QUESTION:  Well, first and foremost, thank you very much for having this sit-down with us.

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  It's an honor to be here with you.

 

QUESTION:  It's something that really doesn't happen that much, and I don't think in the history of Radio and TV Marti ever happened.  You just came back from a trip to Colombia, a country that has just now elected a new president that will inaugurated August 7, a president that has won under the premise of that he is pro-democracy and against all types of dictatorships, right or left, and on top of that against what is the FARC establishment, making guerilla members and trading their uniforms to suits now.  You all did a great deal of help right now to Colombia, so if you can start by telling us --

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Sure.  Well, I had a chance to meet with the President-elect and I'm excited.  I think he's got some, some big, bold ideas for the future, and we look forward to partnering with his government as we go forward.  But, you're right, you know, his platform is freedom. He believes in democracy, and of course that's music to our ears.

 

You know, I think that we are at a crucial moment in the hemisphere.  Vice President Pence laid it out very well when he referred to a "Hemisphere of Freedom."  And so, this is a crucial moment throughout the hemisphere. And voices like the President-elect, I think, are important.  Talking about the importance of freedom in democracy and pushing back against authoritarianism, whether it be old-style Communist authoritarianism, as we see in Cuba, or whether it be authoritarianism from the right.  He's a, you know, a believer in the people and the voice of the people. So that's music to our ears and very exciting.

 

QUESTION:  Were they very receptive with the gift the USAID gave to Colombia?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Sure.  You know, and we don't view it as a gift, of course.  We view it as a way of trying to stand with our friends at a moment in which they're really on the front lines of all the Venezuelans who are fleeing.  I think Colombia is showing amazing leadership as they've tried to accommodate those who are coming across the border -- 5,000 per day by latest estimates.

 

But, necessarily, that imposes costs and burdens.  And so, we're trying to help provide some humanitarian relief for Venezuelans who are coming across the border, not just in Colombia, but other countries, as well.  And to support those communities that are hosting them. We think that's a way that we can play a really constructive role in this crisis.

 

QUESTION:  And when you look at the situation in Venezuela, it doesn't look like it's getting any better.  In fact, it looks like it's getting (inaudible) worse. USAID, for many, many years in the past administration, was looked at as something that might have not looked the other way because the past administration wanted to do -- have relationships with Cuba and by having a relationship with Cuba, having relationships with what they call (inaudible) socialism of the 21st century.  Bolivia, Venezuela, Ortega in Nicaragua.  How has it been difficult to change that message of this is a new USAID, and under your leadership, you're promoting democracy and human rights, and help towards those that are of opposition, towards those totalitarian or dictator governments?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, I think President Trump and Vice President Pence have been very clear in their support for freedom in the hemisphere, the importance of human rights, the importance of democracy.   So, we've simply been taking their message everywhere that we go. You know, I'm a believer. This is what I believe in. This is natural to me. This is, I think, is core to our mission.  Among other things, we believe in citizen-responsive, citizen-centered governance is the key to be able to rise, is the key to being able to grow economically.

 

So, not only is it important on a human rights basis, but for countries to be able to rise, countries to be able to provide opportunities for their people, you have to have democracy.  You have to have citizens. You have to have freedom at the heart of your agenda. So, when we see leaders like President-elect Duque talking about the importance of it, it is music to our ears.

 

On the other hand, when we see the terrible crackdown taking place in Nicaragua, the atrocities being committed, or the continuing crisis (inaudible) Venezuela and the crackdowns there, you know, we have to be involved.  And in this case, we're trying to be involved by helping those who are helping the people of those countries. But making it very clear what we stand for. We stand for human rights. We stand for democracy. We stand for the people's freedoms.

 

QUESTION:  How is it that you're helping right now in Venezuela, the Venezuelan people?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, the Venezuelan people, we're providing some resources and we just announced $6.2 million to provide some emergency food relief, medical assistance, care to try to help those who are suffering and fleeing.

You know, I was struck when I was there.  What I did -- and so I expected to see a river of Venezuelans coming across the bridge, which I did.  What struck me is the number who are going back. And I spoke to them. (inaudible) an enormous number of Venezuelans who would get up at 3:00 in the morning, walk four or five hours just to get some food, just to get some emergency medicine, and then go home, only to repeat the whole -- the cycle, the next day.

 

So, that tells us that there's a system in Venezuela that's truly collapsing.  Food systems collapsing. Basic foodstuffs, basic infrastructure, are falling apart.  And, so, we're trying to provide a little bit of relief.

 

The key to all of this, of course, is this is a man-made catastrophe.  This is made because of President Maduro's regime, his policies. He's taking a country that was once the wealthiest country in South America that should be a country helping others rise up, and he's a driver of despair, and he's causing pain and suffering not only for his own people, but he's causing it, I think, in other areas, too.  And, so, again, we think it's part of our mission to be involved.

 

QUESTION:  Message to the people in Venezuela, the opposition numbers, the ones -- the viewers that are watching because we are viewed not only in Cuba, but also (inaudible) and other satellite regarding, so if you want to send a message to those in Venezuela, or --

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Sure.

 

QUESTION:  -- a message that you want to send --

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Sure, yeah.

 

QUESTION:  Towards, towards that.  Hey, stand strong, or --

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, it is.  It is: stay strong.  And the policy of the United States of America is a Hemisphere of Freedom.  And we stand with freedom-loving people. So, don't give up. Americans care.  We will do what we can to be helpful, and there is hope. And this cannot go on forever.  One day, the regime will fall. One day there will be restoration and freedom of democracy.  So, don't give up.

