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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202003-018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2003Contact: USAID Press Office
Miami, FL - Adolfo A. Franco, Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), today announced that USAID will continue to provide funding to the University of Miami for the second year of their Cuba Transition Project (CTP), a pioneer academic program that conducts research regarding multiple issues affecting Cuba's transition to democracy. USAID provided 1 million dollars in funding for the first year of the project and expects to provide 1 million dollars for the second year. $500,000 of second-year funding has been provided.
"President Bush is committed to helping the people of Cuba achieve freedom. We are confident that Cuba will soon enjoy the blessings of democracy," said Mr. Franco.
"The U.S. government is proud to continue support to the vital Cuba Transition Program underway at the University of Miami. The analysis now being produced should make a significant contribution to shaping assistance to a future transition government in Cuba," he added.
"We are delighted that USAID has extended this grant for a second year. It is an important recognition of the quality of the work being done by the Cuba Transition Project," said Dr. Jaime Suchlicki, Director of the University's Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies, who spearheads the project.
The mission of the CTP is to prepare and support Cuba's democratic transition in a post-Castro era. In its first year, the CTP has concentrated on identifying and assessing the challenge that a democratic transition will face in a post-Castro Cuba. It is developing six databases to offer significant information regarding topics such as foreign investment in Cuba -- specifically joint ventures, risk contracts, management contracts on the island; existing treaties and accords entered into by the Cuban government; and the number and identities of political prisoners in Castro's prisons.
Additionally, the CTP publishes electronically a weekly information bulletin, Cuba Focus, reporting on issues of importance in Cuba. All the products of the CTP, including the research studies, the databases and past issues are available on line at http://ctp.iccas.miami.edu.
The CTP will continue its research studies and will concentrate its efforts this coming year in training and education of the judiciary to function as an independent branch of government. In addition, the CTP will focus on the development of a new commercial code, law of corporations and commercial banking; and the establishment of economic and financial institutions to support market led development.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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