podesta_email_00883.txt

podesta-emails 5,054 words email
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
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=5a6T
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

					~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 9, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Friends:

"Let me now introduce someone who needs no introduction."

It is a weird custom of the Washington windbag to follow sentences like this with
a lengthy introduction of the next speaker.

Normally, this is pointless, since that person is most often well-known to everyone
within the sound of the speaker's voice, but the introduction is made nonetheless.

In that spirit, we'd like to begin the News Blast this week with some introductions
of our own.

Let's start with Assistant Secretaries of State Roberta Jacobson and Tom Malinowski
who, as McClatchy reported [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXN_mlU-myOdH4zuTf9WZYIWVrbkWXZMK_29bONX5wjFqSNaV1v_z6cqUrJI3w-ZeKu0nETD7xhR9J-GMui9OafCofZBu-WPlDgIKQxRh1mIue2cedQXQ67U4SrDw-TJCv_9lPDs1G5J2d4vIAbVIHsCVm6YyiFNsgjI4QvjITjZ2C0yePR8LPUv5xE0SkPheCP7yT5lBHojcDxpZNiy_DclIVRz-KhZtBskiDt4WuIJSOLfY3iK1lqzjjZIQ_iCCrJ_9N29kJlG1hfpDXwE_DmXz0fCUEwKv_rXxpXfzHE-gX9OdSFVqHiQ5Z5M9FHuN965aTaiAIgKE=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
testified this week against imposing punitive economic sanctions on Venezuela.

Jacobson, who spoke for State's Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau, told the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee that hitting Venezuela's government with sanctions as
a tactic to cool its political crisis "would serve to reinforce a narrative of the
Venezuelan government standing up to the United States -- rather than the Venezuelan
people standing up for themselves."

Malinowski, speaking for State's Human Rights Bureau, added on sanctions: "They
 work in some places, they don't work everywhere. Timing is extremely important."

These top State Department policymakers who oppose sanctions on Venezuela should
 discuss their "counterproductive" effects with the people who maintain our fifty-plus
year old embargo on the government and people of Cuba.

While we're at it, let's also introduce the State Department policymakers who track
Cuba on the fight against illegal drugs and terrorism.

In March, when the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
 released a report [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXQhbLbo8G1XFDAckNRZdrbZ1NOZ5g0uigDGb1FLCbBRdj_Mb8dnRWk9lWg98uwiMFi7ljyjXLIpISq0FTDRnRRQTiY2a4Njb6xpBJrNPZ_j4o_eAb1w-8yUytOzbqgJvmlzRGBnb28Qjieqn-06HOg7Ti7qssoOehG35nQxe9nttj0mddIUO2yXkvuKD5OpBdoYCNeb24sY3kxdEAXqwptnhCymGl6VUxdhsyVAnEDQkGw-rNGOnWVfC-D2cEVqvyQC4j6E0AMoNEMo9BoVPHhjJFYGFrR_S_yS5WG294YmAOFFuEoU-VLQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
giving high marks to Cuba's counter-narcotics efforts, it said "Cuba demonstrates
increasing willingness to apprehend and turn over U.S. fugitives and to assist in
U.S. judicial proceedings by providing documentation, witnesses and background for
cases in U.S. state and federal Courts."

Yet, barely one month later, when the Bureau of Counterterrorism released the 2013
Report on the State Sponsors of Terror, it said "The Cuban government continued 
to harbor fugitives wanted in the United States" to justify keeping Cuba on the 
list.

Different fugitives, we know. But, shouldn't these guys talk?

Our last introduction is for Secretary of State, John Kerry, who gave a speech about
the importance of entrepreneurship at a gathering of the Council of the Americas
 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX8NWeBARd0n2I8kGZCDZ9Q_UWf7TS5uOfPH1VFjKNmFJNH8ciEslLzk9m-wPqilpOpaG8n4RXGL91xcsgXWyt2oGU0GrYjtdWrcUBnoyL_9oOd71karJY_Gl3e3HxFLNEtVPTEKHTvwXMmCVLl4GMjwpj68venW37GZiW0vO6GIiHI6LWgpwaMyDm91c9zEK9PQ5VOfxwzjvS1GY4nsZYqI-GOCHH_vZg6NZg47kvAja9zP_eGCnyPoINIfBTkE8qsZahepD2RG7ZAyrUZoiS-3F9qeJIR4EmHqlWj_o3iRc=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
this week. At the end, he zeroed in on Cuba.

Secretary Kerry is worried that the Cuban people will "continue to be left behind
(economically) as the rest of the hemisphere advances," unless more can be done 
to strengthen "the emerging micro-entrepreneurial sector in Cuba."

There is no shortage of ideas for stimulating more economic activity in Cuba. One
came from Gary Becker, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, a staunch conservative
 and an anti-communist. In March, Becker, who died this week, wrote [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXuFDmDVJQGf-aF--xfgl0sT7XOlP8HWlCLejSDpq4Nlrw8wPoR4BkxjI1o9TW89EhsRqHd1X5rxoH2PeH9bKxJtBpqpX9dk4eKnD1pN6obRtz2T_f3d9HNR5UllxJEfxtgpZTHJBK_DIOW4H0WJoG84y9bze7ZcMrGD_QLBf_rUl2amaHKpf5Do-nv0S2u0apXtYMr9EGtnfCTfYq482DI8ilG9oXv8oAgt-W60SUailhlHlgkipAGyqiSwAwZOkgRjfpC2hf63KLK5REESIU-wGaAjW4n0IEnQGysaL32v5SnSpFAlS3m6i6VdskQ4Np5jBhe4mtX6T1pvfimpTyUBZS9Rr1iX83JCBbVD77GplI2x8VPM5Ay4YD6BVe0UJbHibNDp85Tv0wLd4H_LQyvqos5IsPnwFw&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]:
"It is time to end the embargo on the export and import of goods and services between
the United States and Cuba. The Cuban people will benefit almost immediately."

Also this week, the Boston Globe [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXcrQAATvBYRGfOSWTC55K218BuVhOQA9vMzWTGhNBSKOnV9-BgF8U5bW8qbRTV5_Nb-IGfsUW6FO1PByIojMCfXk-yJVjvbgDXZ7HWq6KmT5UtXvP30xEoBluAXwNkFtHuyVMiYvXN8qhP0k6b_tCean_WwX2PLrDnLrSa6kJ0yU5HQNRdpJH6vax1zlcdKzQD0ENXNSfC3IpQOES8ttVjz90bXdl_UFjouBCaIV41WZGOaW_HUfTiLdMalLdQjQJN7jU_e8RkRC5MZ6My_dxiD_knGHwgHnmGWm0fikyJ30GoGQNMj6PI2jscq4CU_LmXyZ6KpdLBtOs5ALWyejRFHFw0wNLbPnNLADeDonOaSXVaQ5BOHQ0MaJ3bby2Gg85RFCuGjn4_iSPF-DRi_T0hQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Secretary Kerry's hometown newspaper, made the political case for economic engagement
with Cuba:

"There's a reason why the United States doesn't normally cut all ties to countries
with repressive regimes. Economic engagement can be as powerful, or more powerful,
a force for change than isolation. It doesn't erase tensions with offending regimes,
but rather puts more pressure on them. It expresses to the people living under the
regime a desire for cooperation; opportunities to better understand each other; 
and a closer look at American-style freedoms and democracy."

Despite these powerful arguments -- that ending economic sanctions would provide
 Cubans with greater economic opportunity and the chance for greater freedoms, just
as Secretary Kerry said he wanted in his speech -- there's a catch. To accomplish
these goals, we'd have to introduce him to the same person who kept Cuba on the 
State Sponsors of Terror List and who will not advocate publicly for increased travel
and trade opportunities for Americans and Cubans.

By now, we're sure you're on to us. There is a reason the Venezuela sanctions people
don't need an introduction to the Cuba Sanctions people, or the officials tracking
drug fugitives to the policy makers who keep the terror list, or the supporters 
of microenterprise to the supporters of economic sanctions.

They're all the same guys. A lot of them smart and really good people.

It is the problem that needs no introduction, familiar to all within the sound of
our voice.

Until our leaders confront the hardliners in Congress and the political culture 
that keeps these irrational, inconsistent, and ineffective policies in place, they'll
just go on behaving like people who've never met.

This week in Cuba news...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONTENTS
U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS
Four Miami-based exiles arrested in Cuba over terror plot
Four Members of Congress meet with Cuban officials and Alan Gross
Crist, candidate for Governor of Florida, plans to visit Cuba this summer
Secretary Kerry invites Cuban scientist to attend conference in June; The AAAS and
Cuban Academy of Sciences sign agreement to advance cooperation
Secretary Kerry talks Cuba at Council of the Americas' 44th Conference on the Americas
Visit of Women Entrepreneurs from Latin America kicks off this month
Illinois corn growers push for expanded trade opportunities with Cuba
U.S. insurance company, Argentina travel company to pay hefty OFAC fines
CUBA'S FOREIGN RELATIONS
Cuba and France sign bilateral trade agreement
IN CUBA
Further steps taken toward currency unification
Cuban human rights organization reports record number of short-term arrests this
 year
Income tax established for Mariel Special Development Zone workers; Some 23 international
investors interested in Mariel
Recommended Reading
In twilight of Castro regime, failed US embargo must go, The Boston Globe
Revise restrictions to ensure safe oil drilling, William K. Reilly and Bob Graham,
Miami Herald
Ernest Hemingway Biopic First Hollywood Film Shot in Cuba Since 1959, Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone
Havana bars: The next wave of private innovation, Richard Feinberg, Cuba Standard
Raul Castro's reforms fail to end Cuba's chronic shortages, Reuters
U.S. pays Cuban security firm, Tracey Eaton, Along the Malecón
Recommended Viewing
Cuban Fidelity: Skating through the past, Eric Mirbach, Red Bull
The battle for Cuba: Rarely seen photos of the Spanish-American war found by U.S.
Navy deep in neglected archive, Jennifer Newton, Mail Online
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS

Four Miami-based exiles arrested in Cuba over terror plot [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXhajO5v2Qemn5sqP5GirsBFAXcUzD8FFC2Ug9A8zhwZsjCnHR2Hf2hDvDVmCewdKcY8mwN-PhdxGvQiAdKMdLdmu5OhNDC2nA3d5WkkcEnQHYFMJUSrYjgyb9EUMb8Is7amTws_62WXn7nUdzgWJOp-7PF06Y_BWNt3lZ3_qZldtSdztAmb4lg1p4jaEjPw5N-_wA-7kvvlSQzrdXqNTVXlqEMUF-ZYiVqNovyAywQ_r4cn7MfTdfPjuNxy65JS3vawoNdijGkwPuDIeohcAvgabhK9kgVdNZF5DjonEKSWeooQRkQallXdq2cORAo39ru_xMxU72JwDyqVWqXE_UOA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

