Cuba's Response Sobre and Sympathetic

The Cuban government and people have responded quickly to the tragedy in the U.S. with offers of unconditional sympathy, assistance and support.

President Fidel Castro called the attack a human and political catastrophe. He said that the people of Cuba shared the pain of the losses incurred by the people of the U.S. and that Cuba was at the disposition of the American people for whatever modest help the island could offer - medical or humanitarian. The Cuban Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque, strongly condemned terrorism in any form and against whomever it may be directed. He said that Cubans have a good understanding of terrorism having suffered four decades of it, and could relate to what their neighbors were going through. At the time of the attack, the Cuban authorities offered to allow any planes in the area to make unscheduled landings on Cuban territory should the need arise.

In the days immediately following the attacks, Cuban newspapers, radio and television programs reported daily on how much the people of Cuba felt the pain and sadness of their neighbors to the north. They also reiterated the long-held position of the government of Cuba against terrorism of all kinds. Fidel Castro added that, in his opinion, the most important duty any U.S. leader had in the aftermath was to fight terrorism but that, in the emotions and stress of these days, he hoped Washington would act with equanimity in finding the perpetrators of the catastrophe and would put aside blinding hatred in applying any sanctions.

People of other countries have noticed and praised Cuba's stance towards the people of the U.S. In Mexico, politicians from across the political spectrum have congratulated Cuba for its magnanimity in offering both moral and material support to the United States government in its time of need - despite the 40 years of economic, political and military attacks it has endured at the hands of the U.S.. Cuba's offering to send blood and plasma to both New York and Washington was commended. It was noted that the Cuban government has never sown seeds of hatred toward the people of the U.S. in its ideological battle against its powerful northern neighbour.

A group of prominent American medical experts visiting Cuba - including two former U.S. surgeons general - was overwhelmed by the support shown. The organizer of the group, Bob Schwartz, told Radio Havana he was deeply impressed by the reaction of the Cuban population with regard to the tragedy the American people are now living. "I think all of us, this entire delegation, was overwhelmed by the concern that all of the Cubans, not just the doctors, not just the health officials, everybody in Cuba has expressed to us, whether it's a taxi driver, a hotel employee, people on the street come up to us. And everyone is shocked by what they've seen on television, heard on the radio, and they're all very concerned, they're all very sympathetic", Schwartz said.

A group of Cuban musicians visiting Los Angeles to attend the Latin Grammy awards, including internationally-renowned pianist Chucho Valdes and singer Isaac Delgado, donated blood. They said they unanimously decided to take this action in solidarity with those killed and injured in the recent terrorist attacks.