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It should be emphasized, too, that the U.S. government offered a tinybit
of aid ($100,000 and more later maybe) ONLY if it was distributedNOT by
the Cuban government, the only effective means of distributionthat
exists.<br><br>
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS<br><br>
On 3rd September last, at 4:45 P.M., the Assistant Secretary of State for
Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas Shannon, delivered to the Head of the
Interest Section of Cuba in Washington, Note Nš 646, which states ?its
deepest regret for the destruction caused by hurricane Gustav? and
affirms that the United States would be prepared to ?offer immediate and
initial humanitarian assistance of relief supplies to the Cuban people
through an appropriate international relief organization?.<br><br>
An identical Note was later sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by
the United States Interests Section in Havana.<br><br>
In said Note, the U.S. Government also requests the Cuban Government to
?allow a United States humanitarian assessment team to visit Cuba to
inspect the affected areas to properly assess damage?.<br><br>
On Saturday 6 September, at 8:55 A.M., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
delivered to the State Department, through the Interests Section of Cuba
in Washington, and simultaneously to the United States Interests Section
in Havana, its Note Nš 1866 conveying its appreciation for the
expressions of regret by the Government of the United States due to the
destruction caused in our country by hurricane Gustav.<br><br>
The Note also states that Cuba does not require the assistance of a
humanitarian assessment team to assess the damage and needs, as it has a
sufficient number of specialists, which practically have concluded that
task.<br><br>
The Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expresses that if the
Government of the United States is really willing to cooperate with the
Cuban people in face of the tragedy of the hurricane, it is requested to
allow the sale to Cuba of those materials considered indispensable and to
suspend the restrictions that prevent U.S. companies from offering
private commercial credits to our country for the purchase of food in the
United States.<br><br>
A widespread public debate has emerged during the last few hours in the
United States regarding the position that should be adopted by the U.S.
Government due to the severe damage caused by hurricane Gustav in
Cuba.<br><br>
During the afternoon of 4 September, the Democratic Presidential
Candidate, Barack Obama, requested the suspension, for no less than 90
days, of restrictions to travel, remittances and assistance by Cuban
residents in the United States to their families in Cuba.<br><br>
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that the restrictions on travel
and the sending of remittances by persons of Cuban origin residing in the
United States should have never been applied. It is not Cuba but the
United States which deprives persons of Cuban origin from the exercise of
this right.<br><br>
If these rights were to be returned to the Cubans for humanitarian
reasons, there would be no way to explain that said prohibition, equally
unjust and discriminatory, would be retained for U.S. citizens.<br><br>
Now, when the Eastern part of the country is already in hurricane watch
as a result of the threat posed by hurricane Ike, as powerful as Gustav,
Cuba reaffirms that, in all truth, the only correct and ethical action,
in correspondence with International Law and the practically unanimous
will of the U.N. General Assembly, would be to eliminate totally and
permanently the ruthless and cruel economic, commercial and financial
blockade imposed against our Motherland for almost half a century. It
includes the persecution of Cuban commercial and financial operations in
third countries and which, according to conservative calculations, causes
yearly damages higher than those caused by hurricane Gustav.<br><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba<br>
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</x-tab>September 6
2008<br><br>
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