On April 26th, Cuba's government detained four Miami-based Cuban exiles for allegedly
planning to attack military stations in Cuba, Reuters [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXhajO5v2Qemn5sqP5GirsBFAXcUzD8FFC2Ug9A8zhwZsjCnHR2Hf2hDvDVmCewdKcY8mwN-PhdxGvQiAdKMdLdmu5OhNDC2nA3d5WkkcEnQHYFMJUSrYjgyb9EUMb8Is7amTws_62WXn7nUdzgWJOp-7PF06Y_BWNt3lZ3_qZldtSdztAmb4lg1p4jaEjPw5N-_wA-7kvvlSQzrdXqNTVXlqEMUF-ZYiVqNovyAywQ_r4cn7MfTdfPjuNxy65JS3vawoNdijGkwPuDIeohcAvgabhK9kgVdNZF5DjonEKSWeooQRkQallXdq2cORAo39ru_xMxU72JwDyqVWqXE_UOA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
reports. According to a statement [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX0lbKPutLOPk7KHaaYUAc6JKGrZbpsgOvspEBwpmkF0hXpSzpR8kN9PHMHgpL02TbPnhLkTwGw8LbmmCSGOujxfOYr3qmCHRrifAvXKBpAFLUyVzvkgMTEosf6fbPNDMZOO4drwH42gkF7uoLCt2ncJ9sfQvgR7GrNNe5qaCjqP6JJ3od1HvFWaFfbezZDGOCL_OTfwWxtjKVZgLBglE-H255Neor31hul01qVB5_fosHD-YNiCgfn3Om7Yj8M01cNOEHJIajSo47jJQ-Fvi0rhd4l0zrR1Lmw8yg8FXU_A0TpvrntSjFCVOR4MWOw1xZzGyWpfk9M7c19eA8-3LwhA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
by Cuba's Interior Ministry, José Ortega Amador, Obdulio Rodríguez González, Raibel
Pacheco Santos, and Félix Monzón Álvaro "admitted that they were planning an attack
with the objective of inciting violence."

Cuba's government has not explained why it delayed announcement of the arrests until
this week: a delay that coincided with the U.S. government's latest report on State
Sponsors of Terrorism [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXxxcJnY1lk8S0GHPde5Pe04pDFKqqu7zxD2EtI0jRJM8MwKHkGNRJ6gUbpYZmaNBXxt77ZTkDx7PH9cyKIZ0TyVdxbqYT83Wa6VyRTAfZfDzwktTrgLDyz5POvccjZjQq9tK1efBBS9Q0i_89v8m_ubzpmlQzUD20gD4KEa7G9pziRAGh8e5vtRvMRqffbIwybOAQ1h7NpDO-PCHpt9QPCUGnebevY2jX0-FI-imWoxban91sf8izKUidPdvvkndbx_s9zDtj_dUcZepOLkTbdA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
which kept Cuba on the list.

According to Cuba's Interior Ministry, the four visited the island on several occasions
since mid-2013 to prepare. Cuba Debate [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXRrTo7X-1lQwPyZDzUW47jclAvvxxvkUi_KwOdk3O0DlrtV_idBNs77wWDATE6FaYsEKvyT47cW2GuHIEzsJSpRAYr0m5Vi7rYEecLfbmjBaeUoKye6S5mWwH_9UbFFssgUvN7jQmHIWhfJ7z6ai4Z5BBajExYoDGdoI9x6Dc-wC_QWwShuRGEkXgHriGHIc0DvnmusA7rU88m5PC7hja2NuY5lLqZ2vPD_zj9EuEK1PH2vxImOjPbWZ6dlwPJrq2hnWzychW7nkb_5uZbUBQESj6mZqE4NLnL8mciwp7tZ50muf1BWgGedSJwzI0a4H3XSk4VVDjaBTguad858mjS5hakh-_sszxiBiL1u7BkZis_Ulndi1ybpTq2R63o1UcVqLNqBJmB_YGroimc3cwJ9X9nnhsLiV7&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
also reports that, in 2009, Raibel Pacheco registered a company in the state of 
Florida named the "Cuban Liberation Force, Inc." based in Hialeah. The company's
 one blog post explained the organization was founded "at the request of members
 of the armed forces who are inside Cuba, as well as members of organizations and
the people" and that its goal is to "topple the regime," reports the Miami Herald
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXAr1Wd0qaWY1jFStC1zfVnpF328sxISvz7YZhSuNNl2JkGia5dyePHoTVZtwVwbOFKch7ljw8lL6mKVb-4xVj-R2AVhL2R-K-1i2uLi8mINrxngvr2Co4q9pkeNIu22qTG7Y_Dkudq0OlEbLyIS2wydMifYcmbIIKk7Ef5h4at9Tm-QCXNRpgVn7io0RAcD-JdaRzNB17O9y9OSyU2acU6YaYWa90VkBHPy2S9DbGawgeohxNzxtrJ_RRQXFQoria4nQpUpRaZIcCrbSuaEBL4_0f8wHnma-daHSkVlRFobaXLcQ7HoSnL0ibkq8kfQuQ-HtS4dXuLe0=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].

The Ministry said that the plan was organized under the direction of three other
 Miami-based Cuban immigrants, Santiago Álvarez, Fernandez Marina, Osvaldo Mitat,
and Manuel Alzugaray.

In 2006 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXsgmKeDh4N5EKHy-1jxv5qzYeIY5G4V7KM2FDHpUsLifygboqT-dvdemOl25dRkWDBqeQybKIn4CBEo6OOHwcHj-OiEd7ycsK2CJHg1QJpOb-9OeAwbRR3Z7OjboK1O0FOeJJdebyiGf8RKbiNKFhaEdS0U1FzjGwMuv0TSdsYIwjpJzAhYR4A6FkwMNCij3J24BARUXQUsrqDIZLVoBoIbnQkfGGYROKKL2n9iOu0_rcbXBQkJX1vgbe6RKUS3yjh4dgpN5GLP6gPIohtozO4MtIBVeJu1d3rJdyonuJ_LNQc1ifty90kQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Álvarez and Mitat pled guilty to criminal conspiracy in Fort Lauderdale Federal 
Court in order to avoid more serious charges related to the possession of machine
guns, ammunition, and a grenade launcher. Another weapons cache in the Bahamas was
linked to Álvarez.

According to press coverage at the time, prosecutors did not directly accuse Álvarez
and Mitat of using the weapons to attack Cuba's government, but did present evidence
of Álvarez financing a failed 2001 incursion against Fidel Castro, as well as other
paramilitary activities. According to the New York Times [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXjMKzjv9zVdlWXlzV1cRPkOwfGOreAMQRivzmea6SHr8D1r3VEgkuaU4gVd8mByWEPpu2crjr7et0yG0fujdQC-VfXz-nzSp4nkXp5csodyCgZlyXjsq7rETUqaSjPXUGc7Rsc5ZG0lLDNXaHJYP0ogtoM6eC9bExA5sWrPQpAysF4Fdr2UJaJrvCKAwmujkjjAf-eISAD7tSiMrpOv9FR-IzVgUpssUxN01ZAm6ciun5Tq2SC8uHgxcslmM4EFCz14fSDihItMb40QXQYapCAeExX5emAS9C0lT1jsV_gIbxMrBBcVGQq9D8JvQ4dFX5e-mTIdGdvNsYLizbMhMORfK8XT1Y_NNPLjy4Mgel-oQ=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Álvarez said that the weapons found "were C.I.A. relics, but were not going to be
used in the plots he had hatched with senior Cuban military officers who planned
 to conspire against the government." Álvarez received a 30-month sentence, while
Mitat received a two year sentence. For further background on their case, see here
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXHwiAeVPBFkgDaONA8O_sgFkF0cWbgMzErBnrySQV5ozF-SqGL7LYY_x4-goKP2GOzXb9Kx37ix-aKByNycThB9d_xdB31rlji4yg2YWkQ65SBn_OJBUpDwNSlp9IiQanubD8EW0NHBvcFxBUn8bxMWAg858tUCvkzdbRgNaQZVz30ETVwJoy1q22IV5hdqmqcVK28LGqkBERINpODXiC6g44hgIKpkAvNI0hx_2WK8ffJv5rac6nC50nRUcc0tmtK-LfsKzRwKC-xTeIHc6y7A==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].

Cuba's Interior Ministry claims that Álvarez, Mitat, and Alzugaray "maintain close
ties" with Luis Posada Carriles [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX_8de51Ip_itECMiy_EKcWvxMuug34ClfEQOsKEUezb1_Vlug4YI4U7gy-rVaK90U05bQiaMeUzFqszPsgrNi8yq3kQkh_vB2ZW4N2tEAgGOcI2c6a6mYQUIJRAnFSQika630pBEhd_olitg46z2vCfoqFwChkWyJ92Ny5ChNsn3Vt6zfECt-sSu0IgFeg3ZF2qjdt4tgdt77zO9LCy7UgWnqepeChu6FsAVYZWzzBHp020MD6G7yT52STRKTBmOpgH_aMisANxQsC17Q2N_4loxkXaHjApzkzOrb0PvJNShW6SlwQWj9hjugdTEzzamUdCbiwdpDJ-3DyQs_ULm2YKd0TO4py57gofNBpgqERjqL0lLl1tcZdoKFwwCvvSGPHugOvUDdoNkOvdbCKsS9yIH5TT5lMkanM0HL_Ceain1C4_dZkjNYefmkKYUIllY1zlIYGPoTj_Q=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
As the Washington Post [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXcMi9aYPrXvOC1RJm5o4X4CCGNrscWe3OOGyaloaC718jr63jfHghX5YtK42faRKdAL_gSoxoH2mFP3kjTQInzh3ou_OQg52WzSNlhc1D8YBBPumNntena8mrKXhVP1Zl6dQTpbQt-rWGIHAdkGIMVq-yIC0JyQnzMq11qozygOlmCYbB9fDoPL-nekeG64J95arMQcaSWJ3xpedyXHa6fiYXTFG9JUdJKdjHAinrLRs_iVzLzdnE00Hz_TIW1IU7FhVm0X1KT3dgyW4VTEa2HO7aIAyaqO6Ak3DgqPHC3PSLKCfc3XKl_sw4GEereMxQA1e1IxfaiWFEpRYCoX552w==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
wrote during the 2006 trial, "Before his arrest, Álvarez may have been best known
for his advocacy on behalf of Luis Posada Carriles, a CIA-trained Cuban immigrant
linked to the bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people in 1976 and to other
violent plots. When Posada sought asylum in the United States last year, it was 
Alvarez who helped present his case to the public."

But, Posada Carriles' attorney, Arturo Hernández, said, "We categorically deny that
Luis has absolutely anything to do with this or has any knowledge of any of these
individuals who were allegedly arrested in Cuba," reports the Associated Press [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX2dx1qbtJwQGLe3_WWwJrpoLMJ77zqu71JM9nT9dlOp4NU5hchrdYZKisLS0ndGbBntscVSJ1HOvm3EyQc3hc1SiRHU4-2QOVxwCZ72B4oI30lSTb6StCvNW5qE9rTsYpDZgKBxBaO9EZ7UIlxB1UmRUq8lE9IBhq2t4gQbMwuvNXwkHDeLnWolP0Ycmq7KDVt1dVIMHonj2QY89R3zRaZXSON7zwKdcdaXwghVXPBu7XnO6A39IqsrL1oEMlPCMkJ2KkrHKPp0-k_XXJtXm_kaiFJhUyjahqf2bg0mIqhyvFasY-QD9kEWshDCNkR9foXpNxdv4cKliqCfITWXLc3CkEcLE_9WNybfRBBtt9vRI=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
Álvarez, Alzugaray, and Mitat also denied any connection to the plot or the individuals
arrested.

