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CNN Live Today

Bush Speech Receives Mixed Reviews Among Dissidents in Cuba

Aired May 20, 2002 - 12:16   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.
HEMMER: All right. We're going to go back to that story regarding Cuba. As we mentioned earlier, President Bush will be in Miami later today. He had a speech earlier today at the White House. You saw it live two hours ago here on CNN. To Havana, Lucia Newman talking with some Cubans there for their reaction -- Lucia, good afternoon.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.

Indeed, President Bush's speech was not broadcast live on Cuban state television. But a group of Cuban government opponents did see the speech with us, and the speech had mixed reviews amongst them. They said that they supported the aspects in which he praised the need for human -- or he called for the need for human rights, for free speech, for multiparty elections in Cuba. But they said that they were also disappointed that President Bush is insisting on maintaining the U.S. trade embargo and the travel ban of American citizens coming to Cuba.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZARDO SANCHEZ, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST (through translator): I was really surprised about the tranquil tone of Mr. Bush's address. And I could say very clearly that everything that was said regarding human rights, it's something that we can support as dissident Cubans on human rights, especially with political people that are not well off right now.

The rest, unfortunately, I think that we have more of the same rhetoric of the times of the Cold War. And I don't want to compare one statistician with another one, but my personal opinion is that the message of former President Jimmy Carter transmitted to Cuba for the entire country was more fruitful and positive than what has been said by the honorable President George W. Bush.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: Now these dissidents say that they applaud any moral support that they can get from the United States. But they reiterated what they told former President Jimmy Carter last week here. And that is that they do not want and do not agree with any suggestion that they received direct or indirect aid from the United States government. Because, they say, that would de-legitimize their cause and would play into the government's argument here that they are simply servants in the pay of the USA.

Now as for the Cuban government itself, it still has not commented on Mr. Bush's policy speech. But we are sure to hear from the Cuban government this evening there's to be a round table discussion televised on Cuban television. And parts, if not all, of Mr. Bush's speech will be broadcast then, Bill.

HEMMER: Dynamic. Thank you, Lucia. Lucia Newman, again, our bureau chief there in Havana.

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