Full Text: Obama to Cuba; Fidel Responds, "Brother Obama"

[presence]

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article67364722.html

Buenos dias, President Castro, to you, the Cuban government and the Cuban people, thank you for the welcome they’ ve extended to me, my family and to my delegation. You know, for more than half a century, the sight of a U.S. president here in Havana would have been unimaginable, but this is a new day.

This nuevo día between our two countries. With your indulgence, Mr. President, I want to go just briefly off topic because during this weekend, I received news that one of our outstanding United States armed service members, Marine Staff Sergeant Louis F. Cardin of Temecula, California, was killed in northern Iraq as we assisted the Iraqi government in dealing with ISIL, the terrorist organization there. And I just wanted to give my thoughts and prayers to the family there and those who have been injured. It’ s a reminder that even as we embark on this historic visit, there are U.S. armed servicemembers who are sacrificing each and every day on behalf of our freedom and our safety, so I’m grateful to them.

My wife Michelle and I have brought our daughters. And by the way, they don’t always want to go with us. They’re teenagers now. They have friends at home and they have things to do. But they wanted to come to Cuba because they understood and we wanted to show them the beauty of Cuba and its people.
We were moved by the Cubans who received us yesterday, smiling and waving as we drove in from the airport. We were grateful for the opportunity to experience Old Havana and some excellent Cuban food. Our visit to the cathedral was a reminder of the values that we share and the deep faith that sustains so many Cubans and Americans, and it also gave me an opportunity to express my gratitude to Cardinal Ortega who, along with His Holiness Pope Francis, did so much to support the improved relations between our governments.

This morning, I was honored to pay tribute to Jose Martí, not only his role in Cuban independence, but the profound words that he wrote and spoke in support of liberty and freedom everywhere.

I bring with me the greetings and the friendship of the American people. In fact, I’m joined on this trip by nearly 40 members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans. This is the largest such delegation of my presidency and it indicates the excitement and interest in America about the process that we’ve undertaken. These members of Congress recognize that our new relationship with the Cuban people is in the interest of both nations.

I’m also joined by some of America’s top business leaders and entrepreneurs because we’re ready to pursue more commercial ties, which create jobs and opportunity for Cubans and Americans alike.

And I’m especially pleased that I’m joined on this trip by so many Cuban-Americans. For them and for the more than two million proud Cuban-Americans across the United States, this is a moment filled with great emotion. Ever since we made it easier to travel between our countries, more Cuban-Americans are coming home. And for many, this is a time of new hope for the future.

So President Castro, I want to thank you for your — the courtesy and spirit of openness that you’ve shown during our talks. At our meeting in Panama last year, you said that we’re willing to discuss every issue and everything’s on the table. So with your understanding, my statement will be a little longer than usual.

President Castro always jokes with me about how long Castro brother speeches can be, but I’m going to actually go a little longer than you probably today, with your indulgence. We have a half a century of work to catch up on.

You know, our growing engagement with Cuba is guided by one overarching goal, advancing the mutual interest of our two countries, including improving the lives of our people, both Cubans and Americans. That’s why I’m here. I’ve said consistently after more than five very difficult decades, the relationship between our governments will not be transformed overnight. We continue, as President Castro indicated, to have some very serious differences, including on democracy and human rights. And President Castro and I have had very frank and candid conversations on these subjects.

The United States recognizes the progress that Cuba has made as a nation, its enormous achievements in education and in health care. And perhaps most importantly, I affirm that Cuba’s destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other nation. Cuba is sovereign and rightly has great pride and the future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans, not by anybody else.

At the same time, as we do wherever we go around the world, I made it clear that the United States will continue to speak up on behalf of democracy, including the right of the Cuban people to decide their own future. We’ll speak out on behalf of universal human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly and religion. Indeed, I look forward to meeting with and hearing from Cuban civil society leaders tomorrow.

