The US Committee on Appropriations approved on
Friday US$30 million for “programmes to promote democracy and strengthen civil
society in Cuba, of which not less than US$8,000,000 shall be for NED,” as
quoted from the committee report.
The NED is the National Endowment for Democracy, a fund used by the U.S. to undermine left-wing and socialist governments and support opposition groups by supposedly promoting “democracy.”
,
“The Committee directs that funds shall only be
used for programs and activities pursuant to section 109(a) of the Cuban
Liberty and Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 and section 1705 of the Cuban
Democracy Act (CDA) of 1992, and shall not be used for business promotion,
economic reform, entrepreneurship or any other assistance that is not
democracy-building,” the report states.
The committee also stipulated that any locally awarded grants of over US$1 million should be to groups in Cuba that have “experience promoting democracy” there. If the project for 2016 funding is approved by congress, it will be in addition to US$20 million already assigned for this year.
The measure comes as the U.S. said last year that
it wanted to normalise relations with Cuba, and the two countries have since
held a number of talks.
Last month the U.S. removed Cuba from its list of
so-called terrorist countries, but it has not yet put an end to its
decades-long economic blockade on the island.
Further, yesterday the Appropriations Committee
also did not approve funding for opening a U.S. embassy in Cuba.