penúltimos días

En rueda de prensa, el vocero del Departamento de Estado, Sean McCormack, habla sobre las medidas revocadas por la UE:

QUESTION: EU lifted their sanctions on Cuba.

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah.

QUESTION: Do you have any reaction?

MR. MCCORMACK: I do. I have some words here for you, if you just bear with me and let me just read this for you.

The U.S. and the European Union share common objectives in Cuba: freedom, democracy, and universal human rights. We are dedicated to the unconditional freedom of all political prisoners in Cuba. We reconfirmed our shared commitment to these values in the June 10, 2008 U.S.-EU Summit Declaration, urging the Cuban Government to ratify the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and demonstrate its commitment by unconditionally releasing all political prisoners.

From our consultations, and I know that the EU has yet to put these out, but from our consultations, we understand that the European Union will set human rights benchmarks for its dialogue with the Cuban Government, including: the unconditional release of all political prisoners; implementation of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, freedom of – freedom of information and access for Cubans to the Internet; and a dual-track approach for all EU delegations arriving in Cuba, allowing them to meet both opposition figures and members of the Cuban Government.

These benchmarks send the right message about what is important: the need for the Cuban Government to change the way it treats its citizens. If the Cuban Government intends to undertake meaningful change, it will take concrete steps to improve its human rights record, beginning with unconditionally releasing all political prisoners and ratifying and implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

So that’s a long way of saying we share the objectives. We think it is constructive that they have – that they will – again, based on our understanding — that they will set these benchmarks.

Now is there a difference in tactics here? Yes, there is, but strategically, we share the same objectives and we’re going to continue to work closely with the EU on an issue of shared concern.

QUESTION: You are disappointed they took this decision?

MR. MCCORMACK: Look, it’s a difference in tactics, okay? They have taken their decision. We’ve talked about it, but we do, and I would refer you back again to this June 10th U.S.-EU Summit Declaration, which is very good. And I think there’s more to this story as well that will come out in terms of the EU talking about its benchmarks and what it will require of the Cuban – Cuban Government for any interaction - and during any interaction with the EU.

QUESTION: Sean, even if you feel that the benchmarks send the right message, don’t you think that the decision to remove the embargo sends exactly the wrong message?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, like I’ve said, you know, there are different pathways to get to the same objective. We have strongly urged them to adhere more closely to a policy that they had in the past. That said, they’ve taken this decision. And it was after intense consultation within the EU. So what I would ask is for you to consider that there is going to be more to the story in terms of what the EU describes vis-à-vis its benchmarks, and what it will require of the Cuban Government. And that’s positive.

QUESTION: But you didn’t want them to do this and you had urged them to take a different path.

MR. MCCORMACK: I’ll – I will stick with my description of our view of this.

QUESTION: And so you think actually it will be stricter than what it appears right now?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I think there – let me just say I think there’s more to the story. I’ve already gone out a little bit and talked a little bit of what we understand from our consultations with the EU. I typically don’t do that, but in this case, I thought it was important to help provide a more full understanding of what we understand the EU policy will be.

All of that said, they are going to – they’re obviously going to announce for themselves what it will be. I’m just putting –

QUESTION: When?

MR. MCCORMACK: I think early next week. So I just want to put that out there for you so that in writing your stories, you can consider that fact as well.

QUESTION: So early next week, you expect the EU to come out and say, “Well, we did this, but we really didn’t mean it?”

MR. MCCORMACK: And more to follow, but it will come from the EU. I’ve gone as far as I’m going to go.

QUESTION: So – but right now, you can say – you’re not willing to say that the U.S. is disappointed or you think they should have done something different, right?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well –

QUESTION: Based on what you know about what’s going to happen or what you previously said is going to happen?

MR. MCCORMACK: This is a tactical difference. This is a tactical difference.

H/T: Cuban Colada