73 House Members Urge Release of Alan Gross

Capitol Hill Cubans

December 1, 2011

Mr. Jorge Bolaños
Chief of Mission
Cuban Interests Section
Embassy of Switzerland
2639 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Dear Mr. Bolaños,

It is with deep concern that we write to you regarding the ongoing imprisonment by your government of Alan P. Gross. On the eve of the second anniversary of his arrest and detention in Cuba, and with the legal process having formally concluded, his fate and that of his family now lie in the hands of your president, Raúl Castro. The Cuban Government has indicated that it would be open to resolving Mr. Gross’s case through diplomatic channels. We hope that you will honor that commitment and release Mr. Gross on humanitarian grounds immediately.

After two years in a Cuban prison, Mr. Gross and his family have paid an enormous personal price for his actions in Cuba. Mr. Gross has lost 100 pounds and suffers from numerous medical conditions. In addition, the Gross family situation is one that warrants compassion. As you know, Mr. Gross’s daughter and mother are both fighting cancer, and his wife is struggling to make ends meet. We respectfully urge the Cuban Government to immediately release Mr. Gross on humanitarian grounds and allow him to be reunited with his loved ones.

As Mr. Gross explained to both the trial Court and Cuba’s Supreme Court, his intention was never to harm the Cuban Government in any way. In fact, Mr. Gross spoke in court of his affection for the Cuban people and respect for the island’s sovereignty. As we mark two years since Mr. Gross has been in Cuban custody, we hope that your government will release Alan so he may return to his family.

In light of the above, Mr. Gross’s continued incarceration is viewed by all Members of Congress, regardless of their political views on Cuba, as a major setback in bilateral relations. It is unlikely that any further positive steps can or will be taken by the Obama Administration or this Congress as long as Mr. Gross remains in a Cuban jail. We urge your government in the strongest possible terms to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Gross so that we can move forward.

Sincerely,

View signatures here.

Esposa de estadounidense preso en Cuba pide a Obama interceder

la sra. gross puede esperar una nueva declaracion del depto. de estado y concluido el asunto.

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ABC.com

Judy Gross, esposa del subcontratista Alan Gross encarcelado en Cuba, pidió este lunes la intercesión del presidente de Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, durante una vigilia frente a la Sección de Intereses de Cuba, en vísperas del segundo aniversario ...Mas >>

Don't play around - How to Secure Alan Gross's Release

Capitol Hill Cubans 

Statement by U.S. Senate candidate (Md.) Richard Douglas: 

In a genuine effort to free Mr. Gross, a resolute member of Congress long ago would have used every trick in the congressional rulebook to demand – and, if necessary, force – the Obama Administration to take concrete steps like these:
• Suspension of all civilian flights between the U.S. and Havana;
• Issuance of notices to mariners and aviators suspending all non-emergency passage to or from Cuba through U.S. air space and waters (including the exclusive economic zone);
• Suspension of all financial transactions to Cuba from the U.S.;
• Cancellation of U.S. visas held by any Cuban official, including Cuba’s UN mission in New York;
• Federal indictment of Cuban officials responsible for Mr. Gross’s illegal imprisonment;
• Filing of INTERPOL Red Notices for the indicted officials to prevent their international travel;
• Forcing U.S. resolutions through the Organization of American States and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights demanding Mr. Gross’s immediate release;
• Instructing American ambassadors around the world to urge their countries of assignment to demand liberation of Mr. Gross from the Castro gulag. 

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Castro's proposal: One for Five

The Havana Note

In a meeting with Hispanic journalists on September 12^th, President Obama, referring to Bill Richardson’s trip to Cuba, said: 

"Anything to get Mr. Gross free we will support".

Israel has shown the US how to do it.

If it can exchange Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit for 1,027 Palestinians, including 315 serving life sentences, why is it so hard for the Obama Administration to release five Cuban intelligence operatives, one imprisoned for life, in return for USAID subcontracted operative Alan Gross?

President Obama can make the first humanitarian gesture by letting Cuban operative Rene Gonzales serve his probation in Cuba, under the supervision of the US Interests Section--if that is required.  President Castro can respond with a humanitarian gesture of giving probation to USAID subcontractor Alan Gross, under the supervision of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington.

Part of a bilateral negotiated arrangement should be the release of the remaining four imprisoned Cuban intelligence agents.

Cuba can respond in like manner, sending four prisoners to the US.  If there were any still held as prisoners of conscience, they deserve priority.  Otherwise the four can be persons convicted for politically motivated acts of violence, the new cause of the Ladies in White.  It is not too big a stretch as Cuba generally regards all anti-regime actions as being motivated if not funded by the US.

