U.S. President George W. Bush says the Cuban trade embargo will stay in place until tough conditions are met. At the same time, he is offering to take steps the White House says could make life a bit easier for the Cuban people.

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U.S. President George W. Bush says the Cuban trade embargo will stay in place until tough conditions are met. At the same time, he is offering to take steps the White House says could make life a bit easier for the Cuban people. 

The president's tone was determined. He rejected calls to lift the four-decades-old sanctions on Communist-led Cuba, calling Cuban President Fidel Castro a tyrant and a dictator. 

"The United States will continue to enforce economic sanctions on Cuba and the ban on travel to Cuba," said Mr. Bush, "until Cuba's government proves that it is committed to real reform." 

Mr. Bush offered "an initiative for a new Cuba." He said the Castro government must hold democratic elections, permit opposition parties, free political prisoners and liberalize its economy. 

"If Cuba's government takes all the necessary steps to ensure that the 2003 elections are certifiably free and fair - certifiably free and fair - and if Cuba also begins to adopt meaningful market-based reforms, then and only then I will work with the United States Congress to ease the ban on trade and travel between our two countries," stated President Bush. 

The president's reaffirmation of his hard-line anti-Castro policy followed a trip to Cuba by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. During his visit, Mr. Carter called on the Bush administration to lift the trade embargo, saying it would help the Cuban people. Mr. Bush firmly disagreed, saying "well-intentioned ideas about trade will merely prop up this dictator, enrich his cronies, and enhance the totalitarian regime. It will not help the Cuban people." 

He said the goal is freedom for all Cubans, adding a new dawn in relations between the United States and Cuba is possible if Fidel Castro "sees the light." 

"With real reform in Cuba, our countries can begin chipping away at four decades of distrust and division. And the choice rests with Mr. Castro," said Mr. Bush. 

Speaking at the White House before leaving to address the Cuban-American community in Miami, Mr. Bush went to lengths to emphasize he is sensitive to the poverty that is so prevalent in Cuba. He said his administration will increase humanitarian aid through non-governmental organizations, and will seek to resume direct mail service between Cuba and the United States. 

White House officials insist the speeches in Washington and Miami were planned months ago, long before Jimmy Carter announced he would go to Havana. The former president's trip highlighted the trade issue, but the dispute over Cuba sanctions has been going on for some time, with moves in Congress to ease the ban on shipments of certain goods. 

The president's remarks also come at a time when Republicans and Democrats are battling for control of Congress and state capitals across the country. Florida, which played a big role in the 2000 presidential election, is considered key. The Cuban-American community has traditionally voted Republican and its support could be crucial to the re-election hopes of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother. 

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