Statement on the accusations made by U.S.A. Deputy Assistant Secretary, Daniel W. Fisk. Havana, November 1, 2002
· Cuba firmly rejects the cynical statements made by Mr. Fisk.
· Mr. Fisk is lying with impudence. His words are degrading.
· All of his accusations against Cuba are false and slanderous. It is a colossal lie, just like when they fabricated that Cuba was a terrorist State and that we were producing biological weapons.
· I accuse Mr. Fisk, Deputy Assistant Secretary and former assistant to Senator Helms, of being a liar always ready to serve the minority interest of a group of Cuban extremists in Miami.
· I challenge Mr. Fisk to produce a single piece of evidence to support his allegations.
· From 29 November 2001 through 12 March 2002, Cuba insisted on several occasions on its proposals to sign cooperation agreements to fight drug trafficking, alien smuggling and terrorism at the bilateral level. The three were rejected. I want to be emphatic: Cuba repeatedly proposed to the US Government that a bilateral agreement be signed to engage in cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the US Government refused.
· I accuse Mr. Fisk of being irresponsible.
· I believe it is incomprehensible to speculate in this reckless manner with the memory of the victims of the ruthless terrorist attack of 11 September.
· It is unjustifiable to deceive the American people and the international public opinion with the sole purpose of maintaining an outdated and ridiculous policy towards Cuba - that is, the blockade that has been in force for over 40 years now.
· An issue as serious and essential to all of us as international cooperation in the fight against terrorism should not be manipulated for political purposes.
· There is no argument to justify the irrational rejection by the Bush Administration of Cuba's proposal to sign bilateral agreements to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal migration.
· The US Government is desperately grasping at a straw with Mr. Fisk's statements by trying to confuse the public opinion that is already convinced of the failure of the blockade against Cuba.
· The US Government is trying to prevent the adoption of amendments in the Senate that were already overwhelmingly endorsed in the House - to allow travel by Americans to Cuba and the unrestricted sale of food and medicine to Cuba.
I will mention some examples to show that Mr. Fisk is lying:
1. Cuba strongly condemned the terrorist crime of 11 September. Cuba offered medical assistance, assistance in the rehabilitation of the victims and its airports to be used at that moment.
2. On 26 October, Cuba offered to the US Government, right in the middle of the crisis, the supply of 100 million tablets of ciprofloxacine (an antibiotic against anthrax). There was no response.
3. On 27 October, Cuba donated 100 tablets of ciprofloxacine to the diplomatic staff of the US Interests Section in Havana.
4. On 12 November, Cuba offered equipment developed in our country (effective in terms of time involved and low cost) in order to screen germs and break up anthrax strains.
We have more than enough elements of judgment to reveal the lie, but on account of discretion and confidentiality I will not raise them.
I hereby challenge Mr. Fisk to rebut these statements.
I reaffirm that it is a lie and that the Deputy Assistant Secretary is a liar.
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