Claims on confiscated property in Cuba remain up in the air

Claims on confiscated property in Cuba remain up in the air
As Pope Francis continues to lobby for reconciliation, some exiles want
justice
Author: Glenna Milberg, Reporter, gmilberg@Local10.com
Washington Post News Service
Published On: Sep 18 2015 06:28:03 PM EDT Updated On: Sep 18 2015
07:06:00 PM EDT

MIAMI -
The White House announced Friday changes to commerce, travel and
investment restrictions that will take effect Monday in Cuba. But there
was no mention of Cuban exiles' property claims.

The changes come as Pope Francis visits both countries this month. The
U.S. Department of Commerce allows U.S. companies to do business on the
Communist island and hire Cuban workers. While Congress has yet to lift
the embargo, the U.S. Department of the Treasury lifted fund limits on
financial transactions.

Fidel Castro's failed redistribution of wealth left many victims and
some of them live in the United States. Miami attorney Rosa Vega holds
deeds to properties in Cuba that the government seized after Castro's
socialist revolution.

CLAIMS AGAINST CUBA

The U.S. Department of Justice's Cuban claims program completed claims
July 6, 1972 and July 15, 2005. The U.S. Secretary of State has the two
claims for eventual use in negotiation of a lump-sum claims settlement
agreement with the Cuban government. Amount of awards (principal) -
$1,902,202,284.95

- Cuban Electric Co. - $ 267.57

- United Fruit Sugar - $85.5 million

- Exxon Corp. - $71.61 million

-Texaco Inc. - $56.20 million

"They are going to negotiate with our money," Vega said. "That's
basically what's going to happen."

Local 10 News talked to Josefina Vidal, Cuba's lead diplomat, in Havana.

"We will begin speaking about claims ... we will listen to the minister
and we will put our claims too on the table," Vidal said.

The U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission certified 5,913 claims out
of 8,821 claims. One in 10 of the claims is from an individual owner,
according to USAID.

"It has nothing to do with the money. It has to do with what is right,"
Vega said. "Everything was taken from the Cuban people."

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