July 12 — The New York Times reports that a U.S. cargo vessel arrives in Cuba for the first time in 40 years, carrying over 1,500 tons of paper and 6 tons of timber.

July 14 — Compay Segundo, author of a large number of Cuban songs, and more recent star of Buena Vista Social Club, dies. Compay was born Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz, in Siboney, on September 18, 1908. He later changed his name to indicate his role as a background or second vocal (segundo) in son, Cuba’s traditional rhythm. While fellow musicians and music-lovers had always recognized him, it was not until the late 1990’s that his work transcended Cuba. Mr. Repilado rests in Santa Ifigenia, Santiago de Cuba’s cemetery, where fellow son figures Miguel Matamoros, and Ñico Saquito, also rest.

July 16 — Just two days after the death of Compay Segundo, Celia Cruz dies. Ms. Cruz, known as the Queen of Salsa, had always been reluctant to say her age. She left Cuba in 1960 and soon became an icon of Salsa (a term invented in New York, originally used by exiled Puerto Rican and Cuban communities). Even though she publicly confronted the Cuban government and Fidel Castro since leaving the island, her talent knew no political affiliation, as her music was enjoyed by fans inside and outside Cuba.

July 15 — Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) addresses Congress about the necessity to lift the travel ban. Among other things, Senator Dorgan says that he can travel to any other communist countries, such as in the cases of China and Vietnam, or even countries on the "terrorist state" list such as North Korea or Iran, but he cannot visit Cuba. He also scolded the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury for going after Joan Slote, a grandmother who visited Cuba illegally to bicycle around Cuba, and also for the case of a 77-year-old World War II veteran who put up information about a sister cities project on the World Wide Web. OFAC is responsible for tracing money that could fall into the hands of terrorists, and, Senator Dorgan argues, it is wasting valuable time and resources by going after the Cuba cases instead.

July 26 — At the 50th anniversary celebration of the attack on the Moncada garrison in Santiago de Cuba—a failed attempt in itself, but one which spawned the Cuban Revolution—Fidel Castro speaks at Moncada (now a school). He recounts the Revolution’s achievements and looks back at his defense at the Moncada trials, published later as History Will Absolve Me. The Cuban president then takes the opportunity to stress Cuba’s sovereignty, and particularly emphasizes Cuba’s independence from the European Union, which has threatened to withdraw economic investments in Cuba after a series of arrests of people accused of conspiring against the state with the aid of the U.S. Interest Section.

August

August 1 — Florida governor Jeb Bush confronts his brother, President George W. Bush, on the Federal government’s decision to return 12 suspected boat hijackers to Cuba to face prison on July 18. Under current U.S. law, Cubans who get to U.S. soil are immediately granted asylum. In this case, the Cubans did not reach U.S. soil and were sent back to Cuba. The governor of Florida labels the return of the rafters inhumane. "Only safe, legal, and orderly migration should take place from Cuba to the United States," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher replied.

August 4 — The Venceremos Brigade crosses the U.S.–Canada border after traveling to Cuba without a Treasury Department license. The trip was made up of more than 80 participants. This is the 34^th annual trip that the Venceremos Brigade has made. On this occasion they witness the July 26^th ceremonies commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the attack to the Moncada garrison. Another of the group’s objectives was to draw attention to the Treasury Department’s recent elimination of the people-to-people licenses on March 24, 2003.

August 15 — Fidel Castro attends the presidential inauguration of Nicanor Duarte in Paraguay. This was Castro’s first visit to Paraguay. On August 16, a crowd of 10,000 chants his name and sings happy birthday to him after hearing him speak. Paraguay was ruled by fervent anti-communist Alfredo Stroessner from 1954 to 1989.

September

September 8 — A few days before the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a legislation that aims at lifting the travel ban, the Bush administration reiterates its announcement that it will veto any legislation that includes any language that would suggest partial or total lifting of the embargo, including the travel ban. "Sunbathers are not going to liberate Cuba," Assistant Secretary of State Roger Noriega says.

