The Cuban Foreign Ministry thanks the U.S. government for its concern regarding the damages caused by Hurricane Michelle

Cuba also appreciates U.S. offer to assess existing needs, with a view toward possible humanitarian assistance, adding that it would be useful if we were permitted to purchase food and medicines in the United States, for which Cuba would pay in cash

On the evening of Wednesday, November 7, a wire story released by the ANSA news agency, datelined Washington, reported:

"The government of the United States is ready to send humanitarian aid to Cuba through international organizations and other intermediaries, but with the security that this will benefit the Cuban people and not the Castro regime.

"This was confirmed today by White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer, who indicated that his government is ready to send food and medicine to the island, recently affected by the passing of Hurricane Michelle.

"Fleischer stated that his country was prepared to offer aid through international organizations and other suitable intermediaries, in a way that they can be certain that the Cuban people, not the Castro regime, will benefit."

The wire story continues:

"For the last 40 years, the United States has maintained a harsh economic blockade against Cuba, ever since the Castro government declared itself Communist and aligned with the Soviet Union.

"This humanitarian gesture responds to a similar one made by the Cuban government on September 11, when it offered that country air traffic cooperation after the terrorists attacks on the Pentagon and New York’s Twin Towers.

"While Fleischer was making his statement in the White House today, in Congress the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee approved a bill in favor of financing U.S. exports to the island."

What has happened is completely different from the White House spokesperson’s words.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 7, the U.S. government, via a diplomatic note delivered by the State Department almost simultaneously to the head of the Cuban Interest Section in Washington and by the acting head of the U.S. Interest Section in Havana to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offered its deep condolences and concern over Hurricane Michelle’s effect on the Cuban people. The note expressed the United States’ readiness to immediately assess the need for aid, with a view to possibly providing humanitarian assistance. It offered to send to Cuba a three-person team of disaster experts to help assess immediate emergency needs and suitable aid in the areas most affected by the disaster that could receive support from the U.S. government.

Today, Thursday, November 8, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry delivered a diplomatic note to the U.S. Interest Section in Havana and to the State Department in Washington, thanking the U.S. government for the expressions of sorrow and concern over material and human losses due to the hurricane, and its willingness to assess aid necessities promptly, with a view to providing possible humanitarian aid. Cuba’s reply expresses appreciation for the true value of this U.S. gesture, especially taking into account that this has happened after 40 years of tense relations between the two countries that unfortunately still exist. During all that time, the United States has never made a direct offer of this nature to Cuba.

The Foreign Ministry note informed the U.S. authorities about Hurricane Michelle’s characteristics and course through the island’s central region, as well as the considerable damage to housing, agriculture, industry, electricity and communications, thus affecting the national economy and vital services such as the supply of water, household fuel, transportation and the operation of schools and hospitals for over half the Cuban population. The Cuban reply explained that the nation has an adequate reserve always at the ready for such situations, and that the Cuban authorities, without losing a second, have begun the recovery phase and sent resources and technical personnel to the affected zones. From the first moment, rapid and detailed assessments of all damage have been carried out.

Because of this, continues the Cuban note, we do not require the cooperation so kindly offered to assess damage, with a view to possible humanitarian aid. Instead, it suggested that the most useful thing for our country would be, as an exceptional measure and bearing in mind the innumerable laws and regulations specifically prohibiting it, to allow Cuban public companies to purchase in an expeditious manner specific quantities of food, medicine and raw materials to be used for reestablishing the reserves we are now using, so that we will be prepared for any new natural disaster that may emerge. It adds that the most practical, rapid and economical way to do this would be to authorize their transportation to the island in Cuban vessels.

Payment for such products, only in these special and exceptional circumstances and without any trade reciprocity and given existing barriers limiting our normal trade relations, would be in cash, specifically U.S. dollars or whatever convertible currency is requested.

This reply was delivered in Havana and Washington today.

As may be appreciated, what has really happened is that the State Department sent Cuba a respectful, friendly diplomatic note from the U.S. government that received an equally respectful, friendly reply via the Foreign Ministry on behalf of the Cuban government.

As for the whole muddle kicked up by the White House spokesman, it’s up to them to explain it.

Havana, November 8, 2001