Only days after publishing the State Sponsors of Terror list, the Department appeared
not particularly curious about Cuba's allegation that four Miami-based exiles had
visited the island on four occasions to plan a terror plot.

In a press briefing [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXCXDissKSYl8M5RhHu2VwFAlf43guAooYpTf3McqNk4J2L_romVDrWGq86NjUqRMgm7EFyZH-ZkQPkCOAI96PkUXBEYqfUAmQIBFaUNrQchEjMkHjMZkAd8rf4-lHDIZxQGUyuEbE-EsCY4Apa8QliscA-TfZUDnHwk4dguRmgYhb1UuHVTvWWzN5-nMmElMyYvKbmeSres07sh-qFXTFnuwIdG8v28ie59Skb6Lh9NidttrIt90VcKyNZmloUJKlSDTcSR5rtVKW6k-mArMORkT4rmXNhD8kOQUGFrkw4_M=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
on Wednesday, spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters that the State Department had
no more information than what appeared in the Interior Ministry's statement. No 
reporter appears to have even asked about it today.

Cuba's Interior Ministry has stated that it will communicate with U.S. authorities
regarding the case:

"The necessary arrangements will be made with the relevant U.S. authorities to investigate
these incidents and prevent the actions of terrorist organizations based in that
 nation from endangering the lives of people and security of both nations."

According to the Associated Press, this is the first specific terrorist threat of
its kind that Cuba has reported in years. In 2001, three Cuban-Americans were detained
after arriving on the island with guns and ammunition, and 9 years later were prosecuted
for alleged plans to place a bomb in Havana's Tropicana nightclub. Cuba's government
later released a recording of Álvarez discussing the possible bombing of the nightclub
with one of the men in custody, Ihosvani Suris de la Torre.

According to a 2008 report by Kirk Nielsen in Salon [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXHwiAeVPBFkgDaONA8O_sgFkF0cWbgMzErBnrySQV5ozF-SqGL7LYY_x4-goKP2GOzXb9Kx37ix-aKByNycThB9d_xdB31rlji4yg2YWkQ65SBn_OJBUpDwNSlp9IiQanubD8EW0NHBvcFxBUn8bxMWAg858tUCvkzdbRgNaQZVz30ETVwJoy1q22IV5hdqmqcVK28LGqkBERINpODXiC6g44hgIKpkAvNI0hx_2WK8ffJv5rac6nC50nRUcc0tmtK-LfsKzRwKC-xTeIHc6y7A==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Álvarez claims, "he was not involved in the operation and was only trying to help
Suris; he knew the call was being recorded, and that Suris faced the firing squad,
so he wanted to say something that would make Suris appear to be providing valuable
assistance to his captors."

Four Members of Congress meet with Cuban officials and Alan Gross [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX9WamjoC-ZJ_9ntpSRPPSwXNpBM3xJbVmBroTbIjLTUgQlRfGTCYdfE0M_ladyOFTwKbuoWl0Lf_Pvs8ufsFW3unNbgqwcL3ol_3UdX-wkzwi4kEcGIkGTqjmtTeisQruS0_dnsO8hoTDcL_LjGqNJiMvSj821pst1qSiIWY0PjSSYJKkTLrYPpS_Tq4FD_PEo1tdOP9wvCyt8rjBWXkk9mZDADelliCBbwG39pFMUxdXmLNOFNf6Tgi59cY-dkG1URuIFsrVm6hZwPF-pQ-vPuG2WfgM54WGyT2KUtk8bfMP6T988sX-ImnLeJsn7vuW&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5),
and Sam Farr (CA-20) have just returned from Cuba following a trip that was led 
and hosted by the Center for Democracy in the Americas. The delegation met with 
Cuban officials, including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and given access to 
see Alan Gross, reports Reuters [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX9WamjoC-ZJ_9ntpSRPPSwXNpBM3xJbVmBroTbIjLTUgQlRfGTCYdfE0M_ladyOFTwKbuoWl0Lf_Pvs8ufsFW3unNbgqwcL3ol_3UdX-wkzwi4kEcGIkGTqjmtTeisQruS0_dnsO8hoTDcL_LjGqNJiMvSj821pst1qSiIWY0PjSSYJKkTLrYPpS_Tq4FD_PEo1tdOP9wvCyt8rjBWXkk9mZDADelliCBbwG39pFMUxdXmLNOFNf6Tgi59cY-dkG1URuIFsrVm6hZwPF-pQ-vPuG2WfgM54WGyT2KUtk8bfMP6T988sX-ImnLeJsn7vuW&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
The Members of Congress were also briefed before their departure to Cuba by U.S.
 officials.

In a press conference [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXlAO2EmruN9lbcE-GQHjBsOW4_nlSjg6BggOIrGWxJBapzcikCe3E2OZFbPYstivum63xUCGbTrpncRvTDVnKcH6olrA8zUsjik_t0R_pDwnskAyls9wrGpL9VMaM3_Jd2BJWxfJVKRQ=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
that took place in Havana on Monday, the Representatives urged President Obama to
negotiate with Cuba's government for the release of Mr. Gross. As Rep. Lee stated:

"It is time that both countries make a serious commitment to engage in negotiations
with no preconditions, and we will communicate that to the White House upon our 
return."

While in the past Cuba's government has sought to link Alan Gross's release to that
of the Cuban Five, Cuban agents jailed in the United States on espionage charges,
Scott Gilbert, Gross's attorney, says that Cuba's government has been offering to
enter into talks without preconditions for approximately a year. For its part, Reuters
reports, the U.S. government has disregarded these offers as merely efforts to secure
the release of the Cuban Five.

As Rep. Cleaver noted:

"In the fog of conflict, clear communication is normally the first casualty. And
 what we have seen since we've been here is that there is a need for clear communication
both ways....We understand and we want the world to understand and the people of
 our country as well as people here in Cuba, we are talking about real human beings.
Alan Gross is a real human being with flesh and blood, with family and friends, 
and this is not some game; this is real life, for all of us."

Click here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXru6IFHkvkgVcnz5hV0Ozj609UDelu_JBYo7kKb_-5vOx8Ye2mrAj167CgRyy8clZIFWWFdOIrum0f91ZrclTPEp4KTVGwWzL-dPBhluN2pZrEtLJW_w8NeRUgVrfKDMLjhNpAcTNISn9q4dKtM_KB8nuUi7qk5hWSf548A4uCJQeK9cUM9zTjYlKq2-nVALjFcxemNWE5dlGjmtWF4jtDCFMBWIKltfEGUej7JJ0BLDFyrXIazy41r2p943RRuT3FRDHeW8vA_ax7EbUQguzhTsf7oNg5Cd643SwTMwzPGuevARpy_XUFqjYCFJPnCqRMLTWDUhIQA8KzdjLDyEH7Y_B_TXHOSseSw3rbZeHRJe_yesQtqR8nhsKNx3_NUwW&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
to see photos from the trip. Click here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXRVQkWRv86dbuwmcXnY2NE3FL04AMzXaPmFpwzZdZbbBQrlBkKF1B3U3--DWRP02Y62amQk2xfJGToS4jtMhzI3mUuo_bsCS1EEdPnolcA1UXL1rinbFJqnKDsGeZLRfd7RRGy-WBynsFr_wZGmb49cwJv-zOstkckNa0ZbyUuwkw32cXP0zFK0R_FiHiwSkkIIrci_kqq5QIy6YT2k80_DXoe-o-5PGiaQSDq2vPeROJR7XvQSH5k0P-COLm0v43Jlpgblzt3nN-xjINOtzPurrXc0MB5hDUmwBJsjEkeJJzQ-zdqE3pjq2YYWdsKsPv4ywcBYMwIjRpU1Kqs6hcEw==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
to see Rep. Lee's interview on MSNBC.

Crist, candidate for Governor of Florida, plans to visit Cuba this summer [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXJ011Ebkkikgsczr5jhxQFT02P-e93seV0rp0WQ6uoJ8ZDimux2o8dhFiq3yg4KALiUUFxrf8sSuJuKvRRM79GRoNrjc7-QgQyb88qlnEBO0HjNzT7rrkQ-jfr3bnmeH0DqQ9OH-JQgLofB0kQhRXpIhLgZSgnU2adWiwOVs7cA3TUdye-0PgEmL8WeVG6mvVp9z8b-SMzOU2IObASpOXh0cGupfIVxjgvZPlH23LGVA_H8JcqKw8c-DmfjJoB0t_iI64moYw2B1fMifUwAzjOtj1oJFwlM_8aj08yxwjUQSlh2K59I0uc2Ryx8hdYqCnY7HNq5r-jCGZGBgtc-uuczXl5JUhGPuaKoJYLSuYw_8=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

Charlie Crist, former Governor of Florida, who is seeking the Democratic Party's
 nomination to run against Governor Rick Scott in the November election, announced
plans to travel to Cuba this summer, reports Tampa Bay Times [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXJ011Ebkkikgsczr5jhxQFT02P-e93seV0rp0WQ6uoJ8ZDimux2o8dhFiq3yg4KALiUUFxrf8sSuJuKvRRM79GRoNrjc7-QgQyb88qlnEBO0HjNzT7rrkQ-jfr3bnmeH0DqQ9OH-JQgLofB0kQhRXpIhLgZSgnU2adWiwOVs7cA3TUdye-0PgEmL8WeVG6mvVp9z8b-SMzOU2IObASpOXh0cGupfIVxjgvZPlH23LGVA_H8JcqKw8c-DmfjJoB0t_iI64moYw2B1fMifUwAzjOtj1oJFwlM_8aj08yxwjUQSlh2K59I0uc2Ryx8hdYqCnY7HNq5r-jCGZGBgtc-uuczXl5JUhGPuaKoJYLSuYw_8=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
At Versailles Restaurant in Miami's Little Havana, Crist stated:

"We ought to think big. We ought to lift the embargo on Cuba and work with the President
and get things done....We're the gateway to Latin America. We're the gateway to 
South America....We've got to be doing more and doing better."

Kevin Cate, Crist's campaign spokesperson said [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXwF6W2-1KEthLI-O_UZqPCqnWyveD4T1mP90lgICHJMBMGdqddUnpqmaa95HGR84KTf6xM8sMGWHPyQ8OmKds307pMu5O7Z_vPgso2SYaynaHMmXeVg6W3cYn4lmR4tbP1UbFAp3rDJpV1I4MpZcLhuuDg1JfWeLVV6No5fsJyUgV72OhmzxV66npA5jVxg-5CegDXsz-6VL33zumfMV3Zh2rn6aoDZkXeURRmNMO8srCdMiUD5PGnU5vLgL2AbgXeQELvK4PqAw3a2JXoVZR1tnCtl6zri-nwq5VQLrGkDy1x9q5TYbSfJp5DpmnfsgLAVsezoSCQe2CRNyNXUUzT_ZKMCaV4IPs&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]:

"The embargo has done nothing in fifty years to change the regime in Cuba or end
 the suffering of the Cuban people. Governor Crist is exploring every opportunity
to help bring economic freedom and democracy to the people of Cuba."

