Cuban authorities restore 2 further press permits for Efe’s Havana team

Madrid, Nov 17 (EFE).- An additional two journalists from the Spanish Efe news agency’s Havana bureau have had their press credentials reinstated, Cuban authorities told the Spanish government on Wednesday.

The reauthorization of the press credentials will be accompanied by the issuing of a press permit to Efe’s new bureau chief in Havana, Juan Palop, who was appointed in July, Spanish diplomatic sources said, adding that Cuban authorities will approve the decision “from November 28.”

Efe president Gabriela Cañas, described the latest action as “insufficient” and called for the reinstatement of press accreditation to the entire team.

She added that the agency would continue to insist on fully rebuilding its bureau in Havana, which is normally composed of seven journalists.

“The harassment of the agency by Cuban authorities is serious,” she said.

“The decisions taken in recent months have weakened our team. The withdrawal of all press accreditation last Saturday and their return in dribs and drabs demonstrates an unequivocal desire to destabilize our journalistic work.”

Amid increasing tensions in recent months, Cuban authorities have stripped six Efe journalists of their press permits and delayed the visa process for the new bureau chief.

“What has taken place in recent weeks is an unprecedented attack on the world’s leading Spanish language news agency,” Cañas said.

Cuban authorities on Saturday withdrew accreditation from all five members of the Efe team currently in Havana, which comprises three editors, a photographer and a videographer. They were given no explanation.

Two permits were restored on Sunday, a day before anti-government protests were scheduled to be held in Havana.