Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 15, 2002
US Prepares Tougher Stand Against Castro: Reports
U.S. President George W. Bush is preparing a tougher strategy to deal with Cuban President Fidel Castro as U.S. former President Jimmy Cater visits Cuba in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries, CNN reported on Tuesday.
U.S. President George W. Bush is preparing a tougher strategy to deal with Cuban President Fidel Castro as U.S. former President Jimmy Cater visits Cuba in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries, CNN reported on Tuesday.
Bush will deliver a speech next week outlining the United States' policy toward Cuba and then travel to Miami to honor Cuban Independence Day, Bush's aides told CNN.
The U.S. president has made clear he believes that easing the decades-old trade and travel restrictions on Cuba would only help Castro stay in power.
While the aides were tight-lipped about what Bush would announce next week, they did not rule out the possibilities of a series of tougher moves, including further tightening travel restrictions to the island, increasing aid to Cuban dissidents and stepping up efforts to ensure that U.S. government broadcasts get to the Cuban people.
These moves would be applauded by many Cuban-American lawmakers, who are important allies for the Bush administration in the crucial battleground state of Florida.
The Bush administration has already made one move, with a senior State Department official last week publicly accusing Castro of developing limited biological weapons, but Cuba strongly denied the charge.