Miami Herald Article:
Posted on Mon, Sep. 15, 2008
Cuba to U.S.: Lift embargo rules for six months
BY FRANCES ROBLES
The Cuban government asked Washington for a six-month reprieve on embargo rules that prohibit the communist country from making purchases from American companies, saying devastation from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike make it critical.
Washington and Havana have been in embroiled in a diplomatic dispute over hurricane aid since Hurricane Gustav smashed into western Cuba on Aug. 30. Washington offered $100,000 and a humanitarian assessment team, and the Cuban Foreign Ministry answered by saying what it needed was purchasing credits.
Havana sent a second, more harshly worded note last week when Washington made the same offer after Hurricane Ike devastated eastern Cuba. The statement released Thursday called U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutiérrez a hypocrite, and said U.S. diplomats were cynical liars.
But Sunday's diplomatic note published Monday takes a much softer tone.
''The Cuban Interests Section in Washington wishes to communicate to the government of the United States that our country cannot accept a donation from the country that blockades us, although it is willing to purchase the indispensable materials that the North American companies export to the markets, and requests authorization for the provision of same, as well as the credits that are normal in all commercial operations,'' the statement said.
``If the government of the United States does not wish to do so permanently, the government of Cuba requests that at least it do so during the next six months, especially if the damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike is taken into account, as well as the fact that the most dangerous months of the hurricane season are still ahead.''
There was no immediate response from Washington.
Last week Gutiérrez said the Cuban government is behind on payments to many of its creditors, and suggested that the request for credits was a pretext.
''Do they really want us to extend their credits?'' he said.
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5 comments:
Why not accept the donation?
Instead they want to lift the embargo? If the people are in need and the country is having a hard time repaying its existing debt, why not accept the donation and offers to assist. It seems as though they are using this crisis to once again gain the upper hand in dealing with the U.S.
Thanks for posting Tony, very interesting.
I continue to marvel at two things. First, the regimes unfathomable preference for scoring political points rather than help its people. Second, the incredible ease with which it succeeds in placing the US/Cuban Americans on the intellecutal defensive.
It is a pity (and to some degree shameful) that the US AND the Cuban-American community continue to allow Cuba to wage an unchallenged intellecutal war, in the court of public opinion.
Currently, we simply have no thought leaders in our community to articulate reality.
It is a crazy world where a government has the gravitas to wholeheartedy refuse aid, aid sorely needed to feed a devesated populace, and instead call for changed in US policy.
Where is the regime's heart? In its people? Clearly not, since they refuse direct and immedaite aid to alleviate their suffering.
Washington's supposed AID offer is conditioned on Cuba accepting a US evaluation team on Cuban soil, and, furthermore, though Washington says it is "offering" $100,000.00 in aid, is continuing to spend $45,000,000.00 to attempt to destabilize Cuba from within through the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba.
Cuba has stated that it cannot accept donations from a government that blockades it, but reiterates its desire to BUY the materials it needs, using the normal credit procedures common to commercial transactions.
It also notes that if the US does not want to to end those restrictions permanently, it requests that the US do so for the next six months, taking into consideration the damage done by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and the fact that the most dangerous months for hurricanes are still to come.
Cuba is offering to PURCHASE needed supplies, as it has PURCHASED needed food from the US for FOUR YEARS already.
Considering the bailouts Washington is giving to Freddy Mac, Fannie Mae, Bear Stearns and all the rest, why shouldn't PRIVATE companies be permitted to themselves grant Cuba credit if they want to grant it?
Hey Walter,
You continue to misrepresent the crux of the issue.
As you well know, any type of item my be purchased in the world market, by any country, at any time. Thus, Cuba can very easily purchase food, batteries, clothes, steel, etc., etc., immediately. The reason it is having trouble is because Cuba is not paying its bills, and hence, companies do not want to extend credit. Cuba can't pay its bills becuase it clings to a disproven economic model which serves to only enrich those at the top.
Hence, the fact that American companies, in particular, cannot extend credit to Cuba is irrelevent within the context of helping the Cuban people today.
Since companies around the world (barring the US) are unwilling to sell to Cuba...countries have come to the rescue and offered aid - from my understanding, Cuba has only accepted help from Chavez. So the people suffer, again, for no reason.
Regarding the 100k vs. 45M, you misinterpret the facts. It is because of the calamity in Cuba that the US is willing to ignore its ideological differences and offer aid to Cuba.
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