An end to the U.S.-Cuba conflict
By Manuel Alberto Ramy
“there was unanimity among the Latin American nations to demand an end to the economic sanctions against Cuba”.
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By Jorge Gómez Barata
Cuba can give nothing to the United States because it has taken nothing from the U.S. and cannot stop threatening the United States because it never threatened it. As to the relationship of the Cuban…
‘Cuba will not accept conditions in exchange for so little’
By María Laura Carpineta
Wayne Smith, an expert on Cuba, was stationed in Havana as a diplomat; he witnessed the Revolution and Fidel’s entrance in the capital in 1959. A Kennedy advisor, Carter’s envoy to Cuba and at present a veteran diplomat, Smith explains to us the limits of the aperture and President Obama’s “lack of realism.”
He knows Cuba like few Americans.
From
Havana
An
end to the U.S.-Cuba conflict
Whose
court is the ball in?
By
Manuel Alberto Ramy Read Spanish Version
I
met Salim Lamrani several years ago, when he participated in an
international gathering held in Havana that I was covering for Radio
Progreso Alternativa. I was impressed by the way this young
Frenchman, of Algerian descent, a professor at the universities of
Paris Descartes and Paris-East Marne-la-Vallée, dealt with the Cuban
reality, especially Cuba-U.S. relations. At the time, I offered to
interview him and he answered "sure, colleague," because he
is also a journalist and writes for various European and Latin
American media. Since then, we have exchanged correspondence and
Progreso Weekly has published some of his works.
Two
days ago, I sent him a brief questionnaire about the Fifth Summit of
the Americas and the possibility of an improvement in relations
between Washington and Havana. I was counting on a positive response,
on the basis of friendship built on electronic correspondence. I
share with you the opinions of this specialist.
Manuel
Alberto Ramy:
How do you assess the just-ended Fifth Summit of the Americas?
Salim
Lamrani:
We cannot talk about a consensus, because several countries —
members of ALBA — refused to sign the final declaration, which did
not deal with the problems now faced by the American continent.
Nevertheless, there was unanimity among the Latin American nations to
demand an end to the economic sanctions against Cuba. Even allies of
Washington, such as Colombia and Guatemala, spoke out in favor of the
lifting of the state of siege that has lasted since 1960. President
Barack Obama gave signs of intelligence, respect and humility; this
has to be acknowledged.
Ramy:
What are the essential issues that unite Latin America and which
issues can divide us?
Lamrani:
Undoubtedly, there is a change of epoch in Latin America with the
rise to power of progressive leaders in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia,
and also in Brazil, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Argentina and Paraguay.
That is a factor for continental cohesion. The creation of ALBA is
unifying. Later, there will always be discrepancies among the various
nations. What’s important is for the elements of unity to prevail
over all the others.
Ramy:
The issue of Cuba, the blockade against the island, and the need for
a U.S.-Cuba dialogue seems to have been a common issue. Do you think
a dialogue will occur? Do you agree that it could begin with
less-conflictive issues such as migration, human trafficking and drug
interception?
Lamrani:
All conditions are present for an end to the conflict between the
United States and Cuba. The U.S. House and Senate are in favor of a
change in policy. U.S. public opinion also wants its government to
adopt a policy of rapprochement. According to a CNN survey conducted
10 April 2009, 71 percent of American citizens are in favor of the
reestablishment of diplomatic relations.
For
17 years, the international community has called for a lifting of the
blockade. The U.S. business world is in favor of resuming trade with
Cuba. Let’s not forget that the aggressor is called Washington and
the victim is the nation of Cuba.
Washington
must make three fundamental decisions: to free the five Cuban
political prisoners jailed since 1998, put international terrorist
Luis Posada Carriles on trial or extradite him to Venezuela where he
is wanted by justice, and abolish the Cuban Adjustment Act. Then a
dialogue will be possible.
Ramy:
Some say the ball is now in Cuba’s court. Is that true?
Lamrani:
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that it was now up to
Cuba to make a "reciprocal" gesture. Obama said the same.
Nothing is farther from the truth. In fact, the American president
repaired only very few of the numerous injustices that his
predecessors committed against the Cuban people.
Cuba
has never meddled in the internal affairs of the United States; it
has never attacked the U.S.; it has never sent troops to invade U.S.
territory; it has never sought to subvert the established order or
overthrow its government; it has never financed a domestic
opposition; it has never committed terrorist acts against the
American people; it has never protected terrorists in its territory;
it has never fostered illegal emigration; it has never forcibly
occupied part of its territory against the sovereign will of the
American people and has never broadcast subversive programs to the
United States.
Salim
Lamrani, a French journalist who specializes on US-Cuba relations,
teaches at the universities Paris Descartes and Paris-Est
Marne-la-Vallée. He has written, among other books, "Double
Moral: Cuba, the European Union and Human Rights" (Hondarriaba,
Hiru Publishers, 2008). His latest book is "Ce que les médias
ne vous diront jamais" (Paris, Estrella Publishers, 2009) which
carries a foreword by Nelson Mandela.
Contact:
lamranisalim@yahoo.fr
; salim.lamrani@parisdescartes.fr
Manuel
Alberto Ramy is Havana bureau chief for Radio Progreso Alternativa
and editor of Progreso Semanal, the Spanish-language version of
Progreso Weekly.
