Dear Mr. Secretary,
Per the February 9, 2004 announcement by the U.S. Department
of State that its Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba is
welcoming public input, we are very pleased as U.S. citizens
and as the Board of Directors of Fundación Amistad (the
Friendship Foundation), to have the opportunity to present some
important thoughts for the Commission's consideration. We urge
the adoption and application by the U.S. government of the following
guiding principles in developing policies that govern relations
between our two nations and their citizens:
-
The Cuban people should now and in the future be
the central protagonists in any deliberations or debates
about internal changes in Cuba. With respect to policies
of governance and socio-economic development in Cuba,
Cuban citizens on the Island are the ones who presently
confront the challenges of satisfying their most basic
needs on a daily basis, and therefore, theirs is the community
with the greatest stake in discussions centered on improving
their future. On their shoulders, initiative, and creativity
rests the responsibility for determining the future directions
of Cuba's growth. U.S. policy should relate to the Cuban
people on the Island in a way that emphasizes the centrality
and sustainability of their role as decision-makers vis-à-vis
civil society and government policies for development.
-
No credence or support should be given to any assistance
approach that is based on the premise that individuals
or organizations outside of Cuba have the primary status
in being at the helm of change. Internal change should
continue to occur fundamentally via discussions between
Cuban citizens and the Cuban government, even if the pace,
content, and form of such exchanges are not always in
concert with the particular democratic model espoused
by the U.S. government. At the same time, Fundación
Amistad does encourage, support, and facilitate participation
of Cuban-Americans and other members of the Cuban Diaspora
to constructively evaluate and collaborate with these
internal dynamics of change.
-
Respectful, non-interventionist approaches that
are free of inflammatory language must be employed to
motivate and facilitate this dialogue and change.
Legitimate concerns voiced by the global community, including
the Cuban Diaspora, should also respectfully acknowledge,
relate to, and support this internal dynamic on the Island.
Since 1997 Fundación Amistad has successfully fostered
a variety of meaningful exchanges between non-governmental Cuban
institutions, U.S. organizations and international entities
and organizations that foster cross-cultural understanding,
build institutional capacity and address specific needs of the
Cuban people. Following is a listing of some of our most successful
partnerships:
| Project Area
|
Collaborating
Cuban, U.S.
and International Institutions |
Health and the Environment |
|
- Sharing technical knowledge regarding conservation
planning and marine ecosystems management in the Florida
Straits
- Organizing the donation and shipment of medical supplies
and specialized equipment |
- Cuban Neurosciences Center
- United Nations Development Program
- UCLA
- Environmental Defense
- The Nature Conservancy |
Academic Study and Professional
Development |
|
- Implementing community-based, service-learning opportunities
for students
- Building capacity of non-governmental Cuban institutions
to use internships in the U.S. and Cuba as mechanisms
for professional exchange and development |
- Casa de Las Americas
- Robertson Scholars Program (Duke University and the
University of North Carolina)
- Antioch University
- Brown University |
Cultural Heritage |
|
| - Strengthening the ability of non-governmental Cuban
institutions to preserve archival material of historical and cultural
importance |
- Museum of the City of Havana
- Museums Association of the Caribbean
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
- Northeast Document Center
- University of North Carolina Library |
The Visual and Performing Arts |
|
| - Facilitating technical exchanges between
Cuban and U.S artists and the presentation of film, music
and dance repertoires to broader audiences in both countries |
- Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC)
- Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba
- La Colmenita Children’s Theater |
Mr. Secretary, Fundación Amistad offers its services
to you for any efforts directed at improving bilateral government
and people-to-people relations with Cuba. As you can see,
Fundación Amistad’s model of serious-minded,
professional exchange and collaboration has an established
record of success. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss
possible areas of cooperation with you in the near future.
In a spirit of democratic cooperation with civil society,
| Luly Duke |
Hortensia Calvo, Ph.D. |
Michael Connors, Ph.D. |
| Jean M. Gath |
James Early |
Gail Furman, Ph.D. |
| Anthony Drexel Duke |
Elena Lord |
Maria Pessino |
| Jonathan Showe |
Silvia Fernandez Freyre |
Peter Honerkamp |
| Robert Muse |
Elena Pisa |
Victoria Ryan Lobo |
|
