    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 21 (Monday, May 28, 2001)]
    [Pages 777-778]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks in Recognition of Cuban Independence Day

    May 18, 2001

        Sientese. [Laughter] Bienvenidos a la casa de todos que--quien viven
    en este grande pais. Welcome to the White House.
        Mr. Secretary, you were an easy pick. [Laughter] There's no question
    you do a fabulous job on behalf of America. Thank you for taking the
    assignment.
        Another member of my team who is here who helps us have a strong and
    certain foreign policy is Senorita Condoleezza Arroz. [Laughter] That
    means ``Rice.'' [Laughter]
        Senator Graham, thank you for being here. We're honored by your
    presence. I know you're a strong friend of Cuba's. And of course, to--
    and it's great that Ileana and Lincoln are with us, as well. Thank you.
        I noticed when Gloria sang the Cuban anthem, that the first two
    people on their feet were the two Congresspeople from south Florida. And
    Lincoln, I did notice that you were braced at attention, too, I might
    add--proud. So it's great to have you all here.
        Gloria, thank you very much. Sorry you brought your husband--no.
    [Laughter] We love Emilio. He's a good man. And Gloria, thank you for
    coming and bringing tu ninita. Thank you all for being here. We love
    your music. Your husband has been such a good friend of me and my
    family, and so have you.
        The great poet--man, you must be a strong person with a beautiful
    heart and a wonderful, artistic touch. Angel, welcome to the White
    House. And Lizebet, thank you for coming. I don't think many in America
    know your story, that you were picked up on a raft, and you played the
    national anthem on your violin when you were picked up. That's
    beautiful.
        And finally--por fin, ``la Voz''--[laughter]--Jon Secada. Thank you,
    Jon, for being here. I appreciate you very much. Glad you're here.
        It's a great honor for me to welcome you all to the White House to
    celebrate May 20th, Cuban Independence Day. It's a day when we honor the
    warm family ties, the faith, the history, and heritage that unite our
    two peoples.
        As Angel and Lizebet and so many others remind us, it is a day when
    we pay thanks to the magnificent contributions of Cubans to our national
    life. They enrich every field, from science to industry to the arts,
    including my favorite performing art--baseball. [Laughter] But mostly,
    today is a day when we reflect on the greatnesses of Cuba's far-too-
    distant past and the brightness of its future, of how, together, we can
    hasten that future's arrival.
        Just last month I returned from the Summit of the Americas in Quebec
    City. Thirty-four democratic nations committed ourselves to building a
    hemisphere of freedom. But one nation was not there, because that nation
    has a leader who has no place at the democratic table. Indeed, his
    nation is not free, but enslaved. He is the last holdout of the
    hemisphere, and time is not on his side.
        The Cuban independence we celebrate today was the product of the
    enormous courage of the Cuban people and the statesmanship of leaders
    such as Jose Marti. The tyranny that rules Cuba today stands as an
    insult to their sacrifices. But we're confident in one fact: Cuban
    courage is more powerful and enduring than Castro's legacy and tyranny.
        Our Nation has an economic embargo against Castro's regime. But
    today, of all days, it is important for us to remember that our goal is
    not to have an embargo against Cuba; it is freedom in Cuba.
        The United States welcomes the opportunity to trade with Cuba when
    there are entrepreneurs who are free to trade with us. We welcome the
    opportunity to build diplomatic relations with Cuba when the Cuban
    Government is a democracy, when the Cuban people can be free from fear
    to say

    [[Page 778]]

    what they think and choose who shall govern them.
        The sanctions our Government enforces against the Castro regime are
    not just a policy tool; they're a moral statement. My administration
    will oppose any attempt to weaken sanctions against Cuba's Government
    until the regime--and I will fight such attempts until this regime frees
    its political prisoners, holds democratic, free elections, and allows
    for free speech.
        The policy of our Government is not merely to isolate Castro but to
    actively support those working to bring about democratic change in Cuba.
    And that is why we will support legislation like the ``Cuban Solidarity
    Act'' and the ``Cuban Internal Opposition Assistance Act.'' History
    tells us that forcing change upon repressive regimes requires patience.
    But history also proves, from Poland to South Africa, that patience and
    courage and resolve can eventually cause oppressive governments to fear
    and then to fall.
        One of the surest ways to foster freedom is to give people unlimited
    access to unbiased information. The strongest walls of oppression can't
    stand when the floodgates of modern telecommunications are opened. We
    must explore ways to expand access to the Internet for the average Cuban
    citizen. And we must strengthen the voices of Radio and TV Marti, with
    strong leadership. And we will strengthen those voices with strong
    leadership and new direction.
        Today I say this to Mr. Castro: If you are confident your ideas are
    right, then stop jamming the broadcasts of those whose ideas are
    different. And until you do, we will look for ways to use new
    technology, from new locations to counter your silencing of the voices
    of liberty.
        Last month the U.N. Human Rights Commission called on Castro's
    regime to respect the basic human rights of all its people. The United
    States leadership was responsible for passage of that resolution. Some
    say we paid a heavy price for it. But let me be clear: I'm very proud of
    what we did. And repressed people around the world must know this about
    the United States: We might not sit on some Commission, but we will
    always be the world's leader in support of human rights.
        Today, all our citizens are proud to stand with all Cubans and all
    Cuban-Americans who love freedom. We will continue to stand with you
    until that day, hopefully not in the too-distant future, when all Cubans
    breathe the heady air of liberty.
        We are proud to stand with those Cubans who, today, enrich our
    Nation with their energies and industry. We're proud to stand with the
    farmers and workers of Cuba who dream of liberty's blessings. We are
    proud to stand, too, with those who are suffering and dying in jails
    because they had the courage to speak the truth.
        Y aqui en este Casa Blanca, estamos felices de cultivar ``una rosa
    blanca en Julio como en Enero.'' Y por fin, viva Cuba libre.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:30 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Housing and Urban
    Development Mel R. Martinez; Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and
    Lincoln Diaz-Balart; entertainers Gloria and Emilio Estefan; poet Angel
    Cuadra; musician Lizebet Martinez; singer Jon Secada; and President
    Fidel Castro of Cuba. This item was not received in time for publication
    in the appropriate issue.