Obama's dialogue with a Cuban blogger

http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/20/obamas-dialogue-with-a-cuban...

Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez has developed quite a following in the US for her blog Generacion Y. Apparently now she can count President Obama among her fans. Sanchez managed to submit seven question to the President, which he answered this week and she posted on her blog. Obama congratulated her on her work:
"Your blog provides the world a unique window into the realities of daily life in Cuba. It is telling that the Internet has provided you and other courageous Cuban bloggers with an outlet to express yourself so freely, and I applaud your collective efforts to empower fellow Cubans to express themselves through the use of technology. The government and people of the United States join all of you in looking forward to the day all Cubans can freely express themselves in public without fear and without reprisals."

The questions focused on US-Cuba relations and the possibility of future dialogue. Obama kept the door open to dialogue with Cuba's government but said it would have to come with the chance to "create opportunities to advance the interests of the United States and the cause of freedom for the Cuban people." Sanchez also asked him specifically about the role of the internet in Cuban lives.

"QUESTION 6: YOU STRONGLY SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES. BUT, CUBANS CONTINUE TO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. HOW MUCH OF THIS IS DUE TO THE U.S. EMBARGO AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT?

My administration has taken important steps to promote the free flow of information to and from the Cuban people particularly through new technologies. We have made possible greater telecommunications links to advance interaction between Cuban citizens and the outside world. This will increase the means through which Cubans on the island can communicate with each other and with persons outside of Cuba, for example, by expanding opportunities for fiber optic and satellite transmissions to and from Cuba. This will not happen overnight. Nor will it have its full effect without positive actions by the Cuban government. I understand the Cuban government has announced a plan to provide Cubans greater access to the Internet at post offices. I am following this development with interest and urge the government to allow its people to enjoy unrestricted access to the internet and to information. In addition, we welcome suggestions regarding areas in which we can further support the free flow of information within, from, and to Cuba."

FROM THE BLOG: http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/20/obamas-dialogue-with-a-cuban-blogger/

Vanguard's Adrian Baschuk was in Cuba earlier this year and though he was unable to meet with Yoani Sanchez, found that internet access for her, possibly Cuba's best-known blogger, was achieved by sneaking into hotels and uploading her posts.
http://current.com/groups/vanguard-cuba-revolution/

SOURCES:
http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?p=1179
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/11/19/obama_replies_to_cuban_blogger