After 14 years, Honduras, Cuba sign agreement on territorial waters

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – The governments of Honduras and Cuba on Tuesday signed an agreement outlining territorial waters in the Caribbean, after several other attempts to reach an agreement fell short since talks began 14 years ago.

Cuba’s director of consular affairs, Rafael Dausa Céspedes, and the coordinator of the Honduran Committee on Border Sovereignty, Roberto Quiñónez Arita signed the treaty on behalf of their countries.

Under the new treaty, both countries defined their Exclusive Economic Zones, where they can exercise the exploitation of resources freely and without interference by other countries.

Cuba and Honduras have had several unsuccessful attempts to officially mark their territorial waters since 1998.

The two nations restored diplomatic ties in 2002 after having suspended relations in 1961 following the 1959 triumph of the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro.