Center for International Policy

Official Response from Wayne Smith regarding Obama's decisions to rescind travel and reminttance restrictions for Cuban Americans

April 14, 2009

There were indications yesterday morning that the White House would announce it was not only lifting restrictions on the travel of Cuban Americans, but also that of U.S. academics, cultural groups and other visitor categories. So yesterday's press conference by Dan Restrepo of the National Security Council was very disappointing. He made it clear that only restrictions on Cuban Americans would be affected, and he gave no indication that any other measures would be taken to ease relations between Cuba and the U.S. On the contrary, Restrepo's demeanor reminded me of the Bush administration. If this is all the Obama administration has to offer by way of change in our Cuba policy, the president is in for a difficult time at the upcoming Summit of the Americas. Our Cuba policy has zero support internationally, and Latin American states have indicated they expect some real change on our part. Let's hope that President Obama reconsiders between now and the summit opening.

Wayne S. Smith is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington. He is former chief of the U.S. interests section in Havana and is author of "The Closest of Enemies: A Personal and Diplomatic Account of the Castro Years."