Cardinal Ortega could be asked to serve as the intermediary to assure both sides act in good faith.

Read more >

Marco Rubio Letter to Secretary Clinton

Capitol Hill Cubans

October 19, 2011

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I write out of deep concern about recent reports that the Administration is considering to dramatically ease United States policy towards the totalitarian regime in Cuba, even as the regime continues to hold a fellow innocent American hostage.

During her testimony before Congress on October 14th, Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sherman confirmed that the Administration had recently met with the Cuban Government to discuss the ongoing imprisonment of Mr. Gross. On the same day, the State Department's spokesperson confirmed other issues of "mutual interest" were discussed, including the possibility of unilaterally easing restrictions by expanding the number of airports authorized to handle U.S. travel to Cuba. Can you provide details about who participated in these discussions on each side and where did the discussions take place? Can you provide a detailed list of actions taken by Administration in the last twenty months to convey U.S. Government displeasure with the unjust imprisonment of Mr. Gross?

I was encouraged to hear that the Administration continues to advocate for Mr. Gross' humanitarian release. However, I am concerned about recent statements by the Department's spokesperson that raised questions about the extent of such commitment. Has the Administration considered or proposed releasing members of the 'Wasp Network' in exchange for Mr. Gross' freedom? Has the Administration considered or proposed releasing any other Cuban nationals in exchange for Mr. Gross' release? Has the Administration considered negotiating Mr. Gross' release under conditions other than an unconditional humanitarian release?

In addition to continuing to hold an innocent American hostage, the Cuban regime's repression of peaceful dissent has reached alarming new levels. According to the Havana-based Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, the regime arrested at least 563 activists for political reasons in September 2011, the highest number in the last 30 years. Yet, media reports indicate that the Administration is willing to reduce U.S. democracy programs in Cuba and end a program that makes it easier for Cuban medical personnel to move to the United States and flee the enslaved labor conditions under which Cuba keeps them in foreign countries. Can you firmly deny that the Administration has ever considered or could consider taking such actions? Does the Administration consider U.S. democracy programs in Cuba a cornerstone of its foreign policy?

Thank you for your attention to this matter. As you know, U.S. policy toward Cuba is of enormous importance to me and many of my constituents, and I look forward to your timely response to these questions.

Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator

Cuban Five, Alan Gross and Tongue-Tied at State. Do you get it?

Capitol Hill Cubans
Basically, while there's an American hostage being held by the Castro regime, the U.S. is discussing new airports with the Cuban hostage-takers.

That's just scandalous.

From Friday's Daily Press Briefing with State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland:

QUESTION: Okay. So at the risk of repeating the rather unpleasant exchange up on the Hill this morning between Under Secretary Sherman and a member of Congress, what can you tell us about the proposed swap for Alan Gross?

MS. NULAND: First of all, we remain very concerned about the welfare of Alan Gross. We have, and we will continue to use, every available diplomatic channel to press for his immediate release, and we continue to call on the Cuban Government to release him.

I’m not going to comment on our private exchanges with the Cubans. We have talked to them about this issue. But I will certainly say unequivocally that the U.S. is not considering the release of any member of the Cuban Five in exchange for Alan Gross. Alan Gross is not a spy, and he – it is simply not comparable with the crimes of the Cuban Five in any way.

QUESTION: Sorry, just --

QUESTION: What’s not comparable? What he did, or what he’s accused of doing?

MS. NULAND: Exactly.

QUESTION: Just because I was at the White House when a former president said it depends on what the meaning of “is” is – you said the U.S. Government is not considering. Has the U.S Government previously considered releasing a member of the Cuban Five in exchange for Alan Gross, even if it is not currently doing so?

MS. NULAND: To my knowledge, no.

QUESTION: Did you check?

MS. NULAND: Yes.

QUESTION: You did check, and so the answer is no?

MS. NULAND: Correct.

QUESTION: Okay. And when you said that you have talked to the Cubans about this --

MS. NULAND: We have talked to them about Alan Gross’s situation and the importance of releasing him. We also talked to them, as you know, about other matters of mutual concern --

QUESTION: Well, recently?

MS. NULAND: -- including we’ve had recent conversations about their opening of new airports and TSA standards and all those kinds of things.

QUESTION: So --

QUESTION: Sorry, go ahead.

QUESTION: Well, I’m just curious. I mean, Under Secretary Sherman this morning said that there had been a very recent meeting between the United – quite recent – between the U.S. and Cuba on the Gross matter. Can you shed any light on that, when it – might’ve – but she was unable to say when. Who met whom, when, where?

