News

USIS Washington File

20 February 2000

Text: Expulsion of Cuban Diplomat

(Action taken following Miami arrest of INS official) (180)

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U.S.  DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

February 19, 2000

STATEMENT BY JAMES B. FOLEY, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Cuban Diplomat


The acting head of the Cuban Interests Section of the Embassy of
Switzerland told the State Department on February 19, 2000 that his
government will not voluntarily withdraw the diplomat linked by the
FBI to the recent arrest in Miami of INS official Mariano Faget.

In light of the Cuban government's refusal, we have informed the
Government of Cuba that this diplomat is now declared persona non
grata and is ordered to depart United States territory no later than
1:30 PM EST, Saturday, February 26, 2000.

Should this diplomat fail to depart the United States by that time, he
will no longer enjoy the privileges and immunities conferred by the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and become subject to the
laws of the United States.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)