    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 1 (Monday, January 11, 1999)]
    [Pages 7-8]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on United States Policy Toward Cuba

    January 5, 1999

        Last March, in the wake of Pope John Paul's historic visit to Cuba,
    I authorized measures designed to ease the plight of the Cuban people
    and help them prepare for a democratic future. The restoration of direct
    passenger flights, resumption of family remittances, expansion of
    people-to-people contacts, and increases in the sale of medicines since
    then have had a positive impact. They demonstrate the United States'
    compassion for the Cuban people, our strong interest in building bonds
    between the citizens of our nations, and our determination to provide
    the people of Cuba with hope in their struggle against a system that for
    four decades has denied them even basic human rights.
        Building on the success of the measures I announced last March, I am
    today authorizing additional steps to reach out to the Cuban people:
        --Expansion of remittances by allowing any U.S. resident (not only
          those with families in Cuba) to send limited funds to individual
          Cuban families as well as to organizations independent of the
          government.
        --Expansion of people-to-people contact through two-way exchanges
          among academics, athletes, scientists, and others, including
          streamlining the approval process for such visits.
        --Authorization of the sale of food and agricultural inputs to
          independent non-governmental entities, including religious groups
          and Cuba's emerging private sector, such as family restaurants and
          private farmers.
        --Authorization of charter passenger flights to cities in Cuba other
          than Havana and from some cities in the United States other than
          Miami in order to facilitate family reunification for persons
          living outside those cities.
        --An effort to establish direct mail service to Cuba, as provided
          for in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992.
        At the same time, we are taking steps to increase the flow of
    information to the Cuban people and others around the world, by
    strengthening Radio and TV Marti and launching new public diplomacy
    programs in Latin America and Europe to keep international attention
    focused on the need for change in Cuba. The United States will continue
    to urge the international community to do more to promote respect for
    human rights and democratic transition in Cuba.
        I am also pleased to announce that I intend to nominate Mr. Jose
    ``Pepe'' Collado and Ms. Avis Lavelle as members of the Advisory Board
    for Cuba Broadcasting. I further intend to designate Mr. Collado as
    Chairman upon confirmation by the Senate. This important advisory body
    has been without a Chairman since the death of Jorge Mas Canosa more
    than a year ago. We are processing other nominations and, in cooperation
    with congressional leaders, will continue to name members of this
    bipartisan board.
        These steps are designed to help the Cuban people without
    strengthening the Cuban Government. They are consistent with our policy
    of keeping pressure on the regime for democratic change--through the

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    embargo and vigorous diplomatic initiatives--while finding ways to reach
    out to the Cuban people through humanitarian efforts and help in
    developing civil society. They are also consistent with the Cuban
    Democracy Act and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. They
    reflect a strong and growing bipartisan consensus that the United States
    can and should do more to work with the Cuban people toward a future of
    democracy and prosperity.