MS. NULAND: Again, I think I’m not going to get into the details of exactly who met whom, when. I will say that it was within the last month.

QUESTION: And has the U.S. Government considered releasing other Cuban nationals, not those of the so-called Cuban Five, in exchange for Mr. Gross?

MS. NULAND: To my knowledge, no.

QUESTION: But did you – again, forgive me for asking this, but I – there are times when you have asked and, no, and there are times when you haven’t asked. Did you ask that question, or were --

MS. NULAND: I did ask that question.

QUESTION: And you were told no?

MS. NULAND: As I said, to my knowledge, no. And what I’ve said here about our considering release of the Cuban Five also --

QUESTION: Here’s my problem, though. If you asked the question and you were told, “I can’t tell you that,” you’re knowledge is imperfect, but the answer is not “no.”

MS. NULAND: I understand, Arshad, and I would also say that Under Secretary Sherman endeavored to give more information to our colleagues on the Hill. I think she will be giving more information to our colleagues on the Hill over the next 24 to 36 hours. So if anything emerges as that – those responses are prepared, I will also have it for you here. Okay?

QUESTION: Okay. But my – just so you understand, my problem is that I could not, in a story today, cite you as denying that the U.S. Government may have offered the release of someone other than those five for Mr. Gross, based on your statement not to your knowledge and your response to my follow-up that you asked and I said, well, did – were you told “no,” and you didn’t answer that. So you haven’t denied the possibility that you may have offered to swap somebody else despite repeated opportunities to do so.

MS. NULAND: Let’s start this again. We believe that Alan Gross should be released. We’ve made that point to the Cubans. We’ve also made clear that we are not considering the release of any member of the Cuban Five. I am not aware of any other proposed prisoner swaps. We want the guy out of jail.

QUESTION: The – just another “is” – what the meaning of the word “is” is question, and that is you are not considering the release of any member of the Cuban Five for this, but if a Cuban Five member, say, was released from prison and was sentenced to three years of probation, say, that had to be served in the United States, technically he is not being – would you – he is not being released. But are you saying that a suggestion that that person might be allowed to serve his probation in Cuba instead of in Florida or instead of in the United States, that also is ruled out? That also is not being considered, or was not considered?

MS. NULAND: Again, you’re getting me into all kinds of hypotheticals and if X, then Y.

QUESTION: Well, the story that’s out today is pretty specific, that this guy – I believe his name was Gonzalez – right? – he got out of – served his time, got out and was put on probation. And the story says that the U.S. suggestion was that instead – that you would push for the courts – that the U.S. Government would push before the courts in Florida to allow him to serve his probation time in Cuba instead of in the United States. Okay? So that’s not technically a release, but it is a swap of some kind or at least an offer to. You’re saying that that is not true either?

MS. NULAND: I’m not prepared to go beyond what I’ve said here and also to just reiterate that we have had discussions with the Cuban Government about this case and the importance of releasing him but we need for purposes of diplomatic confidentiality to not go any further here. But we are very firm in reaffirming that we were not looking at the release of any of the Cuban --

QUESTION: You’re talking about the release from –actual release from prison. Is that --

MS. NULAND: Correct.

QUESTION: Okay, so that does not apply to a release from probation?

MS. NULAND: Again, I’m not prepared to speak any further about our private diplomatic exchanges with the Cubans except to say that we believe that the guy needs to get out of jail and we want to see that happen.

QUESTION: Okay. Well that is understood. We know that you want Alan Gross out. The question is what you’re prepared to do to – what, if anything, are you prepared to do sweeten the deal or to make a deal with the Cubans for getting that release. And so the question about when you did not – when you say that there – you’re not considering releasing any member of the Cuban Five, does that specifically – that release – does that mean release actual from – from actual incarceration or – and that’s it? Or does it also include a release from some kind of enforced probationary period?

MS. NULAND: Matt, we have parsed this as far as we’re going to parse it today. And I’m at the end of what I have to say on this issue.

QUESTION: I want to follow-up because I believe it’s important. When you say we have not considered the release of any of the Cuban Five –

MS. NULAND: Correct.

