Cuba
USAID's Franco Advocates Outreach to Cubans
With Message of Hope, Support and Information
USAID Assistant Administrator Adolfo Franco asked people
of Latin America to begin to “reach out to the Cuban
people with that message of hope, material support and information
to help sustain the Cuban people in their historic quest.”
Franco, head of USAID’s Latin America and Caribbean
bureau, spoke recently in Buenos Aires, Argentina at a forum
sponsored by the USAID-supported University of Miami Cuba
Transition Project, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany,
the Belgrano University of Buenos Aires, and the Center for
Latin American Openness and Development
He said he believes a “small but brave and determined
group of human rights activists, independent journalists and
independent librarians have begun to initiate a great historic
change.” He added, “Their efforts may not immediately
achieve their objective, but they will ultimately win out.”
Franco asked Latin American people to provide Cubans with
uncensored books, newspapers, videos, DVDs, laptop computers,
and portable short wave radios with rechargeable batteries
to facilitate access to information. A steady flow of up-to-date
information, he said, will break down the isolation
“If every Latin American embassy in Havana provided
a well-stocked library and Internet services to the Cuban
people, that would exponentially expand their access to accurate
news, insightful opinion and useful information,” he
said.
Franco said the international community should begin to plan
for the time when “…the Castro brothers have left
power.” The strategy should consist of a full range
of both humanitarian and developmental assistance, he said.
USAID supports several programs in Cuba from stateside, most
of which aim to increase the flow of accurate information
on key issues within the island. It also supports universities,
conferences and non-governmental organizations that encourage
humanitarian, open government and human rights activity inside
the country.
Franco said he speaks as “a Cuban American, born in
Cardenas, Matanzas, forced to leave Cuba with my family at
the beginning of Fidel Castro’s dictatorial rule...”
“Fidel Castro’s dictatorship has kept the Cuban
people isolated and afraid for more than 45 years,” Franco
concluded. “But as the international community and people…begin
to break down that isolation…, the Cuban people will
begin to realize that the world cares about them, is watching
them and listening to them and will bear any cost to support
their valiant struggle for freedom.”
The complete text
of the speech is available.
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