Cuba Venezuela Reject New US Effort Supporting Democracy in Cuba

Cuba, Venezuela Reject New US Effort Supporting Democracy in Cuba
By Lisa Ferdinando
Miami
12 July 2006

The United States has highlighted its new effort to support an eventual
a transition to democracy in Cuba, while again accusing Venezuela of
trying to block efforts for political change. Havana and Caracas have
rejected the latest U.S. push.

Cuba and Venezuela have reacted angrily to the new $80-million U.S.
program that supports a transition to democracy in Cuba.

The president of the Cuban parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, has told
reporters he thinks the U.S. effort is a provocation that will intensify
the decades-old U.S. economic embargo against Cuba, hurting those who
need aid and medical attention.

The U.S. effort was announced Monday with the release of a report by the
bipartisan Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. The program
includes funds to strengthen democratic efforts for Cuba and bring
information to the island via broadcasts and the Internet.

But the commission's report also accuses Venezuela of trying to block
efforts toward democracy on the island.

The U.S. Cuba transition coordinator, Caleb McCarry, briefed reporters
in Miami Wednesday and repeated the charge.

"The current regime in Havana is working with like-minded governments,
particularly Venezuela, to build a network of political and financial
support designed to forestall any external pressure for change," said
Caleb McCarry.

But Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez describes the report, in his words,
as a new imperialist threat and says Venezuela will further support
Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro, who came to power in 1959.

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