But as you heard, President Castro also addressed what he views as shortcomings in the United States around basic needs for people and poverty and inequality and race relations, and we welcome that constructive dialogue as well because we believe that when we share our deepest beliefs and ideas with an attitude of mutual respect that we can both learn and make the lives of our people better.

A part of normalizing relationships means that we discuss these differences directly, so I’m very pleased that we’ve agreed to hold our next U.S.-Cuba human rights dialogue here in Havana this year. And both of our countries will welcome our visits by independent United Nations experts as we combat human trafficking, which we agree is a profound violation of human rights.

Even as we discuss these differences, we share a belief we can continue to make progress in those areas that we have in common. President Castro, you said in Panama that we might disagree on something today on which we would agree tomorrow. And that has certainly been the case over the past 15 months and the days leading up to this visit.

And today, I can report that we continue to move forward on many fronts when it comes to normalizing relations. We’re moving ahead with more opportunities for Americans to travel to Cuba and interact with the Cuban people.

Over past year, the number of Americans coming here has surged. Last week, we gave approval for individual Americans to come here for educational travel. U.S. airlines will begin direct commercial flights this year. With last week’s port security announcement, we’ve removed the last major hurdle to resuming cruises and ferry service — all of which will mean even more Americans visiting Cuba in the years ahead and appreciating the incredible history and culture of the Cuban people.

We’re moving ahead with more trade. With only 90 miles between us, we’re natural trading partners. Other steps we took last week, allowing the U.S. dollar to be used more widely with Cuba, giving Cubans more access to the dollar in international transactions and allowing Cubans in the U.S. to earn salaries.
These things will do more to create opportunities for trade and joint ventures. We welcome Cuba’s important announcement that it plans to end the 10 percent penalty on dollar conversions here, which will open the door to more travel and more commerce. And these steps show that we’re opening up to one another.

With this visit, we’ve agreed to deepen our cooperation on agriculture to support our farmers and our ranchers. This afternoon, I’ll highlight some of the new commercial deals being announced by major U.S. companies. And just as I continue to call on Congress to lift the trade embargo, I discussed with President Castro the steps we urge Cuba to take to show that it is ready to do more business, which includes allowing more joint ventures and allowing foreign companies to hire Cubans directly.

We’re moving ahead with our efforts to help connect more Cubans to the Internet and the global economy. Under President Castro, Cuba has set a goal of bringing Cubans online, and we want to help.

At this afternoon’s entrepreneurship event, I’ll discuss additional steps we’re taking to help more Cubans learn, innovate and do business online, because in the 21st century, countries cannot be successful unless their citizens have access to the Internet.

We’re moving ahead with more educational exchanges. Thanks to the generous support of the Cuban-American community, I can announce that my 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative will offer new opportunities for university students to study abroad, more Americans at Cuban schools and more Cubans at U.S. schools.

And going forward, educational grants and scholarships will be available to Cuban students. And in partnership with the Cuban government, we’ll offer more English language training for Cuban teachers, both in Cuba and online.

Even as Cubans prepare for the arrival of the Rolling Stones, we’re moving ahead with more events and exchanges that bring Cubans and Americans together as well.

We all look forward to tomorrow’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team. And more broadly, we’re moving ahead with partnerships in health, science and the environment.

Just as Cuban and American medical teams have worked together in Haiti against cholera, and in West Africa against ebola, and I want to give a special commendation to Cuban doctors who volunteered and took on some very tough assignments to save lives in West Africa, in partnership with us and other nations. We very much appreciate the work that they did.

Our medical professionals will now collaborate in new areas, preventing the spread of viruses like Zika and leading new research into cancer vaccines.
Our governments will also work together to protect the beautiful waters of this region that we share. And as two countries threatened by climate change, I believe we can work together to protect communities and our low-lying coasts. And we’re inviting Cuba to join us, and our Caribbean and Central American partners at this spring’s Regional Energy Summit in Washington.

And finally, we're moving ahead with our closer cooperation on regional security.

