News

USIS Washington 
File

05 January 1999

TEXT: ALBRIGHT ON PROMOTING U.S.-CUBAN EXCHANGES

(Six fact sheets outline policies on direct mail, etc.)  (2600)



WASHINGTON -- In order to expose additional elements of Cuban society
to democratic practices, the Clinton administration will encourage
further religious, scientific, educational, athletic and other
exchanges between the United States and Cuba, says Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright.


Briefing reporters January 5 at the State Department, Albright said
these increased exchanges will be accomplished by streamlining visa
and licensing procedures for travel between Cuba and the United States
by qualified persons other than senior Cuban government officials. In
addition, she said, U.S. citizens and nongovernmental organizations
will be licensed, on a case-by-case basis, to send larger remittances
to entities in Cuba that are independent of the Cuban government.


Albright emphasized that "these steps are neither designed nor
expected to alter our relations with the Cuban government. But taken
together, they constitute a major advance in our effort to reach out
to the Cuban people. They should help all Cubans to understand that
the United States is on their side in the search for economic choice
and prosperity, in the quest for freedom of religion, expression and
thought, and in the desire to fulfill Jose Marti's dream of a Cuba
where all may participate freely in the political life of their
country."


The following is the text of Albright's remarks, followed by a series
of fact sheets on U.S. policies covering food sales, remittances,
direct flights, people-to-people contacts, direct mail, and public
diplomacy:


(begin text)



SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S STATEMENT ON CUBA

January 5, 1999



Good afternoon.



Last March, in response to Pope John Paul II's inspiring pilgrimage to
Cuba, the Clinton Administration took steps to reach out to the people
of that country to make clear our concern for them and to help make
their lives more tolerable.


Today, after consultations with concerned non-governmental
organizations and leading members of Congress, we are announcing
additional steps in furtherance of that policy.


Our goal is to encourage the development in Cuba of peaceful civic
activities that are independent of the government and that will help
the Cuban people prepare for the day when their country is once again
free.


First, we will seek to expose additional elements of Cuban society to
democratic practices and values by encouraging additional religious,
scientific, educational, athletic and other exchanges between our two
peoples. We will do this by streamlining visa and licensing procedures
for travel between Cuba and the United States by qualified persons,
other than senior Cuban government officials.


Second, we will expand direct licensed passenger flights to Cuba by
authorizing flights from some cities other than Miami, and to
destinations in Cuba other than Havana.


Third, we are broadening the categories of eligible recipients in Cuba
for the receipt of financial remittances from the United States. Under
this policy, all U.S. residents will be authorized to send up to $300
each quarter to any Cuban family, except for senior government and
party leaders. In addition, U.S. citizens and non-governmental
organizations will be licensed, on a case-by-case basis, to send
larger remittances to entities in Cuba that are independent of the
Cuban Government.


Fourth, we will authorize the sale of food and agricultural inputs to
private entities and farmers in Cuba. This will also be done on a
case-by-case basis, and for the purpose of promoting economic activity
that is independent of the Cuban Government.


Finally, we will seek to restore direct mail service between the
United States and Cuba.


These steps are neither designed, nor expected, to alter our relations
with the Cuban government. But taken together, they constitute a major
advance in our effort to reach out to the Cuban people. They should
help all Cubans to understand that the United States is on their side
in the search for economic choice and prosperity; in the quest for
freedom of religion, expression and thought, and in the desire to
fulfill Jose Marti's dream of a Cuba where all may participate freely
in the political life of their country.


One year ago, Pope John Paul II brought to Cuba a message of hope and
justice, liberty and love.


Thanks to him, the right to celebrate Christmas has been restored to
the people of Cuba. Unfortunately, the Cuban Government has shown no
interest in restoring other freedoms. On the contrary, authorities
have been heavy-handed in crushing efforts to express dissent or to
mobilize support for internationally-recognized human rights.


It is the responsibility of the United States, our partners in the
hemisphere, and the world at large to maintain pressure for democratic
change.


To this end, the Clinton Administration will continue to support
adequate funding for broadcasting to Cuba. We will ask the
Broadcasting Board of Governors to study possible additional
broadcasting sites. And we will intensify our efforts through public
diplomacy to promote international support for those in Cuba who arc
struggling to gain the freedoms to which people everywhere are
entitled.


As President Clinton emphasizes in his own statement today, our policy
is designed to promote closer ties between our people and those of
Cuba without providing aid and comfort to a repressive and
backward-looking regime.