Crist spoke out [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXoNsBIsf8b1n4FGV290q0MisAbeQM8nE5V_EEw0_8xN64FqaSBaGsEVXg6z-F4Nubl_aBc2dGLtlqEOaPob1l4xC7U7_TuR3RbHnjojypd_nuswnL1GbeXWpDee4YX6kuCDEbEKwxhnpDwbEn-M2neiuBTt6RnT_Bl7M6doTLRvydMf6lEXn0mK0eLAsbiFE78Re5Q7D5n_ZH9bkmySI4xT-dpV5DTpM7Ib-_x27gfSZ074k6AoTlmFVc0f7VWdscrOcBunCwLd0Ts4oxhc2D3B119QpD7hYjFxbZ3rLmgcMAOGyuCwpNdRBthIaC9t8m09R8Z1svgVUaY-anX0iFT_Fm8rpagHMjEAgDgLU3Jqgbnk_K1bVM9bGD-jrtrOtcmAUL_dK7fa8=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
against the embargo for the first time in February, making waves in Florida's Cuban-American
community. His latest statements reflect a major shift in position. While Governor
from 2007 to 2011, he backed U.S. sanctions and created state legislation to crack
down on travel agencies doing business with Cuba, the Miami Herald [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX1ZaJnQJT8chXmYZY5ryaNyl2nJIpmCbV0G3jJjHTgJOgkbPUVRPgosfrGYM1HCvyMtmZXmlrzatBb1qR6-GSaDZQbv-1-kYavMW_tw1-srqinKhphgXmn6PVnT_6aSDazfnSw_kNuLqWFIFQ4StzPPmRRSjdxMEzBOHzl51B-UkPdfrJvcU3NwdXRqFFK5VSk3c-AuKEAeNhysq9p8iZCjK0wMKprb6cpXJnL16gAajOHCTG5Pp8UUUuyiqSRdPTq3eqQbweiQaWkv7re2gstWF041Fo5UCaPktPPWAeXUbx6n9lq0Rv-4gGJd-7hiHR7K3zSBzix6Q=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
reports. In 2010, he reiterated his support for the embargo, describing the current
policy as "responsible."

Crist's opponent in the gubernatorial race, incumbent Governor Rick Scott called
 the statements "insulting," and has reiterated his support for sanctions. Marc 
Caputo writing for the Miami Herald [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX1ZaJnQJT8chXmYZY5ryaNyl2nJIpmCbV0G3jJjHTgJOgkbPUVRPgosfrGYM1HCvyMtmZXmlrzatBb1qR6-GSaDZQbv-1-kYavMW_tw1-srqinKhphgXmn6PVnT_6aSDazfnSw_kNuLqWFIFQ4StzPPmRRSjdxMEzBOHzl51B-UkPdfrJvcU3NwdXRqFFK5VSk3c-AuKEAeNhysq9p8iZCjK0wMKprb6cpXJnL16gAajOHCTG5Pp8UUUuyiqSRdPTq3eqQbweiQaWkv7re2gstWF041Fo5UCaPktPPWAeXUbx6n9lq0Rv-4gGJd-7hiHR7K3zSBzix6Q=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
notes that Crist's opposition to the embargo could be a plus given the results of
a recent Atlantic Council poll [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXJOzrWdHzy-VvcU1piJMAzg5ICAf4rXgsun9I5D0jXdFc3OuuAmyfoMkVt6PA_6S9JHtz46b22yWMvoiHuSrFi8nx1fIlPiXL0g81GNjce-uG7K3C_gMwZD61OkokShnDbtnzDQLpID1ovR1r7rNWV27gEcmQVRay99g9H-mi5FZcVU7ANMdMjO_fJEleUrxkKw7M9Vo6J8FJIFP6kPiDT4MfypaOMfnC4pP_LcHkzSDZhldyiGcs_YNd5I-S9RJV_mnjf5pTlUGshiQOnoOtbLHwigOPLi-WLMNtusOFtC2o44f9OPbgHX0aiSu0B1WaTI9WTsjdeOPx97M2-xQ7gCjxxa4TMLORZ81NNMRSy6FSDoLzTfUW_2GPdsPDVSBW&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
which found that 56% of Americans and 63% of Floridians support more direct engagement
with Cuba.

Secretary Kerry invites Cuban scientist to attend conference in June [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXh4edKOeTRWLFxzyQ3K3y_q2Vfa0xxskTpWqivByjBAnPVzdA6c45dTHbYu9yXucNvjOd6aRTbcTYwsCRPpEaln_bNpoF677EQxgu6f4WnFtLfvlm_AgcmNS568aegiohSB4VNMzoWsbUCA13D8lRoEnBNl5c7oeV&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==];
The AAAS and Cuban Academy of Sciences sign agreement to advance cooperation [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXxWLNef5XNPx-tcp206yLBp3-8rLdjvtjeYJ_WzBRMhgVHIW69wArEZMmB-O-Gq4P3WWSS4ASAWGp8Xat67m5sSwx3_svzSDsquOCNVx3uwVDDFhBT2UKfm-TCZylrrnN2ZeKhzXoXlzU0Xsnv9rdR_zzVMS-uGTgB3b3CNdyus2CVMYYya-nRFoWbNzTtmeIJCBM8ROSySv8FAwzYWDRD88ucSlNNOwfjHAeRsB6CF5RwH5-NWFymF0-1CqySSXuRDOottHTvsgyg0QRUu9tSEyoqF8rjAnbMHcQJclrkgSI3H_S_rZZg6LB833NCnlK&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

Dan Whittle, Director of the Cuba Program at the Environmental Defense Fund, has
 tweeted [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXh4edKOeTRWLFxzyQ3K3y_q2Vfa0xxskTpWqivByjBAnPVzdA6c45dTHbYu9yXucNvjOd6aRTbcTYwsCRPpEaln_bNpoF677EQxgu6f4WnFtLfvlm_AgcmNS568aegiohSB4VNMzoWsbUCA13D8lRoEnBNl5c7oeV&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has invited a leading Cuban scientist, reportedly
Fabián Pina [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXNjg8kHGBqBzxBjNN8lNyZ4HPYcYUb8i6smFpqLRLpHQlj6iKBOVirmfVEUUZ0VFw4Z4D33icZ4SonH7yUTolAmUpSWReqyvT23QDklS1yMzQKGvnid16Z-VXCZ86eTLuuu9xM3rq83Beu99aaJM1SjRMwGQE447QvP_6p2QhrUSs5ZqdpSM3T1PGjiJ2e_Zpekqgo6VfriYQDEBimP7b0nE8KJ2EK0YNNPefrWVf0GMCZODRzgEn63TqPVRVaSz0BCChbI8sMUnkjfH9iMpmgyD5JjZuQu7HxRYSdEGv-1kEcA5Rkvm3H5TITOUt-AFk&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
to attend the 2014 International Ocean Conference in June. Whittle called Kerry's
move "Big news and [a big] step forward."

U.S. regulations have historically made it difficult for U.S. and Cuban scientists
to collaborate, but there is growing political space to do more.

Last month, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the
Cuban Academy of Sciences signed a landmark memorandum of understanding to advance
scientific cooperation between U.S. and Cuban scientists, reports AAAS [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXxWLNef5XNPx-tcp206yLBp3-8rLdjvtjeYJ_WzBRMhgVHIW69wArEZMmB-O-Gq4P3WWSS4ASAWGp8Xat67m5sSwx3_svzSDsquOCNVx3uwVDDFhBT2UKfm-TCZylrrnN2ZeKhzXoXlzU0Xsnv9rdR_zzVMS-uGTgB3b3CNdyus2CVMYYya-nRFoWbNzTtmeIJCBM8ROSySv8FAwzYWDRD88ucSlNNOwfjHAeRsB6CF5RwH5-NWFymF0-1CqySSXuRDOottHTvsgyg0QRUu9tSEyoqF8rjAnbMHcQJclrkgSI3H_S_rZZg6LB833NCnlK&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
An AAAS-led group of U.S. scientists and policy experts visited Cuba in April for
three days to engage in conversations that led to the signing of the agreement. 
The agreement seeks opportunities for sustained cooperation in the areas of emerging
infectious diseases, brain disorders, cancer and antimicrobial drug resistance. 
John Caulfield, the Chief of Mission of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, and
AAAS President Gerald Fink both expressed support for the visit. Fink remarked:

"This trip was a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorate the long-standing friendship
between U.S. and Cuban scientists and to form a more specific plan of action."

Secretary Kerry talks Cuba at Council of the Americas' 44th Conference on the Americas
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX1Z7V5oIp9mN5Af4q14_BFbWPSq-7gI2Vejwd0HxUNp1e6j9paJSdW6bOOZ3NJRSLmkbkQkAWgwuGu7JSR0qkGVWREZQ8Lo4PbvbKdJIWGH64_CD3LWgCuYlMFZ__npU0wl7X_rMqVnWR0x_RCGiv5B86danfbbrUEsDGcZwGXPC8LjRPmj66qk8hNmKGVizrRV-m3s2b0_fFwHKObLXxNglCy4zIIupGG_FcWJ9-zinCply9gcT_tpZAHao-PupvJ92zUaemMUkd9EZa0CjvDS5jzVz3_9qGrAtfOiD3WKG97v4mAzkWWcvcQ-b4kdAa3qniDHtx70YqZ61Lj57Cpg==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

In a speech at the Council of the Americas' 44th Conference on the Americas devoted
to familiar themes -- education, free trade agreements, small business, and the 
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also 
discussed Cuba at the end of his remarks [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX4ft6CtaEMbcmkbzcbIk8TfaP7J9kM3KZMAsUFHfpAIWe1pIBXxi4-fZ1v9hwie3oPKTvAPpWct8nTzzmuY6fPEzKbdWGXkqc0BuP-RWV4UqSWUNmLAa0DlBOMevf7FYNnpu12_TT3eHlH1gJbxTA8KqFT7KfIAm_ZQrPImvSX51fFCRuZzhgY766p8Xgm6Bz1N3rfuw2ipYrOY329wqAdm6jM0vZb2Iz4J4dYMBs5rDtA2YS1eXRci3dpHmRsVBnLd-BIrEtVcRXZRSMr5JUwx0xa3O2MyrH8meASA5yZTpk_uJNHPDbTZkp2JRCOPVtmZOo2bOVE-1DCIJ1JcInSImNxDW-r7bgB7gg-qAId6I=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]:

"None of us want to see the Cuban people continue to be left behind as the rest 
of the hemisphere advances. Since 2009, President Obama's Cuba policy has been geared
towards loosening the dependence of Cubans on the state and strengthening independent
civil society. There's an important overlap between U.S. policy and the emerging
 micro-entrepreneurial sector in Cuba.

