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Politics

Obama Changes Cuba Visitation Policy

January 13, 2011 - 6:00pm

President Barack Obama lifted travel restrictions to Communist Cuba Friday, igniting fierce opposition from Florida Republicans.

The White House Press Office released a statement, informing the world about the change in policy.

Today, President Obama has directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security to take a series of steps to continue efforts to reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their countrys future, noted the administration. The president has directed that changes be made to regulations and policies governing (1) purposeful travel; (2) non-family remittances; and (3) U.S. airports supporting licensed charter flights to and from Cuba. These measures will increase people-to-people contact; support civil society in Cuba; enhance the free flow of information to, from, and among the Cuban people; and help promote their independence from Cuban authorities.

Florida Republicans, many of them the descendants of Cubans who fled the Communist regime, quickly responded, attacking Obamas policy.

I strongly oppose any new changes that weaken U.S. policy toward Cuba, said U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. I was opposed to the changes that have already been made by this administration and I oppose these new changes. I believe that what does need to change are the Cuban regime's repressive policies towards the independent press and labor unions, its imprisonment of political prisoners and constant harassment of citizens with dissenting views, and its refusal to allow free multi-party elections. It is unthinkable that the administration would enable the enrichment of a Cuban regime that routinely violates the basic human rights and dignity of its people.

The White House insisted that, despite the changes in policy, the embargo on Cuba would remain in place.

The president believes these actions, combined with the continuation of the embargo, are important steps in reaching the widely shared goal of a Cuba that respects the basic rights of all its citizens. These steps build upon the presidents April 2009 actions to help reunite divided Cuban families; to facilitate greater telecommunications with the Cuban people; and to increase humanitarian flows to Cuba, continued the statement from the White House.

The White House agreed to allow religious organizations to sponsor trips to Cuba as well as accredited colleges and universities, as well as student exchange programs. The White House also agreed to change policy to allow more travel from journalists.

The White House also changed rules on economic activity, allowing Americans to send up to $500 per quarter to non-family members in Cuba as long as those Cubans are not government leaders. The White House also lowered restrictions for international airports in the U.S. to allowed licensed charter flights to Cuba.

Like Rubio, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Community, took aim at the new policy.

Loosening these regulations will not help foster a pro-democracy environment in Cuba. These changes will not aid in ushering in respect for human rights. And they certainly will not help the Cuban people free themselves from the tyranny that engulfs them, said Ros-Lehtinen. These changes undermine U.S. foreign policy and security objectives and will bring economic benefits to the Cuban regime.

Newly inaugurated Florida Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera also bashed the new policy.

This loosening of regulations is a unilateral concession that does nothing to solve the fundamental problems on the island, instead Rivera who is also on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Instead of seeking change and improvements from the Cuban dictatorship in regards to human rights and free and open democratic elections before entering into any kind of compromise, this policy sends a message that the Cuban dictatorship does not have to improve before being rewarded by the United States.

This policy will not lead to a better quality of life for the Cuban people or help grant them the freedoms that they so desperately need and want, it only serves to enrich the Cuban dictatorship, added Rivera.

There are already plans for Tampa to Cuba flights -- which was applauded by business leaders in the area and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

In 2009, Obama began the process of changing the United States' relationship with Cuba by allowing Cuban-Americans who wanted, to travel and send money back to their homeland. Friday's announcement is seen as a continuation on that front.

The changes in policy will take effect when the modified regulations are published in the Federal Register within the next two weeks.

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.

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