Ibero American Summit Urges End of Embargo

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) -- Latin American leaders are urging the United States to repeal its 47-year-old trade embargo against Cuba.

The leaders say the "unilateral" embargo is unacceptable and harms the Cuban people.

The leaders made the statement on Friday, the final day of the IberoAmerican Summit in El Salvador.

The move came after the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday asked the U.S. for the 17th year in a row to lift the embargo.

The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Cuba and lists the country as a state sponsor of terror.

The embargo, imposed in 1962, has been tightened during President Bush's two terms.

Orlando Sentinel Calls for End of Embargo Again

orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed13307nov13,0,4204551.story

OrlandoSentinel.com
EDITORIAL
A wink-wink on embargo
Our position: The hypocrisy on Cuban trade should end by totally lifting sanctions.
November 13, 2007

The great hypocrisy of the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba came into fine focus last week, when more than 100 American businesses showed up at the Havana International Fair.

Business is good for the U.S. and its amigos. Sales from American farmers to Cuba have risen to more than $500 million per year. The legal loophole, put in play by the U.S. government, is that all transactions have to be made in cash.

It's time to stop the hard-line charade put on by the Bush administration and try to broker a plan to ease trade restrictions. Even Republicans like Gov. Dave Heineman of Nebraska favor expanding trade relationships.

Isolation hasn't worked for nearly 50 years. Time to try another approach.

Copyright © 2007, Orlando Sentinel