The New Opening With the USA (statement from Raul Castro)

[Mika]

Source: counterpunch

DECEMBER 17, 2014
Learning the Art of Coexistence
The New Opening With the USA

by RAUL CASTRO

Since my election as President of the State Council and Council of Ministers I have reiterated in many occasions our willingness to hold a respectful dialogue with the United States on the basis of sovereign equality, in order to deal reciprocally with a wide variety of topics without detriment to the national Independence and self-determination of our people.

This stance was conveyed to the US Government both publicly and privately by Comrade Fidel on several occasions during our long standing struggle, stating the willingness to discuss and solve our differences without renouncing any of our principles.

The heroic Cuban people, in the wake of serious dangers, aggressions, adversities and sacrifices has proven to be faithful and will continue to be faithful to our ideals of independence and social justice. Strongly united throughout these 56 years of Revolution, we have kept our unswerving loyalty to those who died in defense of our principles since the beginning of our independence wars in 1868.

Today, despite the difficulties, we have embarked on the task of updating our economic model in order to build a prosperous and sustainable Socialism.

As a result of a dialogue at the highest level, which included a phone conversation I had yesterday with President Obama, we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of mutual interest for both nations.

As Fidel promised on June 2001,when he said: “They shall return!” Gerardo, Ramon, and Antonio have arrived today to our homeland.

The enormous joy of their families and of all our people, who have relentlessly fought for this goal, is shared by hundreds of solidarity committees and groups, governments, parliaments, organizations, institutions, and personalities, who for the last sixteen years have made tireless efforts demanding their release. We convey our deepest gratitude and commitment to all of them.

President Obama’s decision deserves the respect and acknowledgement of our people.

I wish to thank and acknowledge the support of the Vatican, most particularly the support of Pope Francisco in the efforts for improving relations between Cuba and the United States. I also want to thank the Government of Canada for facilitating the high-level dialogue between the two countries.

In turn, we have decided to release and send back to the United States a spy of Cuban origin who was working for that nation.

On the other hand, and for humanitarian reasons, today we have also sent the American citizen Alan Gross back to his country.

Unilaterally, as has always been our practice, and in strict compliance with the provisions of our legal system, the concerned prisoners have received legal benefits, including the release of those persons that the Government of the United States had conveyed their interest in.

We have also agreed to renew diplomatic relations.

This in no way means that the heart of the matter has been solved. The economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which causes enormous human and economic damages to our country, must cease.

Though the blockade has been codified into law, the President of the United States has the executive authority to modify its implementation.

We propose to the Government of the United States the adoption of mutual steps to improve the bilateral atmosphere and advance towards normalization of relations between our two countries, based on the principles of International Law and the United Nations Charter.

Cuba reiterates its willingness to cooperate in multilateral bodies, such as the United Nations.

While acknowledging our profound differences, particularly on issues related to national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign policy, I reaffirm our willingness to dialogue on all these issues.

I call upon the Government of the United States to remove the obstacles hindering or restricting ties between peoples, families, and citizens of both countries, particularly restrictions on travelling, direct post services, and telecommunications.

The progress made in our exchanges proves that it is possible to find solutions to many problems.

As we have reiterated, we must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilized manner.



Read more: http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/17/the-new-opening-with-the-usa/

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public statement - no copyright infringement

[BeanMusical]

1. This needs a kick!

[niyad]

2. k and r

[Fred Sanders]

3. A wonderfully thoughtful and respectful statement from a man demonized by the cons for...what?

[Major Nikon]

4. Maintaining what is effectively an authoritative dictatorship for one

Not that the cons ever had problems with that when it served their purposes.

[Mika]

5. Yeah. And the Castros eat babies.

Show me some cons who established world class universal education and health care?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Clearly one who never bothered to learn what condition Cuba was in to bring on the Revolution.

People living with intestinal parasites, without running water, without sewer systems, without electricity, people who had to get written permission from the landowners to go to the doctor, etc., etc., etc. Death squads? The "White Palace" described by U.S. CIA Philip Agee as a horrendous torture center? On, and on, and on.

Batista's military bombing his own people? Blacking out stories in the magazines in the news stands? Having his brother-in-law picking up nightly pay-offs from the Mafia-run hotel casinos? On and on, and on, and on. It was a viciously racist society, and Batista was so stupid he didn't even know they secretly looked down on him because he was part Chinese, didn't want him to be a member at their Yacht Club.