"President Obama's goal has always been to empower Cubans to freely determine their
own futures. And the most effective tool we have to promote this goal is helping
 to build deeper connections between the Cuban and American peoples. The hundreds
of thousands of Cuban Americans who now send remittances and who travel each year
under the President's policies, they are critical to ensuring that the Cuban people
have more of the opportunities that they deserve."

Other speakers included Roberta Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of State for the Western
Hemisphere; Rep. Ed Royce (CA-39), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
and Sen. Tim Kaine (VA), a Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Visit of Women Entrepreneurs from Latin America kicks off this month [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX7Ue86WtcCON9Ngie5d4IqkDYnt2s20TspTR7RpRVQLtuZ6_TDiGGpY64MAOMWV3h916zO4mKB6Yf_zYxplIYcWwuDdvXsXfKa3Jb1mVOPpn97v461pojJZewHU4xH8Vv4B5qQI9i2SVZ5RtuIJOqp3x1JfZ-dBQMyIGcP4aHLxiweY0CDiJCwtUdqBRiqCbjfMphoA_zcWp8pCwFcQmk1A-EQxa1CMX1XatrYulif2R4KbRmG4LvnzbXWcpncvBYMC0edaXCA40HdfsMFyuzxDvIks03jigtv3RUBi6CY6g=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

This month the U.S. State Department [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX7Ue86WtcCON9Ngie5d4IqkDYnt2s20TspTR7RpRVQLtuZ6_TDiGGpY64MAOMWV3h916zO4mKB6Yf_zYxplIYcWwuDdvXsXfKa3Jb1mVOPpn97v461pojJZewHU4xH8Vv4B5qQI9i2SVZ5RtuIJOqp3x1JfZ-dBQMyIGcP4aHLxiweY0CDiJCwtUdqBRiqCbjfMphoA_zcWp8pCwFcQmk1A-EQxa1CMX1XatrYulif2R4KbRmG4LvnzbXWcpncvBYMC0edaXCA40HdfsMFyuzxDvIks03jigtv3RUBi6CY6g=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
is hosting twelve women entrepreneurs and women who work for organizations that 
support female entrepreneurship from Latin America as part of the Women's Entrepreneurship
in the Americas (WEAmericas) International Visitor Leadership Program.

As Secretary Kerry mentioned in his Council address, the WEAmericas program was 
first announced by President Obama at the 2012 Summit of the Americas. The women
 will visit five U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., to meet with business 
leaders and organizations that encourage women leadership and that will provide 
a network for the Latina entrepreneurs. After the trip, the women will also participate
in further training and mentorship activities.

Nidialys Acosta, co-owner of the Nostalgicar car rental company in Cuba, is participating.
In November of 2013, Nidialys participated in a conference [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOXYC0B-qVxM4VfSB2pdpHe8hGMfNMAt5-va-cEGBNt0CLbJfYXnSc3yqQNz1ooj9cg0p4FZE5ob1C3bZ_7EoOnAD72cvKkZdu7Uo0dMph933pwq76XPTUw8opk6av5fObLgtIn7EF2HFzBKGW_OzQpQ=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
organized by CDA focusing on economic changes taking place in Cuba and highlighting
the experiences of Cuba's growing community of small business owners. CDA is pleased
to see women entrepreneurs from Cuba participating in such activities, as we recommended
in our most recent book, "Women's Work: Gender Equality in Cuba and the Role of 
Women Building Cuba's Future [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXgSFzsba1ds1o4E67bHIJOMG56tLY4JwXJZ6deBvI8uih2RqeCEwQ8XjJXwRs1398zDK9dAxLz0fydt6TMA31byW6YfsX6NlZBg47-NbIc8h82x1Va2l3-lxhCjcjsMWK8Eq47iBbg46s1JmFp4rlfQ7VFPKMv6zNnuYQUYe3hwSGIzCfTwkzrwFuPONzwZbwTuy8TASRGyCAxWZY6swYgDI8iagOBeIvUUsaY-hV13Iemy1c2H1WnLNuwmYLIHg713RZQWAdQxVWC2zFIySSR85k3ry0EqSMeuXjKYrvFWCRU_x7M1gcG1_pvfHCa_WQURgppN6l5mx2H9NMC2rtjgitZXQf2RoQZQg-zGaH48_dL2Z8hZT4QJrcpVZeOewtYCeMnGJ5LRMi9SKfQwx_Og==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]."

Illinois corn growers push for expanded trade opportunities with Cuba [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXF7Wi0caDllOZpDzg7FHkVZK7KX7Ttpd8IsoEfntcCt_UGd6o9srAK8QJ7xMQmbZjCkP-TtzQHzcBlrCx1F7JOz0zaOCvSs_-Wl0xvgK0ogjO5WESRhZ7puhqRzcW7eo7eYZv0tHOif_I4XsGZMoYczxm8phLORapITjIA6IT6hGftrmlYDRSmZuCTyUI7BF7ixK1pa84HW_QEkgqaL77TyxfFxLO48zpFOHA9l4liZl4u6cCc4pl3Kn4A6K6Y6088GfAaPU67LeUow2YOeAV9pVNrZkazMeyQF_vPmHAjUX4VGZ_9ghLOsCQ3lnQkF4Lr5do5CFTBuZcbIes83PZeg==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

The Illinois Corn Growers Association issued a letter urging President Obama to 
allow for expanded exports to Cuba and to establish an agricultural trade office
 on the island, reports the AP [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXF7Wi0caDllOZpDzg7FHkVZK7KX7Ttpd8IsoEfntcCt_UGd6o9srAK8QJ7xMQmbZjCkP-TtzQHzcBlrCx1F7JOz0zaOCvSs_-Wl0xvgK0ogjO5WESRhZ7puhqRzcW7eo7eYZv0tHOif_I4XsGZMoYczxm8phLORapITjIA6IT6hGftrmlYDRSmZuCTyUI7BF7ixK1pa84HW_QEkgqaL77TyxfFxLO48zpFOHA9l4liZl4u6cCc4pl3Kn4A6K6Y6088GfAaPU67LeUow2YOeAV9pVNrZkazMeyQF_vPmHAjUX4VGZ_9ghLOsCQ3lnQkF4Lr5do5CFTBuZcbIes83PZeg==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
"Illinois ranks sixth nationwide in lost trade opportunities because of the financial
and travel restrictions," explained Gary Hudson, president of the Illinois Corn 
Growers Association. Hudson said that Cuba is an ideal destination for Illinois 
commodities and food products but that U.S. sanctions on Cuba frustrate business
 opportunities.

For more detail, listen to this WUIS interview [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXLtdqvKA2T2Y5rKcmTNJjih8BMpKBWR2DKZ6heyo5Wk3_qsZaHrUiPCyauw3om6ZsGOonsSq6QArY7zK8FHyabQHOM5uSqTmSZqUyjmm1w08HYRYUacFGxazM0E9HUTlVUTgc-LyUhMS68CWVkYvMomOWVLZN7h_J5apn-AtUPMwSpBV4Q2iZ8WvnyORqPZ0C3sIQZT3NXl0LNM0ZiJF3-sabnwoCLEvJ_IUR_hFFq-ghfpVFGMLxDUtRSFOeKCHB02mUOY4w4olh22-P0-NhPk_nl0aBm5zPfkNvzeL7Xww=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
with Phil Thornton of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, in which Thornton speaks
about the Association's reasons for writing to President Obama about trade with 
Cuba.

U.S. insurance company, Argentina travel company to pay hefty OFAC fines [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX8hbhtBS9kCjyRRABdC2MZkupB9WN8qlN04ci9lG2Qc99xYbYvhtfAcg-VCtKNLAW5FiIJa0Rul0XRTbdASXmNiAIUK6KpoqeQDJsukx4eun_Q4Z6vMQaT4fCskAnAwpEkd2A7fTMVTqvqsQ57eEjWCkBfesgblxQIhaZsHF8GS4V_aFVDlKoIEDBEsEZ4n8dRq6e1hHYZtj8Z5vGOYgufVq9BHYRxOTL53Sj1Zl7iQm27NT3Bb79dP3rn0rHXdss_bFeTCJ5FGIsKTukdX1UeC9M1y_Apw6K5VFyEMDGEQk_cQhRCxx1loxdyTQdOUJbabvRtfntxDWUw32i8yeraQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

A major multinational insurance corporation based in the U.S., American International
Group, Inc. (AIG), will pay a $279,038 fine to the Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) for selling insurance policies to Canadian companies and travelers between
2006 and 2009 for their activities in Cuba, reports Bloomberg [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXxCyyDWPpo1qplSH3i7704xlp2lXAV4sg0gpdVNhrPu5AAVfPuh6MheQw0Jpr81SAvrqTpH2Xxh-OQ1fm3aOpeGn59qs-aUT6C_y12l7Zlxo_uTE82R7g-Gmcus16HlHlUMlrtkqMFKxcOz-stEypQ_tFNRUVmQIxYGaR6L364YYJnKWn2ZENIUbabWLK31Dut0vPWgdvAkgD53yEW7_4VNUWuelNDVmeATyiN_RDZnCH8aevfa7viGMKA1Tqxk_Fl5_zLdsjiuMliMSepgiSCuTAGCXuH1-iXxZhhPm3WBba7VVX9ZqZcVr_csNgvsenw9d471h_0NBBfYV2TDMOAn_74GEpcRKH&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
OFAC announced [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX3uFErPh6vyWcKFbrOpklC7jXHhkHFIpoKx0vJZL3GGVhgR39HKaQvpZS_wbhci_9szKRey3QGuDgeJcjw2RIlKdT5hR7AIlL1zaGh8G_78dX6ZANZKx7H2pQzZf2Au57skI7zXwJwruE1whwSqdX4EOuf-FHaPC3NoudRoI76VOByFcuzl-bG8XhXvYBc8mGEb-dU-ykqKC5xGKUYDshS0OjFC8NHgWEkN1iOHIavvoRQmL4nrOaPxz7zY-Kf31fw017rwjw8cQ3wjFFA0evcw3F7md0p5bSQFbl1gyCJF-7ZdQzX4kxmDeIQkzXd6delkuMjTVpd9c=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
the settlement, stating: "AIG, including certain members of the institution's management,
had actual knowledge of the conduct. ...The compliance programs of AIG's two Canadian
subsidiaries were inadequate." AIG received $182 billion in U.S. government support
during the financial crisis.

