Jeb to US House: "Keep restrictions on private financing of trade in agricultural goods to Cuba"

FL Gov. Jeb Bush

Statement by Governor Jeb Bush in Opposition to Congressional Authorization of Private Financing of Agricultural Sales to Cuba

For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 18, 2002

Contact:
Katie Muñiz
(850) 488-5394

TALLAHASSEE -- "As early as this afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives may be considering a Motion to Instruct House Conferees on the Farm Bill, H.R. 2646, to support the U.S. Senate position lifting restrictions on the private financing of trade in agricultural goods to Cuba. I respectfully urge the U.S. House of Representatives to reject this motion.

Authorizing financing for Cuba is troublesome from a national security perspective. The Castro regime is on the State Department's List of Terrorist Nations and has had 14 of its spies -- more than any other nation -- captured in the U.S. and imprisoned since 1998. Very recently, Cuba was identified by Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence Carl W. Ford Jr. as having "an offensive biological warfare research and development" capability which Castro shares with rogue states hostile to the United States. Authorizing the financing of agricultural products will simply provide that totalitarian state with additional resources to impair the cause of freedom for its people and the rest of the world.

Moreover, doing business with the Cuban dictatorship ignores financial realities. The Wall Street Journal's 'Index of Economic Freedom' ranks Cuba as the most risky investment opportunity and having the least free economy of 156 countries surveyed. Cuba is effectively bankrupt, owing hundreds of millions in unpaid debt to several countries. In short, entry into this virtually nonexistent "market" is insufficient justification for abandonment of the moral and national security principles underpinning this country's decades-old embargo against Cuba.

The financing proposed in this legislation is also at odds with the hard-won compromise that resulted in the Trade Sanctions and Reform Act of 2000 (TSRA). The first agricultural sales to Cuba under TSRA occurred less than 5 months ago, and to date, there still appears to be no independent or government confirmation that payments have been received from Cuba. Before we rush to allow financing, it would be prudent to examine whether the current regulations are being fully complied with.

In short, increased trade with Cuba carries with it the great likelihood of enormous costs, both moral and financial. I respectfully urge the U.S. House of Representatives to reject the motion to recede to the Senate position on this issue."

No comprendo cada palabra. En English, por favor! :)

Florida's Latest News -- 4/19/02

Declaración del GOBERNADOR JEB BUSH Sobre la Votación de la Comisión de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos

El Gobernador Jeb Bush expresó esta tarde su satisfacción al conocer el resultado de la condena a Cuba por parte de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra.

"Una vez más, el gobierno totalitario de Fidel Castro ha sido encontrado culpable y condenado por la comunidad internacional," dijo el Gobernador Bush.

"Nosotros nos solidarizamos con el pueblo de Cuba que sufre a diario en carne propia la indignidad Votación de la Comisión de Naciones Unidas de ver suprimidos sus derechos más elementales.

Estoy especialmente contento al ver que la mayoría de las naciones de nuestro hemisferio representadas en la Comisión de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, en una muestra de clara solidaridad democrática, han votado a favor de la moción condenando al brutal régimen de la Habana. Al mismo tiempo, estamos complacidos por la decisión de la Comisión de enviar un Relator Especial a Cuba para reportar e investigar las violaciones a los derechos humanos que allí se cometen de forma regular y sistemática.

Mientras se sigan violando los derechos humanos en Cuba, nosotros continuaremos dándole nuestro apoyo a los que luchan por la libertad de la Isla y ofreciendo nuestras plegarias por la pronta liberación del pueblo cubano del yugo totalitario que lo ha oprimido por más de cuatro décadas."

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