Press Conference with former U.S. President James Carter

[dipsydoodle]

When I was President I did all I could to improve diplomatic relations between my country and Cuba. I eliminated all travel restrictions so that the Americans could travel here and Fidel Castro and I worked together to establish interest sections in Washington and Havana, which continue to allow for some kind of communication between our two countries.

I believe we should immediately eliminate the trade embargo that the United States has imposed on the people of Cuba and also allow travel without any kind of restriction from the U.S. to Cuba and vice-versa, so I think it’s important that I’ve come. On this occasion, I wanted to learn from the Cuban government’s principal officials about the coming Party Congress, which will take place mid-April and I have received information from the President of the National Assembly, President Raúl Castro and former President Comandante Fidel Castro and other leaders of the Cuban government about plans for the future.

Cuban officials are very proud of the fact that they have received good comments from the people of Cuba and many suggestions have been incorporated, as I understand, into the text which will be discussed during their Congress.

I hope that in the future this will be added to those documents and that there will be complete freedom so all Cubans can express themselves, gather and travel, according to the international human rights norms which are applied in Cuba.

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/cuba-i/1april-Press-Conference.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thank you for posting this press conference with former President Carter.

It would be so appropriate if the current President treated his observations with the respect they deserve, and listened to him rather than the hardliner idiots in Miami. Everyone knows what they are, and they couldn't be less concerned with democracy. They don't practise it themselves, nor did they when they controlled Cuba.

I remember the previous trip, and the live broadcast by radio and tv of his speech to all Cubans, all over the island live. What a cool event.

Thank you. Rec.

[Peace Patriot]

2. K&R! Carter is the exemplar of peace-oriented diplomacy. I wish we could clone him. nt