No talks with Trump, says Cuba
CUBAN President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in his first interview since taking office in April that his government could not talk with US President Donald Trump as long as Trump’s administration kept its “abnormal” attitude toward the communist-run island.
“We want to dialogue but it must be as equals,” Diaz-Canel told Venezuela-based television station Telesur on Sunday evening, echoing his predecessor and mentor, Raul Castro.
“We do not accept impositions and we are not willing to make concessions,” he said.
Cuban-US relations have deteriorated sharply since Trump took office and began partially rolling back the historic detente agreed by his predecessor Barack Obama after decades of hostility. They have also worsened over what the US says were a spate of health attacks on its diplomats in Havana. Cuba denies any involvement.
“Cuba does not attack, Cuba defends, Cuba shares,” said Diaz-Canel, who referred many times throughout the interview to Fidel Castro, the late leader of the 1959 revolution, and his younger brother, Raul Castro.
Raul Castro, 87, remains head of the Communist Party until 2021 and is “like a father” to Diaz-Canel, according to the 58-year-old president who said they talk nearly every day.
Diaz-Canel praised Cuba’s long-standing alliance with Venezuela but also said he welcomed the presidential victory of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico that was “encouraging” for Latin America.
On the topic of a draft new constitution being debated at community meetings throughout Cuba, DiazCanel said the removal of the word “communism” did not mean Cuba was renouncing that aspiration.
The document, which should replace a Cold War-era constitution, still refers to socialism, which implies communism, he said.
Diaz-Canel said he supported the proposed change to the constitution to allow for same-sex marriage.
The main goal of his government was boosting links with the people, listening to their concerns and addressing their difficulties, he said.
“There has to be a constant link and dialogue with the people,” he said.
He also emphasised efforts to communicate with the youth and listen to their concerns and aspirations.
“We want to give provinces and municipal governments greater autonomy because they truly know the local concerns and problems and can solve them easier.”