Fidel Castro Responds to “New York Times” Editorial on Cuban Embargo

Sven Creutzmann/Mambo Photo/Getty Images(HAVANA) — Cuban leader Fidel Castro responded to a New York Times editorial from this past weekend that called on the U.S. to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Castro, in a column in Cuba’s state-run newspaper Granma, noted “the most important parts” of the Times article by quoting them. He notes the “recognition” Cuba receives in the Times article, which referred to the island nation as “one of the most educated societies in the hemisphere.”

Castro also notes that the United Nations will hold a vote “in a few days” to determine whether the embargo on Cuba is a sound policy. The vote takes place each year, with the U.S. one of few nations still voting in favor of the embargo. Last year, only Israel voted with the United States.

Castro’s column quoted a large part of the Times editorial, which included criticism of the Cuban government. In a separate article on Castro’s reply, the Times notes that Cuba “has one of the lowest Internet penetration rates in the world, which keeps critical views of the government from circulating widely.”

The Cuban leader said that the lifting of the embargo would represent “the greatest benefit for U.S. policy,” noting a possible difference to be made in terms of climate change, commercial competition, and arms control, even mentioning the international effort to stop the spread of Ebola.

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