Report Outlines U.S. Support for Cuba's Struggle for Democracy
10 July 2006
Bush administration reaffirms commitment in Compact with the People of Cuba
Washington -- The United States stands in solidarity with the Cuban people in their struggle for freedom and is expanding its support for Cuba’s opposition leaders as well as preparing to work with a transition government that would move Cuba away from dictatorship, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
On July 10, Rice and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez announced the release of the second report to the president by the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba (CAFC) at a press briefing in Washington. The report, Rice said, reflects the United States’ resolve to support the Cuban people.
“Under President Bush's leadership, the United States is keeping our promise to marshal our resources and our expertise, and to encourage all nations to join with us in supporting the right of all Cubans to define a future of freedom and democracy for themselves and for their country,” she explained.
As part of this effort, the United States is providing concrete support for democratic change in Cuba, including a new, two-year, $80 million program that endeavors to break the Cuban regime’s information brigade. The initiative also reinforces efforts to prepare for future free and fair elections.
“We are laying the groundwork to offer specific, substantial assistance for a democratic transition in Cuba, including humanitarian aid,” Rice said.
In addition to the release of the second report of the CAFC, Rice and Gutierrez also issued a Compact with the People of Cuba in which the United States pledges to help the Cuban people and a new transition government in Cuba.
“The Compact is a message of hope and reassurance to Cubans that they can count on our concrete aid in areas like humanitarian needs, economic recovery and free and fair elections,” Gutierrez said.
He explained that as part of the compact, the United States pledges to provide emergency food, water, fuel and medical equipment. The United States also pledges to help rebuild Cuba's shattered economy, enhance personal security and to encourage assistance from other countries, associations and private companies. As part of the compact, the United States will discourage third parties from intervening to obstruct the will of the Cuban people, according to Gutierrez.
The United States will do this and more, the commerce secretary said, provided that it is asked to do so by a Cuban transition government that is committed to dismantling all instruments of state repression and implementing internationally respected rights and freedoms. According to the compact, these freedoms should include the rights of free speech, freedom of the press and freedom of worship; the legalization of all peaceful political activity; the release of all political prisoners; the establishment of an independent judiciary; the allowance of independent unions and associations; and the right to private property. Cuba’s transition government also should commit itself to the organization of free and fair elections of a democratically elected Cuban government within a period of no more than 18 months, the compact said.
Caleb McCarry, Cuba transition coordinator at the State Department, said that the compact and the expanded U.S. support for Cuba’s opposition look to build on the momentum for democratic change the opposition movement is already creating in Cuba.
“As a community of free nations, now is the time to intensify our efforts to stand with the Cuban people as they work to secure liberty, prosperity and reconciliation when Cuba becomes free,” he said.
McCarry said that it is important to note that the U.S. offer of assistance is that -- an offer, and it will ultimately be up to Cubans to define their democratic future. As the compact states:
“The people of Cuba have a choice: economic and political freedom and opportunity –or more political repression and economic suffering under the current regime.”
A transcript of the press briefing and the full texts of the report (PDF, 93 pages) and compact are available on the State Department Web site. A fact sheet on the report is available on the White House Web site.
For additional information on U.S. policy, see Cuba.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
