My Brief Opinion On The Meeting With President Obama, 22 March 2016

My Brief Opinion On The Meeting With President Obama, 22 March 2016 /
Miriam Leiva
Posted on March 28, 2016

Miriam Leiva, Havana, 23 March 2016 – I had the honor of participating
in President Obama's meeting with representatives of Cuba's Independent
Civil Society. Oscar Espinoa Chepe* would have attended, as he advocated
for many years for the lifting of the embargo, as is well known, for the
approach, and the abandonment of confrontation for the benefit of the
Cuban people.

The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere. Among the attendees
were some three people who did not agree with President Obama's policy.
All participants expressed our views, we were listened to with great
interest by the President and Secretary of State John Kerry. Obama spoke
of the objectives and expectations of his policy towards Cuba.

THE MEETING IS THE RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT FOR CUBA'S PEACEFUL
OPPOSITION, which no other leader visiting Cuba has dared to show. Obama
let the people of Cuba know about these considerations during his press
conference on 21 March and his speech on 22 March, where were broadcast
live on television.

*Translator's note: Oscar Espinosa Chepe was a former political
prisoner, Miriam Leiva's husband, and an acclaimed economist. He passed
away in 2013. This link includes articles by and about him.

Source: My Brief Opinion On The Meeting With President Obama, 22 March
2016 / Miriam Leiva | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/my-brief-opinion-on-the-meeting-with-president-obama-22-march-2016-miriam-leiva/