Cuba and U.S. sign agreement to combat gas spills in the Gulf of Mexico, along Florida coast

Record ID: 163596

  • Title: Cuba and U.S. sign agreement to combat gas spills in the Gulf of Mexico, along Florida coast
  • Date: 9th January 2017
  • Summary: MAYABEQUE, CUBA (FILE - APRIL 5, 2011) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF RAW EXTRACTOR EQUIPMENT IN THE AREA OF THE NORTH COAST OF CUBA VARIOUS OF CRUDE EXTRACTOR MACHINERY IN NORTH COAST OF CUBA CRUDE EXTRACTION TUBES WITH SEA IN BACKGROUND HAVANA, CUBA (FILE - JANUARY 19, 2012) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF PLATFORM ALONG CUBAN COAST IN FRONT OF HAVANA'S MALECON SEAFRONT
  • Embargoed: 24th January 2017 17:25
  • Keywords: Cuba United States agreement cleanup oil spills Gulf of Mexico waters
  • Location: HAVANA AND MAYABEQUE, CUBA
  • City: HAVANA AND MAYABEQUE, CUBA
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Pollution,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0025YD15QB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Cuba and the United States agreed on Monday (January 9) to join forces to prevent, contain and cleanup oil spills in their respective Gulf of Mexico waters, as they rush to conclude various accords before president-elect Donald Trump takes office.
    Jeffrey DeLaurentis, U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Cuba upon signing the agreement, said it was one of a series negotiated or under discussion to protect the shared marine environment of the two neighbouring countries separated by just 90 miles (145 kilometres).
    The deal calls for the parties to prepare joint disaster plans for spills of oil and other toxins, test them and train personnel, among other measures.
    Cuban Deputy Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodriguez Davila signed for Cuba.
    The United States has a similar agreement with Mexico.
    The former Cold War foes said last month that they hoped to sign as many as six cooperation accords and various business deals before January 20, when President Barack Obama leaves office.
    Obama stunned the world two years ago when he announced he and Cuban President Raul Castro would work to undo a half century of enmity.
    Trump has threatened to scrap the still-fragile detente unless Cuba makes further political and economic concessions.
    "I congratulate the Cuban and U.S. authorities and negotiators on this historic achievement. The U.S. Coastguard and Department of State has developed a strong and professional relationship with our Cuban counterpart," said DeLaurentis during a news conference in Havana.
    Cuba and its foreign partners drilled four offshore wells in Gulf of Mexico waters in 2012, raising concerns that U.S. sanctions meant Washington was not in a position to respond to a spill that could be carried by currents to its coast.
    The wells came up dry, but Cuba says it plans to drill again.
    "The signed agreement will lead to the preparation of the coordination plan for the actions of prevention, preparation and response to events of contamination by spills of hydrocarbons and other damaging and potentially dangerous substances taking place in the geographic zone described," said Rodriguez Davila.
    Obama has used executive orders to improve relations and punch holes in the U.S. trade embargo and travel ban, which can only be lifted by Congress. The deals and orders can therefore be reversed by Trump.
    More than a dozen cooperation accords, ranging from postal services and law enforcement to protecting marine life and fighting drug trafficking, have been inked to date.
    Negotiations are ongoing over more difficult issues such as U.S. claims, embargo reparations, extraditing fugitives and the return of the Guantanamo Naval Base to Cuba.
    Obama has loosened travel restrictions to the Communist-run Caribbean island, where there are now direct flights and cruises, various roaming agreements and a single Havana hotel under U.S. management.
    Last week a deal was struck to export small amounts of artisan charcoal to the United States and in December Google signed an agreement to place servers on the island to quicken access to its products.
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