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May 13, 2002.
Jimmy Carter, in Cuba, to visit biotechnology center
Mon May 13, 9:31 Am Et . By John Rice, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA - As the strains of "The Star-Spangled Banner" faded in the
wind at Havana's international airport, President Fidel Castro turned to his
visitor and said, "It's been a long time since that happened."
Jimmy Carter, the U.S. president who did more than any other to ease
tensions with Cuba, arrived for a visit on Sunday — the first time a U.S.
head of state, in or out of office, has come to the communist island since
Castro's 1959 revolution.
While both men spoke of the desire to improve relations, Carter's visit
comes at the latest in many moments of tension, following allegations last week
by Undersecretary of State John Bolton that Cuba is seeking to develop
biological weapons.
Castro denounced those claims as "lies" in a speech Friday and
challenged the United States to provide evidence. When Carter arrived, Castro
promised him "complete access" to any Cuban biotechnology laboratory.
Carter is scheduled to visit a major laboratory Monday, the Center of
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology on the outskirts of Havana.
Before that, Carter had his first meeting with Cuban government opponents.
Veteran rights activists Elizardo Sanchez and Oswaldo Paya entered Carter's
hotel in Old Havana for a breakfast meeting Monday morning. Both are
coordinators of Project Varela, a proposed referendum asking voters if they want
guarantees of individual freedoms, an amnesty for political prisoners, the right
to own their business and electoral reforms.
After Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, arrived in Havana on Sunday, Castro
escorted them to a wooden podium where flags from the two nations flew side by
side and both national anthems were played. "The Star-Spangled Banner"
is rarely heard in Cuba, though it was also played when the Baltimore Orioles
competed against a Cuban all-star baseball team here in 1999.
On Sunday night, a dark-suited Castro played host to Carter and his
delegation at talks and a dinner in the Palace of the Revolution.
The visit gave the Cuban leader an unusually high-profile chance to reach
out to Americans, and he used it by symbolically throwing open the doors of the
island to Carter, who has made a post-presidential career out of monitoring
elections in developing democracies.
Castro nodded in agreement when Carter asked if a Tuesday speech would be
broadcast live. "You can express yourself freely whether or not we agree
with part of what you say or with everything you say," Castro said. "You
will have free access to every place you want to go."
"We shall not take offense at any contact you may wish to make,"
he added, an obvious reference to the dissidents and human rights activists
Carter plans to meet.
Cuban officials have been irritated with some other foreign leaders who have
held similar meetings, but Castro said Carter had proved his sincerity in the
past.
"A man who, in the middle of the Cold War and from the depth of an
ocean of prejudice, misinformation and distrust ... dared to try to improve
relations between both countries deserves respect," he said.
Speaking in Spanish, Carter said he hoped "to discuss ideals that
Rosalynn and I hold dear ... peace, human rights, democracy and the alleviation
of suffering."
He said there were "differences on some of these issues" with
Cuban leaders, "but we welcome the opportunity to try to identify some
points in common and some areas of cooperation."
After the arrival ceremony, Castro gave the Carters a taste of the sort of
honors visiting heads of state received in the era of Carter's 1977-81
presidency: He joined the Carters in a black Soviet-made Zil limousine donated
to Cuba by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in the mid-1970s. It is used only for
the most distinguished guests.
Carter, the first former or sitting president to visit Cuba since Calvin
Coolidge came in 1928, has emphasized that his visit is private and that he will
not be negotiating with the Cuban government.
There have been 10 American presidents since Castro took power, and
relations were less hostile under Carter than any other.
As president, Carter oversaw the re-establishment of diplomatic exchanges
between the two countries and negotiated the release of thousands of political
prisoners. He also made it possible for Cuban exiles to visit relatives on the
island and, for a short time, for other Americans to travel here freely.
But relations have remained cold. A U.S. trade embargo is still in place and
visits by Americans are tightly limited, or are supposed to be: Tens of
thousands skirt or ignore the travel ban each year.
