Miguel Fraga, the first secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., since diplomatic relations were re-established between Cuba and the United States, will visit Union Wednesday, April 11.
Fraga will discuss Cuba and its relationship with the U.S. from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Reamer Auditorium. His talk is free and open to the public.
Fraga was appointed First Secretary in June 2015 to the then -Cuban Interests Section. From 2008 to 2011, he served at the Cuban Embassy in Canada. 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. From 2003 to 2008, Fraga was a member of the People’s Power Provincial Assembly of the city of Havana, which is the provincial parliament in Havana.
He graduated with a master’s of science in foreign relations from the Higher Institute of Foreign Relations “Raúl Roa García” in 2005 and from the University of Havana, Faculty of Law in 2003.
Fraga’s visit is part of three-day trip to the Capital Region. In his role as first secretary, he has spoken at numerous colleges and communities throughout the U.S. to engage in education and outreach.
His visit comes as his government seeks an end to the U.S. government’s five-decade embargo on trade with Cuba and on its parallel restriction on travel by U.S. citizens to the island nation.
His appearance also comes after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered new restrictions on business and travel designed to limit the diplomatic and economic opening to Cuba instituted by President Barack Obama in 2015.
In the first year after the U.S. eased travel restrictions and bureaucratic barriers to studying and traveling in Cuba, Union launched its inaugural Cuba mini-term, led by Teresa Meade, the Florence B. Sherwood Professor of History and Culture.
Students explored the country’s history, politics and culture through a series of lectures and conversations with prominent scholars, writers, artists, musicians and government representatives.