 

QUESTION:  Moving on to what was called -- known as the safest country in Central America, Nicaragua.  I was just there a week and a half ago. The situation is getting worse by the day. Some call it the beginnings of a civil war.  Some call it just the beginnings of a full-fledged dictatorship because Ortega, this time around, does not want to let it go. How is USAID helping the Nicaraguan opposition, those that live and breathe for democracy and freedom?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, you're right, first off.  The first thing is that the United States of America very clearly demands that Ortega stop these atrocities, stop the violence against his own people.  So, at USAID, we're trying to provide some assistance, try to be a lifeline for human rights defenders, for independent journalists, for those who are taking part in peaceful protests and simply trying to express their point of view.  We stand with them and help as we can. But, again, this is a man-made crisis and a man-made catastrophe. And the only way it will end is with a political solution, cessation of the violence, and Mr. Ortega needs to obviously stop this immediately.

 

QUESTION:  People call it, "the head of the octopus," and it spreads its tentacles towards the region and towards other regions.  Cuba -- Castros continue on and on and on. For many years, like I said, in the past, USAID, during the past administration, was looked at that they were, you know, pretty much at the same time following the lead of the past administration.  You all came in. You took the leadership. Your comments towards Cuba have been critic and harsh on this, on this past administration. What's going on in there?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, in my case, when I had the chance to go to the Summit of the Americas and meet with pro-democracy activists in Cuba, they were very clear.  They said, "Look, there's no moderation. Instead of moderating, the regime is simply mutating. It's trying to fool the outside world." We're not fooled so easily.  So, we continue to stand for freedom. Cuba Libre. It's important to us, and so we're trying to be a lifeline again for independent media, for those who are trying to stand up, human rights defenders and release of political prisoners.  

That's what we believe in, so it's very easy for us to do in the sense that this is a core part of this Administration's approach in this hemisphere -- standing for freedom and standing with those who support freedom, and standing against tyrants and standing against despots, and standing against those who are trying to, you know, strangle the voice of the people.

 

QUESTION:  Guillermo Coco Fariñas was an opposition member that I know that you met with that day because funnily enough, I was right outside in the areas right there by the hotel -- told me that he was amazed of what you spoke to them and the clarity that you had. Why is it that you think that he would say something like that?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, it's very kind for him to say that, but we do see this clearly.  This is a matter of right and wrong. Are you on the side of the people or are you on the side of the powerful, the despots?  And so that's the simple message that we try to bring forward. We try to be a voice for hope as you try to be a voice for hope, standing with people, standing with those principles that the United States of America was founded upon, that I hope are the core of who we are as a people, who we are as a country.  And so, we believe that we've been a blessed land, and therefore, we have to share those blessings and we have to stand with others, who apparently their only crime is trying to have freedom, trying to exercise their rights, trying to be a voice standing for their brothers and sisters.

 

QUESTION:  Are you worried in the new (inaudible) reform that what happened in the Nicaragua region, what's happening in Nicaragua, what's happening in Venezuela could happen in other parts of Central and South America, including Mexico?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, right, it's certainly what we're seeing in Nicaragua and (inaudible) we've seen over the years in Cuba.  It's cancer, and so it needs to be pushed back now. You can't simply wait to see where it will spread. We have to be very strong.  Again, being strong here is simply providing relief and a voice for the voiceless. Standing with people is the antidote to what we're seeing in these countries.

 

QUESTION:  USAID not only is Central and South America.  It's obviously around the world. Talk to me, if you can, about your global projects right now (inaudible).

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Well, we're working in a number of places around the world.  You know, our view is that the purpose of assistance -- the kind of assistance we provide -- is to end the need for its existence.  What I mean by that is we want to help people help themselves. This is about giving people the tools to realize their own dreams. And so that's what we're trying to do around the world.  It's something that I believe in. I've lived in Africa a couple of times in my life. We believe in giving people the tools to exercise their God-given abilities. We believe in human dignity.  We believe in defending human rights. We believe in freedom of conscience.

 

These are at the heart of our approach to the work we do, it's at the heart of the Trump Administration.  So, you know, from my perspective this is a real honor to be able to serve. It's a great time to be able to serve.  A lot of work, a lot of challenges out there, but that's why we do this. You know, we try to stand up for what's right.

 

QUESTION:  One last question -- (inaudible) that you send a message to the people that are watching in Cuba.  Is your end result at USAID the day that you say you hand it over and you say, "This is what I've done?"  What is that accomplishment or that goal, that personal goal of yours?

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  My personal goal is to make clear that we stand with people.  My personal goal is to create a structure at USAID and programs that help people reach for their own dreams.  I believe in human dignity. I believe in the centrality of human beings. And so, if we're seen as a lifeline to people, if we're seen as providing tools to craft their own future, if we're seen as making a little bit of progress on that path, I'll be a happy man.

 

QUESTION:  Administrator, if you can look directly at the camera and just send a message to the people of Cuba, we'd greatly appreciate it.

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Don't give up.  The American people stand with you.  We stand with you, we're thinking of you.  Don't ever give up.

 

QUESTION:  Administrator Green, thank you very much for this.  We really appreciate it.

 

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN:  Thank you.  Thanks for what you do.