September 9 — President George W. Bush raises $3 million in Florida’s Broward County, traditionally a Democratic stronghold, because of Cuban American support. Aiming his remarks at the Cubans, Bush comments that "freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation, including nations like Cuba." Florida ranks third in Mr. Bush’s state visits; only Texas and Pennsylvania are more important to his re-election strategy.

September 10 — The House of Representatives votes on an amendment to the transportation bill that would prohibit the enforcement of the travel ban to Cuba, by a vote of 227–188. The amendment is sponsored by a bipartisan working group headed by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Rep.Bill Delahunt (D-MA). Opponents to the amendment, such as House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), argue that dollars would only support the Castro administration which they seek to oust. On the other hand, Flake, a conservative who has described Castro as "worse than a tyrant," said "American travelers are the best ambassadors of American values."

September 20 — U.S. officials announce that the United States has reached the 2003 20,000-visa quota for Cuban immigrants. Under current migratory agreements, the U.S. has the obligation to issue 20,000 immigrant visas to Cubans every year. However, this number has almost never been met, and the Cuban government had accused the United States of trying to generate a massive flow of illegal emigration by refusing visas. Recognized Cuban artists and scholars have been unable to make tours or attend meetings in the U.S. because of extra security checks post–9/11. Such was the case of renowned pianist Chucho Valdés who wasn’t able to attend the Grammy ceremonies in September in Miami. Having reached the visa quota, U.S. authorities brag that the Cuban government has no grounds to complain. However, Cubans say other migration policies, such as the Cuban Adjustment Act which entitles Cubans who reach the U.S. to automatic residence, still foster illegal emigration.

September 27 — Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque speaks to Cuba solidarity groups at Harlem’s Church of the Intercession in New York City. Mr. Pérez Roque was on an official United Nations visit. In an earlier meeting with about 300 Cuban Americans, he announces that Cubans living in the United States who have a Cuban passport will no longer need a Cuban visa for entry to their homeland as of 2004. The State Department had no immediate comment. U.S. policy allows Cuban Americans to visit relatives on the island once a year without U.S. permission, but additional trips must be approved by OFAC. The Cuban American National Foundation supports the announced visa policy, executive director Joe Garcia said.

September 30 — El Diario/La Prensa editor-in-chief Gerson Borrero announces he will quit his position after the newspaper’s owners refuse to run a column by Fidel Castro. El Diario/La Prensa is New York City’s main Spanish–language newspaper. The newspaper was going to publish a column on the Cuban educational system by Mr. Castro, but after receiving pressure from members of the Cuban American community, the newspaper’s owners decided not to publish it. Latino organizations accuse El Diario of censorship, and the newspaper recognizes its mistake and publishes and apology to its readers. The column is printed a few days later in the New York Daily News.

October

October 1 — The agreement of Alimport to purchase 250 head of Florida beef cattle from J.P. Wright & Company, Inc. of Naples, Florida, represents the first sale of Florida beef cattle to Cuba in more than 40 years. Mr. John Parke Wright has been working under a license from the U.S. Treasury Department to develop and market agricultural exports to Cuba since 1999. "I’m proud to be back in the cattle business in Cuba, especially since my ancestors enjoyed over 100 years of shipping, ranching, and friendship with our neighbors to the south," he commented.

October 10 — In a conference held in the White House’s Rose Garden, President George W. Bush announces the tightening of the travel ban to Cuba. "We allow travel for limited reasons, including visit to a family, to bring humanitarian aid, or to conduct research. Those exceptions are too often used as cover for illegal business travel and tourism, or to skirt the restrictions on carrying cash into Cuba," the President said. He also announced an increase of inspections of travelers and shipments to Cuba by the Department of Homeland Security. This statement directly runs counter to the trend in Congress, where the House had recently voted to lift the travel ban, and comes just a few days before the Senate votes on the Cuba travel question. On the other hand, as elections come up, it seems to be aimed at the powerful Cuban American minority in Florida that is against engagement with the Caribbean nation.

