| Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC January 11, 2006 Question Taken at the January 10 Daily Press Briefing Commission for Assistance to a Free CubaQuestion: What are the activities and scope of work of the Commission? On December 19, 2005 the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba met. The meeting was chaired by Secretary Rice and attended by the Secretaries of Commerce, Homeland Security, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Energy, the Director of National Intelligence, the Attorney General, the National Security Adviser, and other senior officials. Interagency working groups tasked by the Commission will prepare a second report for the President by May 2006. This new report will include a strategic plan to provide specific U.S. Government support for a democratic transition in Cuba. The strategic plan will cover the period from when the President determines that a genuine transition government is in place to the date when free and fair elections are held in Cuba. The plan will establish the U.S. Government’s goal and objectives for supporting Cuba’s transition to democracy, and identify the required assistance, resources, and lead U.S. Government implementing agencies and international partners. The inter-agency working groups will focus on the following areas: democracy and governance; humanitarian assistance; economic growth and infrastructure; and security and the rule of law. The Commission will also develop additional recommendations for helping the Cuban people hasten the day when they will be free Question: Will the Commission reconsider "Wet-Foot Dry-Foot policy"? Migration was discussed by the Commission for the first report issued in May 2004. Any follow-on Commission would likely do so as well. 2006/31 |
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