Global Policy Forum

A leading American businessman today called for an end to the US trade embargo of Cuba during the first meeting of the International Chamber of Commerce ever held on the island. Richard D. McCormick, ICC Vice-President and slated to become the world business organization's President next January, was asked in a BBC interview what message ICC's Latin American regional meeting was sending to the United States government and Congress.

Mr McCormick said: "The message that is being sent from lots of businesses in the US is that embargoes don't work. They are counterproductive; they just hurt the people who are in the least position to help themselves. "I think that after 38 years it is time for this embargo to be ended. Unilateral sanctions don't work."

Mr. McCormick said that ending the embargo would be a two-way street. "I think there needs to be a constructive environment for diplomacy between these two countries." That possibility did not exist on either side at present, he said.

Mr McCormick added: "Until the elections are over on the American side, I think we are in a status quo. I hope the next President can establish some quiet diplomacy and I hope that it will be positively received here in Cuba. At the same time, the Cuban government would help create that environment so that the two countries can come closer together."

The ICC Vice-President told the BBC that the embargo had endured mainly because of a very strong lobby in the United States from the Cuba-American business community. "I think that it has lasted a long time because it is very personal. It is focused on the Cuban leadership."

Mr McCormick serves on the boards of several leading American companies, including UAL Corp (United Airlines), Wells Fargo and Company, United Technologies Corp., and Concept Five Technologies.

Addressing the regional conference, Mr McCormick said that recent developments in the US Congress, where the embargo was eased, were "disappointing". Under a bill approved by the Senate, sales of food and medicine would be allowed, but Cuban President Fidel Castro says that restrictions linked to the measures would actually tighten the embargo.

Mr. McCormick told his business audience: "It is one step forward and two steps backwards. It is an example of election eve legislative sausage-making in its worst form. '' Significantly, the ICC Vice-President used the opening session of the conference - attended by Cuba's deputy president, Carlos Lage Davila - to urge the Cuban government to relax its attitude toward the private sector.

"The Cuban government needs to encourage the development of more private enterprise in the country. I don' t think anyone at the ICC will be happy until Cuba is a fully-fledged member of the world trading system."

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