[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[April 18, 1992]
[Pages 615-616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Actions to Support Democracy in Cuba

April 18, 1992
    I am strongly committed to actions that will bring rapid, peaceful, 
democratic change to Cuba. My administration has pursued an effective 
policy of economic and political isolation of the Castro regime. We urge 
all democratic governments to join us. No nation should help bankroll 
this dictatorship. Aid to the Castro regime will prolong Castro's hold 
on Cuba and prolong the misery and suffering of the Cuban people.
    Today we are closer than ever to our goal of returning freedom to 
Cuba. The Russian Government has announced that economic relations with 
Cuba will be on a hard currency basis. Also, Russia is withdrawing the 
former Soviet brigade and announced that as of January 1, 1992, it was 
ending all subsidies to Cuba. Castro is on his own. Cuba has lost a 
source of economic and military aid that has totaled as much as $5 
billion annually in some years. Cuban trade with the new Independent 
States amounts to a mere fraction of its trade with the former Soviet 
Union.
    For the first time, the Russian Republic voted with countries from 
Latin America, Africa, and Asia to condemn Cuba's human rights abuses at 
the United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva. Our Latin 
American allies rejected Cuban requests to purchase oil at less than 
fair market prices and have called for a democratic opening in Cuba. My 
administration will support free trade arrangements that benefit our 
sister democracies but will not accept loopholes that aid the Castro 
regime. The benefits of these agreements are for governments committed 
to freedom and democracy.
    The ``Cuban Democracy Act of 1992'' seeks to build on the strong 
prodemocracy policy of my administration. I applaud such efforts and 
endorse the objectives of this legislation to isolate Cuba until 
democratic change comes to that embattled island.
    I believe in and I am committed to work with the Congress this 
session to pass a stronger, more effective ``Cuban Democracy Act,'' 
which tightens the embargo and closes any unintentional loopholes that 
could benefit the Castro regime while preserving the proper 
constitutional prerogatives of the Congress and the President.
    However, as currently written, the ``Cuban Democracy Act'' could, 
without intending to do so, weaken the embargo. It

[[Page 616]]

could result in the transfer of millions of dollars to the Castro regime 
from earnings on telecommunication services between the United States 
and Cuba. Current regulations allow balanced and even improved phone 
services but restrict hard currency transfers to Cuba.
    Additionally, we should continue to license donations of food and 
medicines to nongovernmental organizations in Cuba for the benefit of 
the Cuban people. But we cannot permit either the sale of medicines or 
the donation of food to the Castro regime itself. To do so, as the bill 
proposes, could directly aid the security forces of the Castro 
dictatorship and could contribute to the building of a biotechnology 
industry.
    Finally, consistent with my proposal of 3 years ago, the legislation 
should strengthen the provision providing for civil penalty authority 
for the Department of the Treasury as a weapon against embargo 
violators.
    With the appropriate changes, I expect to be able to sign this 
legislation. I intend to work with the Congress to pass a strong ``Cuban 
Democracy Act'' this year.
    In this spirit, I am today instructing the Treasury Department to 
restrict further shipping to Cuba by issuing regulations that will 
prohibit entry into U.S. ports of vessels that are engaged in trade with 
Cuba. Additionally, I am instructing Treasury to begin the process of 
issuing licenses to permit shipment of humanitarian package mail on the 
Miami/Havana air charter services. This measure will further limit 
Cuba's hard currency earnings.
    My administration will continue to press governments around the 
world on the need to isolate economically the Castro regime. Together we 
will bring to Cuba a new era of freedom and democracy.