CDA: U.S. Treasury Takes Important Step to Offer Cubans Better Access to Information

CDA: U.S. Treasury Takes Important Step to Offer Cubans Better Access to
Information

WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following up on questions
it raised beginning in May 2009, the Center for Democracy in the
Americas (CDA) issued the following statement in response to the
Treasury Department's clarification that will help improve access by
Cubans and others in sanctioned countries to Instant Messaging and other
programs:

"Treasury has taken an important step to clarify for U.S. technology
companies that U.S. sanctions against Cuba should not be interpreted as
cutting off Cubans from what the Internet can bring them from the
outside world, but it also underscores what a totally counter-productive
policy the embargo is," said Sarah Stephens, Executive Director of the
Center for Democracy in the Americas.

"If we need exceptions and clarifications to ensure that information
reaches the Cuban people – and others living in sanctioned countries –
it would be far easier and more effective to open up Cuba to travel and
trade without exceptions so that Cubans can more freely access our ideas
without impediments from U.S. policy," Stephens said.

On May 29, 2009, The Center for Democracy in the Americas wrote
Secretary Tim Geithner and asked the U.S. Treasury to investigate why
companies like Microsoft and other I/M providers had severed access to
these programs for Cubans and others living in sanctioned countries, and
attributed these decisions to the potential for enforcement actions
against them under the existing sanctions regime.

CDA learned that the cut-off of I/M had stopped many Cubans from
enjoying informal, cost-free contacts with family members and friends
living outside the island.

On February 1, 2010, CDA contacted Treasury again, when it learned that
Sourceforge.net, a site that makes open source software available to
users, had taken similar measures.

"We're pleased that the Treasury has addressed at least some of our
concerns, and responded with this clarification," Stephens concluded,
"but further actions, such as repeal of the travel ban would achieve the
same goal and have a greater impact. We hope the Obama administration
does not stop here."

The Center for Democracy in the Americas (CDA) is devoted to changing
U.S. policy toward the 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.

SOURCE The Center for Democracy in the Americas

CDA: U.S. Treasury Takes Important Step to Offer Cubans Better Access to
Information -- WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- (8 March 2010)
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cda-us-treasury-takes-important-step-to-offer-cubans-better-access-to-information-86911652.html