Keep Cuba sanctions, Democratic presidential candidate Kerry says

[Osolomia]

Mon, Sep. 01, 2003
BY PETER WALLSTEN
Miami Herald

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, a Democratic candidate for president who has campaigned heavily in Florida for cash and votes, appeared to shift his stance on the trade embargo with Cuba on Sunday, telling a national television audience that he now supports keeping sanctions in place.

Kerry's remarks, delivered on NBC's Meet the Press, seemed to contradict statements he made during a 2000 interview with The Boston Globe that a reevaluation of the embargo was ''way overdue'' and that the only reason Cuba has been treated differently than China and Russia is the ``politics of Florida.''

Kerry on Sunday called that ''an honest statement,'' but when NBC's Tim Russert asked whether he endorsed lifting sanctions he replied: ``Not unilaterally, not now, no.''

The Massachusetts senator, who has met privately over the past year with exile leaders, said Sunday that he would support easing travel restrictions, though he was vague about how to do it and whether he was referring to tourism. He also said he might consider allowing more money to be sent to dissidents.

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