After 50 years of estrangement, Cuba and America are finally discussing the nitty gritty of various legal claims for the first time in hopes to normalize relations.
According to the Washington Examiner, Cuban and American officials met on Tuesday in Havana for the discussions. The State Department on Monday stated, "These include claims of U.S. nationals that were certified by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, claims related to unsatisfied U.S. court judgments against Cuba and claims of the United States government."
The Wall Street Journal reported that one of the vital challenges in the process of normalizing relations is the financial claims. There are 5,913 US companies and individuals that have claims certified by US officials on properties that were confiscated by the Cuban government after the 1959 revolution. These claims were originally valued at $1.9 billion. Now, there are estimated to be valued up to $8 billion, including interest.
"The government of Cuba has also raised claims against the United States related to the embargo," according to the State Department. "The meeting is the first step in what we expect to be a long and complex process, but the United States views the resolution of outstanding claims as a top priority for normalization."
According to Cuba it has some $121 billion in counterclaims for damages due to the US economic embargo.
The Miami Herald wrote that the Cuban government also calls for human damages from the Bay of Pig Invasion, which killed 176 people and wounded 300 other. Another is the Bombing of the Cubana de Aviacion flight in 1976 that killed 73 passengers. Finally, the Cuban government calls for claims in human damages from the CIA incursions on the country.
The current estimates of accumulated damages that the Cuba has claims after 50 years of US hostility on the nation amounts up to $833.75 billion.
