Raúl Castro OffersUS a ‘Civilized Relationship’

During his closing speech at the last National Assembly session for the year, the Cuban leader offered to engage in respectful dialogue “without compromising Cuba’s independence, sovereignty or self-determination.”

Cuban President Raúl Castro has repeated his offer to engage in “respectful dialogue” with the U.S. government. The president said he believed that the two countries could establish a “civilized relationship” without compromising the island’s sovereignty.

“In recent times we have been able to have certain discussions on subjects of mutual benefit…we believe we can resolve other matters, establish civilized relations between the two countries, as our people and the vast majority of US citizens and Cuban emigrants would wish,” he said.

Closing two days of National Assembly sessions, the leader re-iterated his desire to maintain a “respectful dialogue on equal terms [with Washington], without compromising the independence, sovereignty and self-determination” of Cuba.

“We don’t ask the United States to change its political or social system, nor will we negotiate ours. If we really want to make progress in bilateral relations, we must learn to mutually respect our differences and get used to coexisting with them peacefully,” he added.

The Cuban leader said this was the “only way” for Havana and Washington to move on from half a century of confrontation and warned that “otherwise, we’re going to have another 55 years in the same situation.”

The two governments have been negotiating discreetly since Jul. 19, when they discussed re-establishing direct postal service. Dialogue about migration resumed in July, and, in September, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Cuban Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez in New York. This was the context in which Obama and Castro shook hands at Nelson Mandela’s funeral on Dec. 10.

At the same time, analysts have noted more balanced language in official communications with the U.S. government.

In terms of domestic affairs, President Castro re-affirmed his commitment to the economic changes, which have been underway since 2008, and insisted that these would continue “without rushing, but without pausing,” despite calls for their acceleration both from his own party and the government’s opponents.

“This process of reform or modernization must continue … as quickly as possible to make advances and without faltering, but with any pauses needed to change course or get round any structural or human obstacles standing in the way of progress,” wrote Orlando Márquez, director of the magazine, Palabra Nueva, and spokesman for the Cuban Catholic Church last November. *

Castro, however, said yesterday that accelerating the changes would be risky. “Let there be no doubt that those of us who have dedicated our entire lives to the revolution are the most anxious to see rapid advances, but history has shown us that the results can be disastrous” when there is too much pressure for changes to be made quickly. “Instead of progress, this pressure leads to regression and collapse,” said the 82-year-old president. *

While maintaining the one-party system, in the style of China and Vietnam, the changes set in motion by the president include economic stimuli for the private and cooperative sectors, attempts to increase social participation, and a reduction in the overwhelming control the state has had over national life since 1960.

The president also referred to the deficiencies that limited economic growth to 2.7 percent in 2013 — compared to 3.6 percent as planned — and admitted that the 2.2 percent growth forecast for 2014 would not be enough to fulfill the country’s needs. However, he asserted that Cuba would “not submit to reform packages or European-style shock therapy” and said that “neither the historical aims of the revolution, nor the new generations will allow progress to halt.” *

During the session, the single-chamber Cuban parliament approved the state budget for 2014, among other agreements. It was noted that 54 percent of the budget will go toward public services, including 27 percent to education and 22 percent to health. An extra legislative session was also approved for next March to debate a new foreign investment law.

*Editor’s note: Quotations as translated could not be verified.