Brookfield, WI — Sen. John McCain said Fidel Castro’s apparent departure a “great opportunity” for Cuba to begin to make the transition to democracy and hold free elections.

Though McCain added at a Tuesday press conference Tuesday, that the U.S. should continue to withhold assistance until then, for fear of propping up a caretaker regime run by Castro’s brother Raul or other communist allies.

“This is a great opportunity for Cuba to make a transition to a democracy, to empty their political prisons, to invite human rights organizations into their country and begin the transition to a free and open society and allow (the) people of Cuba the same opportunity that people all over the world deserve,” McCain said. “I think we should make it very clear that once free elections are held that the political prisoners are released and human rights organizations are functioning in Cuba that we would be willing to provide whatever aid and assistance that’s necessary. I fear that anything short of that–that any assistance that came in earlier than that might serve to prop up a new regime or Raul or whoever it is that wants to take Castro’s place.”