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US GOVERNMENTS REPORTS |
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04 November 2003
U.S. Criticizes U.N.
Call for End to Cuba Trade Embargo
General Assembly resolution on U.S. embargo on Cuba called "misguided"
The United States voiced strong exception to what it calls a "misguided"
resolution passed November 4 by the United Nations General Assembly calling
for the end to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.
Sichan Siv, U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Economic and Social
Council, said in a statement delivered mostly in Spanish that the embargo
has been kept in place by successive U.S. administrations in order to
maintain pressure to restore freedom and democracy on the Communist-ruled
island.
Siv said Havana has shown "no interest whatsoever" in implementing the
necessary economic and political reforms in exchange for the United States
relaxing the embargo. The regime of Cuba's Fidel Castro, added Siv, has
"steadfastly refused" to allow any kind of political opening and continues
to deny the Cuban people the most basic of human rights.
Siv said that the Castro regime's "failed economic policies" -- not the U.S.
embargo -- have impoverished Cubans and "destroyed what once was one of the
most advanced economies in the region."
Following is the transcript of Siv's remarks, with Spanish portions
translated into English:
U.S.-U.N. Press Release
November 4, 2003
Statement by Ambassador Sichan Siv
U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council on the Trade
Embargo Against Cuba
United Nations General Assembly Plenary Session
November 4, 2003
Mr. President,
As in years past, the Government of Cuba has tabled a resolution on the U.S.
trade embargo against Cuba in an attempt to blame its economic woes on the
United States, and to divert attention from its abysmal human rights record.
We strongly take issue with this resolution. Regardless of one's views on
the embargo, it should be clear that this is a bilateral issue between the
United States and Cuba.
It is important to bear in mind that the embargo was imposed after the
illegal and large-scale expropriation of American properties for which the
Cuban government offered no compensation. It has been kept in place by
successive Administrations in order to maintain pressure to restore freedom
and democracy in Cuba.
It is not a blockade, as the Cuban government asserts in its official
pronouncements, since it does not interfere with trade with other nations.
Cuba is free to trade with any other country in the world, and indeed does
so. In addition, more than 175,000 Americans legally visited Cuba last year
using regular charter services that exist between the U.S. and Cuba.
The truth is that Cuba's trade with other countries is not affected by the
embargo, but instead by its poor credit rating stemming from the fact that
it does not pay its bills and has billions of dollars in loans in arrears.
It is the communist regime's failed economic policies -- not the embargo --
that have impoverished Cubans and destroyed what once was one of the most
advanced economies in the region.
The U.N. Economic Commission on Latin America (ECLAC), in a study conducted
in conjunction with a Cuban think tank, concludes that Cuba must ease
restrictions on small businesses to revive its suffering economy. Cuba needs
to deregulate in order to achieve real growth but Castro cannot do that
without ceding decision-making authority.
We have offered to make changes in the embargo in exchange for reforms. In
May 2002, the United States challenged the Castro government to undertake
political and economic reforms, in particular to permit free and fair
elections to the National Assembly. We also challenged the Cuban government
to open its economy, allow independent trade unions, and end discriminatory
practices against Cuban workers. President Bush made clear that his response
to such concrete reforms would be to work with the U.S. Congress to ease the
restrictions on trade and travel between the United States and Cuba.
Instead of a political opening, the Cuban government carried out a brutal
crackdown last March, sentencing 75 members of the opposition, including
independent journalists, economists, trade unionists and human rights
advocates, to up to 28 years in prison. It was the worst act of political
repression against advocates of peaceful change in the history of Cuba.
Havana has shown no interest whatsoever in implementing the necessary
economic and political reforms. Castro has steadfastly refused to allow any
kind of political opening and continues to deny the Cuban people the most
basic human rights as recognized by the Universal Declaration.
The Cuban government will portray the support for this resolution as support
for the regime and its repressive policies, just as it has so often done in
the past.
For all these reasons, the United States strongly opposes this misguided
resolution.
Mr. President,
In the eighties, President Reagan reflected on U.S.-Soviet relations by
using a Russian quote: "Doveryai, no proveryai" (trust but verify). On
communists and dictators like those in Havana, I say: "Nikogda ne doveryai,
vsegda proveryai" (never trust, always verify).
Mr. President,
The best day for Cuba is when the Cuban people open their ears and hear the
truth.
It's when they open their eyes and see freedom.
It's when they open their mouth and say "Viva Cuba libre!"
Cuba's best day is when the Cuban people have terminated Castro's evil,
communist, dictatorial regime and said to him: "Hasta la vista, baby!"
Thank you, Mr. President. |
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