Mario Diaz-Balart: "“A Cuban embassy in Washington will not represent the Cuban people. The Cuban people have not chosen the Castros as their leaders"

Jul 20, 2015

Press Release

WASHINGTON— Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s decision to extend diplomatic recognition to the Castro regime.

“Today, we see the completion of another step in President Obama’s failed policy of appeasing brutal dictators that threaten U.S. interests. In Cuba and elsewhere, the administration has removed human rights and America's security from the President's foreign policy agenda. Since the President's December 17, 2014 announcement, there have been well over 2,500 political arrests in Cuba. For the past fourteen consecutive Sundays, at least seventy activists have been arrested, including the courageous Ladies in White who protest on their way to mass. Instead of tightening sanctions against the Castro regime in response to continued human rights abuses and arrests, President Obama has ceded important leverage.

“A Cuban embassy in Washington will not represent the Cuban people. The Cuban people have not chosen the Castros as their leaders. A Cuban embassy will represent the Cuban military and intelligence services that perpetuate human rights abuses against them. Purportedly to help the Cuban people achieve ‘independence from Cuban authorities,’ President Obama continues to appease and channel resources to their oppressors. The Castro regime is not the Cuban people. If only we had a president that knew the difference.” (Mario Diaz-Balart's website)