Remarks by the President at Cuban Independence Day Event
James L. Knight Center
Miami, Florida
3:10 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Sientese. Voy a hablar en
Espanol hoy -- (applause) -- pero no. No. (Laughter.) No quiero
destruir un idioma que bonita, y por eso voy a hablar en Ingles.
(Laughter.) Thank you for having me. God bless you all and thanks for
coming. (Applause.)
It is such an honor -- it is such an honor -- for me to be here
today with so many who love freedom. (Applause.) One hundred years
ago, a proud island people declared independence and put Cuba on a
democratic course. (Applause.) We're here today to celebrate this
important anniversary. (Applause.) We are here today to honor the
Cubans and Cuban-Americans who strengthen America with their character
and with their enterprise. (Applause.) We are here today -- we are
here today to proclaim loudly and clearly to the entire world -- the
todos -- that the Cuban people's love of liberty cannot -- and will
not -- be denied. (Applause.)
Not only today will we remind the world how much we love freedom,
and long for freedom, but I also want to talk about a proposal and a
challenge that will help put Cuba on the path to freedom.
I want to thank mi hermano -- mi hermanito. (Laughter.) Y el gran
gobernador de este estado. Thank you, Jeb. We love you. (Applause.)
Y mi cunada bella. (Laughter and applause.) I love being with my
family. I love being with my family. There's nothing more important
than family in life, and I love my brother, Jeb, a lot. (Applause.)
I'm honored to be with a great American, a great American who is a
graduate of Pedro Pan, Mel Martinez, who brings a big difference in our
Cabinet. (Applause.) I didn't realize Mel had that many cousins.
(Laughter.)
I want to thank the two United States Senators from Florida for
being here, Senator Graham and Senator Nelson. I'm honored that you're
here. Thank you all for coming. (Applause.) I appreciate working
with Senator Graham and his important job of chairing the Intelligence
Committee in the United States Senate. (Applause.)
I want to thank two fine Congressmen, Ileana Ros y Lincoln
Diaz-Balart. (Applause.) I can't -- listen, every time I see and here
Gloria Estefan sing, it makes my heart feel better. Gloria, thank
you. (Applause.) And it's good to see Emilio. (Applause.) And I
appreciate Jon Secada, as well. Jon, you did a great job. Thank you
very much. Honored you're here. (Applause.)
I appreciate Vicki Huddleston, our Ambassador, Principal Officer at
the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, for being here. Vicki, thank you
for coming. (Applause.) I'm honored to be traveling today with Otto
Reich, the Under Secretary for the State Department. (Applause.) Dr.
Elsa Murano is here today, as well, who is in my administration. Thank
you, Elsa, for being here. Where are you? Thank you -- appreciate you
coming. (Applause.)
Emilio Gonzalez, the Director of the Western Hemisphere Affairs of
the National Security Council -- where are you, Colonel? Emilio.
(Applause.) He's on my National Security Council. He reports directly
to Arroz. (Laughter.) Senorita Arroz. (Laughter.)
Today, when I landed in Miami, I got off the airplane there and had
a chance to meet a young man named Emilio J. Rodriquez. Emilio is with
us today. Emilio, stand up for a second. (Applause.) The reason I
bring up Emilio is I say oftentimes to Americans who want to -- how
best they can participate in our country, how best to fight evil is to
do some good; is to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved
yourself. If you're interested, if you're interested in helping define
our nation to the world, and if you're interested in resisting evil, do
some good. And that's what Emilio does. He is a 19-year-old honor
student at Miami-Dade Community College. He volunteers in park cleanup
programs. He does art shows for children, and he hosts activities at a
school for mentally challenged Cuban-American children. For this,
we're grateful for your service. (Applause.) Thank you for being
here.
The accomplished individuals I just named are just a small handful
of over a million fellow Americans from Cuban decent who make such an
incredibly important contribution to our country. So, as on the one
hand, we -- (applause) -- we celebrate independence, but we also
celebrate the greatness of America that opens her doors so that people
can realize their dreams. (Applause.)
The success stories are unbelievable and unbelievably powerful.
People have escaped a jail and have come to America and have succeeded,
and have been able to raise their families, and have been able to
prosper. It's a wonderful part of the American story.