October 23 — The Senate votes the measure designed to remove travel restrictions to Cuba in a vote of 59 to 36. The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY). A statement from the Center for International Policy, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. headed by former Head of the U.S. Interest Section Wayne Smith reads: "While the President insists on diverting resources from the Treasury and Homeland Security Departments to track and harass citizens whose only crime is exercising their basic right to travel, the House and Senate have resoundingly rejected this misappropriation of taxpayer dollars." As noted before in this Chronology, President Bush has threatened to veto any bill that includes language aimed at loosening the embargo.

October 27 — President Bush’s Cuba policy affects Star of the West Milling Co., of Frankenmuth, MI, the first company to sell black beans to Cuba since the imposition of the embargo. The Bush administration is not removing current licenses but will not give new ones, this measure will prevent all U.S. companies from engage in additional sales.

November

November 4 — The United Nations General Assembly condemns the U.S embargo on Cuba for the 12th consecutive year. The vote is 179 to 3, with two abstentions. The three countries that vote in favor are the United States, Israel, and the Marshall Islands.

November 4 — 71 U.S. businesses attend the international agro-business fair in Havana. Pedro Alvarez, head of ALIMPORT, Cuba’s import company, says he has signed $25 million in purchases and $11 million more to come. Among the deal singers were Cargill Inc. who signed $4 million for food products such as wheat and soy protein.

November 7 — The Senate approves bill S-950 by 13-5. The bill includes language to lift the travel restrictions to Cuba. The legislation is sponsored by a bipartisan working group similar to the one in the House, and is led by Senators Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Max Baucus (D-MT). The vote can be interpreted as a direct confrontation, especially on behalf of Republicans, to President Bush, who has insisted he would veto the entire bill if Cuba language was included in it.

November 12 — The language which is pertinent to Cuba travel on bill S-950 disappears. The stripped legislation is passed despite the fact that both House and Senate had approved lifting the travel ban. The Cuba travel language is dropped from the legislation as negotiators from both chambers agreed to an $88.9 million deal financing Transportation and Treasury departments. The bill also makes it possible for members of Congress to gain an increase of their annual pay.

November 19 — Associated Press announces "Cuba is ready to buy sugar from the U.S." Pedro Alvarez, head of ALIMPORT, says Cuba is looking to buy anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 tons of sugar and is waiting for the U.S. enterprises to give their OK. Cuba, a country which history is undeniably tied to sugar production, is undergoing a major restructuring of its economy.

December

December 10 — The Department of Homeland Security puts out a press release on the implementation of George W. Bush’s tightening of the embargo against Cuba, announced on the White House’s Rose Garden last October 10: Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson announced inspectors had conducted more than 45,000 baggage examinations on the nearly 54,000 passengers who traveled between the United States and Cuba over the past two months (…)[and] had discovered almost 600 violations of the embargo, nearly half of which were for illegally transporting tobacco or alcohol products. John McAuliff, the Executive Director for the Fund for Reconciliation and Development, an NGO working towards normalization of relations with Vietnam, writes a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge: At a time that the US faces real danger, it is incomprehensible to me that the President would divert resources from your Department to harass American citizens who are peacefully traveling to Cuba, not to mention that the Undersecretary would gloat about it. (.…)I thought the job of your Department was to stop bombs, radiological weapons and toxins, not cigars, rum, and too generous financial help for family members in Cuba.

December 8 — Ruben Gonzalez, pianist for Buena Vista Social Club, dies at 84 years of age. Mr. Gonzalez, who had reached popularity only in old age, once commented on his performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City: I felt a silence the like of which I had never heard before, I went out to the stage and saw there were four or five storeys of silent people. I had never had such popularity. It surprises and gratifies me, it means that everything I have done until now is good, because I haven’t changed, neither on the outside nor on the inside, and I won’t change in the future either.