MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Massive funds to promote “freedom and transition” in Cuba

President George Bush approved this week a new 80 million US dollars “Free Cuba” package to boost Cuban opposition and help the Cuban people in “their transition from repressive control to freedom”.

The fund to be disbursed in 2007 and 2008 is part of proposals put forward by the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, which is considering a post-Fidel Castro Cuba and were released last week drawing strong criticism from Cuban officials.

"I approved a Compact with the People of Cuba, which outlines how the United States will support the Cuban people as they are in transition from the repressive control of the Castro regime to freedom and a genuine democracy. The report demonstrates that we are actively working for change in Cuba, not simply waiting for change", said President Bush on announcing the policy.

Bush also called on "all our democratic friends and allies in the world to join us in supporting freedom for the Cuban people".

The Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba includes US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on its panel.

Fidel Castro turns 80 in August and has been in power since 1959 when the revolution ousted former dictator Fulgencio Batista. Initially supported by the US, relations with the Castro regime rapidly deteriorated and Washington in the early sixties imposed an economic blockade which still is in place including strong fines and sanctions for companies doing business with Cuba.

The apparent heir of Fidel is his brother Raul Castro, acting vice-president and head of the Cuban Army.

The funds will be invested in financing communications and "providing uncensored information" for Cubans who want change as well as strengthening opposition groups in the next two years. The report also recommends banning remittances from the US to Cuba through third countries and proposes creating a task force to consider even stronger economic sanctions to the Castro regime.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, tourism and remittances, mainly from Cubans living in the US, have become the country's main sources of income.