Our policy recognizes the importance of helping Cuban families to
overcome the divisions imposed by emigration and exile. For as one
Cuban-American leader told us, "In building civil society, the
strongest NGO is the family."


Before closing, I want to note with appreciation the constructive
proposal put forward by Senators Warner and Dodd and others concerning
the possible creation of a bipartisan commission on U.S. policy
towards Cuba.


Although we do not support establishing such a commission at this
time, we will continue to study the proposal, and to welcome other
suggestions for encouraging a democratic transition in Cuba.


Next year, the world will begin a new century. In Cuba, where the
population is especially young, the personalities and policies of the
leadership remain mired in the past, but the focus of the people is
rightly on the future.


We and the people of Cuba must act with tomorrow in mind. Fully aware
of present obstacles, we share a faith in the power of liberty to
inspire peaceful, but far-reaching change. Although we cannot foretell
how soon; we know the day is drawing closer when the community of
freedom will once more encompass the Pearl of the Antilles and the
hemisphere of American democracies will be complete.


Thank you very much.





FACT SHEET:  FOOD SALES



U.S. Policy:



-- On January 5 the President announced his decision to authorize
licensing of sales of food and agricultural inputs to independent
entities in Cuba.


-- As the President has said, we want to continue to find ways to
assist and support the Cuban people without strengthening the regime.
Our objective, building on the visit of the Pontiff to Cuba and
following up on the measures we announced last March 20, in to promote
the development and evolution of peaceful independent activity and
civil society. This will help promote a transition to a free,
independent, and prosperous nation, and will help prepare the Cuban
people for that goal.


New Measures:



-- Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, sales of food to entities
independent of the Cuban government. This could include religious
groups, private restaurants, and other such entities.


-- Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, the sales of agricultural
inputs to entities independent of the Cuban government. This could
include private farmers, farmers in cooperatives raising food for sale
in private markets, and other such entities.


-- U.S. Government financing for such exports will not be authorized.


-- The Departments of Commerce, the Treasury, and State will develop
licensing procedures in the coming weeks.


Background:



-- Sales of food and agricultural inputs were suspended in 1963.



-- Sales to independent entities and non-governmental organizations
will be licensed as a way to promote the development of activity
independent of the government in order to encourage a peaceful
democratic transition.


-- The embargo remains in place, except for licensed activity, and
will continue to be enforced.


FACT SHEET:  REMITTANCES



U.S. Policy:



-- On January 5 the President announced his decision to expand legal
remittances to the Cuban people.


-- As the President has said, we want to continue to find ways to
support the Cuban people without strengthening the regime. Our
objective, building on the visit of the Pontiff to Cuba, is to support
the development of peaceful independent activity and civil society in
order to help promote a transition to a free, independent, and
democratic state.


New Measures:



-- Under a general license, any U.S. citizen will be authorized to
send up to $300 each quarter of the year to any Cuban family, except
for senior-level Cuban government and communist party officials.
Cuban-Americana will continue to be permitted to send remittances to
family members.


-- Remittances may be sent for humanitarian purposes, i.e., to support
Cuban families.


-- U.S. citizens and non-governmental organizations will be licensed,
on a case-by-case basis, to send larger remittances to entities in
Cuba that are independent of the Cuban government.


-- The Departments of the Treasury and State will develop licensing
and monitoring procedures.


Background:



-- Legal remittances by Cuban-Americans to close family members in
Cuba for humanitarian purposes were reinstituted in March 1998.


-- Many Cubans are able to meet the most basic necessities of life for
their families only by receiving humanitarian packages and financial
assistance from relatives in the U.S.


-- Expanding remittances helps promote greater individual freedom.
Recipients will be less dependent on the state and less subject to its
economic pressures.


-- Expanding remittances beyond close family members of
Cuban-Americans to other Cubans helps them for humanitarian purposes,
reduces their dependence on the State and promotes independent civil
society.


FACT SHEET:  DIRECT FLIGHTS



U.S. Policy:



-- On January 5 the President announced his decision to expand direct
passenger charter flights to Cuba.


-- As the President has said, we want to continue to find ways to
support the Cuban people without strengthening the regime. Our
objective, building on the visit of the Pontiff to Cuba, is to support
the development of peaceful independent activity and civil society in
order to help the Cuban people prepare for a transition to a free,
independent, and prosperous nation.


New Measures:



-- In addition to the existing licensed direct passenger charter
flights to Havana from Miami, departures from some other U.S. cities
will be authorized. In order to facilitate the licensed travel of
individuals whose relatives live outside of Havana, direct flights
will also be authorized to Cuban cities other than Havana.


