Cuba to U.N.: We're waiting for 'change'

UNITED NATIONS – Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez has told the 2009 United Nations General Assembly his nation still is waiting for the "change" promised by Barack Obama during his presidential campaign.

"The conciliatory speech from the White House (last week) raised great hopes. Unfortunately, time goes by and the (Obama) speech does not seem to be supported by concrete facts," he told the assembly meeting in New York yesterday.

Rodriguez mounted the U.N. podium to a surprisingly quiet and restrained general assembly audience.

In a speech lasting about 20 minutes, Rodriguez detailed a litany of complaints.

While the foreign minister applauded the lifting of restrictions that limited the transfer of funds between families in the U.S. and Cuba, he insisted it was not enough.

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"These measures are a positive step, but they are extremely limited and insufficient," he said.

Rodriguez added: "Nor has there been any signal indicating that the U.S. government is ready to put an end to the immoral practice, which has increased in recent days, of the misappropriation of Cuban funds that have been frozen in American banks and of other goods based on orders by venal judges who are violating their own laws. The essential thing is that the economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba remains intact."

He then admonished the assembly for not having taken any action to "punish" Washington for its action.

Rodriguez challenged the White House to prove its "desire" for change.

"Should there be a true desire towards change, the U.S. government could authorize the export of Cuban goods and services to the United States and vice versa. The United States could allow Cuba to buy any product containing more than 10 percent of U.S. components or technology anywhere in the world regardless of its trademark or country of origin."

The Cuban declared that the so-called "neo-cons" who he said "drove" foreign policy under George W. Bush have since "regrouped" and continue to wield substantial influence in the Obama administration.

"The U.S. blockade of Cuba is an act of unilateral aggression which should be terminated," said Rodriguez.

The Cuban insisted that contrary to its public statements in support of ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya, Washington bears responsibility for the ongoing crisis.

"Latin America and the Caribbean are living through a dramatic set of circumstances ... the coup d'etat in Honduras is reflection of this. The usurpers who kidnapped the legitimate president of the country are violating the constitution and are brutally surprising the people ... something which happened during the dark years of the military dictatorships propped up by the United States. ..."

He continued: "The American fascist right, maintained by (former vice-president Dick) Cheney," are central to maintaining the de facto Honduran government which should "be immediately replaced" he added.

Rodriguez insisted it was Washington that has kept ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya from returning to power.

Zelaya is currently in refuge at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa in a standoff with the Honduran military.

Rodriguez called criticisms of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez "slanders and lies."

"Those who would want to put an end to the Cuban revolution are under delusions," he concluded.

The U.S./U.N. mission had no reaction to the Rodriguez address.

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