[R-G] Cuba rejects relief aid from US; US gives green light to food sales to hurricane-hit Cuba

[Anthony Fenton]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/16/usa.cuba

Cuba rejects relief aid from US
Cuban government says it cannot accept help from a country with an  
economic embargo against it

     * Tuesday September 16 2008 15:38 BST


Hurricane Gustav hits Pinar del Rio, Cuba

Gustav had strengthened to a category four hurricane as it ripped  
through Cuba and was on course to hit the US. Photograph: Alejandro  
Ernesto/EPA

Cuba has rejected a $5m (£2.8m) offer for relief assistance from  
Washington, saying it cannot accept help from a country with an  
economic embargo against it, and instead renewed its request to allow  
the communist country to make purchases with credit.

In a statement made public yesterday, the Cuban government asked  
Washington for a six-month reprieve on embargo rules that prohibit the  
communist country from making purchases from American companies,  
saying devastation from hurricanes Gustav and Ike make it critical.

Washington and Havana have been embroiled in a diplomatic dispute over  
hurricane aid since Hurricane Gustav smashed into western Cuba on  
August 30.

Washington offered $100,000 and a humanitarian assessment team, and  
the Cuban foreign ministry answered by saying what it needed was  
purchasing credits.

Havana sent a second, more harshly worded note last week when  
Washington made the same offer after Hurricane Ike devastated eastern  
Cuba.

The statement released Thursday called US commerce secretary Carlos  
Gutierrez a hypocrite, and said US diplomats were cynical liars.

Washington's decision to limit the offer to $100,000 was criticised in  
some circles, who noted that the US government normally spends  
millions in such disaster relief.

On Saturday, US diplomats met in Washington with Cuban counterparts,  
and upped the offer to $5m.

"We regret that they have not accepted this offer," US state  
department spokeswoman Heide Bronke said. "We are considering Cuba's  
request to purchase other reconstruction materials on case by case  
consistent with US law."

US law allows Cuba to make cash agricultural purchases, but does not  
allow Cuba to buy with credit. Cuba's request for a six-month reprieve  
would likely require an act of Congress.

Cuba's diplomatic note on Sunday, released yesterday, takes a much  
softer tone.

"The Cuban interests section in Washington wishes to communicate to  
the government of the United States that our country cannot accept a  
donation from the country that blockades us, although it is willing to  
purchase the indispensable materials that the North American companies  
export to the markets, and requests authorisation for the provision of  
same, as well as the credits that are normal in all commercial  
operations," the statement said.

"If the government of the United States does not wish to do so  
permanently, the government of Cuba requests that at least it do so  
during the next six months, especially if the damage caused by  
hurricanes Gustav and Ike is taken into account, as well as the fact  
that the most dangerous months of the hurricane season are still ahead."

Last week Gutierrez said the Cuban government is behind on payments to  
many of its creditors, and suggested that the request for credits was  
a pretext.

"Do they really want us to extend their credits?" he said.

[...]

US gives green light to food sales to hurricane-hit Cuba

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hz7gM09YKcAfym1VJ-pgdtSnM37w