Cuba’s Ambassador Departs Peru Amidst Asylum Dispute
LIMA, Peru – โคThe Peruvian Foreign โฃMinistry announced today that Carlos Zamora, Cuba’sโค ambassador to Peru, has concluded his duties and departed theโ country, according to a โstatement โคreleased by the Chancellery. The departure follows a recent meeting concerning diplomatic relations โand occurs during a period of heightened tension withโฃ Mexico.
The diplomatic strainโฃ stems from Mexico’s decision to grant โคdiplomatic asylum โto Betssy chรกvez,โ the former president of the Council of Ministers,โข and aโ subsequent โคrequest for safe passageโ for Chรกvez to leave Peru. The peruvian โขgovernment stated it will soon announce it’s position regarding mexico’s request.
Prior to โคa final decision,Peru will consult with the Organization โof โคAmerican States (OAS) and propose modificationsโค to the 1954 Caracas โคConvention on Diplomatic Asylum. Theโ Chancellery argues that the convention has been subject toโ “a negative development” in international โasylum practice as its โฃadoption, withโฃ instances of “improper use” classifying commonโ crimes as political persecution.
“The Government ofโข Peru considers that this practice โdistorts theโข essence of the Conventionโฆ In no case should it be used to evade the submission of national laws,” โคthe Chancellery stated.
Peru’sโข Ministry โof โขForeign Affairs plans to present a proposalโฃ to OAS โmember countries to modifyโข the Caracas Convention, aiming โคto prevent the continued distortion of its original intent and to ensure it protects individuals fromโ genuine โpolitical persecution, not those facing prosecution for common crimes. The Chancellery expressed itsโค rejection โof asylum being granted to individuals “prosecuted or even convicted for โcommon crimes” โคin democratic states.

