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POPE FRANCIS LED a chorus of global plaudits for Wednesday’s breakthrough in US-Cuban relations, hailed as “historic” in Europe and South America and prompting celebrations on the streets of Havana.
In a personal coup for the pope, it emerged that the Vatican had played a central role in bringing together the global capitalist superpower and the tiny communist island.
Congratulations
The Argentinian pontiff sent “warm congratulations” to the former arch-foes for overcoming “the difficulties which have marked their recent history”.
The Vatican said the pope had appealed to US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro to end the standoff, offering negotiators his offices in October, paving the way for “solutions acceptable to both parties”.
Hillary Clinton, the former US secretary of state now seen as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election, endorsed Obama’s move.
“Despite good intentions, our decades-long policy of isolation has only strengthened the Castro regime’s grip on power. As I have said, the best way to bring change to Cuba is to expose its people to the values, information, and material comforts of the outside world,” Clinton said in a statement.
“The goal of increased US engagement in the days and years ahead should be to encourage real and lasting reforms for the Cuban people. And the other nations of the Americas should join us in this effort,” Clinton added.
Long overdue
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted that his country — which never broke off ties with Cuba — had also played its part by hosting the first secret talks in 2013, and welcomed the “overdue development”.
The European Union, which is itself moving to normalise ties with Cuba, hailed the announcement as a “historical turning point.”
“Today another Wall has started to fall,” said EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini, adding that the 28-member bloc hoped ultimately to be able to “expand relations with all parts of Cuban society”.
In South America, the detente elicited a euphoric response from leaders of the five-nation Mercosur bloc meeting in Argentina, who broke into applause at the news.
Best birthday present
“We’re living a historic day,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, leader of Cuba’s closest ally and one of its biggest benefactors, at the Argentina summit.
Maduro, whose forerunner Hugo Chavez was a close confidant of Fidel Castro, immediately claimed the thaw as “a moral victory” and “a victory for Fidel”.
Praising Pope Francis, who turned 78 yesterday, Maduro noted:
It was with his help, and it’s the best birthday present.
In Bogota, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos saluted “the audacity and courage” of the US and Cuban leaders in helping further “the dream of a continent where there will be absolute peace between nations and within them.”
And Chile’s Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz spoke for those in Latin America who were frustrated by the diplomatic divide, declaring:
This is the beginning of the end of the Cold War in the Americas.
In Europe, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said the move was “of great significance” and seized the opportunity to urge Cuba to improve its rights record.
“This future can only be built on the basis of respect for democracy and human rights,” he told reporters in Madrid.
German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the breakthrough “very good news in these times rich with conflict”.
Celebrations, anger
In Havana’s historic centre, overjoyed Cubans took to the streets to celebrate the news, voicing hopes that the breakthrough would lead to an economic revival.
“I have goosebumps all over,” said 52-year-old cafeteria worker Ernesto Perez. “It’s very important news that will change all our lives.”
But among Cubans in Miami’s Little Havana, the reaction was one of anger and dismay.
Dozens of people gathered outside Cafe Versailles, a Little Havana landmark, to protest the rapprochement.
“It is a betrayal. The talks are only going to benefit Cuba,” said Carlos Munoz Fontanil in Calle Ocho, the heart of an exile community that has long pined for the fall of the Castro regime in Havana.
Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Washington took a similar view and warned Congress would block efforts to lift the trade embargo.
“The White House has conceded everything and gained little,” said Republican Senator Marco Rubio, blasting the deal as “inexplicable”.
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Isn’t Ireland generally used to launder cash on an national scale through the IFSC?
@Pete Gilmartin: Do you have evidence of this? I don’t remember seeing anything about money laundering activities particular to Irish financial institutions.