QUESTION: -- that statement, to my mind, implies that none of those five individuals, including Mr. Gonzalez, who is cited in the AP story, might be traded for – or if there was any consideration given to trading that person for Mr. Gross. The problem is – and I think it’s an important issue, so I’m not just doing this for grandstanding – you have not, however, made clear that Mr. Gonzalez – that the possibility of Mr. Gonzalez’s being swapped fits into your denial. And the problem with that is, it’s a very disingenuous denial if in fact you are or did consider the possibility of allowing Mr. Gonzalez to serve out his term elsewhere in exchange for the release of Mr. Gross. So I don’t – I want to make very clear my intent is to give you every opportunity, whether now or later if you have to, but to be perfectly forthright in the meaning of your denial. Because to deny something in a way that leaves open the possibility that, in fact, you were considering trading this guy who is out of prison now for somebody else, is, I think, wrong. I just don’t think it’s right to do that from the podium, so I want to make very clear why Matt is pushing this, and why I’m pushing it. I would like to believe that denials of that sort are intended to be not disingenuous but straightforward. And I hope it will be possible for you to clarify whether that denial does indeed apply to the possibility of a swap for Mr. Gonzalez.

MS. NULAND: Well, Arshad, I appreciate the opportunity you are offering me here and I hope you will appreciate that I am not in a position to go further than I’ve gone today on our private diplomatic exchanges with the Cubans.

EEUU ofreció a Cuba intercambio de presos

Univisión
Estados Unidos ofreció dejar volver a casa a un espía cubano sentenciado a cambio de la liberación de un estadounidense preso en la isla, pero Cuba rechazó la oferta, dijeron funcionarios estadounidenses.

Estados Unidos también manifestó su disposición a evaluar otras quejas cubanas luego que La Habana dejara en libertad al contratista Alan Gross, de acuerdo con funcionarios.

Los funcionarios hablaron bajo la condición de anonimato debido a la delicadeza del tema.

Cuba rechazó la oferta al señalar que el cubano René González ya había cumplido con la mayor parte de su sentencia. Quería los perdones para al menos alguno de los otros cuatro cubanos sentenciados junto con González. Las autoridades estadounidenses dijeron que ellos no considerarían perdones.

El arresto de Gross en 2009, originario de Maryland, ha agravado las relaciones entre ambos países mientras el gobierno de Obama efectúa analiza acciones para aliviar décadas de tensión.

Gross fue arrestado al tratar de introducir a la isla equipo de comunicación prohibido mientras participaba en un programa de democracia financiado por la Agencia de Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional. En marzo fue sentenciado a 15 años por crímenes contra el Estado.

Estados Unidos dice que Gross sólo estaba tratando de ayudar a que una comunidad judía de Cuba se comunicara con el resto del mundo y no debió haber enfrentado una acción penal.

El gobierno cubano ha estado molesto durante mucho tiempo por el destino de González y otros cuatro cubanos, conocidos como la "Red Avispa", que fueron sentenciados en 2001 por espiar instalaciones militares en el sur de Florida.

Las autoridades cubanas dicen que los cinco estaban tratando de prevenir ataques terroristas a la isla vigilando a exiliados cubanos.

González fue liberado este mes después de 13 años en prisión, pero un juez le ordenó tres años más en libertad condicional en territorio estadounidense antes de regresar a Cuba.

Estados Unidos ofreció presionar una corte federal en Miami para permitir a González terminar la sentencia en Cuba a cambio de la liberación de Gross. Bajo la propuesta estadounidense, González, con nacionalidad estadounidense y cubana, habría renunciado a sus vínculos con Estados Unidos.

#Cuba Won't Unilaterally Free American Contractor-Alarcon

AP2011

Alan Gross and his wife, Judy. Gross, a 61-year-old Maryland native, was arrested in 2009 by Cuban authorities and charged with undermining the Cuban government by bringing communications equipment onto the island illegally. On Aug. 5, 2011, the Cuba Supreme Court rejected the U.S. government contractor's last appeal seeking dismissal of his 15-year sentence.

The United States should not expect American government contractor Alan Gross, sentenced in March to 15 years in prison for crimes against the Cuban state, to be released based on a unilateral humanitarian gesture a senior official said Sunday. 

Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon told The Associated Press in an interview that to expect such a gesture on behalf of Gross "would not be reasonable."

He was arrested in December 2009 after getting caught illegally bringing communications equipment onto the island while on a USAID-funded democracy building program.

Cuba's Supreme Court upheld Gross' sentence in August, and U.S. efforts turned to winning his release on humanitarian grounds. Both his elderly mother and adult daughter are battling cancer and his family has suffered financial hardship since his arrest, says his wife, Judy Gross.

During a visit to Mexico, Alarcon said the U.S. government "should get a good armchair and sit down to wait" if it is hoping for a humanitarian release.

"To expect a unilateral gesture wouldn't be reasonable," Alarcon said.

He also had harsh words for former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who visited Cuba in early September to negotiate Gross' release. Cuban officials rebuffed his efforts, and Richardson went home without seeing Gross.

