Cruz blasts Obama’s approach toward Cuba

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Saturday blasted President Obama’s meeting with Cuban leader Raul Castro.

{mosads}The 2016 GOP presidential candidate said in a statement that Obama’s approach gives Castro and his brother, Fidel, “exactly what they want – economic relief and legitimacy on the international stage – and effectively abandons the pro-U.S. opposition.”

“This President has shown he is willing to do what nine previous presidents of both parties would not: cave to a communist dictator in our own hemisphere,“ Cruz added.

Obama met with Castro on Saturday afternoon at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City in what Obama called a “historic meeting.”

“Over time, it is possible for us to turn the page and develop a new relationship between our two countries,” Obama said.

“The President said today that his unprecedented meeting with Raul Castro was a step towards the future,” Cruz said. “Unfortunately, he is leaving the Cuban people imprisoned in the past.”

Cruz, whose father was born in Cuba, also said the U.S. must demand “significant concessions” before providing an “economic lifeline” to the people of Cuba.

“For instance, American fugitives being harbored in Cuba should be extradited,” Cruz said.

“We should demand significant legal reform so that the Cuban government can no longer detain its citizens indefinitely with no process. We should demand that the political opposition to the Castros be included in any and all negotiations with Cuba, so their concerns will be addressed. And we should calibrate any relaxation of sanctions directly to the cessation of their human rights violations,” he added.

Cruz said that without those changes, “we have no assurance that the Castros will take real action to improve the lives of their impoverished and oppressed citizens.”

“Meanwhile, American dollars will flow exclusively into the Castros’ pockets while the Cuban people continue to suffer,” he added.