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发帖数: 29846 | 1 Obama in 2008: No Normalized Relations with Cuba Until All Political
Prisoners Released
via Breitbart Feed
On May 23, 2008, then-presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) gave a
speech at the Cuban-American National Foundation’s annual Cuban
Independence Day luncheon where he promised he would not begin to "normalize
" relations with Cuba until all political prisoner are released, saying "
beginning with with the freeing of all political prisoners, we will take
steps to begin normalizing relations."
According to Human Rights Watch's "World Report 2014," the Cuban Commission
for Human Rights and National Reconciliation reported over 3,600 arbitrary
political detentions in 2013.
Obama said, "My policy towards Cuba will be guided by one word, liberty. The
road to freedom for all Cubans must begin with justice for Cuba's political
prisoners, the right of free speech, a free press, freedom of assembly, and
it must lead to elections that are free and fair. That is my commitment."
He added, "I will maintain the embargo. It provides us with leverage to
present, so do not be confused about this, I will maintain the embargo. It
provides us with the leverage to present the regime with clear choice. If
you take significant steps towards democracy, beginning with with the
freeing of all political prisoners, we will take steps to begin normalizing
relations. That is the way to bring about real change in Cuba, through
strong, smart, principled diplomacy. We cannot keep playing political games
on this issue. It is time for us to finally bring about the changes that
will release the enormous potential of the people that are currently trapped
in Cuba." |
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