Cuba offers rum to pay off $276m Czech debt
Cuban rum is a popular tipple in the Czech Republic. Cuba has come up with an unusual way to repay its multimillion dollar debt to the Czech Republic – bottles of its famous rum, officials in Prague say.
The Czech finance ministry said Havana had raised this possibility during recent negotiations on the issue.
Cuba owes the Czech authorities $276m (£222m), and if the offer is accepted the Czechs would have enough Cuban rum for more than a century. However, Prague said it preferred to get at least some of the money in cash.
Havana’s debt dates back from the Cold War era – when Cuba and what was at the time Czechoslovakia were part of the communist bloc. Cuba now does not have much money but it does have lots of rum – hence this unusual proposal, says the BBC’s Rob Cameron in Prague.
The Czech finance ministry said repayment was possible either with rum or pharmaceutical drugs. But Cuban drugs lack EU certification, so repayment with a more traditional medicine – popular in the Czech Republic – may be easier to arrange, our correspondent adds.
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“the best solutions are often simple, yet unexpected.”
-julian casablancas
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credits:bbc news, reuters,
Now how did you run across this tidbit? Why not rum and cigars?
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bbq news story and it sounds like they love their rum in the czech republic, may not be as drawn to the cigars
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Fascinating…
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i found it to be an intriguing offer and solution..
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One is never to old to learn new facts thanks for sharing Beth!! Have a great weekend. ❤ ❤
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You too, Kat )
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I’m pretty sure Cuba owes me some money! 🙂
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at least a case worth?
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LOL, yes, at least.
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Interesting!
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i thought so too )
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Take the rum and sell it. Win win. I think…..
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absolutely
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Cuba raises lots of sugar cane, too. I like the idea of paying off debt with tangible assets, especially since currency worldwide is so variable.
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makes great sense to me )
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I see a possible bottleneck in negotiations. Perhaps a little cane would sweeten the deal- if able to do so.
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)))))))
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Unlike Prague, I’d be happy to take payment of ALL my debts in Cuban run. Maybe not pharmaceutical drugs though. Slippery slope.
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Yes, u think I’d stick with the rum too )
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This was hilarious solution and who won have thought of this, unless partying a bit?? It cracked me up, Beth. Your quote was perfect, too. 😀
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quite possibly, robin )
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Very creative and I’m guessing quite delicious :)!
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I’ll bet )
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This was a question on NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me the following Saturday – and I knew the answer, thanks to you!
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ha! you never know when these things will come in handy )
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This is a good deal all around …Cuba makes fabulous rum
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Indeed 💃
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Barter Trade….in this century. Interesting!
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isn’t it?!
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I think its a clever proposal… good to know fact…
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yes, a win-win.
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