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Cuba to give citizens freedom to travel abroad

Other News Materials 16 October 2012 13:46 (UTC +04:00)
Cuba will allow citizens to travel abroad without first obtaining exit permits, a key reform of President Raul Castro, dpa reported.
Cuba to give citizens freedom to travel abroad

Cuba will allow citizens to travel abroad without first obtaining exit permits, a key reform of President Raul Castro, dpa reported.

Beginning January 14, Cubans will be able to leave the island with a valid passport and visa from country of destination, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The government also said it would take necessary measures to "preserve the human capital created by the revolution."

The migration reform has been long desired by many Cubans who have been unable to overcome bureaucratic obstacles for travel.

Castro announced earlier this year that the government would implement a series of reforms to "update" the Cuban economic model with market forces.

Onerous requirements for obtaining permits had been blamed for migratory crises including the wave of attempted raft crossings in dangerous waters en route to the US state of Florida in 1994.

Havana had long accused the US government of fomenting the illegal emigration with its policy of accepting all Cuban refugees.

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