba to restore diplomatic relations and to open Embassies in the capital cities of both countries.

The two nations have not had diplomatic relations for more than 50 years, when the US broke of diplomatic relations in 1960 when all US businesses in Cuba were nationalised without compensation. At the time the US also imposed a trade embargo in response to former Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro’s reforms.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the "momentous decision” to reinstate diplomatic relations would not only lead to the deepening of relations between the US and Cuba but would also have a positive impact both regional and global stability and prosperity.

"Georgia attaches paramount importance to all efforts to resolve long-standing disputes through constructive and result-oriented negotiations, with respect for international law and universally recognised principles, and with due regard for the sovereignty and national interests of countries,” said the Ministry in a statement.

In addition, the Ministry noted the Georgian Government had made a decision to set up an Embassy in the Cuban capital Havana by the end of the year.

The US and Cuba have had challenging relations for many decades but the situation appeared to lift in December 2014 when US President Barack Obama announced Washington’s "outdated” approach towards Cuba needed to be changed.

At the time Cuban President Raul Castro said in a TV address that he welcomed the relationship shift and noted the changes were something Cuba had been pressing for a long time.