In Washington, Yoani Sánchez speaks with senators, Obama aide

Posted on Thursday, 03.21.13

In Washington, Yoani Sánchez speaks with senators, Obama aide
BY JUAN CARLOS CHAVEZ
jcchavez@ElNuevoHerald.com

WASHINGTON -- Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez ended her two-day visit to
Washington, D.C., Wednesday by holding private meetings analyzing U.S.
policy toward Cuba, including the embargo, and offering her personal
testimony on the situation of civil society in Cuba..

"It has precisely been this type of conversation that I dream of having
someday in Cuba," Sánchez said.

Sánchez, 37, met at the White House with presidential advisor for the
Western Hemisphere Ricardo Zúñiga. And earlier she had held a meeting
with Cuban-American U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Bob Menendez
of New Jersey.

Sánchez wanted to clearly describe the difficulties the internal
opposition faces, including the consistent harassment from the Cuban
government.

Her agenda included a visit to the State Department in the afternoon to
pick up her 2011 International Women of Courage Award, an honor she won
in absentia two years ago. The award recognizes her commitment to
integrity and the defense of human rights.

She later visited Georgetown University to speak at a forum with
students and academics.

Sánchez said the meeting with the U.S. senators was positive and also
highlighted the spirit of opening, despite the fact that she has
expressed her opposition to the embargo the United States has maintained
since 1962.

"We talked about relevant issues, of course, the support, the help and
solidarity we can have from abroad," said Sánchez, founder of the blog
Generación Y. She added that there was also a touch of typical Cuban
humor." She said jokingly that she had invited the senators to have
coffee "on the 14th floor of my Yugoslav-style building, where I hope
someday they can go visit."

As a pioneer in the use of dissenting blogs in Cuba, Sánchez said that
technology is important to encourage a democratic process and an opening.

"Technology was also a part of this conversation," Sánchez said. "The
Cuban lock has to be opened from within and from outside."

During the tour Sánchez has visited Mexico, Brazil, the Czech Republic
and Spain. She began an 80-day tour in February after the Cuban
government decided to reform its travel policy.

Rubio warned that the public should stay alert about Sánchez's safety
when she returns to Cuba.

He said that Raúl Castro's regime is full of thugs and assassins and
that the U.S. should join other nations in demanding human rights and
safety not only for Sánchez but also for the entire Cuban people.

The Cuban government has not made any statement about the criticism that
Sánchez and other opponents abroad have made, including Berta Soler, the
spokeswoman of the Ladies in White, and Eliécer Avila, both on a tour
through Europe.

Meanwhile, Menendez, D-N.J., said that Sánchez is a Cuban patriot
committed to the future of her country as a free and democratic nation.

"She is a model to follow by the new generation of Cubans seeking to
join the global community through technology and access to information
and, ultimately, be able to enjoy freedom of expression, political
rights and economic opportunities in their own motherland," Menendez said.

"Her work as an independent journalist has been indispensable and,
despite suffering in the hands of the regime, she remains optimistic
about the future of Cuba."

In a press release, White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that
Sánchez's meeting with Zúñiga was to discuss the efforts made by the
blogger to promote more respect toward freedom of expression in Cuba.

"The United States anxiously awaits the day in which all Cubans would
have the opportunity to express themselves in public without fear,"
Hayden said. "We will continue to support the policies that encourage
the flow of information to and from Cuba."

Sánchez will return to New York on Thursday to complete her calendar of
activities. Then she will travel to Europe, and on April 1, she will
visit Miami.

In South Florida she will be part of a program hosted by Miami Dade
College with students and community leaders.

She will also receive the MDC Presidential Medal for her consistent work
and commitment for human rights as well as Florida International
University's Medallion of Courage.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/21/3297819/in-washington-yoani-sanchez-speaks.html#storylink=misearch