South China Morning Post. Friday, April 7, 2000
CUBA - Declaring victory in the battle over six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, President Fidel Castro predicted it would only be a matter of days before the boy was embraced by his father, who last night arrived in the United States to reclaim his son.
Juan Miguel Gonzalez flew to Washington in a Lear Jet accompanied by his second wife, Nersy Carmenate, their six-month-old son Hianny and the head of the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, Fernando Ramirez de Estenoz.
Mr Gonzalez, in a combative speech on the Tarmac at Dulles International Airport, said he wanted US authorities to hand over his son as soon as possible.
"I hope I will soon be able to embrace my son," he said.
"I am confident that US authorities will not allow my child to continue to be hurt."
The US Justice Department said yesterday it wanted Elian to be reunited with his father soon, bringing an end to the four-month custody battle.
"I believe that reuniting Elian with his father is not only a matter of federal law, it is not a matter of immigration law. It is simply the right thing to do," said Deputy Attorney-General Eric Holder.
Mr Holder said Justice Department officials, including Attorney-General Janet Reno, planned to meet Mr Gonzalez soon, "perhaps as early as today".
Karen Kraushaar, a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, said lawyers for the department and Elian's Miami relatives had resumed discussions yesterday.
In Rome, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday he believed the boy belonged with his father - a sentiment also expressed by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the eve of the father's arrival. Ms Albright called it a "terrible, terrible" issue.
But Mr Gonzalez faces a bitter struggle to win back custody of Elian, who is staying with relatives in Miami.
Mr Gonzalez was seen off at Havana's international airport by Dr Castro, Vice-President Carlos Lage, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Parliament leader Ricardo Alarcon.
Asked by reporters how long he thought Mr Gonzalez would remain in the US, Dr Castro said it depended on what Elian's Miami relatives would do next.
"I am talking about three days" more or less," Dr Castro said.
The boy's uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, said he and his family were willing to meet Elian's father at their home.
Elian's mother died along with 10 others when their boat sank during a crossing from Cuba to Florida in late November.
Dr Castro has attempted to gain maximum political advantage from the fight over the boy - and US presidential candidates have been drawn into the fray.
Even if Mr Gonzalez gains temporary custody of Elian in the next few days, he will not be able to claim victory.
Elian's Miami relatives have asked a US court to overturn a federal judge's ruling affirming the Immigration and Naturalisation Service decision to return Elian to his father.
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