HAVANA.— On January 9, Cuba and the United States signed an agreement regarding response to oil spills and other potentially hazardous substances, and prevention efforts. This bilateral legal instrument which covers the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits, will aid response efforts aimed at reducing to a minimum potential damage to marine and costal ecosystems and the health and wellbeing of the public, caused by oil spills.
Jeffrey DeLaurentis, chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, stated that the document represents another step forward in joint efforts to protect the marine environment of the Florida Straits and Gulf of Mexico.
Establishing a joint framework which includes diplomatic, technical, and legal elements in order to prepare for and respond to oil spills which occur at sea, is very important for neighbors located 90 miles from one another, noted DeLaurentis.
According to the U.S. official this agreement contributes to strengthening relations and ensuring that costal areas, marine environments, and communities which depend of maritime trade, are better protected for future generations.
A sentiment shared by Deputy Minister of Development at the Cuban Ministry of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez, who noted that the signing of the agreement was important for both countries, in their efforts to protect marine and costal environments into the future.
He highlighted that the accord will lead to the development of a Coordination Plan featuring prevention, preparation, and response actions to be implemented in the case of an oil-spill or other potentially hazardous event in the area.
The signing represents a positive step forward and contribution to the process of improving relations between the two countries, according to information provided by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, which also noted that the persistence of the U.S. blockade of the country continues to be the greatest obstacle to security efforts undertaken outside of Cuba’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Gulf and negatively impacts both countries’ ability to effectively respond to oil-spills in the area.
Cuba has signed bilateral or multilateral agreements with other States located in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region.