@Pete Gilmartin: shut it down
@Tom Purcell: Are you really that gullible. https://www.businesspost.ie/financial-services/comment-ireland-is-being-used-to-launder-the-worlds-dirty-money-and-must-take-action-ba90a064
@The Bolt: Firstly I don’t use ad hominems to open a point. secondly – I’m not gullible, and the fact that I asked should show that. I am tired of wild unsubstantiated statements here. Also did you actually read the article – it is mainly about 1 person supposidly laundering money, a couple of cases where CAB frooze assests and an international report commenting on Ireland’s ability to deal with issues.
THere is no evidence in the newspaper report of Ireland laundering on a “national”scale..
@Tom Purcell: He is right, check out fintan o’tooles article in the Irish times..https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-putin-and-the-oligarchs-have-found-a-home-for-their-money-in-dublin-1.4808328?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fopinion%2Ffintan-o-toole-putin-and-the-oligarchs-have-found-a-home-for-their-money-in-dublin-1.4808328
We may have to suffer indeed, but I’m standing with Ukraine on this. It’s absolutely wrong of Russia to do this to a sovereign country. Who’s next on their list to invade???
@Brian Kelly: Wonder were the Irish financial institutions as diligent when the U.S. and their allies invaded Iraq and Afghanistan…WMD was the excuse that time..
@Donal Desmond: and if the irish government can sanction Israeli banks and investments and trade for their occupation of Palestine? and if the irish can sanction the UK for their occupation of Northern Ireland and will the irish government sanction France for their occupation of Mali.?
@Stephen Murphy: Agree 100%, but that does not suit their narrative.
@Stephen Murphy: Your response is a perfect example of the hypocrisy of all this. Not sure if you intended that though.
Thought we were a neutral country, doesn’t that mean we don’t take sides
@John O Mahony: nice stance
@John O Mahony: No, it doesn’t.
@John O Mahony: we are militarily neutral but we support international law which Russia has breached. We also are part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU.
@Ciaran O’Mara: Does this new found support for international law extend to stopping the theft of Afghanistans reserves, stopping the UK stealing Venezuelas gold reserves? Should we say something about the occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine/ Golan? Maybe issue a statement about the US troops currently stealing oil in Syria? Maybe call for the torture camp in occupied Guantanamo to be closed? Lobby for reparations to Libya/Iraq/Afg victims of the illegal NATO invasions?
Yes, we should stand up for Ukranian independence, but not at the expense of the safety of it minority population. If we dont stand up for the rule of law for poor countries, then ‘International law’ is just another weapon for Western Corporations/ Colonialism
Don’t see them sanctioning isreal when it invades palestinian land on a regular basis
@John O Mahony: Careful now, or you’ll be called a Commi or Putin Bot on this forum.
@John O Mahony: typical CommiBot
@Fr. Fintan Stack: Only if you deserve it, so many Putin apologists out there…
@Charles Coughlan: I’ve no problem condemning Putin and his dictatorship but it seem that anyone who even mentions double standards or the atrocities carried out by the west in the Miiddle East or elsewhere is a “Putin Bot” or a “commi”. McCarthyism alive and well in the Journal comments section.
BREAKING: Ireland to confirm sanctions against Russia later today, says Paschal Donohoe.
‘If Mr Putin wants to be without Taytos for St Patrick’s Day, he’s going the right way about it!’ Minister warns. Would of been a better end paragraph to the article.
@Jonny kerr: lmAO
I’d say a very high level of money going through the IFSC.
Russian oligarchs have containers of money stashed here in Irish banks.
@John Johnes: Source? Evidence? And if they have then when sanctions kick in they will not be able to get at it. Rather here than Panama.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: i am 100% sure that you never in your life heard about the things ill tell you now – read about Khodorkovsky the owner of Yukos currently Rosneft, after Putin privatised it.
Read about where he held his assets and money and where exactly did he withdrawn his money from after his 12 years of imprisonment. Russian oligarchs are laundering money around the whole europe – from Ireland to Bulgaria and all the banks are happily doing it.
