The Havana Note: "Applying Principle to Practice at Summit of the Americas"

[magbana]

http://thehavananote.com/

The Havana Note

Applying Principle to Practice at the Summit of the Americas

With all that is at stake today, we cannot afford to talk past one another. We can´t afford to allow old differences to prevent us from making progress in areas of common concern. We can´t afford to let walls of mistrust stand. Instead, we have to find - and build on - our mutual interests. For it is only when people come together, and seek common ground, that some of that mistrust can begin to fade. And that is where progress begins.
--President Barack Obama, Weekly Address, Saturday, April 11, 2009

No question that President Obama is summoning our nation and the world to a higher standard. Can he now apply it close to home and reject advisers that for domestic political reasons put him in conflict with a powerful consensus among our neighbors about Cuba?

There is no real reason why President Obama cannot demonstrate that he is hearing US and Western Hemisphere opinion by walking the walk at the Summit of the Americas in these ways:

1) Use his authority to immediately grant general licenses for unlimited use by all 12 codified categories of non-tourist travel, including not only family but also for educational, religious, humanitarian, cultural and sports purposes

2) Indicate that he welcomes and will sign legislation from Congress to restore the right to travel of all Americans, while hoping that Cuba will do the same for its own people.

3) Announce that the US will dismantle the electronic billboard at the US Interests Section and support a reciprocal agreement for the Interest Sections in both countries to function in a more normal diplomatic fashion, including travel within the country and engaging in dialogue with a full range of official and unofficial persons while avoiding partisan intrusion in domestic affairs

4) Instruct the State Department to issue visas for Cubans wishing to visit the US for academic, cultural, professional and people to people dialogue purposes

5) Announce the appointment of a credible special representative such as Gov. Bill Richardson to begin high level discussions of available channels of practical cooperation and the resolution of all bilateral issues, including compensation for nationalized US property and the unilateral embargo

If the President wants to be truly bold he can:

1) Say the US has no objection to Cuba's participation in the Summit in whatever status is appropriate to its current non-membership in the OAS, a situation the US hopes will be soon addressed so the organization incorporates all countries in the Hemisphere on an equal basis.

2) Use his legal authority to partially lift the embargo for humanitarian reasons, allowing Cuba to purchase construction and agricultural supplies and equipment needed because of hurricane damage, and authorizing a general license for American organizations and individuals who wish to donate such supplies

3) Respond favorably to Raul Castro's suggestion of mutual gestures to resolve the problem of people imprisoned in each country which the other considers political (Cuban 5, Black Spring 54) http://progreso-weekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=882&Itemid=1

4) Indicate that a review is taking place to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism

5) State that the return of the territory of Guantanamo Bay to Cuba is a legitimate topic for bilateral discussion

Posted by John McAuliff on April 11, 2009 11:02 AM | Permalink

[Judi Lynn]

1. Progreso weekly is excellent. I can see when I get back I need to look up "Black Spring 54."

Looks like a very big deal, and I've never heard of it.

Thanks for the article. These suggestions are wonderful.

They DO need to take down that flaming, blinking crap on the U.S. Interests Section James Cason put there.