Stranded Cuban migrants granted passage to United StatesDecember 29, 2015 - 10:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Central American nations have reached an agreement to allow several thousand Cuban migrants stranded in Costa Rica for over a month to continue their journey towards the United States, BBC News reports. The migrants will be airlifted to El Salvador and put on buses, which will take them to the U.S. American legislation gives Cuban migrants preferential treatment. If they arrive at the U.S. border by land they are allowed to enter the country and apply for residency. Those who are intercepted at sea are sent back, under the special immigration policy known as "wet foot, dry foot." Many Cuban migrants fear that the thaw in relations between Washington and Havana may put an end to the preferential treatment given to them. "We have agreed to make the first humanitarian transfer in January," said foreign ministers from the Sica regional group and Mexico. They met in Guatemala City to try to find a solution to the crisis. Cuba did not attend the meeting, but said it expected "a quick and adequate solution" from the nations involved. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |