December 17, 2016 made exactly 2 years since the Obama administration and Cuban government announced recommencing diplomatic relations and the official start of negotiations to normalized relations. Most of the changes will need to be made by the United States and there have been some positive and significant changes.

October 26, 2016 was the first time in 25 years that the United States abstained from voting against the United Nations resolution titled: “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,” with a final vote total of 191 in favor of the resolution and 2 abstentions that were United States and Israel. Not one country opposed the resolution.

In the wake of a new incoming U.S. Presidential Administration you’re invited to an energetic, in depth, and thought provoking discussion using comic relief and multi-media presentation with First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC, Miguel Fraga, who will overview incredible but little known comparisons with Cuba on the world stage, the nature and impact of the decades long U.S. blockade on the island, the changes made over the last two years, and how Cubans are preparing for continued negotiations going forward.

Miguel Fraga was appointed First Secretary in June 2015 to the then Cuban Interests Section. Since 2006 he has worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in both the North American and U.S. divisions and the Office of the Minister. Served at the Cuban Embassy in Canada, as a member of the People’s Power Provincial Assembly of the City of Havana and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Havana Faculty of Law. He also has a Master of Science in Foreign Relations.