[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         CUBAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate May 
20, Cuban Independence Day.
  Ninety-two years ago, the Cuban Republic was born. It emerged after 
many years of struggle when United States forces withdrew from Cuba and 
turned over the government to the first elected President of Cuba.
  Cuban independence was a long time in coming. It was the last country 
in Latin America to win its independence from the Spanish empire. 
Throughout much of the 19th century Cubans wanted to join their 
independent Latin American neighbors, Mexico to the north and Argentina 
to the south. In fact, the first Cuban War of Independence began in 
1868, but it would take 34 years before Cubans would finally secure 
their independence from Spain.
  The Cuban people's struggle continues today, as they strive to end 
years of oppression under the totalitarian Castro regime. In the 
Senate, I have long supported American efforts to promote democracy, 
human rights, and eventually prosperity in a country just 90 miles off 
Florida's shore.
  Our embargo against Cuba is one important tool to bring long-awaited 
democratic reforms to that country. I supported the Cuba Democracy Act 
because I believed, and I still believe, it holds the promise of 
expediting democratic reforms and bringing greater respect for human 
rights for the Cuban people.
  With the recent inauguration of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, we 
have witnessed the democratic reforms which economic sanctions can 
bring about. While there are some who would have us lift the current 
sanctions against Cuba, clearly, we must continue to allow the 
sanctions more time to work.
  As I rise today to commemorate the birth of the Cuban Republic 92 
years ago, I also look forward to the day when the Cuban people can 
live with the freedoms afforded to citizens of a democracy, and when 
United States-Cuban relations will be constructive and based on mutual 
respect.

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