QUESTION: Fidel Castro apparently is suffering a serious illness. What is your response?

MR. MCCORMACK: I've seen the news reports, George. I can't comment on the nature of the illness or the extent of it. Look, clearly Fidel Castro's incapacitation or death would be a significant event for the Cuban people. For our part, we have for quite some time had a Commission for a Transition to a Free Cuba that, in the event that Cuba does make a transition, start to make a transition to a democracy, the United States and the American people will do everything that we can to stand by the Cuban people in their aspirations for democracy. But at this point I don't have really much more to add.

QUESTION: Well, could you talk about meetings going on here, contacts with other governments, contacts with the Venezuelan Government, for example?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of any contacts with the Venezuelan Government. I'm sure people are talking about it, George, internally here but I don't have anything in particular to share with you.

Okay. Yes, in the middle here.

QUESTION: His little brother Raul apparently is in charge at the moment.

MR. MCCORMACK: Right.

QUESTION: Many people think that he, indeed if Fidel goes, that Raul would be the leader at least for a while. What's your thoughts about Raul? He'd be significantly different than Fidel?

MR. MCCORMACK: Again, that's sort of -- that's getting down the road. It's not a situation that we're dealing with right now.

Look, we have made clear our policy with respect to Cuba stands. We fully support a democratic, free, prosperous Cuba in which the Cuban people have the opportunity to, through the ballot box, choose who to lead them, not have their leaders imposed upon them.

QUESTION: Do you think anyone but Fidel will be -- would be an improvement and improve prospects --

MR. MCCORMACK: Again, our policy is to do what we can to support an eventual democratic, free Cuba.

Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: Would you consider softening the embargo within Raul's rule?

MR. MCCORMACK: Excuse me?

QUESTION: Would the U.S. consider a softening the embargo in a Cuba with Raul Castro?

MR. MCCORMACK: There's no change in our policy and you're talking about a hypothetical situation.

QUESTION: Cuba. Is there any special thing that you are doing at the interests section concerning this? Is there any special alert or are you --

MR. MCCORMACK: Not that -- not that I'm aware. But they -- as usual, they are monitoring events.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) hopes for a democratic Cuba, does the U.S. take the position that it's up to Cubans to decide what kind of government to have and that if they want a transition, if Castro wants a transition to his brother, it's a Cuban decision to make?

MR. MCCORMACK: Barry, we believe that the Cuban people aspire and thirst for democracy and that given the choice that they would choose a democratic government, that they would choose the option of being able to choose their own leaders.

QUESTION: Is there any way the U.S. can help them make that kind of choice?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, we've -- you know, you had just a couple of weeks ago, Barry, Caleb McCarry talked about -- talked about the compact with the Cuban people as well as our Commission for a Transition to a Free Cuba. We have fact sheets that are out there that really outline what it is that we are doing and that we are prepared to do.

QUESTION: No, I meant also of course economic things. Are there things that the U.S. can do to encourage an evolution in Cuba toward a democratic society?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, that’s exactly what Caleb’s report outlined. It was a pretty extensive report so.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. MCCORMACK: Libby.

QUESTION: Beyond the Interest Section question she had, is the Department doing anything special to monitor the situation, you know, putting people specifically on the task of trying to figure out what’s going on down there beyond what’s usually done?

MR. MCCORMACK: Right. The people who usually do these things, who work on Cuba policy and monitor events in Cuba, are doing those things. We don’t have a task force up and running at this point.

Yeah, Kirit.

QUESTION: The Cuban Task Force Report talks about putting monitors on the ground or advisors on the ground within two weeks after a transition. Have those people been put on any further notice at this point?

MR. MCCORMACK: I don’t believe so. I’ll check. I’ll check, but I don’t believe so at this point.