Havana, November 28 (RHC)-- Officials of the Ecuadorian embassy in Havana announced that they are already working towards minimizing the negative effects of the newly established visa requirements for tourism and transient citizens of Cuba.

The Government of Ecuador decided to establish a visa requirement for Cuban citizens who want to travel to the South American nation, beginning on December 1st. The measure is as part of steps being taken by countries in the region to resolve irregular migration flows.

During a press conference Friday in Havana, Ecuadorian Consul Soraya Encalada explained that working hours at the embassy in Havana will be extended so as to grant visas to those Cubans, who had already booked flights to Ecuador prior to the announcement of the new measure.

The Ecuadorian diplomat stressed that her country will do everything in its power to protect Cuban emigrants, and their rights and prevent them from falling into the hands of unscrupulous traffickers and mafias on their way to the United States.