Obama says Cuba should make next move on relations

[Bacchus39]

Source: AP



MEXICO CITY – President Barack Obama wants Havana to make the next move to improve U.S.-Cuba relations, saying Thursday that he needs to see signs of changes on the island before he makes any more overtures.

Obama already has lifted restrictions on visits and money sent to Cuba by Americans with families there — steps he called "extraordinarily significant" for those families, and a show of good faith by the U.S. government that it wants to recast the relationship.

But he reiterated that the U.S. won't unilaterally end its trade embargo against Cuba, even though the policy is widely seen as a failure that has complicated U.S. relations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Obama said a relationship frozen for 50 years "won't thaw overnight," and that Cuba can show it wants to move forward by lifting its own restrictions on Cubans' ability to travel and to voice their opinions.






Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090416/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_us_cuba

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and of course: Chavez called the U.S. position a "show of disrespect."

[iandhr]

1. who cares what Chavez said

This is absolutely right 50 years of no relationship does not end over night. It was 6 years before Nixon went to China to meet with Mao, before the United states under Carter recognized The People's Republic of China as the legitimate government of China in 1979 ending our diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)

[ohio2007]

4. I would guess the mayor of CARACAS, doesn't care what Huge ego says either

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3831852&mesg_id=3831852

[subsuelo]

2. need a tissue?

:cry:

[classysassy]

3. Castro

please welcome all of the florida cubans homes,get rid of the cuban republicans.

[AlphaCentauri]

5. "U.S. won't unilaterally end its trade embargo against Cuba" LOL

What? Does Cuba has an embargo on the US?
:rofl:

"Cubans' ability to travel"

US gives Cubans fast track visas
The United States has begun issuing fast track visas to Cubans who have relatives living in America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7341843.stm

So Cubans don't have the ability to travel :eyes:

and to voice their opinions

So they don't voice their opinions, wonder why nobody listen to them :eyes:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cubans-in-havana-protest-posada-carriles-release-from-jail/3637922934

[Bacchus39]

6. Cubans have to get an exit stamp from the government to travel

even if they receive a visa from another nation to travel there they still need permission by way of the tarjeta blanca.

Cubans have lots of opinions, unfortunately their government doesn't let you hear them.

[AlphaCentauri]

7. Their government or our government?

the majority of countries issue passports for their citizens no difference however with the Tarjeta Blanca.

As far as I know we are the ones promoting the blockade not them.

[Bacchus39]

8. no difference? do you need a tarjeta blanca???

I have a passport. I can leave when I want. Can that be said of Cubans??

[Billy Burnett]

9. Put a fork in it. The tarjeta blanca is done.

Adiós a la Tarjeta Blanca
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.aollatinoblog.com/2008/04/17/adios-a-la-tarjeta-blanca/&ei=0dHpSY7DBpqltgf8gvGOBg&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCuba%2Btarjeta%2Bblanca%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG%26num%3D20%26newwindow%3D1

Article points out that other nations require Cubans to get extra documentation - including the US.

I guess that Cubans won't be able to stay at any hotels that are owned by American companies or do business in the US - that would be a violation of the US sanctions on Cuba. The US has, in the recent past, warned US based international hotel chains that they can't host Cubans even in foreign 3rd countries, and the hotels have subsequently kicked the Cubans staying at their hotels out. That is in accordance with US laws. This has created quite a dust-up with several nations because this US law represents a violation of their national sovereignty in that they have fully normal relations with Cuba and the hotels must comply with the sovereign laws of the host nation.

The US is entirely out to lunch with this embargo and sanctions on Cuba.

[AlphaCentauri]

10. "kicked the Cubans staying at their hotels out"

Jesus, that's irrational

[Vogon_Glory]

11. How Dare You Fail to Vigorously Denounce Obama for His Tardiness

How dare you denounce the Obama administration for its tardiness in not immediately ending the economic embargo against Cuba? As any right-thinking progressive knows, those sanctions must be ended immediately with no expectation of any concessions favoring counterrevolutionaries or malcontents. Anyone who doesn't agree that the US should unilaterally end the embargo is obviously a paid agent of CANF and other Florida-based organizations. ;-)