Decolar.com Inc., a company that operates out of Buenos Aires but was incorporated
in the U.S., will pay a $2.8 million fine to OFAC for transactions in violation 
of U.S. sanctions against Cuba, reports Cuba Standard [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX8hbhtBS9kCjyRRABdC2MZkupB9WN8qlN04ci9lG2Qc99xYbYvhtfAcg-VCtKNLAW5FiIJa0Rul0XRTbdASXmNiAIUK6KpoqeQDJsukx4eun_Q4Z6vMQaT4fCskAnAwpEkd2A7fTMVTqvqsQ57eEjWCkBfesgblxQIhaZsHF8GS4V_aFVDlKoIEDBEsEZ4n8dRq6e1hHYZtj8Z5vGOYgufVq9BHYRxOTL53Sj1Zl7iQm27NT3Bb79dP3rn0rHXdss_bFeTCJ5FGIsKTukdX1UeC9M1y_Apw6K5VFyEMDGEQk_cQhRCxx1loxdyTQdOUJbabvRtfntxDWUw32i8yeraQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
According to OFAC [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXFljZPRQzsuGEapHPp4L7cwFkt_J4uJwu9G8Kr1KcDOafIJltgeAi_1gjFEnmVtcOKxKmUej6uDjOvOVyGQwPTtWwiwFKMR-x6y7jun5L9aR0Gj5G2sU6i7lDdj88lpu3xck4covZ3dbOGCHz1UJs0-u4xFGLTytXTLIb5XZPlo2Gk2-WgQB1VsoSmHQfjif_gnO-Gb4Sc7uiLcb1VLUhk5weTnJhkuOccRQeoFvni2Pd8S5ZPepv9R_dQNIZw0rWV3j8Zrn32XCZHSTlx2vl4OsKtV6N5q0amT53dwTXTZhjnYL7udIPDaI9N8LoZbpvkk52Tf1zjVghvQ3t-yCufA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
the company provided travel services for trips to Cuba for 17,836 non-U.S. travelers
between 2009 and 2012 without first obtaining proper OFAC licensing. The penalty
 the company will pay OFAC, was reportedly reduced because the company "self-disclosed"
the violations.

Last month, we reported [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXbCO5SgQwTlR_B5mGtaJ01XmXHNR8E5ZUC4MFwOjHRA3wQp_Z59kQfNpAcBk8KijsqbB1WC4ViZDOgKn2rGeNs5HZLbdNQs1T3VHT7UYT-mQs1HI6ZT-VHKF_FFGt-Xyid6vjAF3K5AkMR1t_vJnCn2qSVNNWIu1gGt-4Lx7soiD-pK7Xiw9aT1d3PB-k2CTWht4WIucij84nTvwHFa7lFejFSmI6urmzjbt9ghrEspS4vaZH79vLGur31ELBeSJTtaiUqPVsdMMQab0loqdQ8gRALH-B1Dk7upc3U0Jn3bu5lzdzKU2dgfnSsxxWt45kpUfBrbzYFGmipq1qu2rb1pzge2luDe3tccchRU78Fz3_jiQ2atKndA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
that a prominent Dutch travel company agreed to pay a $5.9 million fine to OFAC,
 one of the largest assigned to a travel company by the U.S. government for embargo
violations and part of a pattern of increasingly stringent enforcement.

CUBA'S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Cuba and France sign bilateral trade agreement [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXRlzIU66EAsDduQz8yZXb9MEFEBy2m3nYmm3OO_HbYcJy9-nfxhq6OYtzmldmIs7BZfmWSsGEI7xVFjdcWQcR5BzCO0SEm-IFdA_z9YXHPcJTSExaFPxT8w5J5UQD3OHLD1sk8GYxA8E1TY1PqGyHkHx9tmlUny4SwtIO00A3zBNFbH5ugA0AAuKjXrgct8GWi2XQw85hcR0iiBegKmwPNtWBroVpMslB0Bkl1xs4AP6dLjzFyLhJElYB79oiDwlbzHWWYHMO_7rXeJHwA4AtOn6YWbVsArYJnZEqKZnUr3axvPa52tbQHygfC8wZMdHxGLE-ELLUM7AZc9t-RRAjkahh_O7lytvR&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

Fleur Pellerin, France's Secretary of State for Foreign Trade and Tourism, and Cuba's
Foreign Trade and Investment Minister, Rodrigo Malmierca, signed a bilateral trade
agreement this week that includes the renewal of a short-term line of credit, reports
EFE [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXRlzIU66EAsDduQz8yZXb9MEFEBy2m3nYmm3OO_HbYcJy9-nfxhq6OYtzmldmIs7BZfmWSsGEI7xVFjdcWQcR5BzCO0SEm-IFdA_z9YXHPcJTSExaFPxT8w5J5UQD3OHLD1sk8GYxA8E1TY1PqGyHkHx9tmlUny4SwtIO00A3zBNFbH5ugA0AAuKjXrgct8GWi2XQw85hcR0iiBegKmwPNtWBroVpMslB0Bkl1xs4AP6dLjzFyLhJElYB79oiDwlbzHWWYHMO_7rXeJHwA4AtOn6YWbVsArYJnZEqKZnUr3axvPa52tbQHygfC8wZMdHxGLE-ELLUM7AZc9t-RRAjkahh_O7lytvR&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].

The agreement is designed to increase trade between the nations, especially in the
food and agriculture sector, according to a statement [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXahcXOZBuwIJaU7VnYigEBj1yly9NjjHKYxQGHH99ytBZEWDuWK7wWkTvsDm16kZz_QR1Lv3AMASz1klHgKmD2eBcfeefyeLMS8DhGUWQuddc6B70Hmb1neeraxZO_dUaT9BVDTwa3etlV6gAAnrI5_jMkmMzvjJE8FmqEP2V0-zbQzPMdoJHt5-5OH6LkLILLcDX-HGtI92oe01QFzb_shcE31ZyMm8LX4okrriTvpepC0KtRnfjQo4zii00N22aY75Z6Jm4hoRZ3wU7qU4uO39jg2O5S6F8IIfL9LzmvnmDpTiBiTzv6rFT_Vzi2b25UhrHfdJ85yX1l_AklW0MkQotYZoqGWKvxRvMhlK9yjP6kPwE-0OoxgPY8fGFiHxRCeXm6K-dw57IAjuEYctMeQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
by France's Foreign Ministry. Secretary Pellerin noted France also sees potential
for investment in the Special Development Zone at Mariel Port and is interested 
in Cuba's health and biotechnology sectors. France is currently Cuba's tenth largest
trading partner, and there are approximately 60 French companies doing business 
in Cuba. Malmierca says [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXHRjAC7hvVHxD4EhfA0EZgVgT_5r6jwCrjkiEVpR-bUeFJzS5yobgiXwrOWlALCfFdAkrWQ9ua-8iuczQUbH_mQVFn74TL5Jt6uTk-q0mwjkCYG4NOxTN4TRtvseHDHlDiJLFTQZO3ClImR5wz0nO-UFMXJVzOr9ZZ4iQZR96efZd5sRKC-uKyFbekYwSK6LHkuNbw0-mcRSs1OKijrxfPcJVMdRZQolKw6Zfh0Vg28xzT0VvvARm2ZtdasRIqouVx-8OPJ6jSp6eiayZS-Tr7rtstwQSKNyeUfSRTafUKubJmCicllKN6wmJiam2Vq5AE-cthMVCwKdanMNgt1K7rhB2oklxyKfO&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
the agreement is part of Cuba's greater economic reform plan, which he called an
 "ideal" moment for expanding trade relations with the European country.

IN CUBA

Further steps taken toward currency unification [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXxDQscQkU3FPt9uzHZyv2Y9sDh-c1n71IRGG-XmWZ43BRfR5AKoxZXIwUUnV03VOY7kCtZNAT985oRSqLSvbv10GY39UVxIaHlIqEaCARgeyBVoHUY18MdB5CQZghaNL0lnGV44L5bHudp34ioMHnXUv7txNRo1EBYBkIAjHnxPEaAVaJ-CRtN6BLGQjNWXxagy22HMSTYi5jfY43vqAR7eEdkAhW2bORhyJy3wU8td_C4XcvU-DzNr-T7O9X-zt9d0VWM_vix1Y=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

Officials from Cuba's state Export-Import Corporation (CIMEX) made statements this
week to Juventud Rebelde [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXjvJX0_oS-vr5HsNUbW14y_CiG5FL3sc0jrePbDOP4T65LJdJO1emjY71NJHPotVI26WNWyullOiPlImQQ0AqWCLkrQ_KvSj78a3-Zqv-SgxR-Vtm1Q0NNGSesID__qVKfiPMHLmj_SU2jdAQZxHhtA16-djlbg8wu31OOXhxYL9P91j3Tbo_sVOAVeSJDKf0rhwKjL7_KS2qMcF6isW7xDPrhgCpkLKlc8fKpQJTz4DRSjn5SSCcXTzj7ipBhUPp0eeRDO0GMcPSafFONU8BAfXaIcFYQHIfJbk922XYfvn5MmudvKlWbA3cJ2ov0SKL&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
about the most recent development in Cuba's steps toward unifying its two national
currencies -- the Convertible Peso (CUC) and the Cuban Peso (CUP).

In March of this year, two state-run stores in Havana began accepting payment in
 CUP (in cash or by debit card) for their products priced in CUC at the official
 exchange rate of 1 CUC - 25 CUP on an experimental basis. Starting this month, 
Cuba's state enterprises now plan to implement this system countrywide, with the
 goal of making the changes in 28 large commercial centers throughout the island,
followed by smaller establishments. Bárbara Soto Sánchez, the Vice President of 
CIMEX told Juventud Rebelde that she anticipates there will be at least one commercial
center per province accepting payment in CUP for products priced in CUC by the end
of May.

Though the commercial enterprises in question will begin accepting both currencies,
they will continue to maintain all internal accounting and banking in CUC. According
to the officials, measures are intended to give Cubans more payment options.

In October 2013 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXgvBllEM8ot0MnmReIeiaobHpfBVkeG07BL_rsdgVAk0AG6y7ZgnxXeIaMBTUgvc4MIz__EQRAnKeh3U-yfkiZprpiVWfO4WEP-ORht_7rSjCthmczpTwfYiUWdVFFljTY1kGLXjCfk0rZRHkRl1UhBQPm4W8EwdLDqzA35UwCD_WF6HHJMD8bkw1nCIUm4NyqIn19DfDmDeedTSY-_n6-O2Q7iq0Gu3WWfMN7qHJeGRRq_oNThFNSKJRUJnBH0wWibzCv8mQkTmJwbdCfhZIwZlHZnTS5b6yhn_Ton737zYAu_qpTH9Eor57lJLyZbMi35wdH86UrAkg3m5NVz9IBw==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Cuba's Council of Ministers agreed to put into effect a timeline for measures, originally
approved by the 6th Congress of the Communist Party in April 2011, to end the country's
dual currency system. The measures call for monetary and exchange rate unification
with "careful preparation and execution."

The dual currency system has existed since 1994, when Cuba legalized the U.S. dollar.
Subsequently, the dollar was circulated in tandem with the CUP until being replaced
in 2004 by the CUC. The CUC was created as a form of national hard currency pegged
to the dollar, functioning as the main tender in tourism and international trade,
while the CUP is used for the most part to pay state salaries. Cubans have since
 continued to receive their official state salaries in CUP. That rate is subsidized
for state entities, making the two currencies equal in official sector transactions.