"Jimmy Carter! You are one of our best presidents! I love you!"
yelled Elaine George of Benicia, California, as Carter walked past the lobby
window of her hotel during a tour of Havana's historic district.
"I'm not supposed to be here," said George. "Don't tell my
mother!"
Carter Arrives in Cuba for Visit
Sun May 12, 9:03 Pm Et . By John Rice, Associated Press
Writer
Flashing his trademark smile, Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba on Sunday and
became the first U.S. president — in or out of office — to visit this
communist country since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power.
Dressed in a gray suit, Castro, 75, greeted Carter, 77, at the airport with
a handshake and symbolically threw open the doors of the island to the former
American head of state.
Carter, Castro said, could speak with anyone "even if they do not share
our endeavors," an obvious reference to human rights groups. He also said
Carter could go anywhere — including Cuban scientific centers, which U.S.
officials recently claimed could be working toward making biological weapons.
Carter said he and his wife, Rosalynn, had traveled here as friends of the
Cuban people and hoped to meet many during their five-day stay. Carter reminded
Cubans that he would be addressing them on live television Tuesday evening.
After their private jet arrived at 10:45 a.m., Castro escorted the Carters
down a red carpet and over to a wooden podium with the Cuban and American flags
flying alongside. They stood at attention for the playing of the Cuban and the
American national anthems. The "Star-Spangled Banner" is rarely heard
in Cuba, though it was also played when the Baltimore Orioles competed against a
Cuban all-star baseball team here in 1999.
"It is no secret that for almost a century there have not been optimal
relations between the two states," Castro told Carter in his brief remarks.
"However, I wish to state that in the four years of your tenure as
president, you had the courage to make efforts to change the course of those
relations. That is why those of us who were witnesses to that attitude see you
with respect."
Castro also told Carter he was welcome to expand his scheduled visit later
this week to a biotechnology institute to include other similar institutions
after recent U.S. charges his country is trying to develop biological weapons.
"You will have free and complete access — together with any
specialists of your choosing — to that or any other of our most prestigious
scientific research centers, some of which have been recently accused, just a
few days before your visit, of producing biological weapons," said Castro,
who has vigorously denied the accusations.
Carter has a science background, but in nuclear technology. He has a
bachelor's degree in science from the U.S. Naval Academy and as an officer in
the Navy, Carter did graduate work in nuclear technology and nuclear physics.
Reading his address in Spanish, Carter said he and the former first lady
were visiting "as friends of the people of Cuba and hope to know Cubans
from different walks of life."
The former American president said he looked forward to meeting with Castro,
as well as "representatives of religious groups and others to examine the
ideas that are important for Rosalynn and me," including peace, human
rights, democracy and the easing of human suffering.
Afterward, Castro joined the Carters in a black Soviet-made Zil limousine
for the trip to their hotel. The limousine was a gift to Cuba from then-Soviet
leader Leonid I. Brezhnev in the mid-1970s and is used only for the most
distinguished of guests.
Castro has been Cuba's head of state during the administrations of 10
American presidents. With none were relations less hostile than with Carter's.
As president from 1977-81, Carter helped re-establish diplomatic missions in
both countries and negotiated the release of thousands of political prisoners.
He also made it possible for Cuban exiles to visit relatives on the island and,
for a short time, for other Americans to travel here freely.
But a U.S. trade embargo is still in place after four decades and relations
are as chilly as ever. The American government also restricts travel here for
most of its citizens.
"Jimmy Carter! You are one of our best presidents! I love you!"
American Elaine George yelled out a window of a hotel bar as the former
president walked by on a tour of the historic district.
"I'm not supposed to be here," said George, of Benicia, Calif. "Don't
tell my mother!"
Carter, is the first former or sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba since
Calvin Coolidge came in 1928, has emphasized this is a private visit and that he
will not be negotiating with the Cuban government.
The White House and Cuban exiles want Carter, who has made a
post-presidential career out of monitoring elections in developing democracies,
to talk bluntly with his host about human rights and democracy.
