US Says It Won't Lift Cuba Embargo

WASHINGTON — Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte says the United States will not soon lift its embargo on Cuba despite Fidel Castro's resignation.

Asked by reporters at the State Department if Washington planned to change its Cuba policy now that Castro has stepped down, Negroponte replied: "I can't imagine that happening anytime soon." He declined further comment.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) _ President Bush expressed hope Tuesday that the end of Fidel Castro's presidency will launch a transition to democracy in Cuba after nearly 50 years of ironclad, communist rule.

Long a target of U.S. criticism and sanctions, the ailing Castro, 81, announced he would not accept a new term.

"What does this mean for the people in Cuba?" Bush said at a news conference during his trip to Africa. "They're the ones who suffered under Fidel Castro. They're the ones who were put in prison because of their beliefs. They're the ones who have been denied their right to live in a free society. So I view this as a period of transition and it should be the beginning of the democratic transition in Cuba."

Bush said he anticipates debate about Cuba's future, and that some people will say "Let's promote stability."

"In the meantime, political prisoners will rot in prison and the human condition will remain pathetic in many cases," he said.

Bush noted that he had met with the families of some of prisoners, and that their release should be the first step of any transition to democracy.

"It just breaks your heart to realize that people have been thrown in prisons because they dare speak out," he said.

While Bush expressed hope for democratic change, Castro's decision appeared to position his brother, Raul, 76, to succeed him as president.

"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for democracy," Bush said.

"Eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections _ and I mean free, and I mean fair _ not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as true democracy," Bush said.

"The United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty," Bush said.

Comments

[captnEarl]

I wonder how much it is worth in U.S. dollars to the decider to not have sanctions on his hand holding old sauda king and his chinese dictator best buddy???

[Shirl]

As usually Bush won't talk or do anything unless its his way.
We have let the Cubans in the US set policy with cuba. Hopefully when Obama gets in this will change. he is willing to talk with other nations even if they beliefs are different from ours.
We turned down oil help from Chaves and Dr's help when Katrinka needed help.
We need a new leader that will work with these people.

[dora rice]

of course they won't lift the embargo, especially not in an election year, if Obama would lift their sanctions I would vote for him in a minute....­..Shame on this country , for sqeezing a samll country like Cube to death with sanctions for 35 years ,...the cold war has been long over, and just to get the Miami Cuban vote we will let the Cuban people suffer....­..it's not our business what kind of government they want....th­ese fat azzes in Washington can't do that with chavez he tells them to go where the sun don't shine.....­.no wonder we are hated all over the world.....­the young cubans in Miama aren't even interested anymore whats going on in Cuba......­only the old Cubans who made nothing but money because Cuba was closed were for santions..­..talking about democracy.­......Amer­ica wants to bully whereever it can...but the bully days are almost over......