Responding to a question at a White House news conference Thursday, Mr. Bush told reporters that speaking with Raul Castro would endorse someone who imprisons people for their political beliefs. He said it would send the wrong message.
He described Raul Castro as "nothing more than an extension" of what Fidel Castro did, which, as Mr. Bush put it, was to ruin an island and imprison people because of their beliefs.
Cuba's National Assembly named Raul Castro as the communist island's president earlier this week.
Raul Castro, 76, had been running the country on a provisional basis since his brother became ill in July 2006. Fidel Castro held power for 49 years.
Source: By VOA News
