President Bush: `Viva Cuba Libre'

0 Comments | Insight on the News, June 18, 2001 | by John Elvin

Back during the Clinton era it appeared the United States was poised to roll out the red carpet for Cuban President Fidel Castro as visits and various exchanges between this country and Cuba escalated dramatically. Those who wondered where President George W. Bush would stand on the matter paid close attention to his remarks in mid-May regarding Cuban Independence Day.

Bush noted that recently he had returned from the Summit of the Americas, attended by leaders of 34 democratic nations in the hemisphere, with only Cuba unrepresented. Cuba was not there "because that nation has a leader who has no place at the democratic table," Bush said. That nation, he said, "is not free, but enslaved."

The president continued: "The United States welcomes the opportunity to trade with Cuba when there are entrepreneurs who are free to trade with us. We welcome the opportunity to build diplomatic relations with Cuba when the Cuban government is a democracy, when the Cuban people can be free from fear to say what they think and choose who shall govern them." He termed U.S. sanctions against Cuba "a moral statement" and said his administration would "oppose any attempt to weaken sanctions ... until this regime frees its political prisoners, holds democratic free elections and allows for free speech."

Bush also said it is the policy of the U.S. government to "actively support those working to bring about democratic change in Cuba." He called for strengthening public diplomacy via U.S. Government-financed Radio and TV Marti and for finding ways to reach the average citizen in Cuba via the Internet.