Text
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 1996
CONTACT: Karin Walser
w:202-225-7300
h:202-232-6550
Jim McGovern
w:202-225-8273
h:202-546-8933
Mike Ryan (ABC
Forum on Cuba)
h:202-543-3210
MOAKLEY STATEMENT ON CUBA TRIP
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Joe Moakley released the following
statement from his office today on his recent trip to Cuba:
"I traveled to Cuba for two basic reasons --- first, to try
to create an atmosphere in which relations between the US and
Cuba could be improved; and, second, to find ways to support
ordinary Cuban people.
My trip was hosted by the ABC Forum on Cuba, a non-profit
organization dedicated to educating US citizens on issues related
to Cuba and to supporting the activities of NGO's promoting human
rights and helping the Cuban people.
Our delegation consisted of 23 participants ranging from
business leaders to NGO's like the Boston-based Oxfam America.
I met with a variety of people while in Cuba -- including top
Cuban government officials, church leaders, dissidents, NGO's,
foreign diplomats, US officials.
I even had the chance to visit a small group of farmers who are
working with Oxfam on a project to increase agriculture
production for sale on the open market. These farmers and all
the ordinary people I had the chance to meet, were excited to
talk with our delegation and candid about their hopes for closer
ties with people in the United States.
In addition, my aide Jim McGovern and I had a 2 hour private
meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro. Afterwhich, the Cuban
leader met with our entire group for another 2 hour session. I
told President Castro that we are at a crossroads in terms of USCuba relations. The United States Congress is nearing final
action on the so-called Helms-Burton Bill which, if signed into
Joe Moakley, U.S. House of Representatives, Room 235, Cannon Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-7300
~ ·
Moakley release
page 2
law, will strengthen the current economic embargo and end any
possibility for improved relations anytime in the near future.
I told President Castro that there must be more movement in
Cuba with regard to human rights and economic reforms -- and
urged him to act now. He seemed responsive and pledged to give
my request very serious and immediate consideration.
We also had an excellent meeting with Jamie Cardinal Ortega
the Roman Catholic Cardinal in Cuba. His Eminence told us
that the official position of the Catholic Bishops was against
the US embargo for humanitarian reasons. He also was very clear
about his continued concerns regarding human rights abuses that
currently exist in Cuba.
On a related matter, I raised with the Cuban leadership my
hope that they would invite Pope John Paul II to visit Cuba
during his visit to the Caribbean later this year.
My trip began and ended with important meetings with Cuban
dissident groups. While these people suggested that the
difficulties in Cuba run much deeper than the economic hardships,
a majority of those we met expressed opposition to the HelmsBurton legislation.
One of the things that stunned me the most about my trip is
the explosion of independent entrepreneurship. There are roughly
208,000 independent family businesses operating in Cuba. This
entrepreneurship is allowing people greater personal freedom from
government controls. When people are no longer dependent on the
government for their jobs, they are freer from economic coercion.
I got the sense that the Cuban government recognizes that these
small businesses are necessary for the country's economic
viability and are accepting the political space that they create.
In fact, Caritas (a Catholic charitable organization in
Havana) described its plans to establish training programs to
help these fledgling businesses succeed. Michael Ryan, President
of ABC Forum on Cuba, which organized the trip said: "It was
great to see our group get excited about helping support the
Cuban people, particularly in their efforts to form small
businesses and independent NGOs. A number of our participants
expressed a real desire to support these efforts after we
concluded our trip."
The European Union is about to hold talks with the Cubans on
closer economic ties -- and is using this opportunity to urge the
Cuban government to improve its human rights record. The United
States could have ten times more leverage with Cuba than the
Moakley release
page 3
Europeans if we got serious about improving relations. Right now
the embargo leaves us completely out of the picture.
I'm afraid
if we let Helms-Burton become law, we will lose an important
opportunity to improve the situation in Cuba. Of all the
meetings I had, there was consensus on one thing -- that the
future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans on the island. The
degree to which we can encourage positive change will depend on
whether or not we defeat Helms-Burton.