But it's not just a story of the elderly and the older
Cuban-Americans, it's a story throughout generations. I want to talk
about Miguel Arguelles, who came to America in 1995, at age 10 years
old. (Applause.) At age 10, he couldn't speak English. A few weeks
from now, he'll graduate as the valedictorian of Miami Lake's Barbara
Goleman Senior High School. (Applause.) He comes in 1995 -- he is
going to be the first person to have graduated from that high school to
attend Harvard University. (Applause.)
I want to read what Miguel wrote in his application essay. And I
want all Americans, from all backgrounds, to listen to what this young
man said. He said he was born in a place where the sun shines
brightest, and drowns in tears; where Santa Claus has not the visa to
enter, and dreams cannot escape their prison of non-existence; where
hopes are shattered, and religion is an endangered species; where
freedom is in shackles.
I love how you put that. It's essential that -- Miguel, that you
not only succeed, but it's essential that we remember the shackles of
freedom that Miguel wrote about; that there are people whose lives are
being disrupted because Cuba is not free. I want to thank you for your
poignancy. (Applause.)
And the shackles that this young man wrote about are an insult --
an insult -- to the Cuban independence dreamed of by Felix Varela and
generations of Cuban patriots. (Applause.) They're an insult. The
shackles he wrote about are an insult to Jose Marti, who sacrificed his
life for a great principle. (Applause.)
No, we stand here today to declare loud and clear to the entire
world: Cuba must not only be independent, Cuba must be free.
(Applause.)
One hundred years ago Cuba declared her independence. And nearly
50 years ago, nearly a half-century ago, Cuba's independence and the
hopes for democracy were hijacked by a brutal dictator who cares
everything for his own power and nada for the Cuban people.
(Applause.)
In an era where markets have brought prosperity and empowerment,
this leader clings to a bankrupt ideology that has brought Cuba's
workers and farmers and families nothing -- nothing -- but isolation
and misery. (Applause.) I was amazed to read in this modern era, the
Cuban regime banned the sale of computers to the public. What does
that tell you? In an era where every other nation in our hemisphere
has chosen the path to democracy -- every nation in our hemisphere has
chosen the path to democracy -- this leader instead chooses to jail, to
torture and exile Cuban people for speaking their minds. (Applause.)
But the amazing thing is, through all the pains, through all the
pains, the Cuban people's aspirations for freedom are undiminished. We
see this today in Havana, where more than 11,000 brave citizens have
petitioned their government for a referendum on basic freedoms. If
that referendum is allowed, it can be a prelude to real change in
Cuba. (Applause.)
This country has no designs on Cuba's sovereignty. We have no
designs on the sovereignty of Cuba. But we'll continue to be a strong
and consistent supporter of the Cuban people's aspirations for
freedom. (Applause.) And nowhere is that support stronger than right
here in the streets of Miami, Florida. (Applause.) The support will
never waive here, and it's not going to waive in my heart, either.
(Applause.) For how long it takes -- after all, we fight for freedom
here in America. We love freedom. We love what freedom means. It is
the cornerstone of our country, and, therefore, we will never stop in
our search for ways to advance freedom in Cuba. (Applause.)
Earlier today, in la Casa Blanca, I announced an initiative for a
new Cuba that offers Cuba's government a way forward, toward democracy
and hope and better relations with the United States. Cuba is
scheduled to hold elections to its National Assembly in 2003. I
challenge Cuba's government to make these elections free, and to make
them fair. (Applause.)
To make them free and fair, they must give opposition candidates
the freedom to organize, assemble and speak. They must give them the
chance to open up the airwaves, so they can get their message out to
the people. (Applause.) To make them free and fair, they must release
all political prisoners so they can participate in the elections.
(Applause.)
In order to make sure we know if they're free and fair, they must
let human rights organizations into Cuba, to make sure that the
elections are free and fair. Once the 2003 elections are certified as
free and fair by international monitors, once Cuba begins the process
of meaningful economic reform, then -- and only then -- I will explore
ways with the United States Congress to ease economic sanctions.
(Applause.)
For 43 years, for 43 years, every election in Cuba has been a fraud
and a sham. (Applause.) Mr. Castro, once, just once, show that you're
unafraid of a real election. (Applause.) Show the world you respect
Cuba's citizens enough to listen to their voices, and to count their
votes. (Applause.) Start to release your chokehold on the working
people, and on enterprise. Then -- and only then -- will we talk about
easing sanctions, and not before. (Applause.)
