Mystery illness fells another envoy
Canada’s embassy in Cuba may be downsized or closed temporarily
OTTAWA— Canada’s embassy in Havana could be downsized or temporarily shuttered after news that yet another diplomat has been struck by a mystery illness.
A team of federal officials will head to Havana next week to assess the situation and the foreign affairs department says “all possible options” are on the table to reduce the risk to personnel.
Global Affairs Canada revealed late Wednesday that medical testing confirmed yet another diplomat who had served in Cuba was suffering the same health symptoms that have hit other diplomats.
There are now 13 confirmed cases among the diplomats and their dependants.
“Global Affairs Canada has decided to review our operations in Cuba,” said a senior government official who briefed reporters on Thursday on condition of anonymity.
Asked directly whether that could mean further staff reductions or even the closure of the embassy, the official declined to answer, saying it was “too early to speculate.”
“This is something we will ascertain as we are on the ground next week,” the official said.
“But we’ll be looking at our operations, we’ll be looking at our footprint of staff and we’ll be looking at what is the impact of this new information.”
The official added, “We will be looking at all possible options,”
But an expert in international relations said this latest case underscores that Canadian personnel are at risk and is urg- ing Ottawa to pull its diplomats from Cuba until their safety can be assured.
Fen Hampson, a professor of international relations at Carleton University, said the federal government needs to “read the riot act to the Cubans.”
“Perhaps there has been some quiet diplomacy, but the time for that is over and to get serious,” Hampson said in an interview.
“We’re not going to send our representatives and put them in harm’s way if this kind of behaviour goes on,” he said.
There are a dozen staff now working at the embassy in Havana, down from about 18 before staff starting taking ill.
In April, Global Affairs announced that Havana would be designated an “unaccompanied post” meaning that family members could not join diplomats.
In light of the latest news, Global Affairs said it would allow any staff to return home if they wish.
Hampson noted it is the responsibility of individual countries to ensure the safety of diplomats.
“I would say pull them until we can get real steadfast guar- antees. Ultimately, the Cubans have a responsibility to figure out if they’re not doing it, who is?” he said.
News of yet another ill diplomat is a further twist in a puzzle that has left American and Canadian diplomats who were based in Havana struggling with, at times, crippling health symptoms. Investigators in both countries are at a loss to pinpoint the cause.
Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, hearing and visual problems, nausea, loss of balance and fatigue.
Some experts have suggested the diplomats may have been targets of a deliberate attack, but so far it remains a whodunit.
“There is an active RCMP investigation and intensive efforts continue to be made by the Government of Canada as a whole to try and ascertain the cause,” said a second government official who joined the briefing for reporters.
In the latest case, the employee first reported symptoms in early summer.
“As we have yet to identify a cause, it’s very difficult to say when that individual might have been affected,” the official said.
Meanwhile, diplomats who have been struggling with the health problems for more than a year continue to be frustrated at the department’s handling of their cases.
Some remain off work, unable to return to full-time duties because of their conditions. And they remain worried about treatment for their children, who are also showing symptoms that have affected school work.
Ottawa has been careful not to criticize Cuba’s handling of these incidents and instead has praised the government for its co-operation in the investigation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said last week Canada is collaborating with the United States and “our other partners” to find a cause.
“It has proven to be very difficult to — with absolute clarity and certainty — identify what has happened to our staff in Cuba,” she said.
“What is clear is that people — Canadian diplomats, their families — have suffered. We take that very, very seriously and we take seriously working with them to help them heal,” Freeland told reporters on Nov. 20.