CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT!
Published: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 7:00 am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION: CAMILA GALLARDO
305-592-7768
CANF CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ON HISTORIC INAUGURATION
The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) today congratulates President Barack Obama on his swearing in as our nation's 44th President. President Obama's historic election comes at a time when our nation faces many challenges both at home and abroad. One of those challenges will be how to promote the development of democracy in nations like Cuba that continue to suffer under dictatorial rule.
The CANF is looking forward to working with President Obama and his Administration on ways to promote the advent of democracy in Cuba. President Obama has committed himself to lifting restrictions imposed in 2004 that limit Cuban-American family remittances and travel. We believe this is a good first step in helping to provide vehicles of support to the Cuban people and independent civil society. It is important that U.S. policy also refocus its efforts in providing substantive, direct support to the forces of democratic change on-island and we are looking forward to working with the Obama Administration on developing effective and innovative methods to accomplish this.
The Cuban American National Foundation will be providing the new Presidential Administration with a body of recommendations to this effect.
"It was our honor to host then Senator Barack Obama this past May at our annual Cuban Independence Day luncheon where he delivered his first major Latin America foreign policy speech and expressed his commitment to renewed diplomacy in Latin America and to promoting freedom and democracy in the region. We believe President Obama's Administration will seek to make Latin America not only an active partner in trade but in the promotion of democratic ideals," said Jorge Mas Santos, Chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation.
"We are confident in the ability of President Obama and the very talented team he has put together to face the challenges ahead and are looking forward to a very fruitful working relationship," concluded Mas Santos.
