- Title: U.S. calls for calm in Cuba, concerned by images of violence
- Date: 13th July 2021
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2021) (STATE TV) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NED PRICE ARRIVING AT BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NED PRICE SAYING: "We remain deeply concerned by the Cuban government's call to - [quote] 'calls to combat' and the images of violence that we have seen over the past two days. We call for calm and we condemn any violence against those protesting peacefully. And we equally call on the Cuban government to release anyone detained for peaceful protest. Turning to Venezuela, the United States strongly condemns the unjust detention of 2015 National Assembly Representative Freddy Guevara and harassment of interim President Juan Guaido in Venezuela. These reprehensible acts are incompatible with efforts to create conditions for comprehensive negotiations between the Venezuelan opposition and the Nicolas Maduro regime to resolve Venezuela's crisis." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NED PRICE SAYING: "The safety of every Georgian journalist and the credibility of democracy in Georgia, in fact, require that every individual who attacked peaceful protesters and journalists on July 5th and 6th or those who incited violence, they must be identified. They should be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NED PRICE SAYING: "Right now, we are evaluating a number of requests. We are evaluating how best we can support the needs of the Haitian government at the moment. As I said, right now, much of that focus is on the ongoing investigation into the killing of President Moise. In addition to the inter-agency team, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) have been engaged on the ground as well to determine the investigative assets, investigative support that Haiti means. REPORTER: "So, does that mean the answer is -- no? You haven't denied any requests, at least yet?" PRICE: "I...we're still evaluating. I don't believe we have. REPORTER: "Have you said no to anything?' PRICE: "I don't believe we have denied any requests yet, but we're still evaluating a bit." WIDE OF PRICE AT PODIUM
- Embargoed: 27th July 2021 21:02
- Keywords: Cuba Georgia Haiti Ned Price State Department U.S. Venezuela
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001ELODNIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The U.S. State Department on Tuesday (July 13) called for calm in Cuba and said it was concerned by the images of violence there that it had seen in the past few days.
"We call for calm and we condemn any violence against those protesting peacefully, and we equally call on the Cuban government to release anyone detained for peaceful protest," State Department spokesman Ned Price told a regular news briefing.
Price also said the United States was always considering options that would allow it to support Cuban people.
VENEZUELA
The United States strongly condemns the detention of Venezuelan opposition politician Freddy Guevara, Price said on Tuesday, and called for his immediate release after Venezuelan prosecutors on Monday (July 12) said they had charged Guevara with terrorism and treason.
Guevara is a close ally of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as the South American country's legitimate president by the United States and others.
"The United States strongly condemns the unjust detention of 2015 National Assembly representative Freddy Guevara and harassment of interim President Juan Guaido in Venezuela," U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
GEORGIA
The State Department on Tuesday called for calm in the republic of Georgia after the death of a cameraman beaten up during violence against LGBT activists and said those who attacked peaceful protesters and journalists should be prosecuted.
Price told a regular news briefing that Washington was following the situation in Georgia and was committed to seeing that those responsible are held accountable.
"The safety of every Georgian journalist, and the credibility of democracy and Georgia, in fact, require that every individual who attacked peaceful protesters, and journalists on July 5 and 6, or those who incited violence, they must be identified, they should be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Price said.
Hundreds rallied in the capital, Tbilisi, on Sunday (July 11) after the death of Alexander Lashkarava, one of several journalists assaulted as violent groups ransacked an LBGT+ campaign office, prompting activists to call off a pride march.
Scuffles broke out in Georgia's parliament on Monday (July 12) as journalists and opposition politicians tried to enter the lower house in protest over the death of the cameraman.
HAITI
U.S. officials said they were evaluating a number of requests from Haiti, beyond it's initial request for investigative assistance following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last week.
Moise was shot dead early on Wednesday (July 7) at his home by what officials said was a commando of apparently foreign, trained killers, pitching the poorest country in the Americas deeper into turmoil amidst political divisions, hunger and widespread gang violence.
(Production: Deborah Gembara) - Copyright Holder: STATE DEPARTMENT TV
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