Foreign Policy Blogs

Cuba Consultation Days 2009

The non-partisan Latin America Working Group will begin its two-day “Cuba Consultation 2009” tomorrow. The focus of the Group’s event is on loosening travel restrictions, which, as they point out, is a concern that unites all sectors from academics to farmers, Cuban Americans to religious organizations, and travel service providers to performing artists and curious citizens.

The first day of the consultation is an opportunity for interested individuals to convene and discuss the issues related to achieving legal travel for all groups to Cuba, and the second day (perhaps more intriguing) is an opportunity to meet independently with Congresspeople to discuss their policy decisions on the matter. El Nuevo Herald reports that the main participants will be interested citizens and exiles.

This is an excellent time for a push like this, when Congress is considering the very proposals that participants in the Cuba Consultation are backing.

 

Author

Melissa Lockhart Fortner

Melissa Lockhart Fortner is Senior External Affairs Officer at the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles, having served previously as Senior Programs Officer for the Council. From 2007-2009, she held a research position at the University of Southern California (USC) School of International Relations, where she closely followed economic and political developments in Mexico and in Cuba, and analyzed broader Latin American trends. Her research considered the rise and relative successes of Latin American multinationals (multilatinas); economic, social and political changes in Central America since the civil wars in the region; and Wal-Mart’s role in Latin America, among other topics. Melissa is a graduate of Pomona College, and currently resides in Pasadena, California, with her husband, Jeff Fortner.

Follow her on Twitter @LockhartFortner.