The Cuban Ambassador to the United States, José R. Cabañas, visited Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, on October 22-23, 2019 following an invitation extended by the President of the Brigham Young University, Mr. Kevin J. Worthen, to attend an Ambassadorial Program hosted by this academic institution. The Ambassador was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Edlia González, and by Third Secretary Yanet Pumariega.
While in Salt Lake City, the Ambassador was received by the Governor of the State of Utah, Gary R. Herbert, in a respectful ambiance where they discussed about the potentialities for business relations and educational exchanges between Cuba and Utah.
In May 2017, Cuba welcomed a trade mission conducted by the World Trade Center Utah and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, which included local businesses and civic leaders in an effort to establish a relation with their Cuban counterparts that could potentially benefit the Beehive State and Cuba economically in the long-term future. During the recent visit, the diplomats shared with representatives of these trade organizations and the Utah Governor´s office of Economic Development, who noted the obstacles posed by the U.S. Blockade against Cuba that prevents some Utah businesses from seizing key opportunities in tourism, infrastructure development and export, in a two-way trade relation.
At the Brigham Young University, the Ambassador engaged in an interesting exchange with the students during his lecture about the history of the relations between Cuba and United States.
Ambassador Cabañas also had a very fruitful meeting with the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who valued the positive steps adopted in Cuba, endorsed in the Constitution of the Republic and the laws, for the improvement of the exercise of religious freedom in the country. This religious authority coincided with the view that the current U.S. policy affects the Cuban people and conveyed their willingness to strengthen relations with the Cuban faith-community, based on the observance of the laws and sovereignty.
The visit has shown that in Utah, as in many other U.S. states, many people recognize that there is a common ground for bilateral cooperation, in a civilized and respectful relationship.