It was a pile of maggots. The Cubans were glad to say goodbye to those dirty, racist creeps when they ran for the airplanes, Batista's regime, of course, taking along the contents of the Cuban National Treasury as they cleared out.

Jesus H. Christ.

[Major Nikon]

9. What exactly does that have to do with no free elections over 50 years later?

Even if you subscribe to consequentialism, one should think that argument would run rather thin after 10 years or so.

[Mika]

10. Perhaps you should educate yourself on this topic.

Old thread on this topic that might prove helpful to you before you go on ...

Scroll thu, it does have some arguing in it, and some factual presentation too....

Electoral Process Continues Smoothly Nationwide (Election season kickoff in Cuba)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x31936

[Major Nikon]

15. Sure, Raul Castro was elected unanimously in 2008

Imagine that. That dude that was running against him must have been a real asshole. I can't remember his name. Since you're the expert, maybe you can refresh my memory.

[Mika]

17. Maybe you should familiarize yourself with how parliamentary systems work.

Cuba changed over to a parliamentary system in 1976. Like Canada, Britain, and other parliamentary systems, they don't have direct elections for Head of State.

Its in the book I posted for you in this thread. Read it before getting all snarky and not having the information needed to negotiate an informed discussion.

Cheers.

[Major Nikon]

18. Please

This was your first (unsolicited) reply to me where you get all snarky and inform me I don't know shit from beans about the subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=968490

So if you don't want someone "getting all snarky" perhaps you should take your own advice.

I'll give you the same challenge. Perhaps you should better educate yourself on the subject rather than just reading one book from an obscure author and pretending you have superior knowledge.

You can start with the Reporters Without Borders report on freedom of the press:
http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/cl_en_2008.pdf

Cuba ranks 169, out of 173. But sure, comparing them with PRNK is a "false equivalency" because they ranked 3 spots higher along with Burma and Turkmenistan.

Then you might check out what Raul Castro's chief of staff had to say after defecting 10 years ago:
"Cuba is, pure and simple, a dictatorship each day more devoid of the attributes that once made it attractive."
“It is simply impossible to undertake any political or economic initiative in Cuba. The only option one has is to surrender to the dictates of the regime and to the thinking of the one and only maximum leader, who is above all the citizens. … Fidel is accountable to no one and is able to live his own reality.”
-- Alcibiades Hidalgo

So yeah, Cuba hold elections for a "parliamentary system" by which all decisions can and are vetoed and altered by a family dynasty which is utterly unalterable by the people. Raul Castro is the unalterable chief of the "parliamentary system", president of the cabinet, party chief of the one and only political party, and commander in chief of the military all rolled up into one and guaranteed for life by an unalterable constitution.

You might check Forbes' richest list and see where Castro rates. He and his family literally own just about everything in Cuba and he controls virtually all the financial resources of the country.

Or you can just ignore all this and keep pretending you're an expert on the subject due to your exhaustive reading list.

[Mika]

20. FYI, I lived in Cuba.

Last edited Thu Dec 18, 2014, 05:40 PM - Edit history (1)

I have family and friends there. I go regularly.
My info doesn't come from an obscure book. It comes from personal experiences IN Cuba.
I posted the book for you to use as a primer, because you quite obviously only know anti Cuba propaganda.

You might want to do that sometime, before spouting your Forbes BS.

Cheers.

[Major Nikon]

22. I find this quite hilarious

Castro's state-run propaganda network is the gold standard of journalism, but Forbes is BS.

[Major Nikon]

19. Holy shit, Batman

I didn't notice this before because your link is dead, but are you no-shit trotting out a "news" story from a state-run propaganda outlet and actually presenting this as evidence that I should better educate myself on free elections in Cuba?

[Mika]

23. Link works fine.

Only source from outlets you agree with or that conform to some imagined standard.
THAT's how to expand your wealth of knowledge.

[Major Nikon]

24. By that standard the PRNK must really be a democracy because they say so

I guess you missed the part where Cuba puts journalists in jail or sends them to reeducation camps for reporting the slightest negative story about the Cuban government. You're also the one who conveniently ignored all the information I posted which contradicted your belief that the Castro brothers are anything but totalitarian dictators. Yet I'm the dunce for rejecting Castro's state-run mouthpiece that assures you their elections are going swimmingly.

