The fundamental goal of U.S. policy toward Cuba is to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to a stable, democratic form of government and respect for human rights. U.S. policy has two fundamental components: maintaining pressure on the Cuban Government for change through the embargo and the Libertad Act while providing humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people and working to aid the development of civil society in the country. President Bush announced an Initiative for a New Cuba on May 20, 2002, that called on the Cuban Government to undertake political and economic reforms and conduct free and fair elections for the National Assembly. The Initiative challenged the Cuban Government to open its economy, allow independent trade unions, and end discriminatory practices against Cuban workers. President Bush made clear that his response to such concrete reforms would be to work with the U.S. Congress to ease the restrictions on trade and travel between the United States and Cuba. The Cuban Government did not enact any such reforms. Elections for the National Assembly were held in January 2003, with 609 government-approved candidates running. That was followed by the March crackdown on members of civil society. On October 10, 2003, President Bush announced new initiatives on Cuba. These include a Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, which will be co-chaired by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Martinez and Secretary of State Powell in order to: bring about a peaceful, near-term end to the dictatorship; establish democratic institutions, respect for human rights, and the rule of law; create the core institutions of a free economy; modernize infrastructure; and meet basic needs in the areas of health, education, housing, and human services.

Support for the Cuban people is the central theme of U.S. policy as it has called for facilitated humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people by non-governmental groups, resumption of direct mail service, and the establishment of scholarships in the U.S. for Cubans. The United States is now the largest foreign source of humanitarian aid for Cuba. Sales of medicine to Cuba have been legal since 1992; sales of food since 2000.

U.S. policy also pursues a multilateral effort to press for democratic change by urging its friends and allies to actively promote a democratic transition and respect for human rights. The United States opposes consideration of Cuba's return to the OAS or inclusion in the Summit of the Americas process until there is a democratic Cuban Government. The United States has repeatedly made clear, however, that it is prepared to respond reciprocally if the Cuban Government initiates fundamental, systematic, democratic change and respect for human rights.

The U.S. Interests Section is located at Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana, switchboard: (53-7) 33-3551-3559, fax/general: 33-3700. U.S. Information Service: 33-3967 fax: 33-3869, hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Emergencies/after hours: 33-3026.