Cuba rejects U.S. supplies, asks for suspension of trade embargo [View All]

Source: Miami Herald

Cuba rejects U.S. supplies, asks for suspension of trade embargo
Responding to criticism, the U.S. offered $2 million in supplies. Cuban officials asked for a suspension of the trade embargo instead.
Posted on Tue, Sep. 16, 2008

BY FRANCES ROBLES
frobles@MiamiHerald.com

HOLGUIN, Cuba -- A civilian aircraft was ready to be loaded with supplies to help residents of this hard-hit province and fly out of Miami Tuesday, but Havana rejected the U.S. humanitarian assistance offer -- repeating that what it really needs is a temporary suspension of the trade embargo.

Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon called the offer made to Cuban diplomats ''unique and unprecedented,'' because in the interest of speeding up delivery, the U.S. government was prepared to turn over up to $2 million in plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, blankets and other items directly to the Castro government -- an exception Washington was willing to make because of the extreme humanitarian need.

The initial flight loaded with $348,000 in goods was part of a $5 million aid package the Cuban government shunned, saying in a statement Monday that it cannot accept help from ``government that blockades them.''

~snip~
''The Cuban Interests Section in Washington wishes to communicate to the government of the United States that our country cannot accept a donation from the country that blockades us, although it is willing to purchase the indispensable materials that the North American companies export to the markets, and requests authorization for the provision of same, as well as the credits that are normal in all commercial operations,'' the statement said.

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