12/17/14, "Raúl Castro: 'We have to learn the art to coexist'," Buenos Aires Herald
"Cuban leader Raúl Castro addressed that nation saying Havana and Washington have held negotiations that resulted in the release of prisoners “without resigning to none of our principles.” At the same time, he renewed that country's demands to end a decades-long economic embargo the US imposed on the island in 1960.
“We could settle our differences through negotiations without
resigning to none of our principles. The heroic Cuban people has shown
that they have been and will remain faithfull to our ideals of justice
and social independence facing great dangers, sacrifices and
difficulties,” he said in the beginning of a televised speech in a day
when news about the release of prisoners from both sides hit
international media headlines, heralding an overhaul in bilateral
relations - American Alan Gross and a Cuban accused of “spying” for the
US arrived in the US while Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero and Ramón
Labañino arrived in Cuban soil today.
Hernández, Guerrero and Lebañino are part of the so called Cuban five group of prisoners. Two of them had been released before on completing their sentences - Rene González and Fernando González.
“We have maintained a profound loyalty to those who fell defending our principles from the times of the war of independence. Now we carry out the modernization of our economic model to build a prosper and sustainable socialism,” Raúl Castro stated praising what he called a dialogue of high level that could prompt the beginning of a new era in US-Cuba ties.
“As a result of a high level dialogue and a telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama we have been able to move forward in the resolution of issues of interest to our nations,” the Cuban leader affirmed.
“Like Fidel (Castro) promised, in June 2001, when he said they will be back, they arrived in our homeland Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio. The huge joy of their relatives and of all of our people who struggled tirelessly with that objective, gets extended to all the committees and solidarity groups, governments, parliaments, organizations, institutions and personalities that have demanded and made efforts for their liberation,” Castro said specially expressing Cuba’s gratitude to the Vatican and Pope Francis.
“I want to thank the support of the Vatican and mainly of Pope Francis in the improving of relations.”
The blockade
In his message to the nation, Raúl Castro also renewed that country’s condemnation of the longstanding economic embargo Washington continues to impose on the people of Cuba, after breaking diplomatic ties on the Caribbean island more than half a century ago during the Cold War.
“The economic and financial blockade that causes damages must stop,” leader Castro affirmed calling to “adopt mutual measures to improve the bilateral climate and move toward the normalization of ties between our countries, based on the principles of international human rights and the United Nations charter.”
“Cuba reiterates its disposition to maintain its cooperation in multilateral organisms as the United Nations. By acknowledging we have deep differences mainly on national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign policy matters, I reaffirm our will to dialogue on all these issues,” Raúl Castro said urging the Obama administration to “remove the obstacles that block ties between our people, families and citizens of our countries, mainly in travel, mailing and telecommunications matters."
Hernández, Guerrero and Lebañino are part of the so called Cuban five group of prisoners. Two of them had been released before on completing their sentences - Rene González and Fernando González.
“We have maintained a profound loyalty to those who fell defending our principles from the times of the war of independence. Now we carry out the modernization of our economic model to build a prosper and sustainable socialism,” Raúl Castro stated praising what he called a dialogue of high level that could prompt the beginning of a new era in US-Cuba ties.
“As a result of a high level dialogue and a telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama we have been able to move forward in the resolution of issues of interest to our nations,” the Cuban leader affirmed.
“Like Fidel (Castro) promised, in June 2001, when he said they will be back, they arrived in our homeland Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio. The huge joy of their relatives and of all of our people who struggled tirelessly with that objective, gets extended to all the committees and solidarity groups, governments, parliaments, organizations, institutions and personalities that have demanded and made efforts for their liberation,” Castro said specially expressing Cuba’s gratitude to the Vatican and Pope Francis.
“I want to thank the support of the Vatican and mainly of Pope Francis in the improving of relations.”
The blockade
In his message to the nation, Raúl Castro also renewed that country’s condemnation of the longstanding economic embargo Washington continues to impose on the people of Cuba, after breaking diplomatic ties on the Caribbean island more than half a century ago during the Cold War.
