Clinton and Lula Differ on Cuba

HAVANA TIMES
July 8, 2009

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once again asked the Cuban government to free its political prisoners and hold “free and fair elections” in statements to the rightwing Globovision TV of Venezuela. Nonetheless, Clinton said her government is negotiating with Cuba on important issues such as migration, reported IPS.

Clinton made no mention of the Cuban Five, held in US prisons for over 10 years for gathering information on terrorist organizations based in Miami that have operated under the complacent eye and with support from Washington during 11 administrations.

Cuban President Raul Castro has welcomed a prisoner swap that would free the “dissidents” in exchange for the Cuban Five.

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Lula da Silva continued to demand Tuesday that the United States end its half-century economic blockade on Cuba. Lula brought up US-Cuba policy during a speech at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. He has repeatedly told President Obama that US relations with Latin America would get a big boost if Washington achieved rapprochement with Cuba.

Source: http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=11300

Freedom To Travel

U.S. Travel Ban on Cuba

For more than four decades, the United States has tried to isolate Cuba, economically and diplomatically.

When we look at Cuba news, we see an increasingly public and vigorous debate about the economy. We see the nations of the region conducting ordinary and even extraordinary relations with Cuba. What we don't see is a story line involving the United States, the effectiveness of U.S. policy, or even much of a presence or a role as the possibilities of change unfold.

Top 10 List

"This top ten list is a powerful reminder to Congress and all Americans that sanctions against Cuba do nothing but violate American values, cost American jobs, stain our image overseas, and breach our basic rights," said Sarah Stephens of the Center for Democracy in the Americas. "As Cuba enters a new era, so should America, and replace our policy of isolating Cuba with one favoring engagement, travel and trade."