HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 83

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Miguel P. Garcia

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO END THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA, ELIMINATE THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON UNITED STATES CITIZENS, REMOVE CUBA FROM THE LIST OF TERRORIST NATIONS AND RESUME NORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA.

     WHEREAS, in 2003 and the previous thirteen years the United Nations voted unanimously that the economic embargo placed on Cuba by the United States is immoral and unjust; and

     WHEREAS, the United States has established normal diplomatic and trade relations with the government of Vietnam, the communist government of China and the governments of Russia and nations of the former socialist bloc; and

     WHEREAS, trade agreements have been completed between Cuba and thirty-four states; and

     WHEREAS, Cuba imports one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) of food annually, and opportunities exist for trade between New Mexico and Cuba; and

     WHEREAS, the governor of New Mexico has stated his desire to expand international trade; and

     WHEREAS, sister city relationships exist between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Holguin, Cuba, and Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Banes, Cuba, through the United States and Cuba sister city association; and

     WHEREAS, more cities in New Mexico have expressed interest in forming sister city relationships with cities in Cuba; and

     WHEREAS, the congress of the United States voted in 2003 to stop enforcement of the restrictions on travel to Cuba that deny United States citizens their constitutional right to travel; and

     WHEREAS, in 2003 the world health organization recognized Cuba as the number one country in the world for primary health care; and

     WHEREAS, since January 2000, Cuba has offered five hundred scholarships for United States students to study medicine in Cuba, and currently seventy-four United States students, including three students from New Mexico, are participating in the program; and

     WHEREAS, allies of the United States, including the United Kingdom, Canada and France, have expressed that Cuba does not belong on the United States' list of states that support international terrorism; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of defense has confirmed that Cuba does not pose a threat to the security of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the democratic party of New Mexico passed a resolution urging the United States government to end the trade embargo blockade and resume normal diplomatic relations with Cuba; and

     WHEREAS, in this time of global terrorism, the Cuban government has offered its assistance to the United States in combating global terrorism; and

     WHEREAS, Cuba has extensive and friendly relations with its Latin American and Carribean neighbors;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United States government be requested to end the economic embargo against Cuba, eliminate the travel restrictions on United States citizens, remove Cuba from the list of terrorist nations and resume normal diplomatic relations with Cuba; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president and vice president of the United States, the secretary of state of the United States, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the majority leader of the United States senate and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.