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Fox defends policy towards
Cuba
José Luis Ruiz and
Ana Anabitarte / El Universal / Bloomberg
News. El
Universal, Venezuela, October 16, 2005.
Salamanca, Spain.- President Vicente Fox
reasserted Mexico's long-standing position
against the economic blockade imposed by
the United States against Cuba Saturday
on his last day at the 15th Ibero-American
Summit here.
The remarks followed a resolution passed
Thursday by the 17 heads of state present
at the summit of nations, consisting of
Latin America, Spain and Portugal, condemning
U.S. policy towards Cuba.
In the text, the term "blockade"
was used for the first time by the international
body in place of "embargo," a
term favored by the United States.
Fox said that in his opinion the measure
against Cuba was an attack on the welfare
of the Cuban people.
"Mexico has long held this position,
a position that it will not change but maintain
out of what we deem to be respect and justice,"
said Fox during his final press conference
of the summit.
He stated that to try to solve the Cuban
situation by means of a commercial and economic
embargo or blockade "is out of touch
with reality."
Fox also said that while he respects the
U.S. position against Cuba, he is not concerned
with Washington's opinion of Mexico's stance
on the issue.
In other comments Saturday, Fox continued
to call for a migration agreement with the
United States.
A pact would "give order and stability
to migration, help ensure the rights of
migrants are respected and strengthen our
economies."
He also praised a deal struck late Friday
ending the threat of a nationwide health
workers' strike.
"The pension issue is a priority for
my government and also a priority for our
economy," Fox said.
Fox's administration has long maintained
that early retirements and generous pension
schemes for health workers under the previous
plan were unsustainable.
Late Friday, the union agreed to a modest
pay raise. Provisions approved last year
by lawmakers to reduce costs for the federal
government remained unchanged.
©
2005 Copyright El Universal-El Universal
Online, México.
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