Bush allows cell phones to be sent to Cuba

WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- President George Bush marked a day of solidarity with the Cuban people by allowing U.S. residents to send cell phones to their families in Cuba.

"This is the first Day of Solidarity with the Cuban people," Bush said in remarks delivered at the White House, "and the United States must keep observing such days until Cuba's freedom."

Because Cuban President Raul Castro earlier this year allowed Cubans to own mobile phones, "we're going to change our regulations to allow Americans to send mobile phones to family members in Cuba," he said.

Bush also repeated his offer to license U.S. non-government organizations and faith-based groups to provide computers and Internet service to Cubans "if Cuban rulers will end their restrictions on Internet access."

The United States is reaching out to the Cuban people through these measures, Bush said.

"Yet we know that life will not fundamentally change for Cubans until their form of government changes," he said. "For those who've suffered for decades, such change may seem impossible. But the truth is, it is inevitable.