Increase in U.S. Aid to Dissidents Supported

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer

President Bush said yesterday that he will oppose any attempt to weaken economic sanctions against Cuba and will support bills pending in Congress that call for
expanded U.S. aid to dissidents on the island.

At a White House ceremony to mark Cuban Independence Day, Bush said the sanctions were "not just a policy tool; they're a moral statement." Repeating a
campaign statement, Bush said he would fight against weakening sanctions until Cuba "frees its political prisoners; holds democratic, free elections; and allows free
speech."

Bush said he would also push for increased access by average Cubans to the Internet -- which is highly restricted by the government of Fidel Castro -- and
strengthening U.S. broadcasting to Cuba on Miami-based Radio and TV Marti.

American presidents traditionally send greetings to the Cuban people commemorating the May 20, 1902, withdrawal of U.S. forces from the island, occupied for
four years after victory in the Spanish-American War. Bush's recent predecessors have made similar calls for freedom from the communists who have ruled Cuba
since 1959.

But yesterday's East Room ceremony was a much more elaborate affair, attended by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice
(whom Bush referred to as Condoleezza Arroz -- the Spanish word for "rice"), supportive members of Congress and Cuban American celebrities. Pop star Gloria
Estefan sang the Cuban national anthem.

Bush's statement marked his first extensive presidential comments on Cuba. His election has energized anti-Castro activists in Congress and Cuban Americans, many
of whom believed the Clinton administration was insufficiently zealous in opposing the communist government.

On Wednesday, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced the Cuban Solidarity Act, calling for U.S. cash and material aid of
up to $100 million over the next four years to Cuban dissidents. A similar bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). Although a dissident
aid program has existed since the early 1990s, annual expenditures have totaled no more than $3 million, and direct cash payments to dissidents were prohibited.

The new proposals are likely to be the subject of heated debate. They are among nearly 24 Cuba-related measures introduced since January, many of them calling
for the sanctions to be relaxed.

Castro, who is winding up an international tour to Malaysia, Iran, Libya, Algeria, Qatar and Portugal, has criticized the administration as "demagogues" and accused it
of arm-twisting to promote passage of an anti-Cuba resolution at the U.N. Human Rights Commission last month. Castro had some relatively kind words for Powell,
however, whom he described as "not a warmonger" and a "good communicator."

The Cuban leader was responding to House testimony in which Powell said Castro had "done good things for his people" in health care and education. Although
coupled with harsh criticism in other areas, Powell's remarks brought sharp objection from anti-Castro activists in this country.

Bush yesterday coupled the U.N. rights commission vote on Cuba with the subsequent loss of the United States' seat on the 54-nation body -- a loss most observers
said reflected widespread dissatisfaction with Washington on a range of other issues. "Some say we paid a heavy price" for promoting the Cuba measure, he said.
"But let me be clear: I'm very proud of what we did."

"We might not sit on some commission," Bush said, "but we will always be the world's leader in support of human rights."

                                               © 2001