EU urged to improve relationship with Cuba

[Mika]

EU urged to improve relationship with Cuba
http://www.vnagency.com.vn/NewsA.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=34&NEWS_ID=127472

Mexico, Nov. 18 - More than 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across the world on Wednesday sent open letters to the European Union (EU) requesting the signing of an EU-Cuba cooperation agreement and the lifting of the punitive measures against the island country it ordered in June 2003.

Representatives of the NGOs called on the EU to normalise its relationship with Cuba in the interest of mutual respect and reinforced solidarity as well as out of respect for the country’s fundamental rights, sovereignty and independence.

They stressed that the EU policy towards Cuba has not helped address their disputes but enlarged the gap.

Trend:

In --> Cuba

Out --> USA

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. I agree with your reading of the trend

and the EU will be there years before us. And even when the embargo is finally lifted, I don't see the Cuban people forgiving us. Yipee!

[Mika]

3. The EU is already in Cuba

Most all of the giant new hotels and resorts, as well as many agriculture and medical projects are joint ventures between European businesses and the government of Cuba.


Cubans in Cuba, by and large, do not hold a grudge against Americans... they want us to be able to visit and see Cuba for ourselves, like the rest of the world is able to.

[flobee1kenobi]

5. it would be funny if it wasn't so sad

The world now looks to the EU as the future in world politics
:cry:

Thanks W!

[damntexdem]

16. We'd better hope so --

and Cuba is only a minor reason for that.

[chicagiana]

2. They better get in their fast ...

This would be a good move for the EU as long as they do it quickly.

Methinks the Bush administration has plans to invade the island since they are so helpless.

However, EU cooperation with Cuba and EU people on the ground would help keep the Bush administration from invading.

[Mika]

7. Cuba helpless?

There would not be a single country that would support a US invasion of Cuba - NONE.


If one thinks that the Iraqi resistance is strong, Cuba would be an even greater bloodbath. Cubans know well the US gov intentions. They would resist 'till the end.

[chicagiana]

17. Your assuming the Bush admin CARES ...

... about bloodbaths. They do not.

[DireStrike]

4. Hu Jintao, Chinese president visited Cuba

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1002524

[prayin4rain]

6. That's good, I would like to see Cuba do better.

The USA sure can hold a grudge can't they (we)? 'Course I guess Castro can too. Either way I hope this works out for them.

[Mika]

8. Huh?

President Castro has been seeking the normalization of relations with the US government since 1959.

[robcon]

12. One could disagree that Castro's insertion of missiles...

was not exactly an attempt at normalization with the U.S.

[Mika]

14. FYI, those weren't Castro's missiles

JFK was negotiating with Russian Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev for their removal.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Mika, sometimes people simply refuse to educate themselves....

It sure would spare everyone ELSE so much time correcting their misrepresentations (deliberate, no doubt).



Sunset at the Bay of Pigs (Bahia de Cochinos)

[reprobate]

20. Castro's FIRST move after the revolution was to visit Ike.

He tried to get Eisenhower to help with the many things cube needed after the revolution. Good old Ike sent him back to cuba with an empty sack.

That's why he accepted aid from the ussr. We insulted him and his country, while the russians accepted him and helped get them on their feet.

One has to wonder what the world situation would be now if Ike hadn't caved to the coporations that controlled cuba under Batista. All the gambling and prostitution brought them in big money and Castro ended all that. And they were pissed. That's the reason that the beautiful island of cuba is our enemy.

Always follow the money.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Why did the EU place punitive measures against Cuba in the first place?

Did the large Cuban exlile community in Berlin put too much pressure on the EU?

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Does anyone know why the EU did this?

:shrug:

[Gloria]

10. The lovely people at Radio Havana just sent me a New Year's card....

I wrote to them for a QSL months ago, got a nice letter and things back...and out of the blue, now this card...

That business with cutting of $$ and visits to family in Cuba is the tip of the iceburg. The 400 page document that contains this also calls for basically privatizing the whole island, and "revamping" their health system which really has been working extremely well as well as every other social institution they have....The goal is to basically flatten Cuba's culture. Remember, Cuba is so far advanced in many areas, in spite of their being cut off for so long, that it is a beacon for much of Latin America in terms of its innovative science and tech minds. Really, what the PNACers yearn for in terms of Cuba is terrible and Radio Havana has read quite a lot of the plans on the air. I hope the EU acts as a buffer....

