CUBA MAKES NON-'GESTURE'

CUBA MAKES NON-'GESTURE'
Last updated: 2:29 am
April 30, 2009
Posted: 12:51 am
April 30, 2009

HAVANA -- Cuban President Raul Castro repeated yesterday an offer to
discuss "everything" with the United States to try to improve ties, but
said Cuba did not have to make conciliatory "gestures."

His comments kept the door open for negotiations with the Obama
administration.

"We have reiterated that we are willing to talk about everything with
the United States . . . but not to negotiate our sovereignty, nor our
political and social system," Castro said.

"Cuba has not imposed sanctions against the United States . . . and
therefore it is not Cuba that has to make gestures," he said.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood countered that Cuba must show it
is serious about dialogue by releasing political prisoners and improving
human rights.

CUBA MAKES NON-'GESTURE' - New York Post (1 May 2009)

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04302009/news/worldnews/cuba_makes_non_gesture_166838.htm