As Cuba Remains on State Sponsor of Terrorism List, Ros-Lehtinen Concerned That Report Underestimates Threat For Political Reasons

Statement

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement on the release of the State Department's 2012 Country Reports on Terrorism. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"The release of the State Department 2012 Country Reports on Terrorism continues to rightfully designate Cuba on the State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) list. The report reaffirms that the Cuban dictatorship provides safe haven to foreign terrorist organizations such as the FARC and ETA and harbors fugitives wanted in the United States, one of them being Joanne Chesimard who is wanted for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper.

"While the report reminds us that the Cuban regime supports acts of international terrorism, I am disappointed that the report failed to mention the unjustly detainment of U.S. citizen Alan Gross, the fact that Cuba collaborates with other SST regimes such as Iran and Syria, and operates an extensive spy network that poses a significant threat to our national security. The Administration should immediately stop giving concessions to the regime and deny U.S. visas to their operatives who will never respond to diplomatic niceties. The Castro brothers will always take any step to undermine U.S. interests, harm U.S. citizens, and support our enemies."

Note: Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of Congressional Members (Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Albio Sires) sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry explaining the reasons why Cuba should remain on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

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