-30-
January 19, 1996
CONTACT: Karin Walser
w:202-225-7300
h:202-232-6550
Jim McGovern
w:202-225-8273
h:202-546-8933
Mike Ryan (ABC
Forum on Cuba)
h:202-543-3210
MOAKLEY STATEMENT ON CUBA TRIP
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Joe Moakley released the following
statement from his office today on his recent trip to Cuba:
"I traveled to Cuba for two basic reasons --- first, to try
to create an atmosphere in which relations between the US and
Cuba could be improved; and, second, to find ways to support
ordinary Cuban people.
My trip was hosted by the ABC Forum on Cuba, a non-profit
organization dedicated to educating US citizens on issues related
to Cuba and to supporting the activities of NGO's promoting human
rights and helping the Cuban people.
Our delegation consisted of 23 participants ranging from
business leaders to NGO's like the Boston-based Oxfam America.
I met with a variety of people while in Cuba -- including top
Cuban government officials, church leaders, dissidents, NGO's,
foreign diplomats, US officials.
I even had the chance to visit a small group of farmers who are
working with Oxfam on a project to increase agriculture
production for sale on the open market. These farmers and all
the ordinary people I had the chance to meet, were excited to
talk with our delegation and candid about their hopes for closer
ties with people in the United States.
In addition, my aide Jim McGovern and I had a 2 hour private
meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro. Afterwhich, the Cuban
leader met with our entire group for another 2 hour session. I
told President Castro that we are at a crossroads in terms of USCuba relations. The United States Congress is nearing final
action on the so-called Helms-Burton Bill which, if signed into
Joe Moakley, U.S. House of Representatives, Room 235, Cannon Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-7300
~ ·
Moakley release
page 2
law, will strengthen the current economic embargo and end any
possibility for improved relations anytime in the near future.
I told President Castro that there must be more movement in
Cuba with regard to human rights and economic reforms -- and
urged him to act now. He seemed responsive and pledged to give
my request very serious and immediate consideration.
We also had an excellent meeting with Jamie Cardinal Ortega
the Roman Catholic Cardinal in Cuba. His Eminence told us
that the official position of the Catholic Bishops was against
the US embargo for humanitarian reasons. He also was very clear
about his continued concerns regarding human rights abuses that
currently exist in Cuba.
On a related matter, I raised with the Cuban leadership my
hope that they would invite Pope John Paul II to visit Cuba
during his visit to the Caribbean later this year.
My trip began and ended with important meetings with Cuban
dissident groups. While these people suggested that the
difficulties in Cuba run much deeper than the economic hardships,
a majority of those we met expressed opposition to the HelmsBurton legislation.
One of the things that stunned me the most about my trip is
the explosion of independent entrepreneurship. There are roughly
208,000 independent family businesses operating in Cuba. This
entrepreneurship is allowing people greater personal freedom from
government controls. When people are no longer dependent on the
government for their jobs, they are freer from economic coercion.
I got the sense that the Cuban government recognizes that these
small businesses are necessary for the country's economic
viability and are accepting the political space that they create.
In fact, Caritas (a Catholic charitable organization in
Havana) described its plans to establish training programs to
help these fledgling businesses succeed. Michael Ryan, President
of ABC Forum on Cuba, which organized the trip said: "It was
great to see our group get excited about helping support the
Cuban people, particularly in their efforts to form small
businesses and independent NGOs. A number of our participants
expressed a real desire to support these efforts after we
concluded our trip."
The European Union is about to hold talks with the Cubans on
closer economic ties -- and is using this opportunity to urge the
Cuban government to improve its human rights record. The United
States could have ten times more leverage with Cuba than the
Moakley release
page 3
Europeans if we got serious about improving relations. Right now
the embargo leaves us completely out of the picture.
I'm afraid
if we let Helms-Burton become law, we will lose an important
opportunity to improve the situation in Cuba. Of all the
meetings I had, there was consensus on one thing -- that the
future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans on the island. The
degree to which we can encourage positive change will depend on
whether or not we defeat Helms-Burton.
-30-