CANADIAN ENVOY HIT BY ‘UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS’

‘Covert sonic device’ to blame, says U.S. report

Canada’s diplomats in Havana have experienced “unusual symptoms” similar to the headaches and severe hearing loss of several U.S. envoys to Cuba that are attributed to the use of a covert sonic device.

A string of U.S. diplomats in Havana — reports say at least five diplomatic officials or their spouses — were hit by similar symptoms of unexplained headaches and hearing loss starting in the fall of 2016. In some cases it was so severe it required a return to the United States.

A U.S. investigation concluded an advanced device operating outside the range of audible sound had been deployed either inside or outside their residences. It was not clear if the device was meant as a weapon or had another purpose.

Two Cuban diplomats were expelled from the United States in response, another bizarre twist to the difficult relationship between Cuba and the United States.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed an unknown number of Canada’s diplomatic corps has been similarly affected in Havana.

“We are aware of unusual symptoms affecting Canadian and U.S. diplomatic personnel and their families in Havana. The government is actively working — including with U.S. and Cuban authorities — to ascertain the cause,” Brianne Maxwell, spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada, said in a written statement.

“At this time, we do not have any reason to believe Canadian tourists and other visitors could be affected,” Maxwell’s statement said. “The health and safety of our employees abroad is a top priority for Canada.”

She did not respond to requests for specific details on the impact on Canada’s envoys and their families and the involvement of Canada with U.S. or Cuban authorities in investigating the ailments.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said two officials were expelled from Cuba’s embassy in Washington on May 23 in retaliation for the sonic problems.

Officials familiar with the probe said investigators were looking into the possibilities the incidents were carried out by a third country such as Russia, possibly operating without the knowledge of Cuba’s formal chain of command.

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said allegations it breached international conventions on protecting foreign diplomats are “unjustified and unsubstantiated” and has protested the expulsion of its diplomats.

“The ministry categorically emphasizes that Cuba has never, nor would it ever, allow that the Cuban territory be used for any action against accredited diplomatic agents or their families, without exception,” the ministry said in a statement.

Havana said it was informed on Feb. 17 by U.S officials of a problem and launched an investigation, authorized at “the highest level of the Cuban government.”

It also “expanded and reinforced the protection and security measures of the mission, its staff and diplomatic residences.”

The situation is a new setback in the long-standing feud between the United States and Cuba. Several of the U.S. diplomats were recent arrivals at the embassy, which reopened in 2015 as part of former president Barack Obama’s reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba.

U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a renewed harder line on Cuba than under Obama.

In June, senior White House officials said Trump “vowed to reverse” attempts at reconciliation and to “target the repressive members of the Cuban military government.”

Canada, however, has long had a far more cordial relationship with Cuba and helped broker discussions between Washington and Havana.

Canada has more than 70 years of unbroken diplomatic ties to Cuba.

Canada established a diplomatic mission in Havana in 1945 and was one of only two countries in the Western hemisphere (along with Mexico) not to break relations with the country after Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959.

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ABROAD IS A TOP PRIORITY.