DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42313
TITLE=U-S/ CUBA POLICY: EVOLUTION CONTINUES
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANALYSTS SAY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO
EASE RESTRICTIONS ON CONTACTS WITH CUBA IS PART OF A BIPARTISAN
EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR THE DAY WHEN 72-YEAR-OLD CUBAN LEADER FIDEL
CASTRO IS NO LONGER IN POWER. MANY OF THE NEW MEASURES ARE BASED
ON RECOMMENDATIONS IN A NEW REPORT FOR THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN
RELATIONS, A PRIVATE NEW YORK CITY GROUP. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA
SCHOETZAU REPORTS.
TEXT: THE REPORT FOR THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS GREW OUT
OF A BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO OPEN A NEW ERA IN
CUBAN-U-S RELATIONS. THE REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY TWO FORMER
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF STATE FOR INTER-AMERICAN RELATIONS,
WILLIAM ROGERS -- WHO SERVED DURING THE FORD ADMINISTRATION --
AND BERNARD ARONSON, WHO HELD THE JOB UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE
BUSH.
MR. ARONSON SAYS THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE FOCUSED ON WAYS TO
REACH OUT TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY BE FUTURE
LEADERS.
/// ARONSON ACT ///
THE HEMISPHERE IS DEMOCRATIC AND NOW I THINK THE GOAL OF
U-S POLICY AND THE FOCUS IS REALLY TO TRY TO SUPPORT AND
ENGAGE WITH THE CIVIL SOCIETY THAT IS JUST BEGINNING TO
EMERGE IN CUBA THAT WILL BE PART OF A DEMOCRATIC
TRANSITION.
/// END ACT///
FOR YEARS, DISCUSSION OF U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA HAS BEEN
DOMINATED BY CONTENTIOUS DEBATE OVER THE TRADE EMBARGO THE UNITED
STATES IMPOSED AGAINST CUBA 37 YEARS AGO. MR. ARONSON SAYS THE
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS REPORT RECOMMENDS STEPS TO BRING
ABOUT PROGRESS IN U-S CUBAN RELATIONS WHILE AVOIDING THE
SENSITIVE EMBARGO ISSUE.
/// ARONSON ACT ////
WE GATHERED TOGETHER A VERY DIVERSE AND BROAD GROUP FROM
THE CONSERVATIVE TO LIBERAL SPECTRUM AND WE DECIDED
CONSCIOUSLY NOT TO FIGHT ALL THE OLD ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE
EMBARGO BUT TO SEE WHAT WE COULD AGREE ON IN TERMS OF
CONCRETE STEPS TO PROMOTE AND EFFECT CHANGE IN CUBA. AND
WE REACHED BROAD CONSENSUS ON MANY STEPS, SOME OF WHICH
THE ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED AND MANY WHICH THEY HAVE
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED.
/// END ACT ///
THE CLINTON ADMINSTRATION HAS BASICALLY ADOPTED MODEST VERSIONS
OF BOLDER MEASURES RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT. THESE MEASURES
INCLUDE ALLOWING SOME SALES OF FOOD TO INDEPENDENT GROUPS IN
CUBA, LIFTING THE CEILING ON REMITTANCES, RESUMING DIRECT POSTAL
SERVICE AND PERMITTING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
INDEPENDENT GROUPS IN CUBA. THE UNITED STATES WILL ALSO EXPAND
CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND ATHLETIC EXCHANGES AND
PERMIT DIRECT CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM A VARIETY OF AMERICAN CITIES
TO HAVANA.
THE GOAL, MR. ARONSON SAYS, IS TO INCREASE CONTACT BETWEEN THE
CITIZENS OF CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES.
/// ARONSON ACT ///
WE BASICALLY FELT THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE MUCH BROADER
AVENUES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN CUBA,
MUCH GREATER PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT AND A LOOSENING ON
FOOD AND MEDICINE AND THEY MADE STEPS IN ALL OF THOSE
DIRECTIONS.
/// END ACT ///
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DID NOT ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
PRIVATE TASK FORCE THAT PROPOSED OPENINGS IN THE COMMERCIAL AREA.
AND IT TURNED DOWN A SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION MADE BY A GROUP OF
LEADING REPUBLICANS TO APPOINT A BI-PARTISAN NATIONAL COMMISSION
TO REVIEW THE UNITED STATES' CUBA POLICY. THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN
RELATIONS DID NOT MAKE SUCH A RECOMMENDATION, LARGELY BECAUSE
TASK FORCE MEMBERS CONSIDER THE IDEA DIVISIVE. SUPPORTERS OF THE
U-S TRADE EMBARGO VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE ANY CHANGE IN POLICY. BUT MR.
ARONSON SAYS U-S POLICY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN EVOLVING FOR SOME
YEARS.
/// ARONSON ACT ///
SOME OF THESE CHANGES WERE ACTUALLY EMBODIED IN THE
CUBAN DEMOCRACY ACT WHICH ACTUALLY CALLED FOR GREATER
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACTS AND DIRECT TELEPHONE SERVICE
AND I THINK THERE HAS BEEN AN EVOLUTION IN THIS
DIRECTION. I THINK THE MEASURES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION
TOOK ARE ANOTHER STEP IN THAT DIRECTION AND I THINK IT
WILL CONTINUE AND IT WILL BROADEN.
/// END ACT ///
BUT OTHERS SAY U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA HAS NOT CHANGED
SIGNIFICANTLY AND THEY POINT TO LEGISLATION IN RECENT YEARS THAT
HAS ACTUALLY TIGHTENED THE EMBARGO. SUPPORTERS OF THE EMBARGO SAY
THEY BACK THE NEW MEASURES BECAUSE GREATER PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE
CONTACT HELPS THE CUBAN PEOPLE WITHOUT STRENGTHENING TIES TO THE
CASTRO GOVERNMENT OR WEAKENING THE EMBARGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/PT
07-Jan-99 5:50 PM EST (2250 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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