With the ending of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s economy has stagnated with the loss of support from its biggest ally. The U.S. has kept the trade embargo in place in an effort to bring Cuba around to democracy. Moves made in the last few years have resulted in a thawing in relations and Raul Castro’s coming to power increased the speed of change.
Here are 10 quotes that illustrate recent struggles in the conflict between the U.S. and Cuba.
1. In a 2002 address to mark the 100th anniversary of Cuban independence, President Bush hinted at improved relations: “Today, I'm announcing an initiative for a new Cuba that offers Cuba's government a way forward towards democracy and hope, and better relations with the United States.”
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2. The change in attitude wasn’t matched by Castro and in an address to more than a million people, he said in a direct message to President Bush: “You have neither the morality nor the right, none whatsoever, to speak of freedom, democracy, and human rights.”
3. Roger Noriega, once a member of the Bush administration,
said in a News Hour interview on PBS: “I think we should be on the side of the Cuban people. We should be encouraging the international community to be more active, to communicate with the island, to challenge the regime, to bring about real change.”
4. President Bush in 2008, responding to Fidel Castro's resignation, encouraged democracy in Cuba: “I believe that the change from Fidel Castro ought to begin ... a democratic transition. The United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty."
5. In a rare speech to Cuban parliament regarding the United States, Raul Castro is
quoted by the BBC as saying: “If we really want to make progress in bilateral relations, we have to learn to respect each other's differences and get used to living peacefully with them.”
6. In a White House speech on relations with Cuba, President Obama signaled a change in late 2014: “We know from hard-learned experience that it is better to encourage and support reform than to impose policies that will render a country a failed state.”
7. In a widely covered speech after announcing a new deal on Cuba, Obama said: "Change is going to come to Cuba. It has to."
8.
In the Catholic Herald newspaper, Pope Francis is quoted as expressing his joy at the improved relations between Cuba and the U.S.: “Today we are happy because we have seen how two peoples who were distanced for so many years took a step toward each other yesterday.”
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9. Not all U.S. politicians are in favor of the current policy of the president, and Sen. Marco Rubio said in a press conference: “This entire policy shift announced today is based on an illusion, based on a lie. The White House has conceded everything and gained little."
10. The president did get support for his policy from some Republicans. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake
told War on the Rocks: “In all seriousness, there are no better ambassadors for democracy, freedom and the benefits of capitalism than everyday Americans, and I see nothing but benefit in increasing contact between U.S. citizens and the Cuban people.”
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