Party Congress Charts New Course for Cuba
The long-awaited Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party took place this week, beginning Saturday with a speech by President Raúl Castro that outlined Cuba’s major challenges and ending on Tuesday with a surprise appearance by Fidel Castro. The Congress is the first to take place since 1997, and is viewed by many as an important landmark. Overall, it dealt with the major transformations Cuba faces today, particularly economic reforms and the issue of political succession.
A Missed Opportunity in Latin America
Several weeks ago President Obama embarked on his first-ever tour of Latin America, stopping in Brazil, Chile and El Salvador. While we applaud this overdue attention to the region, the trip seemed to highlight the fact that we lack an agenda for our neighbors to the south. The tepid White House messaging stressed that the trip would focus on “jobs” and alluded to the importance of Latin American trade in the midst of the current recession. Yet the five-day visit had no clear goals, nor has it resulted in any significant outcomes.
Deciphering the New Cuban Travel Regulations
The new Cuban travel regulations open an exciting new era in US-Cuban relations. While we still aspire to freedom of travel for all Americans, and for the end of the half-century-long embargo, the new rules go a long way toward reestablishing the cultural and educational exchanges that were disrupted by George Bush’s 2004 tightening of travel provisions. In particular, they greatly facilitate educational and religious travel to the island. Let’s take a closer look at how exactly the new changes will work...