Also read about ” troika laundromat” if you are interested.
Time to reconsider mini Nuclear Power stations, we need to be far more independent regarding energy supplies, saying that I was one of the attendees at the Carnsore Point anti nuclear festival in 1978 but safety has improved many times since then, once BAM don’t get the contract we should be ok…
No. 4 Ireland
It would appear odd that Ireland is the fourth-largest holder of U.S. debt, particularly when comparing its economy to other European nations, such as Germany. However, a big factor in Ireland’s place is the fact that many U.S. multinational companies, such as Alphabet/Google, set up shop there for more favorable taxes on foreign returns
I guess the man is trembling of fear… Scary ireland trying to be relevant…
@Peter Willekens: relative enough for Russia to have a Ambassador here.
@DERRY1973: ulterior motives to have embassy here
@Peter Willekens: Well they have to say something, what would you prefer, that they just meekly stay quiet because they don’t think Ireland is strong enough? Besides, it’ll add to the multitude of countries saying the same thing.
Thought Russia was our friend.
@Jonathan: our friend until Putin decides he wants to protect Russia citizens living in Ireland then he’ll invade Dublin South
@Jonathan: frankly don’t want them as a “friend” and never viewed them as such
The Russian ambassador must be shaking in his boots meeting Coveney
@Noel Donohue: he might when he has finished rolling around the floor laughing
Russian ambassador. Eh.. Israel?
A brown envelope for everybody in the audience…
Formally remove the Russian ambassador from Ireland
No point meetin him. He just lies constantly. Send the phuker home, no need for him to be here. Few weeks ago he was callin us all paranoid weirdos for thinkin russia would invade Ukraine. Send him off there good lad safe home.
Go back to 1939 and wonder would sanctions have stopped Hitler
@trebloc01: No…,but it was Hitler who invaded Russia, now that didn’t work out to well for him.
@trebloc01: Different world then.
Can you imagine the absolute fear that the poor Russian Ambassador must be feeling at being summoned by err, emm, Simon Coveney.
@Gerry from the Block: You’d never know. After all, remember the last time he had to deal with the Irish Government…..They set a fleet of West Cork Fishermen on them…. They were not long backing off then!
@Gerry from the Block: he should treat Coveney with the disdain and disrespect he’s shown everyone else. arrange the meeting then just don’t show up.
118 billion? Nice little country it is..
Maybe Coveney wants him to bring some Top Russian Vodka for the next Foreign Affairs party
im learning Russian as you read this…
Russia shaking in its boots after Coveney pointing the magic finger….. The laughter is deafening, thank god we are neutral..
@Peter Willekens: He will feel like he has just been savaged by a dead sheep.
This situation will get worse before it gets better
Paper tiger stuff, the Russians couldn’t care less. Mealy mouthed whinings from our beloved politicians all day today. Some of them are blaming the US for this escalation. God help Ukraine, because the EU and NATO/US have backed away from confrontation.
i would say he is pissing Himself !!
@Larry Rawson:
Should be pissing on his embassy, the soviet s c u m
The most amount of work the ambassador has had to do for 30years
Simon speaking about Russian military, he can’t even manage our own defence forces. Its a case of simple Simon says, and everybody laughs
Is the trans Atlantic cable safe I wonder??
The Russian ambassador should be kricked out of Ireland and every country in Europe and afar.
Paper tiger stuff, the Russians couldn’t care less. Mealy mouthed whinings from our beloved politicians all day today. Some of them are blaming the US for this escalation. God help Ukraine, because the EU and NATO/US have backed away from confrontation.
I hope they ask him about saying that the idea of a Russian invasion was “insane” though I’m sure he’ll just say that it’s not an invasion…
This will get worse before it gets better
The Bolsheviks are shaking in their booths
So they are saying they already know 119 billion in dirty money from one country alone is being laundered here but only now are deciding to look into it? Not even do anything just to look into it?
have your say