Center for a Free Cuba. Washington DC. May 13, 2025. The State Department’s decision to return Cuba to the list of countries not cooperating in the fight against terrorism on May 13, 2025 reflects reality. Havana has a decades-long track record of not cooperating with anti-terrorism efforts, but also harboring, sponsoring, and training terrorists.
The Centre for Training, Studies and Social Analysis (CEU-CEFAS) made public today the report “The Multiple Faces of Terrorism in Cuba” co-authored with Center for a Free Cuba, and the Spanish Association ‘Cuba en Transición’. The report delves into the more than six decades connection between the Cuban government and terror and details Havana’s long history of using and supporting terrorism as state policy. The work features a foreword by María San Gil, former political leader of the Popular Party and one of the most recognized figures in the fight against ETA terrorism.
When the prior Administration’s State Department removed Cuba from this list on May 15, 2024, and made the claim that Cuba was cooperating in fight on terrorism, Joe Connor sent a letter to the then Secretary of State that in light of Havana being declared “cooperating in the fight against terrorism” that the United States government request the extradition of FALN terrorist bomber William Morales who continues to be harbored in Cuba by the dictatorship.
Joe Connor, whose father, Frank Connor, was killed in the 1975 Fraunces Tavern by a bomb placed by FALN terrorists which killed three others and wounded scores more, never received a response.
Today, upon learning that Cuba has been returned to the list of countries not cooperating in the fight against terrorism Mr. Connor spoke plainly, “Cuba must immediately return convicted fugitive, and terrorist William Morales as a minimal precondition before any negotiation with the United States to change Cuba’s status as a terrorist nation.”
“The fact that Havana has a decades-long history of not only refusing to cooperate with anti-terrorism efforts but also one of harboring, sponsoring, and training terrorists reflects the soundness of the State Department’s decision to add Cuba back to the list of nations not cooperating in the fight against terrorism”, said John Suarez,executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba.
Below is the text of the letter sent by Joseph Connor on May 15, 2024.
The Honorable Antony Blinken
United States Secretary of State
The State Department
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Secretary Blinken:
cc: Mr. Jake Sullivan, NSC, Senator Robert Menendez, Senator Cory Booker
I am writing to you on an urgent and important manner. Reuters is reporting that you, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken today “removed Cuba from a short list of countries the United States alleges are ‘not cooperating fully’ in its fight against terrorism and “The department determined that the circumstances for Cuba’s certification as a ‘not fully cooperating country’ have changed from 2022 to 2023.”
I am writing because my father Frank Connor was murdered by Cuban sponsored terrorists at Fraunces Tavern on January 24, 1975 in New York City that killed three others, and wounded over 50 more.
The news that Havana is now willing to cooperate with the United States on the issue of terrorism should bring accountability for this crime that I have fought for over the last three decades.
William “Guillermo” Morales, a leader of the “Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional” (FALN), terrorist group backed by Havana, who it is believed made the bomb used in the Fraunces Tavern bombing was tried and sentenced in federal and NY state court, but escaped from prison and fled to Cuba. He has been sponsored in Cuba under the protection of the government authorities for decades. I am bringing the matter to your attention for the U.S. government to take the steps necessary for this convicted, terrorist fugitive to be returned to an American prison where he will serve out his sentences.
I thank you in advance for the return of Morales which would deliver justice for Frank Connor and provide a certain closure to this open wound that our family has suffered for all these years.
Joseph F. Connor
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