"Today, there is hope in Cuba." With those words, Mike Hammer concluded his speech on Wednesday to more than a hundred Cubans living in Europe, members of civil society and exile organizations, gathered this Tuesday in Madrid to discuss proposals for change on the island.
The American diplomat stated that during his most recent tour of provinces in eastern Cuba—from Havana to Trinidad, Camagüey, Holguín, Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo—he noticed a different atmosphere compared to what he perceived when he arrived in the country more than a year ago.
"When I arrived a little over a year ago, hope was not in the air. Now it is," he stated.
He reported that, although some people were detained preventively to prevent them from meeting with him, those who managed to talk conveyed a common feeling: hope and anticipation that change would take place.
"It's not just hope; there is an expectation that this change will take place, bringing freedom to the Cuban people," he stated to those present, who shared ideas and proposals for a potential democratic transition.
Hammer reiterated what he had already stated in the first part of his speech —previously disseminated—: that the administration of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is committed to the Cuban people and to ensuring that the future of the island is decided by the Cubans themselves “in freedom, in peace, and with the opportunity to prosper.”
He emphasized that Washington's commitment is to support change efforts, but he stressed that they must be led by the Cubans themselves. "The future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans freely and democratically," he insisted.
The diplomat emphasized the importance of the diversity of opinions expressed during the meeting, noting that this open exchange is precisely one of the foundations of democracy. He pointed out that, according to him, this is currently not possible within the island due to the lack of political freedoms, press freedoms, and freedom of expression.
Hammer is currently on a tour in Europe alongside other U.S. officials, aiming to garner support and encourage European governments and institutions to recognize the need for change in Cuba. After his visit to Spain, he announced that he will continue his agenda in Italy and other countries on the continent.
“Let us continue in this project to ensure that the future of Cuba is a future decided by Cubans,” he concluded, before closing with a slogan shared by the attendees: “Freedom for Cuba.”
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