CUBA
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28 July 2006
U.S. Ready To Help Cuba Move Toward Democracy
By Lauren Monsen
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- When Cuba moves away from the regime of communist dictator Fidel Castro toward a democratic government, its people can rely on the United States to help ease the transition, says Caleb McCarry, coordinator for the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba.
McCarry, in a July 27 testimony before the House Committee on International Relations' Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, described the work of his commission and summarized a new report issued by his office. The Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba was created by the Bush administration and authorized by the president to draw up plans for facilitating Cuba's eventual transition to democracy.
"On July 10th, the president approved the second report of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba and a Compact with the People of Cuba," said McCarry. "The commission is co-chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez."
Both the compact and the commission's report offer recommendations that "reflect America's resolve to stand with Cuba's brave opposition leaders, men and women who speak for those Cubans who are forced into fearful silence but who remain free in their hearts and in their minds," he said.
The compact, he explained, "is a message of hope and reassurance to Cubans that they can count on our concrete aid in areas such as humanitarian needs, economic recovery, and free and fair elections." To support the spread of political and economic liberty in Cuba, the United States vows "to help rebuild Cuba's shattered economy" once a transition government is in place, said McCarry.
Moreover, "we pledge to encourage assistance from other countries, associations and private companies," he told legislators. "And we pledge to discourage third parties from intervening to obstruct the will of the Cuban people."
At the same time, McCarry was careful to stress that the compact and the recommendations of the commission "are not prescriptions or dictates." The United States will provide extensive aid to Cuba if it is asked to do so "by a Cuban transition government that is committed to dismantling all instruments of state repression and implementing internationally respected human rights and fundamental freedoms, including organizing free and fair elections for a democratically elected new Cuban government within a period of no more than 18 months," he said.
In addition to outlining the scope of U.S. assistance to a transitional Cuban government, the commission's report also recommends a number of specific actions to expedite the emergence of representative democracy in Cuba, McCarry noted. For example, "the report sets out a new two-year $80 million program, aimed at stepping up our efforts along multiple fronts, including breaking the [Castro] regime's information blockade and offering support for the efforts of Cubans to prepare for the day when they will recover their sovereignty and can select a government of their choosing through free and fair multi-party elections," he pointed out.
The contributions of other countries and entities will be significant, as well, McCarry indicated. "The [commission's] report recognizes that the international community and Cubans abroad will have an important role to play in Cuba's transition," he said. "The United States ... [wants] to encourage all nations to join with us in supporting the right of all Cubans to define a future of freedom and democracy for themselves and for their country."
He recalled the words of the U.S. secretary of state, when the commission's report was released July 10. On that day, Rice told the people of Cuba: "You have no greater friend than America. You can always count on our support and we will be ready to stand with you through the process of transformation to your democratic future." (See related article.)
When change occurs, the Cuban people will finally be the authors of their own destiny -- and many of them are now contemplating that change, said McCarry. "Cubans in Cuba, at great personal risk, are already talking about a democratic transition for their country," he observed. "It is what Cubans say about the future of Cuba that truly matters."
Cuba's opposition movement "is creating momentum for democratic change in Cuba," he said. "With our offer of advice and assistance to all who seek democratic change in Cuba, we hope to add to this momentum."
And after Castro is gone, his agents will not be able to seek refuge in the United States, McCarry said. In fact, the commission's report advises "the [Castro] regime's henchmen [who] are orchestrating violent attacks on the opposition and other independent groups ... that they will be denied U.S. visas," he said.
Of course, "this is an ongoing process to assist Cubans in their transition to freedom," so "we will need to update and adapt our preparations to keep pace with the Cubans themselves," said McCarry. "This will ensure that when asked, we will be able to offer appropriate support that meets needs identified by Cubans."
McCarry concluded his remarks by reiterating the need for international solidarity on behalf of the people of Cuba, and cited the commission's report as a reminder to Cubans that their plight has not been forgotten. "We hope that this report will find resonance with the people of Cuba, the world's democracies and the people of the United States," he said. "Together, we can reassure the Cuban people that they can count on democratic allies as they move to see their sovereign will ultimately expressed through free and fair multi-party elections."
The full text of McCarry's prepared testimony is available on the House committee’s Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) | 
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