We’re working to deepen our law enforcement coordination, especially against narcotraffickers that threaten both of our peoples. I want to thank President Castro and the Cuban government for hosting peace talks between the Colombia government and the FARC. And we remain optimistic that Colombians can achieve a lasting and just peace.

And although we didn’t have an extensive discussion of Venezuela, we did touch on the subject. And I believe the whole region has an interest in a country that is addressing their economic challenges, is responsive to the aspirations of its people and is a source of stability in the region.

That is, I believe, an interest we should all share. So, again, President Castro, I want to thank you for welcoming me. I think it’s fair to say the United States and Cuba are now engaged in many areas and with each passing day more Americans are coming to Cuba, more U.S. business and school and faith groups are working to forge new partnerships with the Cuban people.

More Cubans are benefiting for the opportunities that this travel and trade begin. As you indicated, the road ahead will not be easy. Fortunately, we don't have to swim with sharks in order to achieve the goals that you and I have set forth. As you say here in Cuba [Spanish] despite the difficulties, we will continue to move forward.

We’re focused on the future. And I’m absolutely confident that if we stay on this course, we can deliver a better and brighter future for both the Cuban people and the American people. So muchas gracias, thank you very much.

via google translate:

http://www.granma.cu/reflexiones-fidel/2016-03-28/el-hermano-obama-28-03-2016-01-03-16

Brother Obama

We do not need the empire regale us nothing. Our efforts will be legal and peaceful, because it is our commitment to peace and brotherhood of all human beings living on this planet

Author: Fidel Castro Ruz | [email protected]

March 28, 2016 1:03:16

The kings of Spain brought the conquerors and owners, whose fingerprints were on the circular bundles of land assigned to the prospectors in the sands of rivers, abusive and shameful form of exploitation whose traces can be seen from the air many parts of the country.

Tourism today largely consists of showing delight landscapes and savor the food delicacies of our seas, and always to be shared with the private capital of large foreign corporations, whose profits if they do not reach the billions of dollars per capita are not worthy of some attention.

Since I was forced to broach the subject, I should add, especially for young people, that few people realize the importance of such a condition in this unique moment in human history. I will not say that time has been lost, but do not hesitate to say that we are not sufficiently informed, neither you nor we, knowledge and consciences we should have to face the realities that challenge us. The first thing to consider is that our lives are a historical split second, you have to also share with the vital needs of all human beings. One feature of this is the tendency to the overvaluation of their role, which contrasts with the other hand the extraordinary number of people who embody the highest dreams.

No one, however, is good or bad by itself. None of us is designed for the role it should take in the revolutionary society. In part, the Cubans had the privilege of having the example of José Martí. I wonder even if they had to fall or not in Dos Rios, saying "it is time for me", and charged the Spanish forces entrenched in a solid line of fire. I did not want to return to the United States and no one who did return. Someone plucked a few leaves from his diary. Who bore the perfidious fault, that was certainly the work of some intriganteinescrupuloso? differences between the bosses are known but never indiscipline. "Whoever attempts to conquer Cuba will only gather the dust of her soil soaked in blood, if not perish in the fight" said the glorious black leader Antonio Maceo. It is also recognized in Maximo Gomez, the most disciplined and discreet military chief of our history.

Looked at from another angle, how not to admire the indignation of Bonifacio Byrne when, from the distant boat that brought him back to Cuba, at the sight of another flag next to Lone Star, said: "My flag is one that has mercenary ever been ... "to add immediately one of the most beautiful phrases I never heard:" If undone in small pieces becomes my flag someday ... our dead raising his arms to defend know yet ...! ". Nor do I forget the words of Camilo Cienfuegos lit that night, when several dozen meters bazookas and machine guns of American origin, in counter hands, pointed to the terrace where we were standing. Obama was born in August 1961, as he himself said. More than half a century would pass from that time.

