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CNN Live Today

Bush Wants Key Reforms in Cuba

Aired May 20, 2002 - 12:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And as President Bush heads to the helicopter, Kathleen Koch is also live at the White House. And we heard, Kathleen, just a few moments ago, the president saying that he would work to easing the embargo, but only after some key reforms were made on the political side within the country of Cuba.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Bill. The president actually had some very tough words for Fidel Castro, calling him a tyrant and rejecting the pleas that had come only last week from former president Jimmy Carter that the 40-year-old trade embargo the U.S. has had against Cuba be dropped. But President Bush basically said that he believes that doing that would hurt the Cuban people more than it would Fidel Castro. The president saying that would quote, "prop up this dictator and enrich his cronies and enhance the totalitarian regime." President Bush said the U.S. is indeed ready to act once Castro agrees to some very fundamental reforms.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If Cuba's government takes all the necessary steps to ensure that the 2003 elections are certifiably free and fair, certifiably free and fair, and if Cuba also begins to adopt meaningful market base reforms, then, and only then, I will work with the United States Congress to ease the ban on trade and travel between our two countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: President Bush said that in the interim he does want to do something to help the Cuban people by resuming mail service between the U.S. and Cuba, by relaxing aid restrictions for nonprofit groups. Basically giving federal dollars to non-governmental groups to help the Cuban people. And then establishing U.S. scholarships for Cuban students and professionals who want to build independent civil institutions in Cuba, as well as scholarships for the families of Cuban political prisoners.

Now this has been a very hot political issue for the president. The Cuban-American community in Florida, a very powerful one, and obviously instrumental in getting the president elected. And it will play quite a significant role in the reelection hopes of his brother Jeb Bush, who is running again for governor of Florida -- Bill.

HEMMER: In terms of reality, Kathleen, how much anticipation is there at the White House that Fidel Castro will even listen to the president's remarks today?

KOCH: Bill, there is not a lot of hope here indeed. President Jimmy Carter, when he was there last week, as hard as he was pushing for an easing of the embargo and as upset as he was about the grinding poverty that Cubans currently live in, he himself said he did not see a sign that Fidel Castro was ready to change his ways anytime soon. So barring some major breakthrough, some huge and major change in Fidel Castro's attitude, the White House is not very hopeful that this offer will be accepted.

HEMMER: And, Kathleen, with Jimmy Carter leaving Cuba now at the end of last week, it was talk that he would file some sort of report with the Bush administration, but not necessarily meet with President Bush face to face. Has that report been filed? Is there any talk about that at the White House today?

KOCH: They're not talking about that today, Bill. But that's very possible. Often when presidents do make trips to other nations advancing issues like this that they are personally interested in, they will file a report, but nothing yet here.

HEMMER: All right, Kathleen, thank you. Kathleen Koch, front lawn of the White House.

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