Roberta S. Jacobson

We are also asking other countries to encourage the Cuban Government to allow greater access by the United Nations and other international organizations.

Our previous approach to relations with Cuba over a half century, though rooted in the best of intentions, failed to empower the Cuban people.

We will continue to press for greater access--and for the Cuban Government to live up to Raul Castro's statement.

No government--neither that of the Castros nor those of third countries--can credibly make the case that pushing the Cuban Government to respect universal human rights is taking sides in a dispute between Cuba and the United States.

The central goal that we have is to help Venezuelans move their country toward democracy, toward respect for human rights.

We have consistently called on the Venezuelan Government to release those it has unjustly jailed.

I think the answer is we are extremely concerned about the amount of drugs coming out of Venezuela.

We absolutely believe that they have to be heard. They are a very important voice.

This is not a U.S.-Venezuela issue, it is an internal Venezuelan issue.

The actions taken by the Venezuelan Government today do not support the efforts at the dialogue table.

We have strongly resisted attempts to be used as a distraction from Venezuela's real problems.

The future of Venezuela is for the Venezuelan people to decide.