Let's see how today however think our illustrious visitor:

"I came here to leave behind the last vestiges of the Cold War in the Americas. I came here extending the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. "

Immediately a flood of concepts, entirely new to most of us:

"They live in a new world colonized by Europeans." US President continued. "Cuba, like the United States, was founded by slaves brought from Africa; like the United States, the Cuban people have inheritance in slaves and slaveholders. "

Native populations do not exist at all in the minds of Obama. Nor does it say that racial discrimination was swept away by the Revolution; that retirement and salary of all Cubans were enacted by this before Mr. Barack Obama fulfilled 10 years. The odious and racist bourgeois habit of hiring thugs to black citizens were expelled from recreation centers was swept by the Cuban Revolution. This would be remembered for the battle fought in Angola against apartheid, ending the presence of nuclear weapons in a continent of more than one billion people. That was not the goal of our solidarity, but to help the people of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and other fascist colonial rule of Portugal.

In 1961, just two years and three months after the triumph of the Revolution, a mercenary force with cannons and armored infantry, equipped with aircraft, was trained and accompanied by warships and aircraft carriers in the US, raiding our country. Nothing can justify this premeditated attack that cost our country hundreds of killed and wounded. Pro-Yankee Brigade assault, nowhere has there could have evacuated a single mercenary. Yanks warplanes were presented to the United Nations as rebels Cuban teams.

It is well known military experience and power of that country. In Africa also they believed that revolutionary Cuba would easily put out of action. The attack southern Angola by the racist South Africa motorized brigades leads to the vicinity of Luanda, the capital of this country. Hence a struggle that lasted not less than 15 years starts. I speak not even this, unless he had the elemental duty to respond to Obama's speech at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso.

Nor I try to give details, only to emphasize that there honorably page of the struggle for human liberation was written. In a way I wanted Obama's behavior was correct. His humble origins and his natural intelligence were evident. Mandela was imprisoned for life and had become a giant in the struggle for human dignity. One day I got my hands on a copy of the book in that part of the life of Mandela and oh, surprise !: was prefaced by Barack Obama is told. I flipped through quickly. It was amazing the size of the lowercase letter stating Mandela data. Worth having known men like that.

On the episode of South Africa I must point out another experience. I was really interested in learning more about how the South Africans had acquired nuclear weapons. Only had very precise that did not exceed 10 or 12 bombs information. A reliable source would be the professor and researcher Piero Gleijeses, who had drafted the text "Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington and Africa 1959-1976"; an excellent job. I knew he was the safest source of what happened and so I communicated; I replied that he had not spoken about the matter, because the text had answered the questions of teammate Jorge Risquet, who had been ambassador in Angola or Cuban partner, close friend of his. I located Risquet; and other important occupations was finishing a course which was missing several weeks. That task coincided with a fairly recent trip to our country Piero; He had warned that Risquet this was some years and his health was not optimal. A few days later it happened what I feared. Risquet worsened and he died. Piero came when there was nothing to do except promises, but I had already made about what was related to that weapon and help that racist South Africa had received from Reagan and Israel.

I do not know what Obama has to say on this story now. I do not know what or did not know, although it is very doubtful that I knew absolutely nothing. My modest suggestion is to reflect and do not try now to develop theories about Cuban politics.

There is an important question:

Obama delivered a speech in which he used to express the most honeyed words: "It's high time to forget the past, let the past, look to the future, let's look together, a future of hope. And it will not be easy, there will be challenges, and those we will give it time; but my stay here gives me more hope for what we can do together as friends, as family, as neighbors, together. "

It is assumed that each of us risked a heart attack upon hearing these words of the President of the United States. After a merciless blockade that has lasted almost 60 years, and those who have died in the mercenary attacks on ships and Cuban ports, an airliner full of passengers detonated in midair, mercenary invasions, multiple acts of violence and strength?

No illusion that the people of this noble and selfless surrender the glory country and the rights and spiritual wealth he has earned with the development of education, science and culture is made.

also warn that we are able to produce food and material wealth we need the effort and intelligence of our people. We do not need the empire regale us nothing. Our efforts will be legal and peaceful, because it is our commitment to peace and brotherhood of all human beings living on this planet.