| Press Statement Sean McCormack, Spokesman Washington, DC November 2, 2005 U.S. Offer of Assistance to Cuba in the Wake of Hurricane WilmaIn the wake of Hurricane Wilma, the United States is providing $100,000 to independent, non-governmental organizations in Cuba. In addition to this initial and immediate assistance to the Cuban people, the U.S. has offered to deploy a three-person technical assessment team to evaluate and recommend possible further help to those affected by the hurricane. On October 26, the Cuban government informed us that it was prepared to accept the U.S. technical assessment team. However, in subsequent discussions the Castro regime changed the team’s mission, limiting their ability to assess the situation of the Cuban people impacted by Hurricane Wilma. The Cuban Government instead wants to use the assessment team’s mission to discuss the Cuban government’s vision for regional disaster response. The assessment team offer remains on the table, but we are unwilling to turn a humanitarian mission into a political dialogue on issues not related to providing relief to the Cuban victims of Hurricane Wilma. 2005/1007 |
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