After an afternoon meeting with Carter, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque
said they had not discussed the Varela Project, a petition filed Friday by Cuban
dissidents seeking a referendum to ask voters if they want individual guarantees
such as freedom of speech and the right to start their own businesses.
In Cuba's first official response since the petition was filed, Perez Roque
said it was "not a nationally produced production. It is an imported
product ... financed, supported and directed by outside interests," a
reference to the U.S. government.
Petition organizers deny outside involvement.
Carter becomes first U.S. president _ in or out of office _ to land in
Cuba
Sun May 12,11:23 AM ET
HAVANA - Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba on Sunday, becoming the first U.S.
president — in or out of office — to visit this communist country
since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power.
Dressed in a gray business suit Castro himself greeted a smiling Carter with
a handshake after his private jet touched down shortly after 10:45 a.m. (1445
GMT). He then greeted Carter's wife, Rosalynn.
Nearby was a wooden podium with microphones, flanked by the Cuban and
American flags.
Waiting nearby were two black Soviet-made Zil limousines, a gift to Cuba
from then-Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev in the mid-1970s. The vehicles are
used for only the most distinguished of guests.
Castro escorted the couple down a red carpet leading to the podium and the
all stood at attention as a military band played the Cuban national anthem, the
Bayamesa, followed by the Star Spangled Banner.
Castro welcomed Carter in a brief speech, telling him he was welcome to go
and talk to whomever he wanted to "even if they do not share our endeavors"
— an obvious reference to the human rights activists the former American
president is expected to meet with.
As president from 1977-81, Carter helped re-establish diplomatic missions in
both countries and negotiated the release of thousands of political prisoners.
He also made it possible for Cuban exiles to visit their relatives on the island
and, for a short time, for other Americans to travel here freely.
But a U.S. trade embargo is still in place after four decades and relations
are as chilly as they've ever been.
Calvin Coolidge was the last American head of state to come, in 1928.
Wayne Smith,the chief U.S. diplomat to Havana during the Carter
administration, said he didn't expect "any miracles." But he said "Carter
cannot achieve less than (President George W.) Bush has, which has been zero."
The Bush administration has hardened the U.S. stance toward Havana,
promising not to ease trade sanctions until Cuba holds free elections and
releases political prisoners.
Although Carter has emphasized this is a private visit and he will not be
negotiating with the Cuban government, people on all sides of the debate are
pressuring him to push their agendas.
The White House and Cuban exiles want Carter, who has made a
post-presidential career out of monitoring elections in developing democracies,
to talk bluntly with his host about human rights and democracy.
Exile groups also hope Carter will bring up Project Varela, a campaign by
Cuban activists to force a referendum asking voters if they want liberties such
as freedom of speech and the right to start their own businesses. The organizers
delivered their petition signatures to the legislature Friday.
Meanwhile, Cuban officials and a growing number of Americans who oppose U.S.
sanctions hope Carter will publicly condemn the trade embargo.
"To emphasize dialogue and engagement is the best means to advance U.S.
interests in Cuba and to promote political and economic reform on the island —
something the 40-year-old embargo has utterly failed to achieve," said
Sally Grooms Cowal, a former U.S. diplomat who is president of the Cuba Policy
Foundation.
Carter has long been on record as opposing the embargo. Earlier this year,
he said increasing trade and visits by Americans to Cuba could spread
understanding of the advantages of freedom.
Castro and Carter will have plenty of time to talk, especially during two
dinners that Castro plans for Sunday and Wednesday.
Carter is traveling with his wife, Rosalynn, and a small group of executives
and staff from the couple's nonprofit Carter Center in Atlanta.
They will tour renovation projects in historic Old Havana, an agricultural
cooperative, a medical research center and several schools. Carter is to make a
live televised address to the Cuban people Tuesday.
Carter's staff has said he will meet with members of human rights and
religious groups Thursday. The delegation is to depart Cuba around midday
Friday.