[Mika]

25. Yes. Because Cuba and the DPRK are exactly the same.

Do yourself a favor and look up the James Risen case, ongoing now.

- -

I'm not trying to convince you. You should take a trip to Cuba if you can, like millions do every year - and they write about their experiences all over the inter-web. When you go, you can rent a car (an economy size European or Asian models) and go pretty much anywhere. Gas is pricey, but doable. You don't need hotel reservations. You can simply wing it and find some of the most beautiful countryside, beaches, and wonderful Cuban people all the way. You can freely interact, ask them what you want. See plenty of schools, municipal centers, churches, and all of the stuff one can see on a Caribbean vacation. Really, its the only way to cut through the BS on either side of debating Castro, et al. Go. See what the Cubans in Cuba have to say. See for yourself. It's worth it's weight in gold. I lived there. Visit my family there. I'm sure you'll re-evaluate some of your ideas.

Sorry we got off on a bad footing. I wish you the best.

Cheers.

[Major Nikon]

29. They are very much the same

Both are single party states and the only fully communist states still in existence. Both are ruled by family regime totalitarian dictators. Both have virtually zero freedom of the press. Both countries are closed to migration. Both conduct sham elections. Both exercise total financial control at the highest levels and skim directly off the top making their totalitarian family regimes filthy rich. Both have propaganda ministries that lie to their people through the exercise of total media control and manipulation.

None of this has anything to do with what I think of the people of Cuba, nor have I ever agreed with US policy towards Cuba. I have European friends that vacation in Cuba and love it. My wife's best friend is Cuban. She and her husband travel there every year and tell us all about it. They bring us back gifts from Cuba every year. I'd love to go there. I have my own plane and would gladly fly and vacation there if it were practical.

[Mika]

30. Go there during an election season.

Glad you're open to going.
It'll blow away your false assumptions.

[Judi Lynn]

11. If you live long enough you will be unable to remain unaware of the fact they have elections now.

You need to spend your time and energy trying to learn more about their government and how it works instead of lapping up the propaganda crappola you've been swallowing apparently since you could read as if it were actually true.

At some time you'll need to learn to look more deeply into what you are told. It's part of growing up instead of growing old.

[Major Nikon]

13. So does the DPRK

Spare me the condescension. You just aren't that good at it.

[Mika]

14. Spare us the straw man arguments and false equivalencies.

Cuba is not the DPRK.

There's plenty of info out there on Cuba's electoral processes.

Here's a good point to start ...



$9 at Amazon. Worth the education.

[Major Nikon]

16. So Cuba doesn't have a single party system and complete control of all media

Good to know.

[Major Nikon]

8. Are you contradicting the answer I provided?

Because I'm certainly not going to go to bat for the cons. So you're barking up the wrong tree.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Tremendous statement by Cuba's leader. Thank you, so much, Mika. n/t

[Cha]

12. Thank you, Mika.. Bam!

"As a result of a dialogue at the highest level, which included a phone conversation I had yesterday with President Obama, we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of mutual interest for both nations."

Laura Rozen @lrozen
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President Obama spoke with #Cuba's Raul Castro yesterday by phone, highest level US Cuba presidential engagement since Cuba revolution
6:08 AM - 17 Dec 2014 109 Retweets 29 favorites


The White House ✔ @WhiteHouse
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"We will begin to normalize relations between our two countries." —President Obama #CubaPolicy
7:03 AM - 17 Dec 2014 895 Retweets 346 favorites

[Rhinodawg]

21. Funny...he didn't mention his POLITICAL PRISONERS .

or freedom of speech, assembly, press.


damn...there goes my amnesty values again.

[Ruby the Liberal]

26. Thanks for this, Mika. K&R!

I can't wait to visit.

[Mika]

27. For unapproved travel, we'll have to wait.

But, if one fits within the demographics of the latest US approved list one can go.

[Ruby the Liberal]

28. I am patient

Been wanting to visit since I first saw pics in the 80s.

[Joe Worker]

31. Not a huge fan of this administration

But we should have done this long ago. Like maybe the 70's.

I have traveled a bit in Central America and would jump at the chance to visit and enjoy the culture and long lost music etc. in Cuba.