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| Mr Golding (pictured on left) contended that Cuba was showing "clear signs" of moving towards reform, noting that since Raul Castro (pictured on right) assumed the Presidency, some very significant initiatives have been taken. (File photo) | |
KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 12, 2008 - Jamaica's Prime Minister, Bruce Golding is pushing for the United States to lift its embargo on Cuba and has called on the two countries to resolve their differences through "constructive engagement".
Mr Golding said he gave Jamaica's support and effort to try and "influence the thinking of the United States government towards a different approach to Cuba" during a three-day official visit to Cuba last week.
"We made it clear to President (Raul) Castro that in the same way that the Cold War came to an end, more than two decades ago, we feel that this diplomatic war, this economic war against Cuba must also be brought to an end," he said.
Proposing that the US "pursue a path of constructive engagement" with Cuba, the Jamaica leader pointed out that it had adopted this approach towards other countries with which they held ideological differences, including Communist China and Vietnam.
Mr Golding contended that Cuba was showing "clear signs" of moving towards reform, noting that since Raul Castro assumed the Presidency, some very significant initiatives have been taken.
"We believe that this is something that ought to be encouraged. I believe that we should respect the right of the Cuban people to define the pace at which they will bring adjustments to the Cuban way of life and to the Cuban economic system; it is not something that must be imposed from outside," he said.
"And so long as Cuba continues to move in a direction that we certainly welcome (that) we certainly endorse, we believe that they must be given every encouragement, not to be penalized any further."
"I believe that all of us owe Cuba the respect (in that) they have travelled a long road and, in a sense, they are arriving at the same destination that we have defined for ourselves - an improved quality of life for their people (and) a consolidation of their sovereignty and their independence. I believe that we must all do whatever is possible to make sure that Cuba can be integrated into the mainstream of the world community," the Prime Minister added.
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