00:00 When I first came to Poland in 1990, communism had plunged this country into poverty and economic collapse.
00:08 Today, Poland and its capital, Warsaw, have phenomenal economic growth.
00:15 Every day, the living standard of the Poles increases.
00:19 They have grown exponentially and have become one of the strongest and most solid economies in the entire center of Europe.
00:25 Poland has managed to regain its leadership among the nations.
00:30 And an abundant and extensive Polish middle class enjoys the benefits of democracy.
00:35 Yes, why democracy?
00:37 Because for an economy to really grow sustainably,
00:40 to be able to give it a constant level of life, constantly superior to its citizens,
00:45 it takes freedom of expression, freedom of association, alternation in power.
00:50 It is necessary for the powers of the state to balance each other.
00:54 It is necessary that the government responds to the citizens, so that the economy responds to the citizens.
01:00 At this time, the communist regime in Cuba, due to the corruption of its leadership,
01:05 due to the anachronistic communist policies that have driven Cuba,
01:09 has plunged the country into despair, poverty, hyperinflation, economic recession,
01:14 and Cubans are leaving for thousands of acres of land.
01:17 The time has come for change.
01:18 We know that the potential for genuine change in Cuba is in the air.
01:22 And it is important that this change happens.
01:24 But since the generals cannot move their money,
01:27 because the sanctions have prevented them from being able to launder the money as they were doing,
01:30 since the hierarchs of the Communist Party are now facing more and more obstacles
01:35 to move economically in the developed world,
01:38 then they begin to ask for assistance to open their economy.
01:41 That is not the way.
01:43 We ask the Cubans, who are of the thesis that economic openness brings democracy,
01:47 to put that attitude.
01:49 The important thing is to know that only democracy really leads to economic prosperity and freedom.
01:55 Stop encouraging the regime to remain in power as a dictatorship.
01:59 It is time to tell the communist hierarchs, those who have access,
02:02 what they do not want to hear.
02:03 That for the country to prosper, for Cuba to be the homeland of all Cubans,
02:07 they have to go to political change,
02:09 and they have to go to truly profound change in Cuban society,
02:13 in which public freedoms are recognized.
02:15 And in those fundamental changes, there will be no sustained improvement in life for Cubans.
02:20 And it is important that these leaders and presidents of the world,
02:23 such as Lula, the case of the trip announced by Lula to Cuba,
02:28 do not go to Cuba to tell this regime that they are going to open the economy or that they should open the economy.
02:32 It is to encourage communists to hold on and continue to repress to maintain political power.
02:38 There is only one way to a true change,
02:41 and it is political freedom, it is the return of the freedom of the citizen,
02:44 it is to recognize the people as originators of rights,
02:47 and then go to an open and vibrant economy, as Poland has achieved.
02:52 [Music]
02:55 [Music]
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