Alarcon said Richardson went to Cuba on a private trip and not as part of a U.S. mission. Richardson's trip "was like doing amateur diplomacy, and that doesn't exist, that's Bill's invention," Alarcon said.

Richardson has said he was invited to the island by Cuban officials to negotiate Gross' release.

Alarcon said Richardson suggested the U.S. and Cuba conduct a swap between Gross and Rene Gonzalez, one of five Cuban nationals convicted in 2001 as part of the "Wasp Network" that sought to spy on U.S. military installations in South Florida. Gonzalez has dual U.S.-Cuban citizenship.

Gonzalez was released Friday after 13 years in prison but a judge has ordered him to serve three years probation in the U.S. before returning to Cuba.

Cuban officials say the five attempted to prevent terrorist attacks on the island by monitoring Cuban exiles and tried to place operatives inside the campaigns of anti-Castro politicians. They were convicted of espionage and of trying to infiltrate U.S. military bases.

"Richardson has entangled everything because I can't believe someone would seriously think that there could be a negotiation between Rene Gonzalez ... a man who was about to complete his sentence ... and a man who is just about to start serving his," Alarcon said.

He said Gonzalez's life is at risk if he remains in South Florida, especially after U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida, said Gonzalez "has American blood on his hands."

"Not only is his life at risk ... but someone could be interested in provoking an incident with him to have the judge send him back to prison," Alarcon said.

Alarcon said sending Gonzalez back to Cuba would be in the best interests of both the United States and Cuba, and he also urged the Obama administration free the four other members of the ring still in prison.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/10/09/ap-interview-cuba-wont-unilaterally-free-gross/#ixzz1aKpfyweL

Vigilia por Alan Gross

Uploaded by armandolopez1 on Sep 24, 2011

Reportaje del periodista Armando López de la vigilia convocada por los rabinos de Nueva York, frente a la Misión de Cuba, por la liberación de Alan Gross,

Gross fue arrestado en diciembre del 2009 y sentenciado a 15 años de prisión por el régimen cubano, por pretender llevar a la pequeña comunidad judía de la Isla equipos para acceder a la internet.

En septiembre del 2011, fracasó la visita a La Habana del ex gobernador de Nuevo México, Bill Richardson, quien aseguró que fue invitado a la isla para negociar la libertad de Gross. Ni siquiera lo dejaron verlo en prisión.

Que se muera pa'l carajo - Katungo

Richardson viajó a La Habana con ofertas para el régimen cubano Read more: http://www.elnuevoherald.com/cuba/#navlink=navbar#ixzz1YEPiw5t0

Leer >

Gross en el desierto de Nuevo México

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La "guerrita" entre Bill Richardson y el regimen cubano

LA HABANA (AP) — Bill Richardson sostuvo una serie de reuniones con autoridades cubanas durante más de un año en La Habana, Nueva York y Washington en torno al destino de un subcontratista estadounidense encarcelado, y no tenía dudas de que los cubanos estaban listos para discutir su liberación, dijo el jueves un colaborador del ex gobernador de Nuevo México.

Gilbert Gallegos, que acompañó a Richardson en un viaje para intentar obtener la liberación de Alan Gross, dijo a The Associated Press que los cubanos sugirieron que los visitaran. Gallegos indicó también que habían dejado claro que "estaban dispuestos a negociar".

Gross fue arrestado en diciembre de 2009 tras ser descubierto trayendo ilegalmente equipo de comunicaciones a la isla mientras se desempeñaba en un programa de fomento a la democracia financiado por la Agencia para el Desarrollo Internacional de Estados Unidos, USAID. Fue sentenciado en marzo a 15 años de prisión por crímenes en contra del Estado, un fallo ratificado en agosto por la Corte Suprema de Cuba.

El caso ha perjudicado la posibilidad de mejorar las relaciones entre Washington y La Habana, que durante un breve período parecían encaminarse a un avance después de que el presidente estadounidense Barack Obama asumió el cargo.

Richardson, quien ha conseguido la liberación de prisioneros en el pasado y tenía una relación cordial con la dirigencia cubana, llegó el 7 de septiembre. Sin embargo, las esperanzas de que se iría a casa con el contratista estadounidense rápidamente se convirtieron en recriminaciones mutuas cuando Cuba se negó a dejarle siquiera ver a Gross en la cárcel.

Richardson calificó a Gross como un "rehén" y, al salir de la isla, dijo que nunca podría volver como un amigo. Cuba lo acusó el miércoles de "chantaje" y difamación en sus declaraciones a la AP, y dijo que nunca fue invitado a venir ni se le dio ninguna señal de que podría salir de Cuba con Gross.

