United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (right) announces the recommendations of 'The Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba', which includes spending 80 million dollars over two years, to help foster democracy in Cuba and enable citizens of the Communist island to free themselves from repressive government, at the State Department in Washington, yesterday. At left is Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who co-chaired the commission with Rice.
- REUTERS
HAVANA (AP):
A UNITED States presidential commission urged Washington to spend US$80 million to help non-government groups hasten a transition to democracy in Cuba, but some dissidents here said the move would do them more harm than good.
The recommendations Monday by the Presidential Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba come just as Fidel Castro's Cuban government is moving to strengthen its leadership and institutions to ensure the status quo.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice released the commission's report during a Washington news conference that international journalists in Havana followed by teleconference.
Rice said the report's recommendations "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.
"We are increasing our determination to break the regime's information blockade," Rice said. "And we are 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 multiparty elections."
The US$80 million in new funds, to be spent over two years, is to include US$31 to support independent civil society entities, US$24 million to "break the Castro regime's information blockade" and expand access to independent information, including through the Internet and US$15 million to support international efforts at strengthening civil society and in transition planning.
