State Department Expels 15 Cuban Diplomats from D.C. Embassy
Rex Tillerson
In a statement Tuesday  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed that the United States has expelled 15 Cuban officials from the communist nationâs embassy in Washington  D.C.  in response to attacks on nearly two dozen Americans working in Havana.
âOn October 3  the Department of State informed the Government of Cuba that it was ordering the departure of 15 of its officials from its embassy in Washington  D.C. â  Tillerson  said in  his  statement. âThe decision was made due to Cubaâs failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention. This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations.â
The statement explained that the move followed the mass withdrawal of American personnel from Cuba and warnings to all U.S. citizens to avoid the communist dictatorship  to which Americans can only travel under certain categories of visits. âUntil the Government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba  our embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel to minimize the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm  â Tillerson  said.
 Tillerson  went on to assure that the United States will âcontinue to maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba  and will continue to cooperate with Cuba as we pursue the investigation into these attacks.â
Late last week   Tillerson  announced in a similar statement that the State Department would withdraw all ânon-essentialâ staff from the Havana embassy and urge all Americans to avoid Cuba  as the attacks appear to have taken place in areas âfrequented by U.S. citizensâ not affiliated with the government. It was the first prominent use of the word âattacksâ to describe the events in question  as spokeswoman Heather Nauert had insisted on referring to them as âincidentsâ in prior press conferences.
In a statement Tuesday  Secretary of  [TGT]  confirmed that the United States has expelled 15 Cuban officials from the communist nationâs embassy in Washington  D.C.  in response to attacks on nearly two dozen Americans working in Havana.
âOn October 3  the Department of State informed the Government of Cuba that it was ordering the departure of 15 of its officials from its embassy in Washington  D.C. â   [TGT] said in   [TGT]   statement. âThe decision was made due to Cubaâs failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention. This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations.â
The statement explained that the move followed the mass withdrawal of American personnel from Cuba and warnings to all U.S. citizens to avoid the communist dictatorship  to which Americans can only travel under certain categories of visits. âUntil the Government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba  our embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel to minimize the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm  â  [TGT] said.
  [TGT] went on to assure that the United States will âcontinue to maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba  and will continue to cooperate with Cuba as we pursue the investigation into these attacks.â
Late last week    [TGT] announced in a similar statement that the State Department would withdraw all ânon-essentialâ staff from the Havana embassy and urge all Americans to avoid Cuba  as the attacks appear to have taken place in areas âfrequented by U.S. citizensâ not affiliated with the government. It was the first prominent use of the word âattacksâ to describe the events in question  as spokeswoman Heather Nauert had insisted on referring to them as âincidentsâ in prior press conferences.