Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium
Since February 24, when Raul Castro formally replaced Fidel
Castro as Cuba's head of state, Havana has launched a flurry of
changes that promise Cubans the opportunity to purchase computers
and cell phones, earn pay incentives, own property, visit
previously off-limit hotels and reportedly travel abroad without
government approval. Are these serious changes in the Cuban
economy or cosmetic fixes? Will Cubans actually be
freer? Can these reforms address the morass of the Cuban
economy? On May 21, President Bush will urge the friends of
freedom and human rights in Cuba to speak about continued
oppression of the Cuban people. Our speakers will review
recent developments in Cuba and preview plans for May 21.
Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart has served in the House since
1993, is one of the legislative architects of current laws
governing relations with Cuba and a member of the powerful House
Rules Committee. Ambassador Lino Gutierrez is Senior Advisor
on Cuba to Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez; a former Foreign
Service Officer, Ambassador Gutierrez served as the U.S. Ambassador
to Nicaragua and Argentina. Caleb McCarry has been Cuba
Transition Coordinator at the Department of State since 2005 and
has a distinguished career in the field of democracy promotion.
More About the Speakers
The Honorable Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
Member,
United States House of Representatives
Ambassador Lino Gutierrez
Senior Advisor on Cuba,
U.S. Department of Commerce
Caleb McCarry
Cuba Transition Coordinator,
U.S. Department of State
Hosted By
Ray Walser, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Analyst
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