12/27/2007 5:08:29 PM
Imperato Lauds Cuban Dissidents Efforts for Reform
Joseph Oddo

Washington, DC. (i1Connect - December 20, 2007) Leading independent presidential candidate Daniel Imperato issued a statement of congratulations today to the Cuban dissidents who boldly petitioned their government to consider easing restrictive political violations.

Activists Minervo Lazaro Chil and European Union's 2002 Sakharov Prize winner Oswaldo Paya turned up at the National Assembly offices and hand-delivered "citizens' petitions" asking Cuba's parliament to approve an amnesty for political prisoners and to allow Cubans to leave and visit the island without government visas. According to AP, the proposal would “eliminate the government permits Cubans now need to leave or enter their homeland and would abolish a migration law that restricts travel within Cuba in an attempt to prevent people from flooding into large cities.”

Imperato considers these brave acts and promising signs now that Castro has announced he will not be resuming his role as President. Imperato reminded reporters that his statements are intended for the members of congress to take action now that the GAO has declared that U.S. sanctions against Cuba are more restrictive than those imposed on any other country, including Iran and North Korea.

“It should not have taken a high-priced government study to figure out that the harsh sanctions against Cuba were poorly conceived political calculations only designed to appease a small right wing Cuban population in Florida. Our refusal to negotiate with Castro before his health turned grave was a unconditional failure.” Imperato added, “As a man of the globe in a position to recognize the faults in our foreign policy, I have been asking the Bush Administration to consider reason in restoring our relations with our close neighbor.

“It has always been apparent that diverting government attention from higher-priority terror-exporting states was risky. This shows that even after seven years, President Bush still lacks experience and sound foreign policy judgment by insisting on rigorous enforcement toward trivial violations like Cuban cigars and rum.

“This redirection of scarce resources within the Dept. of Homeland Security at the expense of the security that we really need against terrorists will prevent DHS from doing the job needed to keep terrorists, criminals and inadmissible aliens out of the country. Here is where a bulk of our immigration problems lies. As I have been saying for over two years, it is not just Mexico and Latin America, but the efficiency of Homeland Security that needs to improve to get a handle on illegal immigration.

“Once elected, I will invite Paya and Chil to the United States to discuss ways we can help to facilitate the flow of legitimate trade and travel." Paya reintroduced his call for the release of nonviolent prisoners of conscience, many who are in failing health.

Imperato concluded his remarks repeating a call he has made for the last three years: "I believe in order to breakthrough and establish stronger relations with our island neighbor, that Fidel Castro, his people, and his government, must be liberated from our economic embargo immediately. In the spirit of the approaching holidays, we can give thanks for our freedom and live up to our obligation to support democracy and freedom in the rest of the world”.