Posted on Thu, Feb. 22, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Commerce secretary: Tough stance on Cuba won't change
The Bush administration will not soften its stance on Cuba, said Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, the top Cuban American in the administration.
BY PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON - Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez had some straight talk Wednesday for lawmakers and business groups pressing for a softer approach toward a post-Fidel Castro Cuba.
The Bush administration won't waver from its tough stance toward Havana, he said.
''The question is not when will the U.S. change its policy. The question is when will the Cuban regime change its policy,'' said Gutierrez, the highest ranking Cuban American in the Bush administration and co-chairman of a high level government commission that makes recommendations on Cuba.
He dismissed Cuba's argument that the U.S. sanctions against the island are to blame for its hardships. The United States, Gutierrez noted, supplies one-third of the island's food and medicines, and millions of mostly Canadian and European tourists have traveled to the island but there's been no improvement in the plight of the Cuban people.
Apparently directing some of his remarks to Cubans on the island, he added that President Bush ``has no imperialist intentions. We have no military intentions to occupy the island. We will not confiscate property or support any arbitrary claims for property.''
In a jab at some Democrats who oppose free-trade agreements because they do not sufficiently promote labor rights, Gutierrez said foreign companies in Cuba pay the Cuban government for their employees in U.S. dollars, but the workers receive only a fraction of that money in pesos.
''And pity the worker who dares talk openly about the need to organize and operate unions,'' he told a gathering at the Council of the Americas, a group that advocates more U.S.-Latin American business engagement.
''The topics of trade, globalization and the working conditions of foreign laborers are being discussed . . . debated regularly in Washington, D.C.,'' he said. ``But why do labor conditions lose relevance when it comes to Cuba?''
Gutierrez described as ''naive'' talk that more U.S. contacts with the island would weaken the Castro government. Dealing with Fidel's brother and interim leader Raúl would be a ``tragic mistake.''
Congress has before it several bills that seek to relax travel and trade sanctions against Cuba. Democratic control of Congress for the first time since 1994 gives hope to opponents of U.S. policies toward Cuba that some restrictions could be relaxed.
Many observers believe that a bill repealing restrictions on Cuban American travel to the island backed by some Cuban-American groups stands the best chance of passing Congress and surviving a veto threat by President Bush.
Gutierrez gave no indication the administration would change its stance toward Cuban-American travel, noting that the money spent there ends up in government hands. ''We believe our policy is correct,'' he said.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/16753176.htm
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Commerce secretary: Tough stance on Cuba won't change
The Bush administration will not soften its stance on Cuba, said Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, the top Cuban American in the administration.
BY PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON - Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez had some straight talk Wednesday for lawmakers and business groups pressing for a softer approach toward a post-Fidel Castro Cuba.
The Bush administration won't waver from its tough stance toward Havana, he said.
''The question is not when will the U.S. change its policy. The question is when will the Cuban regime change its policy,'' said Gutierrez, the highest ranking Cuban American in the Bush administration and co-chairman of a high level government commission that makes recommendations on Cuba.
He dismissed Cuba's argument that the U.S. sanctions against the island are to blame for its hardships. The United States, Gutierrez noted, supplies one-third of the island's food and medicines, and millions of mostly Canadian and European tourists have traveled to the island but there's been no improvement in the plight of the Cuban people.
Apparently directing some of his remarks to Cubans on the island, he added that President Bush ``has no imperialist intentions. We have no military intentions to occupy the island. We will not confiscate property or support any arbitrary claims for property.''
In a jab at some Democrats who oppose free-trade agreements because they do not sufficiently promote labor rights, Gutierrez said foreign companies in Cuba pay the Cuban government for their employees in U.S. dollars, but the workers receive only a fraction of that money in pesos.
''And pity the worker who dares talk openly about the need to organize and operate unions,'' he told a gathering at the Council of the Americas, a group that advocates more U.S.-Latin American business engagement.
''The topics of trade, globalization and the working conditions of foreign laborers are being discussed . . . debated regularly in Washington, D.C.,'' he said. ``But why do labor conditions lose relevance when it comes to Cuba?''
Gutierrez described as ''naive'' talk that more U.S. contacts with the island would weaken the Castro government. Dealing with Fidel's brother and interim leader Raúl would be a ``tragic mistake.''
Congress has before it several bills that seek to relax travel and trade sanctions against Cuba. Democratic control of Congress for the first time since 1994 gives hope to opponents of U.S. policies toward Cuba that some restrictions could be relaxed.
Many observers believe that a bill repealing restrictions on Cuban American travel to the island backed by some Cuban-American groups stands the best chance of passing Congress and surviving a veto threat by President Bush.
Gutierrez gave no indication the administration would change its stance toward Cuban-American travel, noting that the money spent there ends up in government hands. ''We believe our policy is correct,'' he said.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/16753176.htm
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