PS--Cuba seems to have some oil underneath its waters and is hoping to develop it so they can get a much needed economic boost.

[CHIMO]

11. Zapatero: waiting for a phone call from the White House

Relations between Spain and the United States took a downturn with the election of Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero following the March 11 attacks in Madrid. Now, despite an attempt by Mr Zapatero to open up a dialogue by placing a phone call to the US president on the occasion of the latter's election victory, the gap between Madrid and Washington appears to be growing even wider.
Following his surprise win at the polls in March this year, Mr Zapatero quickly steered away from the policy of his predecessor by pulling Spain's troops out of Iraq, much to the irritation of US President George Bush. Since then, the Spanish government has been pushing for the EU to strengthen its ties with communist Cuba, which is still the target of tough US sanctions. Given Spain's current positions on such issues, it may come as little surprise that Mr Bush was not available to take a congratulatory phone call from the Spanish prime minister last week following his victory in the US presidential elections. The fact that Mr Bush has yet to return that call, however, is seen by some as evidence of just how deep the rift that separates the two leaders has become.

http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/currentaffairs/region/westerneurope/spa041117

[lynx rufus]

13. Tell me something about Cuba:

Why do Cubans risk crossing the ocean to Miami?
Are these individuals who were released from
Cuban prisons?
Do they have family in Miami?
Are most Cubans happy where they are?

[Mika]

15. OK

"Why do Cubans risk crossing the ocean to Miami?"

The US's Cuban Adjustment Act & the US's wet foot/ dry foot policy of allowing entry of any Cuban who touches US shores.

The USA offers over 20,000 LEGAL immigration visas per year to Cubans (and Bush has announced that the number would increase despite the fact that not all 20,000 were applied for in the last few years). This number is more than any other single country in the world. Its the US interests section in Cuba that does the criminal background check on the applicants.

The US's 'wet foot/ dry foot' policy (that applies to Cubans only) permits Cuban criminals and felons who arrive on US shores by illegal means to remain in the US despite having failed to qualify for a legal US immigration application.

Cubans who leave for the US without a US visa are returned to Cuba (if caught at sea - mainly in smuggler's go-fast boats @ $5,000 per head) by a US/Cuban repatriation agreement. But IF they make it to US soil, no matter who they are or what their criminal backround might be, they get to stay in the US and enjoy perks offered ONLY TO CUBAN IMMIGRANTS (via the US's Cuban Adjustment Act and a variety of other 'Cubans only' perks). Perks like instant work visa, instant green card, instant access to sec 8 taxpayer assisted housing, instant social security, instant welfare, free health care, and more.

These perks are not offered to any other immigrant group, but yet, without the perks offered to Cubans, immigrants still pour into the US from all over the Caribbean and the Latin Americas - many taking greater risks than Cubans to get here.


Get it? There is no such thing as a Cuban illegal immigrant. Plus, they get perks that no other group is offered.


Overwhelmingly they are economic immigrants.
-



"Are these individuals who were released from Cuban prisons?"



Some are. This would disqualify them from getting a legal US immigration visa. The US's Cuban Adjustment Act & the US's wet foot/ dry foot policy circumvents the legal pathways.

-


"Do they have family in Miami?"


Some do.

-



"Are most Cubans happy where they are?"


Yep. Not all of the annual 20,000+ US offered visas are applied for.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

21. Have you seen the interview Oliver Stone did with Castro?

I don't know much about Cuba/U.S. relations except what was taught to me in H.S. history class (which was very limited and I am beginning to learn, packed full of untruths). Castro said we granted asylum to some guy who tried to assasinate him - and never prosecuted him. I am just blown away. I saw in the doc how much the people appear to love him - it's amazing to me what a bad perception so many of us are taught.
I don't know enough to judge either way - but I am not taking the U.S. gov's line on it. I know enough not to trust most of what comes out of the propaganda machine.

[struggle4progress]

22. kick

:kick: