Posted on 09/09/2001 8:41:14 PM PDT by FreedomSurge
Fox does not believe in the embargo against Cuba
Mexico will continue its friendship with the communist island
MIAMI, Florida - The president of Mexico Vicente Fox spoke clearly: his country will maintain friendly relations with Cuba, in spite of the fact that this Caribbean island does not enjoy a democratic government. He thinks that an economic embargo, as the one that United States has maintained against Fidel Castro for more than four decades, "is not the solution".
In the capital of the exiled Cubans
Fox visited the south of Florida -capital of exiled Cubans- just before the end of a three day tour of the United States, to offer a speech at the closing ceremonies of the Fifth Conference of the Americas organized by The Miami Herald. A commitment that, according to the publisher of the newspaper, Alberto Ibargüen, "Fox made when he was still a presidential candidate ".
The majority of the speech by the Mexican president, in which he emphasized various achievements of his administration and his interest in bringing foreign investment to Mexico, was well received by the more than 500 persons that packed the luxurious ball room in the Hotel Biltmore of Coral Gables.
However, the Fox’s answer to two questions asked concerning the policies of Mexico toward Cuba, created an atmosphere of tension, discontent and upset among some of the Cubans present.
The blockade is not the solution
"The policies of Mexico toward Cuba will continue being the same as always", responded Fox when asked what his administration would do to accelerate the process of democratization in the communist island.
"For Mexico the matter of the democracy is very important as well as the violation of the human rights... But we do not think that the blockade is the correct way to solve the problem", added the Mexican president.
He further stated, referring to the economic embargo of United States against Cuba that: "the blockade hasn’t solved anything... it never worked".
For Cuban Mike Ramos Fabregas, a retired journalist who has spent 39 years in exile and was once press spokesman for Castro, "President Fox showed that he has no interest in doing anything about Cuba".
He does not like Fox’s position
"In his speech, the president (Fox) said that thanks to democracy his administration is building a new country, but when he is asked about Cuba, he says that he will continue being the friend of a communist state", commented Branches Fabregas.
Fabregas indicated that the problem originates not in Fox, but in the Mexican chancellor Jorge Casañeda who surely has bonds with the Castro regime.
"I am not at all pleased with Fox’s answer", expressed Cuban American lawyer Miguel Díaz de la Portilla, ex Miami Dade County Commissioner . "Much less with the word that he used".
The lawyer explained that Fox used the term "blockade", the same term that Castro uses when he refers to the "economic embargo" of United States against Cuba.
"On the one hand he says to be in favor of the democracy and on the other he does not pressure on Cuba to become democratic", added Díaz de la Portilla. "He maintains a double standard".
But one Cuban, Antonio Calatayud, director of the anti-Castro group "Project Cuba", thinks that in spite of his answers, Fox is not an enemy of the exiles nor of the democratic process in Cuba.
"During the campaign, Fox established a clear position concerning Cuba and he committed to work for the liberty of the island", said Calatayud. "It is true that he hasn't done that yet... but has not been his fault".
He explained that the internal problems in Mexico has kept him occupied and that also, his administration has been influenced "by the international pressure that props up the state of Fidel Castro".
But though Cuba became the main topic at the closing cerimonies of the Fifth Conference of the Americas held by The Miami Herald, Cuba wasn't all of what Fox spoke about.
Message to his countrymen
During the speech, that lasted some 25 minutes, the Mexican president reiterated to his countrymen that they "were not mistaken" by having elected him.
"Mexico wanted a change, wanted more freedom of expression, sought to end the corruption and to move away from the deception and the frustrations... My administration intends to work so that all the Mexicans can enjoy these rights", said Fox.
Fox said that though the Mexican economy has lost strength due to the economic problems facing United States, the political stability and the growth of Mexico has made it into the ideal country to invest in.
"I don’t see democracy simply as being free to elect a president, but it is also the basis for our economic development", maintained the chief of state. "Therefore our political system has to maintain its legitimacy".
A few questions:
It is what Jorge Ramos Univision's number one anchor and a Mexican national referred to the illegals in his report on Tuesday "The Other Face of America". The term is used freely in the US Spanish language press,the Mexican press and on Mexican produced television but I thank you for your lession in language usage. I think that the constant vigilance of the language police such as yourself will bring great victories for the Republican party.
I personally have no problem with Fox asking for things. I do have a problem with US leaders who pander and don't demand changes in Mexico in return for whatever we decide to give to the Mexicans. I do have a problem with Bush's pandering in such a way that the only Hispanic group that that supports the Republicans is alienated.
I myself agree with Fox's position. But here is the problem. Fox is on the tail end of the Bush/Fox Pandermonium 2001 tour. The Cuban Americans are not happy with this regularization nonsense. Fox called the embargo a "blockade". The same terminology as Castro uses. This is a major faux paus when speaking to the exiles. Fox's comments will do nothing but lose Cuban votes in Florida. Can Bush win Florida in 2004.
I will guarantee you that Fox will be campaigning for Bush in 2004 (directly or indirectly). How many states will this mean for Bush. Can it off set a lose of Florida?
I'd listen to the Cubans in exile before I'd listen to Fox about what should be done as far as Cuba. Mexico has always been sympathetic to Castro though.
Everybody knows he's a Socialist, the only question is can he deliver votes for the GOP.
If he fails, then the GOP will deal with him accordingly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.