Los comentarios de Gallegos el jueves dejaron en claro que las dos partes tienen versiones muy distintas de lo que salió mal.

El asesor mencionó múltiples reuniones a lo largo de un año entre Richardson y el canciller cubano Bruno Rodríguez, así como con el principal diplomático de Cuba en Washington.

Gallegos señaló que ambos funcionarios no dejaron lugar a dudas de que estaban listos a por lo menos dialogar en torno a una posible liberación de Gross, pero su tono cambió una vez que Richardson arribó al país caribeño la semana pasada.

Bill Richardson vs Castristas - Katungo

Apodaca209

Regimen cubano afirma que el caso Gross no estaba en agenda de la visita de Richardson

La Habana, 14 sep (EFE).- El Gobierno cubano dijo hoy que la visita del exgobernador de Nuevo México (EEUU) Bill Richardson tuvo un carácter privado y que en momento alguno la cuestión del preso norteamericano Alan Gross fue motivo de negociación.

"Richardson vino a Cuba por su iniciativa y lo recibimos, a su solicitud, en visita privada. La liberación de Gross nunca estuvo sobre la mesa durante los preparativos de su visita, lo cual se le aclaró inmediatamente cuando lo planteó", dijo hoy el ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.

La directora de América del Norte del ministerio, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, indicó que "su solicitud de ver al recluso, que no anticipó previamente, se tornó imposible a raíz de sus declaraciones calumniosas a la prensa, en las que calificó a Alan Gross de 'rehén' del gobierno cubano".

Igualmente, Vidal Ferreiro expresó el malestar del Gobierno cubano después que de Richardson afirmó "públicamente" que no se iría de Cuba sin ver a Gross.

"Se le recordó a Richardson que Cuba es un país soberano, que no acepta chantajes, presiones, ni prepotencias", señaló Vidal.

"El gobierno cubano, a pesar de no estar obligado legalmente a dar acceso a ciudadanos privados a ningún sancionado, por razones humanitarias ha facilitado encuentros con Gross de personalidades norteamericanas que han visitado el país y que lo han solicitado de manera privada, discreta y respetuosa", agregó.

Según la directora, el estado de salud de Gross "es normal, de acuerdo con su edad y padecimientos crónicos. Recibe una atención médica esmerada, lo cual pudo corroborar la Sección de Intereses de los Estados Unidos durante la visita consular que le hizo el pasado 9 de septiembre".

Richardson, también exembajador de EE.UU en la ONU durante la Presidencia de Bill Clinton, debía regresar hoy a su país después de que la semana pasada llegó a La Habana para abogar por Gross con, según él, el apoyo del presidente Barack Obama y del Departamento de Estado de su país.

El hotel Nacional, donde se hospedó y en el que ofreció declaraciones durante su estancia, dijo hoy que Richardson había dejado su habitación.

El miércoles, en ese hotel, el exgobernador se declaró "muy decepcionado" por no poder discutir con el Gobierno cubano el caso del contratista Gross, a quien no pudo ver personalmente en la isla.

"Me voy de Cuba mañana porque no he podido visitar a Alan Gross ni discutir su caso con el Gobierno cubano", aseveró Richardson en una rueda de prensa en La Habana.

"Mi conclusión es que el tal vez el Gobierno cubano ha decidido que no quiere mejorar las relaciones con Estados Unidos", subrayó el exgobernador.

Richardson insistió en que fue el Gobierno cubano el que lo invitó a discutir el caso de Gross en la isla, pero tras su llegada "inmediatamente me dijeron que no podía visitarlo ni menos llevarmelo a EE.UU. con su familia".

"Creo que el presidente Obama ha tratado de mejorar la relación (con Cuba), pero es muy difícil sin que el Gobierno cubano nos escuche y simplemente nos otorgue la oportunidad de discutir el caso del señor Gross que para nosotros es muy importante", recalcó.

Gross, de 62 años, fue detenido en Cuba en diciembre de 2009 por distribuir material tecnológico a una comunidad judía de la isla y en marzo pasado fue condenado a 15 años de prisión por participar en "planes subversivos" contra Cuba.

En el momento de su detención trabajaba para la empresa "Development Alternatives" (DAI), una subcontratista de la Agencia Estadounidense para el Desarrollo Internacional (Usaid) dedicada a labores de desarrollo en otros países.

El Tribunal Supremo Popular de Cuba, máxima instancia de la Justicia en el país, ratificó la sentencia en agosto y desestimó la apelación de Gross.

