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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
February 24, 2008
Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice
Cuba’s Transition
At this significant moment in Cuba’s
history, we reaffirm our belief that the Cuban people have
an inalienable right to participate in an open and comprehensive
dialogue about their country’s future, free of fear
and repression, and to choose their leaders in democratic
elections. We support their aspirations for a better life,
and their desire to enjoy the fundamental rights and liberties
expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
We support their efforts to obtain a voice in their national
destiny, and their desire to gain access to the resources
and opportunities necessary to become masters of their own
lives, enhance the well-being of their families, and achieve
their God-given potential.
We urge the Cuban government to begin a
process of peaceful, democratic change by releasing all
political prisoners, respecting human rights, and creating
a clear pathway towards free and fair elections. We also
urge the international community to work with the Cuban
people to begin to build institutions necessary for democracy,
and to support Cuban civil society. The Cuban people, facing
the legacy of five decades of tyranny, merit our solidarity
and support as they seek to construct a brighter future.
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