WASHINGTON — In a significant new initiative, President Bush today plans to allow increased humanitarian aid to Cuba but demand far-reaching political reforms by Fidel Castro as a prerequisite for easing U.S. economic sanctions against the island, administration officials said Sunday.
In a major speech marking Cuban Independence Day, the president intends to offer private humanitarian aid, scholarships and U.S.-Cuban mail service.
But in excerpts of his remarks made available Sunday night, the president insists that the 4-decade-old trade embargo will remain unless Cuba holds internationally monitored National Assembly elections next year, releases political prisoners, reforms its economy and allows a free opposition and independent trade unions.
"Without major steps by Cuba to open up its political system and its economic system, trade with Cuba will not help the Cuban people--it will merely enrich Castro and his cronies and prop up their dictatorship," according to the text.
"Full normalization of relations with Cuba--diplomatic recognition, open trade and a robust aid program--will only be possible when Cuba has a new government that is fully democratic, when the rule of law is respected and when the human rights of all Cubans are fully protected," it said.
The president is scheduled to deliver his speech twice today, first at the White House this morning and then in midafternoon in Miami.
While Bush has long opposed any easing of sanctions against Cuba, he came under fresh pressure to change his stance last week during a six-day visit to Cuba by former President Carter, a Democrat.
While in Havana, Carter called for an end to the trade embargo, as well as for political reforms. Many members of Congress are joining the call for easing sanctions. So are some Cuban Americans--especially the younger ones, breaking from a once-solid united front against Castro, who overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista in 1959 and imposed a Communist dictatorship. When the Cuban president began confiscating property and nationalizing U.S. companies, the United States responded with a trade embargo.
Among the series of steps outlined in his "Initiative for a New Cuba," Bush intends to:
* Call for a resumption of mail service to and from the island.
* Establish scholarships in the United States for the families of political prisoners and for Cuban students and professionals seeking to build independent civil institutions.
