Yahoo! March 15, 2001
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said
Wednesday U.S. sanctions against Cuba should remain in place because Cuban
President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) cannot be trusted to use a cooperative
relationship to benefit his people.
"He is an anachronism in the 21st century,'' Powell said, referring to
Castro in testimony before the Senate Budget Committee.
"We should continue to show our displeasure to the nature of that
regime.''
He said some U.S. friends made investments in the Cuban government that "ultimately
did not pay off and served to enhance the power of the regime.'' He did not
identify the friends.
Powell advocated programs that directly benefit Cuban residents, including
people-to-people financial transfers. Such transfers have been legal for years.
"At the end of the day, Castro will go,'' Powell said. "And I
think when that day comes, there will be an opportunity for a new relationship
with Cuba that will benefit the entire hemisphere.''
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