Cuba to Katrina-Devastated US: "We Seek a Truce"

Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

Progreso Weekly - Sep 8, 2005
http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?progreso=We_seek_truce&otherweek=1126242000

"We seek a truce" - Top Cuban official to U.S. diplomat in Havana.

by Radio Progreso Alternativa and Progreso Weekly

The Cuban government has taken swift steps in order to assist the
victims of Hurricane Katrina in the United States.

At noon on August 30, the acting head of the U.S. department at the
Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) met with the second chief
of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana to deliver a diplomatic note
expressing the condolences for the victims of the disaster, and the
Cuban government's willingness to send medical assistance to the U.S.

The Cuban official began by telling his U.S. counterpart: "We seek a
truce," referring to the present state of relations between both
governments, "because of the seriousness of the situation due to
Katrina."

The same day, but four hours later and in Washington, the head of the
Cuban Interests Section in the U.S. delivered the same message to the
U.S. State Department.

The Cuban offer of collaboration was made public by President Fidel
Castro himself. The announcement said that a brigade of 1,100 doctors
would be sent, together with medical supplies and equipment.

The Cuban collaborators would leave in three groups - the first of 100
could arrive in Houston, Texas, early morning on Saturday September 3,
and in the afternoon of the same day the second group of 500 would fly
in. The third group, with the remaining 500 doctors, would land Sunday
morning, September 4.

According to President Castro, the medical personnel were ready. He
said that Cubans can give this assistance due to their long experience
"in the struggle against hurricanes and in the protection of the
population."

Generally, the Cuban government has been in the front line with
solidarity in the case of catastrophes abroad and its health services
have been among the first to arrive. Countries in Central and South
America, and the Caribbean, have received the assistance of Cubans,
even those whose political stances have been contrary to Havana.

"We would like to insist, better still, we want to reiterate, our will
to cooperate with the people of the United States, and even more so
after what we have seen and what the world has seen," said President
Castro.

Forty eight hours after the announcement, the Cuban leader declared
that the initial figure of doctors to be sent had been raised to
1,586. That second announcement was made at Havana's Palace of
Conventions in a meeting he held with the doctors who were even
carrying their backpacks with the medical supplies they would use.

The average age of the doctors is 32, with a mean working experience
of 10 years. They speak enough English to establish communication with
their potential patients.

The medical brigade has been named "Henry Reeve", after an American
that fought alongside Cubans in the 19^th century in the War of
Independence. Reeve reached the rank of General in the Cuban
Liberating Army and died fighting in 1876, tied to the saddle of his
horse because wounds received in combat had made his legs useless.

At closing time the Bush administration had not accepted Cuba's offer
of assistance. For Cubans, their disposition is, and once the order is
given the Island's doctors would board the planes with their backpacks
in their mission of mercy.

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