Cuban human rights organization reports record number of short-term arrests this
 year [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX5o6yoh7nGly-BJ7TwvS8ceWrLrwqqREpxjHl9Hea_jMSms8EUrXh6rbdAHLYRjTs4UybH_1ZU6Q0DZgXtPN1PYtiTTyqLj9Xl99l979Q8sRlb9u649DVJVJ9OY413czyjIs9n_ERH96yqYlmDh45YTfio5ytjcxvgZAi16-VC_fcyp13IKSGPCVhmyVRMv5bHsE8zbsO6H7laiDhWj-VJvR7vtVkvkjMkWpIVRmzkGhV05m4b1gDPU7eQzSqxA9LAUKzQ4Qy6fmnSrDDJWN0dDMYrDgAtzDcuBIhigvg8Cn6JlAV9s2wkgCrIXQ9E_A3xdaYBrHpOqnOqcaFWAWQNg==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) reported
a record 3,821 short-term arrests which it considered to be politically motivated
in the first four months of 2014, reports Miami Herald [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX5o6yoh7nGly-BJ7TwvS8ceWrLrwqqREpxjHl9Hea_jMSms8EUrXh6rbdAHLYRjTs4UybH_1ZU6Q0DZgXtPN1PYtiTTyqLj9Xl99l979Q8sRlb9u649DVJVJ9OY413czyjIs9n_ERH96yqYlmDh45YTfio5ytjcxvgZAi16-VC_fcyp13IKSGPCVhmyVRMv5bHsE8zbsO6H7laiDhWj-VJvR7vtVkvkjMkWpIVRmzkGhV05m4b1gDPU7eQzSqxA9LAUKzQ4Qy6fmnSrDDJWN0dDMYrDgAtzDcuBIhigvg8Cn6JlAV9s2wkgCrIXQ9E_A3xdaYBrHpOqnOqcaFWAWQNg==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
The numbers were reported by Elizardo Sánchez, the commission's president. Sánchez
has not released further information on how he arrived at the figure and the Miami
Herald has not independently verified his report. Cuba's government considers the
Commission illegal and counterrevolutionary. In March, CCDHRN reported [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXgYNFnV7FTZYSq02S0CtidjjYxy9FBAhzUv8sQnw5PhBVJu3panBlQR80x4Xd03-hEGloDQH5vWVjUwJ8Bn5OaYS5e2PaRMm-5ar0wLtTBQpPRCrOD5x8QRbiki6ek-Kf6PuhdTUY0IVW1RmuHbgpqrsgJ1w2xZQPr67Kr0Mw1nYpQSTxkxRqH48tFjoYn38gBYj0-iOy-q0FDvEuJnvJIvDWu54hCpTswBTJ_8wChXxXmf-suNEqTP12l9qgeWqiIT9EwT3R0KcVo-PoRIiX1lMbcmWLw-eOr4E2KXDPl4mcdijPjQq9JYPDftUZAspH&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
1,051 arrests which it considered to be politically motivated during the month of
February.

Income tax established for Mariel Special Development Zone workers; [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXJY-5eDvnk_4XD38kgUBko9ishM2wUrigeXJbni_C3C2tQ4p9ccph8uuaF8HwJ4pU9BQIWfHV0SNh1OvpMt3xze97r4VbUnBFpAZ74SKR6PIFo9L_1hLIJa9l6GvZhlKFxSyHQNC1OwZbmpcKjy7jlKdTrhBa30y13_aQxONH3R7D49jrcFHD_6l5Mmnkm8lk1LLk4imNRKfdR0wyb30vgWO1mlhbGWuUKH63cay5pYQe8WeXjhPpnTZlKd-cpOruqOyLfvMD2TBdZpVGwOm-8ONWeiH6gwzoiQ276npxNvCxn-7KrReKVb8gUyUVvUP4Rya69eFJTIrgjFMx_-VQBXTtlXq8hotYVNS2D-CMrwU-zJjhvnyTkY_yfD3P_DEd&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
Some 23 international investors interested in Mariel [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXKl0koboIAh0rCVWCcH__7AWiVvs40LQoEgLoXEgytMMHUJbHL3UMb1MUXxBpTQCIhBp08u_Q9to3OcJxPBuyt1UOVN3xEfsCHPAzHatrs9_0iTnMnn7W_psQF_7yi5CrLFgHx5qozaAA6HFNYalCYADwaLCVVjrBqY3RrTC5MdD2th-x_sV6ET6Et7eMBwItXdTUnMyOXExylU2XykkleInUzaAgqyuopVb2e7lM_VC3L5kKGNMxSpMWBUIaqd2Z50WOFTB2r5VFfBxtyzAzoLzfRQegcy3y2ZUqg40xkYyc2bDv_vqnMUSbnMtBEy0TAGMeDZN19eEqjYjeQ5r0NAdAcghScNmFdjcU8J8gcEURPoBCUh-t3ShHsFcDtuB3&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]

Workers hired at the Mariel Special Development Zone will have to pay a 5% income
tax, reports state news outlet ACN [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXJY-5eDvnk_4XD38kgUBko9ishM2wUrigeXJbni_C3C2tQ4p9ccph8uuaF8HwJ4pU9BQIWfHV0SNh1OvpMt3xze97r4VbUnBFpAZ74SKR6PIFo9L_1hLIJa9l6GvZhlKFxSyHQNC1OwZbmpcKjy7jlKdTrhBa30y13_aQxONH3R7D49jrcFHD_6l5Mmnkm8lk1LLk4imNRKfdR0wyb30vgWO1mlhbGWuUKH63cay5pYQe8WeXjhPpnTZlKd-cpOruqOyLfvMD2TBdZpVGwOm-8ONWeiH6gwzoiQ276npxNvCxn-7KrReKVb8gUyUVvUP4Rya69eFJTIrgjFMx_-VQBXTtlXq8hotYVNS2D-CMrwU-zJjhvnyTkY_yfD3P_DEd&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
The income tax will be retained by employment agencies and will be contributed to
the state budget. Workers will initially receive payment at a rate of 10 Cuban pesos
to every dollar, but this exchange rate will be subject to revision during the first
quarter of every year while the country undergoes the process of unifying its two
currencies. Details and past coverage on payment for workers can be found in Cuba
Standard [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXb2ZR2IDtCuHOOwkGYbiMhmamf0V4S1F1zvcSoKdxZhT_OTjcTpH4NNemhc1f58syyBMtfHbQnGLklNKzUCyI1keqI_ft25BZ07yw0rb4BqVKF-VwnBSRZYEG1eR8JPny9lILtTYjqYa7vxa4XNE6QoBDCLv8lBvlmi5HuNnRPmMdri2C3zL37REpjFaUSV4p4PQmu4ZsPP4FKuf5vNWZuX7lhVtwLX_1qawlp57rRJRjXOb3krFSHWTBTPLXwI-obnpuOt9h64uPlTP4xd07CPkd5OvRnPwmzd4kqX_vgyocYj1GFQoHYm9up9g8jE-mvJF4iTgiU3ycfb-mMVl4CQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].

The Regulatory Bureau of the Mariel Special Development Zone reports that around
 23 international investors have expressed interest in developing projects at the
Mariel port. Aspiring investors from countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Brazil,
Russia, China, and Holland have submitted documentation to the Bureau. The prospective
projects range from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to food, agriculture
and automobiles.

Recommended Reading

In twilight of Castro regime, failed US embargo must go [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXcrQAATvBYRGfOSWTC55K218BuVhOQA9vMzWTGhNBSKOnV9-BgF8U5bW8qbRTV5_Nb-IGfsUW6FO1PByIojMCfXk-yJVjvbgDXZ7HWq6KmT5UtXvP30xEoBluAXwNkFtHuyVMiYvXN8qhP0k6b_tCean_WwX2PLrDnLrSa6kJ0yU5HQNRdpJH6vax1zlcdKzQD0ENXNSfC3IpQOES8ttVjz90bXdl_UFjouBCaIV41WZGOaW_HUfTiLdMalLdQjQJN7jU_e8RkRC5MZ6My_dxiD_knGHwgHnmGWm0fikyJ30GoGQNMj6PI2jscq4CU_LmXyZ6KpdLBtOs5ALWyejRFHFw0wNLbPnNLADeDonOaSXVaQ5BOHQ0MaJ3bby2Gg85RFCuGjn4_iSPF-DRi_T0hQ==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe's editorial board argues that while Congress must ease the embargo
against Cuba, President Obama must lead the way: "The normalization of relations
 with Cuba can't happen with a single brushstroke or act of Congress; it's a process
that needs to develop naturally, organically. But it should begin now. There's a
 lot of history to live down, a lot of resentments to overcome."

Revise restrictions to ensure safe oil drilling [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXEZzK9m_JkSUk6fd8qVT9EaMglD7NNDtlfXPtqPZ_E8Pe3FGe_KKsvtUsaQVjdXT3ECCoHwjOr05dgRQXPXoOFc-2eAiAf-cUL5CkyjaV77tu5CiWYtAhiLMEUdfJ9AeE-Xsr58bnUyObxQSm81dTiF2Gb1kRi_Vk5TyJRZMQ_HdlJZO7wQw-A1bfLXCxr2gTAFrAz_86nECfIYbjQTHB9LymRbOjnrHi7E18OjevPanIwR7RunHhgMYXgDx492QUpdi1aoeirSVHBbR4OMb75k_fOZczuyCqWp1Qi9N507U5WyCXv9YdzvXsLZ8jPi0pTv6Gtpulh60=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
William K. Reilly and Bob Graham, Miami Herald

Writing in an op-ed column for the Miami Herald, the co-chairs of the National Commission
on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling - Bob Graham, the former
Florida Governor, and William K. Reilly, former administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency - said the U.S. embargo on Cuba presents an unnecessary danger
 to each nation as Cuba moves forward with offshore drilling in water that quickly
reaches Florida's beaches. They recommend modest but useful changes in U.S. policy
to better protect the coast against a potential spill.

Ernest Hemingway Biopic First Hollywood Film Shot in Cuba Since 1959 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXxEFQbZvJKQIIGmqR2ptIaPMOEzEC8-RW69icumolhGlxxvK0TsLpnsylycX9ATXW7L35KYvOrRe91jaU-e0m6rdcCm5F6I52fxyGZ7wehlN2jcODj1FkDu7RVaEnPdZq73W-3jEQIFQlMlHIhXmvtHuXzTIDRsga5TipqGUsPY0hc3e-NG_WM5fCAin3ND22RieUogjAd1hET3FUfPN-Qy-br0ScG7_1usFhFKE5y8zd0eeS_kFmT9IEecpiyIXtjs7o0zdKD55JVTwtZe49q-gWm1A0GNzku5qX3dYPHuai0VXVrC64ElJFDw3QeFqrA_K9JPWI6BR4pd_E3AKbRwEnO3z4ga4YbzIYZ_m9tIH_L_gSamSP2Q==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

Papa, the first Hollywood film to be shot in Cuba since 1959, will chronicle Ernest
Hemingway's time in Cuba. Papa's director, Bob Yari explains: "Hemingway was probably
the most prominent American to make Cuba his home, and I think the people of Cuba
to this day cherish him and love him. And hopefully this film will become an addition
to that component of bridging this gap between two cultures and two peoples that
 have drifted apart."

