DATE=02/06/99
TYPE=ON THE LINE
NUMBER=1-00712 SHORT #1
TITLE=THE U.S. AND THE FUTURE OF CUBA
EDITOR=OFFICE OF POLICY - 619-0037
CONTENT= INSERTS AVAILABLE IN AUDIO SERVICES.
THEME: UP, HOLD UNDER AND FADE
ANNCR: ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES
POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. THIS WEEK,
"THE U.S. AND THE FUTURE OF CUBA." HERE IS YOUR
HOST, ---------.
HOST: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ON THE LINE.
DESPITE THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS RAISED A YEAR AGO
WHEN POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND VISITED THE
ISLAND, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FUNDAMENTAL REFORMS
IN CUBA. EARLIER THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON ORDERED STEPS TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF CUBA
WITHOUT STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNMENT OF FIDEL
CASTRO. THESE MEASURES INCLUDE THE RESUMPTION
OF DIRECT MAIL SERVICE, THE SALE OF U.S. FOOD TO
PRIVATE FARMERS, AND THE EXPANSION OF CHARTER
FLIGHTS TO CUBA. MR. CLINTON SAID THESE STEPS
"ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR POLICY OF KEEPING
PRESSURE ON THE REGIME FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE -
THROUGH THE EMBARGO AND VIGOROUS DIPLOMATIC
INITIATIVES -- WHILE FINDING WAYS TO REACH OUT
TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE THROUGH HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
AND HELP IN DEVELOPING CIVIL SOCIETY."
MICHAEL RANNEBERGER IS COORDINATOR FOR CUBAN
AFFAIRS AT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT. HE SAYS
THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO REACH OUT TO THE
CUBAN PEOPLE.
RANNEBERGER: WHAT WE THINK WE ARE SEEING SINCE POPE JOHN PAUL
THE SECOND VISITED CUBA IS A VERY EXCITING
DYNAMIC DEVELOPING ON THE GROUND IN CUBA. FOR
SOME YEARS NOW, WE HAD SEEN THE BEGINNINGS OF
VERY NASCENT INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY, BUT WE THINK
THAT SINCE THE VISIT OF THE POPE WE HAVE SEEN AN
ACCELERATION OF THAT ACTIVITY AND AN
INTENSIFICATION OF IT. THESE MEASURES ARE
INTENDED TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THAT DEVELOPMENT,
WHICH IS CRITICAL IF CUBA IS GOING TO HAVE A
DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION.
HOST: PAULA DOBRIANSKY IS THE WASHINGTON DIRECTOR OF
THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. SHE SAYS THAT
THE NEW MEASURES MAY DO HARM BY SENDING THE
WRONG SIGNAL.
DOBRIANSKY THE GOAL AND THE OBJECTIVE OF TRYING TO FURTHER
CIVIL SOCIETY IS A GOOD ONE AND ONE THAT WE
SHOULD WORK TOWARDS. HOWEVER, WHAT HAS BEEN
PROBLEMATIC WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION
IS IT HAS BEEN READ ON THE PART OF SOME IN THE
COMMUNITY AND BY SOME FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS AS
-- THAT THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO ALTER OUR
POSITION VIS-A-VIS CUBA. AND IT'S A MATTER OF
TIME WHEN THE EMBARGO WOULD BE LIFTED. AND FROM
THAT STANDPOINT I THINK THAT KIND OF SIGNAL
SHOULD NOT BE THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE SENT AT
THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO FUNDAMENTAL
REFORMS UNDERTAKEN IN CUBA.
HOST: MICHAEL RANNEBERGER SAYS THAT THE EMBARGO WILL
REMAIN IN PLACE BECAUSE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
CASTRO REGIME DOES NOT WORK.
RANNEBERGER: THERE HAS BEEN NO EMBARGO FROM THE REST OF THE
WORLD ON CUBA FOR FORTY YEARS. THAT ENGAGEMENT
WITH CUBA HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY CHANGE
WHATSOEVER -- NOT EVEN NOT JUST POLITICAL
REFORM, IT HASN'T EVEN TRIGGERED SERIOUS
ECONOMIC REFORMS IN THE WAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
SERIOUS ECONOMIC REFORMS IN CHINA. WE BELIEVE
THAT LIFTING THE EMBARGO UNILATERALLY NOT ONLY
WOULD NOT PROMOTE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN CUBA,
BUT IT COULD WELL STRENGTHEN THE HAND OF THE
REGIME AND PROLONG THE AGONY OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
BEYOND WHAT IT WILL ALREADY BE. OUR POSITION
REMAINS QUITE FIRM, WHICH IS THE EMBARGO WILL
ONLY BE LIFTED OR MODIFIED SIGNIFICANTLY IF
THERE IS FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC CHANGE AND
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA.
HOST: MICHAEL RANNEBERGER, COORDINATOR FOR CUBAN
AFFAIRS AT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, SAYS THAT
A TRANSITION IN CUBA IS INEVITABLE. THE U.S.
WANTS IT TO BE PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC. FOR ON
THE LINE, THIS IS --------.
ANNCR: YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO "ON THE LINE" -- A
DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. THIS IS --------.
05-Feb-99 10:09 AM EST (1509 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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