Associated Press
MIAMI — Denouncing Fidel Castro as a brutal dictator, President Bush said Monday he won’t budge toward easing restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba until its communist regime allows free and fair elections and begins to adopt meaningful economic reform.
"Start to release your chokehold on the working people and on enterprise," Bush demanded in a fiery speech. "Then — and only then — will we talk about easing sanctions, and not before."
Bush outlined an "Initiative for a new Cuba" and set out a list of tough conditions for lifting the 40-year U.S. trade embargo, first at the White House and then in a Miami speech.
Thousands of Cuban-Americans roared approval at Bush’s remarks in Miami, interrupting him again and again with standing ovations and cries of "Libertad! Libertad!" and "Cuba, si, Castro, no!"
Bush shouted back, "Viva Cuba libre!"
At present, trade with Cuba is restricted for the most part to U.S. sales of medical-related goods and the cash-only sale of food.
Americans who wish to travel to Cuba generally must receive a license from the Treasury Department. Those with a professional interest in Cuba or with family ties on the island are eligible for licenses. Tourism by Americans is forbidden.
Bush’s speeches, on the 100th anniversary of Cuban independence from Spain, came just days after former President Carter, during a visit to Cuba, urged an end to the U.S. embargo.
To get restrictions eased, Bush said Cuba must:
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