Posted on 08/28/2009 7:27:34 PM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
HAVANA (AP) — The United States should implement the announced permission for Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba, and the island should respond by eliminating exit restrictions on its citizens, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson recommended.
This was one among a list of suggestions the American devised during his visit to the island, which ended on Friday.
"There is a very good environment, the best I have seen in many years," Richardson stated in relation to a possible approach between the two countries.
According to the governor, "humanitarian" steps should be taken to stimulate links between people [involved] in culture or academia.
Richardson said that he hopes President Barack Obama will finally implement the liberalization of trips and shipments of family packages which was announced at the beginning of his administration, in addition to liberalizing guidelines for greater scientific exchange.
He added that, at the same time, it would be prudent for Havana to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and costs for Cubans to travel overseas. Presently, the authorities require an exit visa from their citizens to leave for other nations, even if temporarily.
In addition, the island's government could begin a dialogue with Cuban-Americans who live in the United States.
According to the governor, other matters such as freeing dissidents imprisoned by the Cuban government should be in the forefront of these "humanitarian" gestures, as other officials in the Obama administration have said.
"Normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States will take time, it's a complicated thing, and there are a lot of topics to discuss," added the governor, who assured he was not a White House envoy, although he will report to Obama on the trip.
Richardson met for five days with commerce and tourism officials and parliamentary leader Ricardo Alarcón - one of the Cuban government's main advisors on relations with Washington - and with members of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
However, he was received by neither President Raúl Castro nor his brother Fidel Castro.
As an example of the things that may be accomplished, the governor mentioned the upcoming concert by Juanes, a Colombian rock performer who announced his appearance in the island and sparked controversy among Cuban exiles in the United States.
In any case, the governor expressed feeling "optimistic" about the potential relationship between the two countries.
Traveling with Richardson were several cabinet secretaries from New Mexico, among these Miley González with Agriculure, Stuart Ashman with Cultural Affairs, Katherine Miller with Administration & Finances, and Deputy Chief of Staff Gilbert Gallegos.
So? Anyone traveling from Bernaillo to Bloomfield has to go through Cuba!
Oh wait! Wrong Cuba! Let him stay there!
I don’t mind him going there. I just don’t like him coming back here.
Actually I like BR. he's the highest ranking public official to admit that Obama is an immigrant.
ping
Hmm sounds almost like the woman who said Castro was the brightest leader she had ever met.....So, Obama’s administration drop the charges against Richardson, and use him for their purposes of promoting communism...
charges dropped and visit to castro.....lol whats up
HEE HAW!!!!
ping
Maybe he could just stay there.
He should feel at home there...
Did you ever notice all the liberals have to make this Hajj to the Mecca of communism? Just find one ultra-leftist who hasn’t gone to Cuba and kissed Castro’s ring.
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