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            Cuba Warns Against US Meddling; White House Unconcerned

   by Mary Alice Salinas

   The White House said it is "not particularly concerned" about an
   editorial published in Cuba's state newspaper warning the United States
   against meddling in its internal affairs. The editorial comes as
   President Barack Obama prepares for a historic visit to Havana, March
   21-22.

   The editorial published on Wednesday in the Communist Party's official
   newspaper, Granma, said while Barack Obama will be warmly welcomed, the
   communist government has no plans to change its political system as the
   two nations normalize relations after more than 50 years.

   The article noted there should be no doubt about the Cuban government's
   commitment to its "revolutionary and anti-imperialist ideals."  It also
   criticized U.S. support for the rights of political dissidents, saying
   Washington "should abandon the pretense of fabricating an internal
   political opposition, paid for with money from U.S. taxpayers."

   White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday the White House is
   not worried about the opinion piece and reiterated the president's
   intention of meeting with "political opponents of the Cuban government
   and standing up for, in a very tangible way, the universal human rights
   of the Cuban people."

   There are reports the two countries have been at odds about which
   dissidents Obama will meet.  According to reports, Havana is proposing
   that he meet only with government-approved members of "civil society."

   The White House has insisted it solely will determine the list of Cuban
   citizens, including anti-government activists, with whom the president
   will visit during the trip.

   "This is an opportunity to use the moral influence of the United States
   to advocate for greater freedoms for the Cuban people," Earnest said.
   "That's something that the United States does around the world and it
   certainly makes sense that we would be doing that in a country just 90
   miles off our shores."

   Since the policy shift, the U.S. has cleared the path for more travel,
   trade and commerce with Cuba and has urged the Cuban government to make
   it easier for Cuban citizens to start businesses, engage in trade and
   access information online.

   Too many concessions

   The Obama administration approach toward Cuba is sharply opposed by
   many in the Republican-led Congress and by some Republican presidential
   hopefuls. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has threatened to reverse the
   change in U.S.-Cuba relations.

   U.S. critics of Obama's policy to normalize relations argue the U.S.
   leader gave too many concessions in the policy shift, particularly when
   it comes rights, such as freedom of association, freedom of speech and
   the ability to engage in politics.

   But "[Obama] is not giving up on human rights in order to normalize
   relations with Cuba; he is normalizing with relations with Cuba as a
   way to make progress on human rights," said William LeoGrande, Cuba
   expert and American University government professor.

   In December 2014, Obama announced the United States would re-establish
   diplomatic relations with Cuba and begin the process of normalizing
   relations. The White House has argued that decades of U.S. isolation of
   Cuba failed to build an open and democratic country and diminished U.S.
   influence in the Western Hemisphere.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/cuba-warns-us-against-meddling-white-
   house-unconcerned/3228009.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/cuba-warns-us-against-meddling-white-house-unconcerned/3228009.html