-- The Departments of the Treasury, Commerce, and State will develop
implementing procedures in the coming weeks, and will continue to
license qualified carrier service providers.


Background:



-- The U.S. is expanding direct passenger charter flights as a way to
facilitate family reunification and to promote people-to-people
exchanges through licensed travel.


-- This will promote the development of peaceful independent activity
and civil society within Cuba,


-- Travelers on all fights must he licensed. In addition to persons
travelling once a year to visit close relatives, by far the largest
category, other licensable travel includes persons travelling for
clearly defined religious or educational activities, cultural
activities, persons belonging to recognized human rights organizations
and other non-governmental groups, journalists, and official U.S.
Government travelers, among others.


FACT SHEET:  INCREASED PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACTS



U.S. Policy:



-- On January 5 the President announced his decision to expand
people-to- people contacts.


-- As the President has said, we want to continue to find ways to
support the Cuban people without strengthening the regime. Our
objective, building an the visit of the Pontiff to Cuba, is to support
the development of peaceful independent activity and civil society in
order to help the Cuban people prepare for a transition to a free,
independent, and prosperous nation.


New Measures:



-- We wish to encourage an expansion of educational, cultural,
humanitarian, religious, journalistic and athletic exchange, and other
appropriate people-to-people contacts. For example, the Baltimore
Oriole's organization will be licensed to explore the possibility of
playing exhibition games where profits would benefit Caritas-Cuba.


-- These people-to-people contacts will be expanded in two ways: by
facilitating travel of persons from Cuba to the U.S. who qualify for
visas; and by streamlining licensing procedures for qualified U.S.
persons travelling to Cuba.


-- Travel from Cuba to the U.S.:



Qualified Cubans who are not senior members of the Cuban government or
party will continue to be given visas.


The visa process will be streamlined and accelerated.



-- Travel to Cuba from the U.S.:



Licensing procedures will be streamlined for qualified U.S. persons
travelling to Cuba.


We will also develop procedures to license multiple visits for
qualified individuals and groups in the above mentioned categories.


Travel for recreation or tourism, or travel otherwise in contravention
of the embargo, continues to be prohibited.


-- The Departments of Treasury, Justice, and State will develop
licensing procedures.


Background:



-- Expanding educational, cultural, journalistic, athletic, religious
and humanitarian exchanges to and from Cuba will facilitate
people-to-people-contacts, specifically supporting the development of
peaceful activities in Cuba independent of the Cuban government and
promoting a peaceful transition to democracy.


-- The revised visa procedures are not intended to expand contacts or
relations between the U.S. and Cuban governments. Visa applications by
senior-level Cuban officials will continue to be reviewed in
Washington on a case-by-case basis.


FACT SHEET:  DIRECT MAIL



U.S. Policy:



-- On January 5 the President announced his decision to seek to
re-establish direct mail service with Cuba.


-- As the President has said, we want to continue to find ways to
support the Cuban people without supporting the regime. Our objective,
building on the visit of the Pontiff to Cuba, in to support the
development of peaceful independent activity and civil society in
order to help the Cuban people prepare for a transition to a free,
independent, and prosperous nation.


New measures:



-- The U.S. Government will contact the Cuban government to work out
the details of establishing direct mail service.


Background:



-- Direct mail between the U.S. and Cuba is authorized by the Cuban
Democracy Act of 1992. It was suspended in 1962.


-- Currently mail is sent to and from Cuba via third countries,
causing significant delays and sometimes losses.


-- Establishing direct mail will facilitate people-to-people contacts,
and will significantly expand the flow of information to the Cuban
people.


FACT SHEET:  INCREASED PUBLIC DIPLOMACY



U.S. Policy:



-- The U.S. has an active public diplomacy effort around the world
focusing on the deplorable human rights situation in Cuba.


-- As the President has said, we want to continue to find ways to
support the Cuban people without supporting the regime, support the
development of peaceful independent activity and civil society. The
U.S. will intensify efforts to bring the reality of Cuba to the
attention of the world public opinion and world governments.


New Measures:



-- USIA will study alternative broadcast sites in order to try to
improve reception of Radio Marti and TV Marti.


-- We will be seek to identify funding for a new aerostat for TV Marti
broadcasts to Cuba.


-- A new Presidential Advisory board on Broadcasting to Cuba will be
named.


-- USIA and State Department will enhance public diplomacy programs to
better inform Latin America and the EU countries on the reality of
Cuba today.


(end text)