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White House: Cuba changes 'cosmetic'
2008-04-19
The White House on Friday dismissed as "cosmetic" changes in Cuba under new President Raul Castro on issues like access to cellphones and the potential easing of travel restrictions. "They're cosmetic," Dan Fisk, the US National Security Council's senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, told reporters days before a three-way US, Mexico, and Canada summit in New Orleans. "We would hope that the international community, and I say that in the large terms, recognize that this isn't real change, this isn't fundamental change in the nature of the system," Fisk said. "And if you look at what the regime is doing in terms of the continued repression against dissidents and civil society activists, the iron fist is still very, very visible, especially to the average Cuban," he said. Fisk said US President George W. Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were expected to discuss changes in Cuba when they meet on Monday and Tuesday in New Orleans. But while "all three countries agree" broadly on the need for "democratic evolution" in Cuba, "there are a lot ot tactical disagreements and I'm not expecting that to change," said the US official. Fisk had been asked about the reforms Raul Castro, 76, has introduced in Cuba since he took over as president from his ailing brother Fidel, 81, in late February. Raul Castro recently lifted bans on Cubans renting cars and hotel rooms and purchasing goods such as pressure cookers, DVDs, electric bikes and cell phones, and he may be planning to ease travel restrictions.
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