The goal of the United States, the goal of our policy towards Cuba
is not a permanent embargo on Cuba's economy; our goal is freedom for
Cuba's people. (Applause.) Full normalization of relations with Cuba,
diplomatic recognition, open trade, and a robust aid program will only
-- only -- be possible when Cuba has a new government that is fully
democratic; when the rule of law is respected; and when the human
rights of all Cubans are protected. (Applause.)
Under the new initiative for Cuba, under this new initiative for a
new Cuba, the United States recognizes that freedom sometimes grows
step by step, and we will encourage those steps. You need to know that
I feel so strongly about freedom. I mean, the current of history runs
toward freedom; eventually, it's not going to be denied. And our plan
is to accelerate freedom in Cuba in every way possible. (Applause.)
We'll work to encourage freedom within Cuba by making life better
for people living under, and resisting the Castro regime. (Applause.)
So, today I want to talk about some steps we can take, the beginning of
some important steps.
My administration will ease restrictions on humanitarian assistance
from legitimate U.S. religious and other non-governmental organizations
that directly serve the needs of the Cuban people, and to help build a
Cuban civil society. (Applause.)
The United States will provide such groups with direct assistance
that can be used for humanitarian and entrepreneurial activities. Our
government will offer scholarships in the United States for Cuban
students and professionals who are trying to build independence civil
institutions. And we will offer scholarships to the children of
political prisoners. (Applause.)
We're willing to negotiate direct mail service between the United
States and Cuba. My administration will also continue to look for ways
to modernize Radio and TV Marti. (Applause.)
These are beginning steps. We'll listen to the leaders in the
community for innovative ways to continue the inevitable march, and to
hasten the inevitable march toward freedom. (Applause.)
Mr. Castro must now act. He has his chance. He's been given an
opportunity. We will continue to enforce economic sanctions and ban
the travel to Cuba until Cuba's government shows real reform.
(Applause.) (Audience chanting.) And when we -- when I talk about
economic reform -- when I talk about economic reform, I mean real
economic reform.
The government must allow for workers to be able to organize in
unions outside of the control of the government. (Applause.) The
government must respect private property. (Applause.) Economic reform
means the government must allow employers to hire who they want to
hire, as opposed to those on a special list. (Applause.) Economic
reform means that when workers earn hard currency, they get to keep the
hard currency, as opposed to it going to the Cuban government.
(Applause.)
We know what the Cuban government's up to. We trade in hard
currency; they pay in pesos and keep the difference. And therefore,
without meaningful reform, trade with Cuba would do nothing more than
line the pockets of Fidel Castro and his cronies. (Applause.)
(Audience chanting.)
I say reform because we care about the people. We want to reform,
insist upon reform so the people will benefit. We hurt for the people
in Cuba. We long for a day when they realize the same freedoms we have
here in America. I want you to understand that I know what trade means
with a tyrant. It means that we will underwrite tyranny, and we cannot
let that happen. And I also want you to know I will not allow our
taxpayers' money to go to enrich the Castro regime. And I'm willing to
use my veto. (Applause.)
The initiative I've just -- the initiative I've outlined today
offers the Cuban government a way forward, a way towards democracy, a
way towards prosperity, a way towards respect. The choice now rests
with Mr. Castro.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Boo!
THE PRESIDENT: If Mr. Castro does not allow free elections he will
be protecting his cronies at the expense of his people. (Applause.)
And eventually -- and eventually -- despite all his tools of
oppression, Castro will need to answer to his people. (Applause.)
Ten years before Cuba achieved independence, Jose Marti wrote
this: If our suffering homeland could see the care with which her
absent children are preparing to serve her, if our homeland could see
the tenderness with which she is loved by her children in exile, the
joy of their faith and her pride at once would give her the strength to
break her chains at last. (Applause.)
Those words, written a long time ago, apply with equal power
today. The dream of a free and independent Cuba has been deferred, but
it can never be destroyed and it will not be denied. (Applause.)
For those listening on Radio Marti, it's important for you to know
the United States stands with the Cuban people. (Applause.) Not just
on Independence Day, but on every day. Every day. (Applause.) Every
day we stand with those who reject tyranny and torture, and embrace
liberty and life. Every day we stand with the plantados in prison
confronting illegitimate power with righteous truth. (Applause.)
Every day we stand with the Cuban families everywhere seeking a better
future. Every day we cultivate "una rosa blanca" for Cuba's freedom.
(Applause.)