YESTERDAY, May 31, an AFP dispatch reported that "Cuba agreed to reopen negotiations with the United States on migration and direct mail, a new sign of the thaw taking place leading up to a summit of the Organization of American States (OAS) where the Cuban case will dominate talks."

"The chief of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, Jorge Bolaños, said on Saturday that Cuba "hopes to restart talks on migration and direct mail service," a high-ranking State Department official who preferred anonymity said on Sunday.

"In El Salvador, where she is attending a ministerial meeting on regional trade, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Washington was pleased about renewing talks with Havana on these issues."

Right away, a not at all diplomatic crack:

"There will be open dialogue as soon as there are changes to human rights and movements toward democracy’ in Cuba," the EFE agency said.

What is the "democracy" and "human rights" that the United States defends? Was it really necessary to make that humiliating and arrogant warning?

I was watching the inauguration of Mario Funes on television today and as he talked about reestablishing relations with Cuba, deafening applause and shouts of joy exploded in that room, unlike what was heard at any other point in his speech. One of the guests there was Hillary. Previously, the speaker, who often strayed from his notes, had made the error of greeting Clinton, who holds the post of secretary of state, even before greeting Lula da Silva, president of the South American giant, who was there among a group of presidents from our region.

Before the end of the prolonged applause for Cuba — which may have hurt Mrs. Clinton — the speaker resumed and again mentioned the United States, with the best intentions in the world. However, very few in that great hall applauded that country.

A culminating and much-applauded moment in Mauricio’s speech occurred earlier, when he mentioned the illustrious Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, whose grave he had visited that morning. That champion of the poor had been murdered with impunity as he was saying mass, by the bloody dictatorship of the ARENA party imposed by imperialism in El Salvador. Also in that hall were the legislators and high-ranking officials representing the party that murdered him; among them, several of the few who applauded the United States.

In certain circumstances, it is not only words that speak for themselves, but also applause and silence.

Fidel Castro Ruz
June 1, 2009
2:36 p.m.