“The State Department is restricting the freedom of travel of Cuban diplomats in the United States, responding to curbs imposed by Havana on U.S. officials in Cuba…Last Monday [aprox. March 1, 2003], the U.S. officials said, Cuba informed the State Department that mere notification of travel was not enough, that Cuba would have to approve each trip beyond the free travel zone. The officials, asking not to be identified, said that Washington imposed the same restriction on Cuban diplomats in Washington within 24 hours. The Cubans had been free to travel without approval to any point within the Washington Beltway. Permission also was granted to visit Dulles Airport in suburban Virginia and a Virginia shopping center beyond the Beltway. The officials said the U.S. response to travel requests by Cuban diplomats would depend on how flexible the Cuban side is in acquiescing to American requests in Havana…”
George Gedda, “Cuba limits travel of U.S diplomats; U.S. reciprocates, officials say,” The Associated Press, March 14, 2003