For an account of Ernest Hemingway's time in Cuba, and a behind the scenes view 
of what took place during the filming of "Papa," see Peter Orsi's AP story [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXstxkQQApI4jDLrecTI0RAmZvKc8bEk92u5oEG_T2rrJGb9HSPKZ2RQPgR-sKIXD7TWO-64lT8hRF9hAVGYgHF9Ovlww0IsR-Uqzoy0tveXq_HRG6bNoR8ZSKp_UlI7tMJF-lKFwszmVLXV6VKeN9H7HaKjkBD9wfIvKecYHEre9gjxi8cGh-5cFn1dYhFwcC_dA4o9LbQaFYu-27uo8epfxs79ptjaPyQ0GQiTZj_emalWmaHqGQTyJluP9foVzTpj38aLO0s4uiBHXRa3kMVqScogBE4qJivSeVcykMYzJ2FnGS3Vi6VPOQ-oBujCQJo83IIEAbSvPs1N_K8oZa66FsQ75nkbSs0hdrghHmzgbvcTaz7HeA0M2PMGLrl6UPX5MAclOlFE6fEyP1oDPGhbjG413Cqkr_oHGPxCL5JO9m20wKCn3hGw==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].

Havana bars: The next wave of private innovation [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXPUyeh-5EMt27x_eeix3EhmvqyJz8-d5Qhq43hq8sFITSOMfD87pnHUUl_F7beckWcRyeuvqpGTFttVuUenj75hGq-PUpgJGJLGHpTqIyjTRAX_9Qbgznn4Lj1g4Be30nPMfankSx860CN0y0Cuq05UL0C5a3gBE3CgkJvPLBxfe4yZP9t8ynkcvOicqKJhKo39QvDQIHAZMggoUX4q_c_X63TOjj89ipknyvPqhg1FgklmqbvAEzI27s9LRsTIV91D70vm_NmcTf0DmcydclISZweH882sZ82ijkTBgj7NFjzkeIQMGCQ9oaj8zMs2RtEOAIzVdlb2FI_1BboWaVlA==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Richard Feinberg, Cuba Standard

Richard Feinberg, senior foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution, profiles
Havana's privately-owned bars, a popular iteration of Cuba's growing small business
sector.

Raul Castro's reforms fail to end Cuba's chronic shortages [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXXBanoZpQezrkXNY1Y_WqCUD-6aK7oxTr8oBUa9UtQ8Fyfkb537IzOs1qDH7zu-jH8PZNdDSyN_lX2-M9eotDvNc9h3Jg2_ybEls--5UW1rIKCqaaP3f6TrcnhaZgLaba3pBlH47AW9nwKOYxjYbCGexQf68YQ1mDuFJEdwRn619cF-lgl0NXZc-6c4fI5CHPs0Qt7IYHhQoV4sAiEFI9v44nHoiJEDvlmsoP-978h0rjoVJogd0rTl7rvmN2y2pzbCKyIKob2WlJLQr2NrQLTenGRhX4MaiB9x_aaBio0DreJdix-Qp-kd-hOJXTBMt5VznU86XLz9I=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Reuters

Reuters features some of the problems associated with shortages on the island, looking
at responses by citizens and the state to recent shortages of beer and condoms, 
as well as the broader history of the black market's role in Cuba.

U.S. pays Cuban security firm [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXZ4iaNGbydICoNJKFQwV3j7GEYuDVRKrlBWs4zFPWDmgqerYETm3AxnQPlwc7QrMatU2IJ4fl2c9qz1qC4tB7XvqtpL0bCU66CGgGAKyh10A00mR0XrJJyDwS_U7lrepW7NUJDMAkKZUa8w2GJID1VSo66g4GxLowtjw0DnPpRho9PiwhyuumJc7_Hwrbu4RdT5AQTao75xPUxoDjt8gJTleNYMvWBQjtAsimh8cZ4BfTrpWn_qHeCNdw2y4EgfH78Cofqh4AcysmlP-yW1rJJmj7EgQqNhoxWHWa-MZTK73Naa5p6V85sNO1gGASWVtV&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Tracey Eaton, Along the Malecón

Investigative journalist Tracey Eaton points out that the United States government
"trades with the enemy" through the U.S. Interests Section in Havana out of necessity.
He writes: "American diplomats spend money in Cuba every day. While some of the 
money goes into private hands, some winds up supporting socialist enterprises. U.S.
officials in Havana often have no choice but to deal with Cuba's state-run companies."

Recommended Viewing

Cuban Fidelity: Skating through the past [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX3yp9FTINtnITQe8fXVd2kHBFghp3oOZYA9wyQm4bzItxXUfC6jv5GrleaOPRFUS_gPs4_yNTEemS2x4BuUjkneSaZXjRAWrQF2RI97m3nHPUR5HG5lrLbU1yzlVUjEaeoGtLpEyyjVvZpfDL4P4lGJN-J5Msvo8EM9Du6c5oCyXYNiqFH0OiNQ3kLhrm1Wbc5eIEG51s2ud9p6qDXEFw1H6Iuh_9l2pueBz7y9IogUU94_0QpXrFNFWZKlamXni9omYZPYdO-8Yh4jMB4D0L0xsYVwvzw9U4UOhz4PJBAgg3NqSDJ4McFuTO7IsfPe11apECdCAkNPU=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Eric Mirbach, Red Bull

Videographer Patrik Wallner records professional skateboarders Walker Ryan and Michael
Mackrodt as they explore the streets of Cuba... on skateboards. See the accompanying
photo gallery, here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXk-NOyIcDp-KS9fiEf9viGqPVr1HxJ9LE-Bpwl3WlegeauzesE0q8hapYh0B1plrn0wV215Thj8uOZCWJQDjXt1glMvqbvM8fJ6wpE4HpGzd4a-QmYmCqe1s41oaRMG6Z6TvrkOcC6WxIGaJCMCvn5pJ894NH8QmRW9-Eief56UDkCJD-YnGnuhiTkmp2Ey18sXNnVynKtEBPxZs0HJLfobBBBDGS39QFZIA5CMU7m8TwZ7jTCtFWg8MSukKKWQguUBGTWCVCYX4bRQ3G9c-QYHkTNa6g9aemYEmBhIvUzJWvFfq4KzbFVrWEa1o8MuebHwgZPgsbX4x7juUL6rgpNHfMlYvlPpf7hMHUWmp-yY0tHZd5-nH7Uw==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].

The battle for Cuba: Rarely seen photos of the Spanish-American war found by U.S.
Navy deep in neglected archive [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMX_XtAL54poUfB3ALlzENtkOTWdBfkKJZEYc3BhgsgfVFIyyLBsFosNcodgoFTeRLG2TKZZ7xxVevHIc3ZWau-3vm1kcIIFgCiKLEVliGYFauvWR9TFpUSN7m3wlyhGf2OVPzJpf8K4qnyTMOlGnmK5Hdjn6rFYyi4qghcY0lwIwkWW2lTD_TEZuptme1K9z-gNOWMUmcCpWr_dFy8dbQQA7BwtZNN-lW627-WJw3kYo3-Vl66Cy4tqXR-Lzsv-blsdh2h5Z8B3d_g9Ngy2b8_Dgc-H7E1Mevaso-a9BGNeNjd9QwNW24AzULcbmGw2ynBb1HZwIQMW74rsZVgsCHevHG0KO-sWIursrng6mzVXeHuPweMBFrKsFWOHG05MS-oknXNlpRjUUuLR1mixOe4Ow==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==],
Jennifer Newton, Mail Online

For the history buffs out there, Mail Online features a selection of the 150-some
glass plate photographs of the Spanish-American war by Douglas White which were 
rediscovered recently in a military archive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until next time,
The Cuba Central Team
Like our work? Consider a monthly donation!
The Cuba Central Newsblast is produced by the Center for Democracy in the Americas
(CDA). CDA is devoted to changing U.S. policy toward Cuba and the other countries
of the Americas by basing our relations on mutual respect, fostering dialogue with
those governments and movements with which U.S. policy is at odds, and recognizing
positive trends in democracy and governance. For more information, check out the
 CDA website [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOZWfoyiAOSMXXMhACGlrIHo6I58F4O0caQYQpllwB_IibrlUzQYIc5FiFFfUYa6x3B1bepxGdJxuSckefM8T9XZb1UH1hrP83IpH8e8eEnBU0BFmdJS0FvV8SxJEcgbIQgFqL1AUbG0x6Ljc0hNIfug0ON01DFF6ZjQ9_p7X4kF3FC_Y1CkZPjcDVoHKikiXuTl8yP9zw2CIL02DoeUS1Rnx_FW6V01wwOBbWHCmoOTn1oXDeQC5VKfjOSFYxnG4cB35D0eunGJu&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
You can also like us on Facebook [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOWRvBozGxoohZr_qSAG44TVrMCquoM-qdnHHlxwsvUj501jY9Sa6qLkBoC84cJDODRFbxRczwwGTCqVXFZpEojl3g3YEsRaYritbBA60dVEHqk_Q04fllWcFZBvayYN0o07gQacDp09sp823dmitkOs=&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==]
or follow us on Twitter [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001anGCGoZG1JD0wcVVKa79uIWPZcI57BmOxJ0R3ieR_DpLg8NdAjIsOXEdi4AWDmMp-7926icbRFWR-eZ_2wTCwrXq1c7D2NcbuzuslIpbCUci4-TKKK_ARt9BMhSFKSkTDQY8hR7MaU_UEXIz6IGCbHJBOx7wSS7SRjt4D5WaLmL0Eszm97shDw==&c=TyeJ48Zu-R_1C6TzaDx98IWOeA5snOJZpk5smSI9Bv1cC9DafGLHCg==&ch=Wlyvmp_ubHwS8zvDFv112tkhgwd96q_uUENUYp8R7XHDo5gLybrgOw==].
© 2014 Center for Democracy in the Americas. All rights reserved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forward email
http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=n4pqzjcab&m=1101987856365&[email protected]&a=1117326822096

This email was sent to [email protected] by [email protected].

Update Profile/Email Address
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=001eBxscrXMW1FH_3udswp4dw%3D%3D&ch=95735c60-c97c-11e3-8117-d4ae5292c4bc&ca=4c668433-78fc-4be3-a8ca-baab8ec45739

Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM)
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001eBxscrXMW1FH_3udswp4dw%3D%3D&ch=95735c60-c97c-11e3-8117-d4ae5292c4bc&ca=4c668433-78fc-4be3-a8ca-baab8ec45739

Privacy Policy:
http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp

Online Marketing by
Constant Contact(R)
www.constantcontact.com

Center for Democracy in the Americas | PO Box 53106 NW | Washington | DC | 20009                
👁 1 💬 0
ℹ️ Document Details
SHA-256
e74af2e5cdc07e757985e652fdb1169d1acaef4000207718e7fc4d3136f6359d
Dataset
podesta-emails
Document Type
Comments 0

Loading comments…