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Cuba allows nationals to travel, work on cruise and cargo ships

Xinhua, April 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Cuban government on Friday announced it will allow its nationals to travel and work on cruise and cargo ships just days before the first ever U.S. company sets sail on its first cruise to the island.

Starting from April 26, Cuban nationals will be able to board cruise and cargo ships as part of the "constant updating" of the island's migratory policy, announced the Cuba's government on Friday through a statement published in the official newspaper Granma.

The measure comes after U.S. cruise company "Carnival" said it could not take reservations from Cuban born citizens in the United States because Havana prohibited its nationals from departing or entering the island by sea.

Carnival is set to start its Cuba cruises on May 1 with the 704-passenger Adonia, a ship from the company's Fathom brand, which plans to sail every other week from Miami to Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.

The press statement said that, in the future, Cuban authorities will authorize, once "conditions are created", its nationals to depart and enter the Caribbean island regardless of their migratory condition, as passengers or crew on recreational ships or yachts.

"In the current context of relations with Washington both governments have discussed issues like terrorism, maritime security and human trafficking as well as travel, trade and other topics related to Cuba and the United States' national security, promoting bilateral cooperation with mutual benefits," said the statement.

The Cuban government urged U.S. authorities to "advance" with discussions in these matters to "prevent and confront" possible terrorist activities against Havana.

"Cuba has been a victim of numerous terrorist acts organized by the U.S. since 1959 and that is the reason why our citizens living abroad were obliged to enter the nation only through our airports," added the text.

Havana said this latest change to its migratory policy "contrasts" with Washington's denial to let its citizens freely travel to the Caribbean country.

The cruises will be the first between the two nations in more than 50 years and are part of the thaw in relations between both countries after president's Barack Obama and Raul Castro decided to reestablish ties in late 2014. Enditem