The former Cuban-American congressman Joe García stated this Friday that the acknowledgment of contacts between the governments of Cuba and the United States opens a possible hope for the future of the island, although he cautioned that the outcome will depend on the details of the process.
In a video message, García said that “against all hope, there is hope,” although he warned that the outcome of any process will depend on the details defined in those conversations.
The former legislator Demora also pointed out that the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel spoke not only to the Cubans living on the island but also to those who are part of the diaspora.
He also expressed his gratitude to the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, whom he credited with playing a significant role in the political pressure faced by the Cuban government.
According to García, Rubio represents in many ways "the desires and hopes" of Cubans living in exile.
In his message, the politician also evoked the sacrifice of several generations of Cubans who left the island after the establishment of the communist regime, and he argued that if Cubans can work together despite their differences, a Cuba "with everyone and for the good of everyone" could be built.
The statements from the former congressman come amid an escalating debate following the official acknowledgment of contacts between Cuban and American officials, a process that Díaz-Canel himself described on Friday morning as sensitive and handled with discretion, as both sides explore potential avenues for dialogue.
That scenario has generated divergent reactions within the exile community and among political actors connected to the Cuban issue.
The activist Rosa María Payá has insisted that the solution to the island's crisis requires a complete change of the political system and the removal of those who currently govern.
Similarly, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis warned that any negotiation that preserves a single-party communist dictatorship would be unacceptable and should not overlook the requirements established in the Liberty Act (Helms-Burton Act) of 1996.
For its part, the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance emphasized that the acknowledgment of talks reflects the pressure the Cuban regime is facing, but it warned that any rapprochement with Washington must lead to real political changes on the island and not merely relieve international pressure on the government of Havana.
In parallel, official media in Cuba have begun to promote dialogue with the United States on the condition that the Cuban political system is respected, in a rhetorical shift that occurs after officials from the ruling party previously denied the existence of such conversations.
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