“The economic and financial blockade that causes damages must stop,” leader Castro affirmed calling to “adopt mutual measures to improve the bilateral climate and move toward the normalization of ties between our countries, based on the principles of international human rights and the United Nations charter.”
“Cuba reiterates its disposition to maintain its cooperation in multilateral organisms as the United Nations. By acknowledging we have deep differences mainly on national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign policy matters, I reaffirm our will to dialogue on all these issues,” Raúl Castro said urging the Obama administration to “remove the obstacles that block ties between our people, families and citizens of our countries, mainly in travel, mailing and telecommunications matters."
“Progresses made in the obtained trades prove that finding a solution to major problems is possible. We must learn the art to coexist in a civilized way.”"
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12/17/14, Buenos Aires Herald front page, twitter pic
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Raul Castro scolds Cuban people for bad behavior in 2013 speech to parliament:
7/7/2013, "Raul Castro Scolds Cuban People For Corruption And Other 'Bad Behavior'," AP, Havana, Peter Orsi, via Business Insider
"Raul Castro spent the lion's share of a prominent speech Sunday scolding his countrymen for all kinds of bad behavior, everything from corruption and theft to public urination and the odoriferous practice of raising pigs in cities.
Speaking before legislators at one of parliament's twice-annual sessions, the Cuban president railed against decaying morals, a deteriorating sense of civic responsibility and vanishing values like honor, decency and decorum.
Castro aired a laundry list of complaints about illegal activities that he said do the country harm: unauthorized home construction, illicit logging and slaughter of livestock and the acceptance of bribes, to name a few.
He also fulminated against baser examples of "social indiscipline": shouting and swearing in the streets, public drinking and drunk driving, dumping trash on the roadside and even people who relieve themselves in parks.
At times, the 82-year-old's speech sounded like a generational broadside against disrespectful youth who do as they please, a diatribe that could have crossed the lips of many a grandfather.
"When I meditate on these regrettable displays, it makes me think that despite the undeniable educational achievements made by the Revolution ... we have taken a step back in citizens' culture and public spirit," Castro said. "I have the bitter sensation that we are a society ever more educated, but not necessarily more enlightened."
Other examples of bad behavior cited by Castro:
— People showing up late to work.
— Graffiti and vandalizing of parks, monuments, trees and gardens.
— Loud music that disturbs neighbors' sleep.
— Raising pigs in cities despite the public health risk.
— Scavenging metal from phone and electrical lines, sewers, signs and traffic lights.
— Fare evasion on public transportation.
— Failure to comply with school dress codes, and teachers who accept bribes for higher grades.
— Lack of deference to the elderly, pregnant women, mothers with small children and the disabled.
— Children throwing rocks at cars and trains.
"All this takes place right in front of our noses without inciting public condemnation and confrontation," Castro said.
"It is not acceptable to equate vulgarity with modernity, sloppiness and negligence with progress," he added. "Living in society entails, in the first place, accepting rules that preserve respect for decency and the rights of others."
The Cuban leader also spoke of the corrosive effects of official corruption, quoting his elder brother Fidel as saying such activity poses a greater risk to the Cuban Revolution's success than any outside forces.
Castro's biannual speech to parliament has sometimes been a moment to announce new initiatives, but Sunday's was short on specifics. Perhaps his most notable comment was a reiteration of the importance of doing away with Cuba's unique dual currency system.
Most citizens get paid in Cuban pesos, while a second currency, the dollar-pegged convertible peso, is used in tourism and to purchase most imported goods.
Castro told legislators that the Cuban economy is advancing "positively" even if those gains have yet to be felt by the average Cuban family.
On Saturday, Economy Minister Adel Yzquierdo reported to the body that GDP growth for the year will likely be between 2.5 and 3 percent, short of a previous forecast of 3.5 percent.
Castro also voiced support for Latin American allies' apparent willingness to grant NSA leaker Edward Snowden asylum, though he did not say whether Cuba itself would offer him refuge or safe passage."
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