El Salvador Poised To Rebuild Ties With Cuba

During his presidential bid, Mauricio Funes, of the FMLN political party promised to rebuild diplomatic ties with Cuba's government. Back in the 1970's the FMLN was only a revolutionary Marxist organization of guerrilla fighters whom at one point had ties with Fidel Castro. The right-wing Salvadoran government, however, refused to acknowledge Castro's government when he took power in 1959.

But the long silence between the two countries is coming to an end. The Spanish news agency, EFE reported today that President elect Mauricio Funes will begin taking steps to bridge the relationship with Cuba as soon as next Monday. The EFE also reported that in the future, Funes may also begin reaching out to socialist China as long as it doesn't threaten El Salvador's current relationship with Taiwan.

The news agency interviewed Salvadoran legislator, Hugo Martinez who is likely to take over the top post at El Salvador's external affair's office. "One of [Funes'] firsts things to do will be to re-establish diplomatic ties with Cuba because we are depriving Salvadorean and Cuban citizens from exchanging commerce, education, health, and culture," Martinez said.

Renewing diplomatic ties with Cuba will be a definite change of direction for a country that has traditionally been staunchly conservative, but to critics that was to be expected. Even in the campaign trail Funes often likened himself after U.S. President Barack Obama using the word "change" as his own motto. And like Obama, Funes' victory in March was also historic for the country's middle and working classes because for the first time they were able to put in office a candidate whose background challenged the usual status quo.

Funes' move to bring El Salvador closer to Cuba will put the country in the list of other Latin-American nations like Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Ecuador which have welcomed the Caribbean Island with open arms. But the U.S. may also be heading the same direction.

At the Summit of the Americas last April, Obama expressed his goodwill towards Cuba shortly after announcing his proposal to ease travel restrictions to that country. "The United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba," Obama said. "I know there is a longer journey that must be traveled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day."

Article by Dolores M. Bernal, acejournalist@gmail.com