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 You are in: Under Secretary for Political Affairs > Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs > Releases > Newsletter 

Focus on Western Hemisphere, May 11, 2004



The Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba

President Bush at a meeting in the Roosevelt RoomThe Commission, chaired by Secretary Powell, released its report on May 6, 2004. As the Secretary said, "President Bush formed the U.S. Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba to explore ways we can help hasten and ease Cuba's democratic transition. As this report shows, the United States seeks to cooperate with neighbors in the hemisphere and nations across the globe to help Cubans prepare for democratic change."

Click on photo for larger version and caption.

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In this Issue:

  • Remarks by President George W. Bush After Meeting with the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba [full text]
  • Fact Sheet: Report of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba [full text]
  • Executive Summary: Report to the President from the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba [full text]

For more information, try these links:

Remarks After Meeting with the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba

President George W. Bush
White House
Washington, DC
May 6, 2004
11:20 A.M. EDT

Mr. Secretary, thank you for the report you've just given me. I've received a Commission for the Assistance of a Free Cuba, it's a report from a commission that I have put together in my administration to hasten the day that Cuba will be a free country.

We believe the people of Cuba should be free from tyranny. We believe the future of Cuba is a future of freedom. It's in our nation's interest that Cuba be free. It's in the neighborhood's interest that Cuba be free. More importantly, it's in the interest of the Cuban people that they be free from tyranny.

This strategy is a strategy that encourages the spending of money to help organizations to protect dissidents and to promote human rights. It is a strategy that encourages a clear voice of the truth being spoken to the Cuban people through radio and TV Marti. It is a strategy that will prevent the regime from exploiting hard currency of tourists and of remittances to Cubans to prop up their repressive regime. It is a strategy that says we're not waiting for the day of Cuban freedom, we are working for the day of freedom in Cuba.


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