Durante su estancia en la isla, a la que llegó el pasado 7 de septiembre, Richardson se reunió con el cardenal cubano Jaime Ortega y con el canciller Bruno Rodríguez.

Sobre sus conversaciones con Rodríguez el pasado viernes, resaltó que "fue mencionado" el caso de los cinco agentes cubanos presos en EE.UU. por espionaje, pero no se manejó la posibilidad de un "canje" con Gross porque ese "no ha sido nunca parte del punto de vista" de Estados Unidos ni de Cuba.

Castrismo made in USA - Katungo

Apodaca209

Gobernador Richardson se va de #Cuba "decepcionado"

cubanews

#Cuba - Richardson rebuffed in effort to free Alan Gross

Washington Post

By Mary Beth Sheridan

The Cuban government has rebuffed a mission by former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson to free a U.S. government contractor jailed in Havana, even ruling out a visit with the man, Richardson said Sunday.
Richardson vowed to remain in Cuba until he was allowed to see jailed American Alan P. Gross.

“We were supposed to leave yesterday. We’ve extended our stay in the hotel. My position is, I’m not planning to leave until I get a chance to visit Alan Gross,” Richardson said in a telephone interview from Havana.
Cuba’s action appeared to be an extraordinary snub of the prominent, Spanish-speaking Democrat and former U.N. ambassador who has had cordial relations with the island’s government. There was no word from the Cuban government on why Richardson couldn’t see Gross, who has routinely received visits from U.S. diplomats and members of Congress.
Gross, 62, was arrested in December 2009 while working on a secretive democracy program in Cuba for the U.S. Agency for International Development. His detention has grown into a major impediment to President Obama’s goal of improving relations with Cuba.
Richardson, who has long supported improved relations with Cuba, said he was “flabbergasted” by his treatment. He was invited to Havana by the Cuban government to discuss the Gross case, he said, leading to hopes of a breakthrough. Cuban parliament leader Ricardo Alarcon last week described Richardson’s trip as “noble.”
But Richardson said there appeared to be disagreements within the Cuban government on what to do with Gross.
“My sense is, there are some elements in their government that don’t want to improve relations with the U.S.,” Richardson said.
While Richardson traveled as a private citizen, his trip was welcomed by the State Department, which briefed him before he set out on Sept. 7. In a meeting Thursday, Richardson conveyed to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez the U.S. position that “if you release Alan Gross, there are a number of areas of cooperation we can talk about,” Richardson said.
But “their inclination is not to do that,” he said.
The Obama administration has eased some Cuba travel and financial restrictions imposed by President George W. Bush. But further cooperation on matters such as immigration, the environment and drug trafficking has stalled, officials say. In addition, Cuba is unlikely to get its wish to be removed from the U.S. list of terror-sponsoring countries while Gross is held, American officials say.
American diplomats had hoped Cuba would deport Gross after he was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison. They say Cuban authorities have never explicitly asked for anything in exchange for his release. But Cuban authorities have been angered by the Obama administration’s continuation of the secretive democracy program on the island, which had grown significantly under Bush, analysts say.
The Obama administration defends the program as part of a global effort to support basic freedoms. The 2011 budget provides $20 million for the Cuba effort, up from $15 million the previous year.
Cuba considers the democracy-promotion activities illegal, since they fall under the Helms-Burton law, which calls for regime change on the island.
Gross was providing satellite phone and computer equipment to the island’s Jewish community, under a $6 million contract won by his employer, Development Alternatives Inc. of Bethesda.
Richardson, a former U.N. ambassador, has spent his career traveling to hot spots such as Iraq, North Korea and Sudan to negotiate the release of jailed Americans.

Los 5 espias por Alan Gross pide Cuba a EEUU

Washington, 9 sep (EFE).- El Gobierno de Cuba pidió hoy a Estados Unidos que libere "sin demoras" a los cinco agentes cubanos encarcelados en este país bajo cargos de espionaje desde hace trece años.

El grupo, denominado "los cinco", cumplirá el próximo lunes trece años en prisión en distintas cárceles de Estados Unidos y, a juicio de La Habana, el caso en su contra ha tenido sobre todo un cariz político.

"Creemos que el juicio contra 'los cinco' fue una injusticia e instamos al Gobierno de EEUU a que los ponga en libertad sin demoras", dijo en un comunicado la Sección de Intereses Cubanos en Washington.

"Todos los cubanos exigen la liberación de los cinco, conscientes de que su único crimen fue su determinación de impedir atentados y terrorismo, principalmente contra los cubanos pero también contra otras personas en EEUU", agregó la nota.

