Friday, August 14, 2015

Fidel castro to US: you owe us millions

Fidel Castro marked his 89th birthday Thursday by insisting the United States owes Cuba “many millions of dollars” because of the half-century-old American trade embargo.

Castro spoke out in an essay published in local media a day before US Secretary of State John Kerry makes a historic visit to Cuba to reopen the US embassy as part of the countries’ restoration of diplomatic relations.

The trade embargo that the United States slapped on communist Cuba in 1962, three years after Castro seized power by ousting a US-backed regime, remains in effect despite the thaw.

President Barack Obama wants Congress to lift it, although US officials say this will take time and is not an automatic part of the restoration of ties, as it requires congressional action.

Many Republicans, who control both chambers of the legislature, oppose the idea, insisting Cuba has to improve its human rights record and make other democratic reforms.

Castro wrote: “Cuba is owed compensation equivalent to damages, which total many millions of dollars, as our country has stated with irrefutable arguments and data in all of its speeches at the United Nations.”

He did not go into detail about precisely how much money he reckons Washington owes Havana. The Americans are also claiming compensation for US-owned property, such as real estate, that was confiscated when Castro took power.

Castro made no mention either of Kerry’s visit to reopen the embassy, a step that comes eight months after Obama and Castro’s successor and brother Raul announced plans to restore relations. It officially took effect July 20.

Castro ceded power to his brother Raul in 2006, stepping down because of poor health.

Over the years, Fidel Castro has been a frequent contributor of essays to the communist party newspaper Granma and other media. Thursday’s article was his first since May 8.

“Writing is a way to be useful, if you keep in mind that we poor humans must be more and better educated in the face of the incredible ignorance that surrounds us all, except for researchers who use science to seek a satisfactory answer,” Castro wrote.

Castro’s 89th birthday is being celebrated with a wide array of events.

In town to take part is Bolivia’s populist President Evo Morales, who often refers to Castro as his “wise grandfather.”

Castro’s other regional ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was also present for the occasion, according to reports.

Venezuelan television network Telesur published three photos of the Cuban leader in a tracksuit and cap sitting with Maduro and Morales in a small van.

Some 200 people, accompanied by beating drums, sang “Happy Birthday” to Castro early Thursday at a special concert dedicated to the former leader.
 (AFP)

 france24.com
14/8/15
--
-
Related:
 --

1 comment :

  1. Fidel Castro rappelle la dette des Etats-Unis due à l'embargo ...

    Fidel Castro a rappelé les "nombreux millions de dollars" que les Etats-Unis doivent, selon lui, à Cuba en compensation de l'embargo imposé à l'île communiste depuis 1962, selon un texte publié par la presse locale jeudi, jour de son 89e anniversaire.

    Optant pour une formule implicite, le père de la révolution cubaine, retiré du pouvoir depuis 2006 pour raisons de santé, a déclaré qu'"une dette s'élevant à de nombreux millions de dollars était due envers Cuba, pour les indemnités de dommages et intérêts, comme l'a dénoncé notre pays avec des arguments et des chiffres incontestables, tout au long de ses interventions devant les Nations unies".

    Ces déclarations sont publiées la veille d'une visite historique vendredi à Cuba de John Kerry, la première d'un chef de la diplomatie américaine depuis 1945, afin de consacrer le rétablissement des relations diplomatiques entre les deux ex-ennemis de la Guerre froide.

    Malgré leur réconciliation, La Havane et Washington se réclament mutuellement des compensations, d'un côté pour les dommages liés à l'embargo économique, de l'autre pour l'expropriation de biens américains lors de la révolution cubaine de 1959.

    Dans son texte, le premier publié depuis le 8 mai, Fidel Castro assure: "Nous ne cesserons jamais de lutter pour la paix et le bien-être de tous les êtres humains (...) les mêmes droits que nous avons proclamés en démarrant notre lutte, ainsi que ceux émanant de nos rêves".

    Le 89e anniversaire de l'ex-président cubain, désormais remplacé par son frère Raul, est célébré jeudi sur l'île communiste, notamment avec la présence du président bolivien Evo Morales, qui évoque souvent Fidel Castro comme son "sage grand-père".
    http://www.rtbf.be/info/monde/detail_fidel-castro-rappelle-la-dette-des-etats-unis-due-a-l-embargo?id=9053490

    ReplyDelete

Only News

Featured Post

“The U.S. must stop supporting terrorists who are destroying Syria and her people" : US Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard

US Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard, recently visited Syria, and even met with President Bashar Al-Assad. She also visited the recently libe...

Blog Widget by LinkWithin