SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 65

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

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

A JOINT MEMORIAL

SUPPORTING AN END TO THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO OF AND UNITED STATES CITIZEN TRAVEL BAN TO CUBA, RESUMPTION OF NORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND REMOVAL OF CUBA FROM THE LIST OF TERRORIST NATIONS.

     WHEREAS, the United States congress voted in 2003 to stop enforcement of the travel ban denying citizens their constitutional right to travel; and

     WHEREAS, the United Nations has voted unanimously for the past thirteen years that the United States embargo against Cuba is immoral and unjust; and

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

     WHEREAS, since January 2000, Cuba has offered five hundred full scholarships for students from the United States to study medicine in Cuba, including three students from New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, United States and Cuba sister city association relationships exist between Santa Fe and Holguin and Las Vegas and Banes, and several other New Mexico cities are interested in forming sister city relationships; and

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

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

     WHEREAS, trade agreements have been completed between Cuba and thirty-four states, and the United States has established normal diplomatic and trade relations with communist China, Vietnam, Russia and the former socialist bloc; and

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

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

     WHEREAS, United States allies, the United Kingdom, Canada and France, have indicated that Cuba does not belong on a list of countries that support international terrorism; and

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

     WHEREAS, the democratic party of New Mexico has adopted a similar resolution;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that United States congress be urged to end the economic embargo against Cuba, normalize diplomatic relations, repeal the travel restrictions and to urge the president to use actual evidence and not political factors to review the placement of Cuba on the list of terrorist countries; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each member of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

- 3 -