Según la Sección de Intereses Cubanos, Amnistía Internacional ha criticado al Gobierno de Washington por el trato que han recibido los cinco agentes cubanos, tachándolo como "una violación de los derechos humanos".

La solicitud del Gobierno cubano se produce en unos momentos en que el ex gobernador de Nuevo México, Bill Richardson, se encuentra en Cuba para tratar de gestionar la liberación del contratista estadounidense Alan Gross, sentenciado a 15 años de prisión por actividad subversiva en contra del Estado cubano. EFE

Bill Richardson, el cowboy "plantado"

Desde cuando un gringo o medio gringo como es el caso, llega a la Cuba neokaxtrizta y se planta con una exigencia de que no se va hasta que cumpla el objetivo de su viaje? 

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La Habana, 9 sep (EFE).- El exgobernador de Nuevo México (EE.UU) Bill Richardson dijo hoy que permanecerá en La Habana hasta tanto pueda ver personalmente a su compatriota Alan Gross, condenado en Cuba a 15 años de prisión por participar en "planes subversivos".

Richardson declaró a periodistas que mantuvo una conversación con el ministro cubano de Relaciones Exteriores, Bruno Rodríguez, "muy positiva, de tres horas", pero que éste le dijo que "no iba a ser posible" visitar a Gross.

El exgobernador subrayó que seguirá en Cuba "hasta cumplir" la promesa que hizo a la esposa del contratista estadounidense, Judy Gross, de que lo iba a visitar en la prisión.

Richardson señaló que el canciller Rodríguez salió de viaje este viernes, pero por poco tiempo y que esperará a su regreso para continuar las gestiones (el canciller se encuentea hoy en Caracas para una reunión de la ALBA).

El exgobernador, que también embajador de EE.UU. ante Naciones Unidas bajo la presidencia de Bill Clinton, ya viajó a Cuba en agosto de 2010 con el fin de convencer al Gobierno de La Habana de que libere a Gross.

"Está enfermo el hombre (Alan Gross), está deprimido (...). No quiero especular, yo quiero resolver este problema y espero que pronto se resuelva, estaré aquí hasta cumplir mi promesa con la esposa de Alan Gross", remarcó.

De acuerdo con medios de prensa de EE.UU., Richardson, quien ha intercedido anteriormente en casos similares en otros países, viajó a Cuba por invitación del Gobierno para tratar la situación del contratista.

Gross, de 62 años, que fue detenido en Cuba en diciembre de 2009 por distribuir material tecnológico a una comunidad judía de la isla, trabajaba para la empresa Development Alternatives (DAI), una subcontratista de la Agencia Estadounidense para el Desarrollo Internacional (Usaid) dedicada a labores de desarrollo en otros países.

Su detención se convirtió en un nuevo motivo de fricción entre los Gobiernos de Cuba y Estados Unidos, que no tienen relaciones diplomáticas desde 1961 y arrastran una enemistad desde hace más de medio siglo.

Richardson, opinó este viernes que "lo más importante para mejorar las relaciones entre EE.UU. y Cuba es la salida de Alan Gross".

"Si sale Alan Gross, estoy seguro que van a mejorarse las relaciones en muchas áreas, pero desgraciadamente eso es lo que nos detiene ahora. Espero antes de irme tratar de hacer progreso en esas áreas", añadió.

Richardson tiene previsto entrevistarse mañana sábado con el cardenal y arzobispo de La Habana, Jaime Ortega, dijeron a Efe fuentes eclesiásticas.

A principios de agosto pasado, el Tribunal Supremo Popular de Cuba, máxima instancia de la Justicia en el país, ratificó la sentencia de 15 años impuesta a Gross en marzo y desestimó su apelación.

Cuba considera que Gross participó en un supuesto "proyecto subversivo" de Washington dirigido a "promover acciones desestabilizadoras" y a "subvertir el orden constitucional" en la isla.

El Gobierno estadounidense siempre ha mantenido que Gross es inocente, ha tachado de "injusta" la condena impuesta por los tribunales cubanos y ha insistido en exigir a Cuba su liberación "inmediata e incondicional".

Desde la celebración del juicio en marzo, diversas personalidades estadounidenses se han interesado por el caso ante las autoridades cubanas, entre ellas el expresidente Jimmy Carter, quien ese mismo mes visitó a Gross durante un viaje que realizó a la isla.

Carter dijo entonces que confiaba en que se atendiera su apelación ante el Tribunal Supremo, o se emitiera una orden ejecutiva para concederle un indulto o la liberación por motivos humanitarios, considerando que la hija y la madre de Gross están muy enfermas.