EXCERPT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH FIDEL CASTRO
Jeffrey M. Elliot: In recent years, there have been fierce differences between our two nations. What do you see as the chief reasons for the deep divisions which divide our two countries?
Fidel Castro: In my view, the United States is responsible for the present situation. It has never wanted to accept the existence of the Cuban revolution or the establishment of a social system that is different from its own. The United States never cared about the existence of dishonest, tyrannical governments in this country--governments that killed thousands of people and stole huge sums of money. It never cared about this country's poverty, ignorance, unsanitary conditions, or the lack of schools, hospitals, and medical services. It never really cared about the unemployment, racial discrimination, and enormous social problems in our country. It never cared. These were never reasons for concern or for blockades against Cuba.
Then, when a revolution took place that put an end to those problems, the United States set about trying to destroy the revolution in Cuba. That's really the origin of some of the problems. It is also what, ever since the very beginning, has brought about all kinds of measures--from the most insulting and slanderous campaigns against Cuba, to plans of subversion, the organization of armed bands, acts of sabotage that killed many people, mercenary invasions, the cancellation of the sugar quota that Cuba had had for 100 years, the economic blockade, the policy of isolation, plans of aggression, and assassination attempts against the leaders of our revolution. It's an endless list of U.S. actions against our country. Plus there is the maintenance of a military base by force, against the will of our people. That is what lies behind these divisions.
Naturally, this has caused great indignation among our people and their strong repudiation of all those policies. However, we haven't attempted to blockade the United States or engaged in other acts of aggression against that country. No, it has been the United States which has done so against Cuba. If the United States doesn't change those policies, I don't see how these differences can be overcome. I state categorically that we aren't the ones responsible for the current situation.
1.Fidel Castro, Nothing Can Stop the Course of History. Interview by Jeffrey M. Elliot and Mervyn M. Dymally. Pathfinder Press, New York, 1986. pgs. 7-8
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