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The Miami
Herald. Wed, Apr. 10, 2002.
Carter, Castro to meet in Cuba
By Nancy San Martin. nsanmartin@herald.com.
Former President Jimmy Carter is preparing to meet with President Fidel
Castro of Cuba next month in what both supporters and opponents of current U.S.
policy toward Cuba hope will ultimately open the way for changes in the two
countries' relationship.
Carter will be the first former president to travel to Havana since Castro
took control in 1959.
''President Carter looks forward to the opportunity to meet with Cubans from
all walks of life and to talk with President Castro,'' said Deanna Congileo, a
Carter spokeswoman.
Permission for the trip was granted last week when the Treasury Department's
Office of Foreign Assets Control decided Carter's request was legitimate under
the license category of "activities of private foundations or research or
educational institutions.''
That license is issued to people traveling on behalf of institutions ''that
have an established interest in international relations to collect information
related to Cuba for noncommercial purposes,'' said Tasia Scolinos, a Treasury
Department spokeswoman.
The visit, scheduled for the middle of next month, has energized members in
both camps of the Cuba issue -- those who support a hard-line approach and those
who believe engagement is the better tool to bring about democratic changes on
the communist-ruled island.
Carter has strongly opposed the embargo on Cuba and backs an end to travel
restrictions. But he also has been a vocal champion of human rights.
''This is an important, historical visit,'' said Jaime Suchlicki, director
of the Institute for Cuba and Cuban American Studies at the University of Miami.
"It could be very productive if Carter emphasizes the issue of human
rights. He will raise his moral stature if he puts in context support for
lifting in the embargo in exchange for respect for human rights.''
While those opposed to the embargo are hopeful Carter will return from
Havana with a message of engagement, those opposed to taking a softer stance say
the trip provides an opportunity to shine an international spotlight on human
rights abuses and lack of freedom under the Castro regime.
''It's exciting news,'' said Sally Grooms Cowal, president of the Cuba
Policy Foundation in Washington. "It sends a signal to the Cuban people
that America is willing to engage. It initiates at least the beginning of a
dialague.''
Joe Garcia, executive director of the Miami-based Cuban American National
Foundation, said the visit provides an opportunity to force Castro's hand.
''Carter's greatest legacy is his belief of mixing human rights with U.S.
foreign policy,'' Garcia said. "Hopefully, Mr. Carter will stay focused on
what he's good at.''
Cubans on the island recently interviewed about the prospects of a visit by
Carter said it would be a welcomed gesture.
''That would be marvelous,'' said Alexis Capote, 32, who works at an ice
cream stand along the Malecón. "Anything to help better relations
between Cuba and the United States.''
The Carter Center at Emory University in Atlanta expects to release details
on the proposed trip in about a week.
Carter, a Democrat who held the White House from 1977-81, is credited with
opening communication between Havana and Washington after nearly two decades of
hostility and virtually no contact.
Though the United States and Cuba do not maintain full diplomatic ties, a
U.S. interests section was opened in Havana during Carter's administration. Cuba
also has an interests section in Washington and the offices serve as diplomatic
liaisons between both nations.
Castro, who extended the invitation to Carter in January, has publicly
stated that the former president is free to "make all the criticisms he
wants to.''
In preparation for the trip, Washington is sending a State Department
official to the Carter Center to give a briefing on Cuba.
''Now that he is going, we hope that he will take a message supporting
democracy, human rights and freedom,'' said a White House official. "President
Bush hopes that message will be taken directly to Fidel Castro.''
President Bush, meanwhile, is expected to unveil the administration's
revised policy on Cuba later this month. Plans also are under way for Bush to
visit Miami in May to commemorate Cuba's independence from Spain.
At a similar celebration in the White House last year, Bush said he would
stand firm behind the embargo as a "moral statement.''
Maria Recio, a staff writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, contributed to
this report from Havana.
Quiet excitement greets Muñequitos
By Jordan Levin. jlevin@herald.com
The concert by the Muñequitos de Matanzas at Miami Beach's Jackie
Gleason Theater last night was marked not by controversy or even anger, but by
quiet excitement that this show by Cuba's most famous rumberos could finally
happen with almost no distractions.
''Oh my God, it's the best of both worlds,'' said Rosario Moreno, a
Cuban-born television director and producer who came to the United States 40
years ago. "Here we can live how we want AND see the Muñequitos.
This is a treasure of maturity.''
A long line of people was filing past her into the theater and chattering
excitedly: young couples in evening wear; elderly men and young goateed
hipsters, both clad in guayaberas; South Beach social types and Cuban musicians
like percussionist Tomás Díaz.
''They're my family -- they're from Matanzas like me,'' said Díaz of
the band. "This is our music, Cuban music.''
He gestured at the 25 protesters from Vigilia Mambisa across from the
theater entrance, whose screams of ''shameless'' and ''communist'' could barely
be heard. ''They should welcome the Muñequitos,'' Díaz said.
Vigilia Mambisa president Miguel Saavedra insisted they weren't protesting
against the musicians, ''but against Castro and this industry of music and art
that he promotes.'' His companions were screaming balsero (''rafter'') and "traitor.''
''This Cuban music is not going to succeed here -- those people are all
traitors,'' Saavedra insisted, gesturing at some of the 2,000 attendees.
The Muñequitos opened with song and dances for Eleggua, the impish
Santería god of crossroads and beginnings. The four dancers leaped into
the aisles to snatch caps and pass out candies. The audience cheered as dancers
impersonating other gods -- sensual Oshun, macho Chango -- appeared.
''The Muñequitos are in the street -- everybody come, you're going to
feel this good rumba,'' the group sang as it opened the second half, its voices
and drums echoing into the big hall.
As director and elder dancer Diosdado Ramos came onstage, every flying knee
and sly glance brought screams.
As Ramos' son Bárbaro and his grandson Luis Deyvis came on for a
rumba tap, the audience began clapping in clave, the classic rhythm of Cuban
music, beating out a rhythm for the dancers to move to. | 