Cuban ambassador robbed at gunpoint in Mexico City
Sat May 11, 1:02 PM ET
MEXICO CITY - Cuba's ambassador to Mexico was robbed at gunpoint outside his
home in Mexico City, two blocks from a police base.
Ambassador Jorge Bolanos was held up Friday afternoon, embassy officials
said Saturday. Officials said they had no further details.
According to the Mexico City newspaper, Reforma, an unidentified assailant
pulled a gun on Bolanos and his driver shortly after they pulled up to the
ambassador's home. The gunman stole a watch and a 9 mm pistol from the car's
glove box before fleeing.
Police later stood guard outside the home.
The assault comes only days after President Vicente Fox declared crime
Mexico's most serious problem and launched a nationwide effort to combat it. The
plan will create multi-agency patrols of federal, state and local police to work
in crime-plagued cities across the country.
Castro Denies Weapon Charges by U.S.
Sat May 11, 6:03 AM ET
HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro vehemently denied American accusations that Cuba
is trying to develop biological weapons, calling the charges "lies" in
a televised speech and saying his country has nothing to hide.
Speaking live on state television, Castro called on U.S. officials to "present
even the most minimum proof" of the allegation Undersecretary of State John
Bolton made Monday.
"The only thing true in Bolton's lies is that Cuba is 90 miles away
from United States territory," said Castro, adding that the United States
would be unable to provide evidence of the claim because such evidence "does
not and cannot exist."
"No one has ever presented a single shred of evidence that our homeland
has conceived a program that develops nuclear, chemical or biological weapons,"
Castro said. "The doors of our institutions are open ... Cuba has
absolutely nothing to hide."
Castro's speech Friday was Cuba's first detailed response to the charges. In
a brief note on Thursday, Havana had simply described Bolton's statements as "loathsome."
The Cuban government has called out more than 100,000 people for a Saturday
morning rally in a Havana suburb to denounce Washington's "fallacies."
In an address to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research group in
Washington, Bolton said the Bush administration believes Cuba is trying to
develop biological weapons and transferring its technical expertise to countries
hostile to the United States.
The accusation marked the first time the United States raised the
possibility of involvement by Cuba, the only outright U.S. foe in the Western
Hemisphere, in weapons of mass destruction.
It seemed aimed at adding to the Bush administration's rationale for keeping
Cuba on a list of countries accused of engaging in international terrorism.
Castro said that his country opposes terrorism and noted that Cuba publicly
condemned the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States the same day they
took place.
He said any Cuban scientist discovered to be working on biological weapons
for the transfer to other countries would be tried for treason.
The Cuban leader described the United States as "a superpower that has
thousands of nuclear weapons ... but cannot vanquish the human being."
Castro's government in the past has accused the United States of using
biological means to destroy crops and livestock on the island.
Castro's comments came on the same day that Cuban activists mounted an
unprecedented challenge to his 43-year-old rule, delivering a petition to the
legislature demanding a referendum for broad changes in Cuba's one-party
socialist system.
The referendum would ask voters if they favor civil liberties such as
freedom of speech and assembly, and amnesty for political prisoners.
The petition, with more than 11,000 signatures, was handed in two days
before a planned visit from former President Carter, an advocate for human
rights and democracy who has been pressured by the White House and the Cuban
exile community to press those themes during his trip.
Cubans deliver petitions proposing unprecedented referendum to change
socialist system
Fri May 10, 8:54 Pm Et . By Anita Snow, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA - In an unprecedented challenge to Fidel Castro 's 43-year-old rule,
activists delivered more than 11,020 signatures to the National Assembly,
demanding a referendum for broad changes in Cuba's socialist system less than
two days before a visit by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Known as Project Varela,
the signature-gathering campaign is seen as the biggest homegrown, nonviolent
effort in more than four decades to push for reforms in Cuba's one-party system.
The petitions presented Friday propose a referendum asking voters if they
favor civil liberties like freedom of speech and assembly, and amnesty for
political prisoners.
"In Cuba, change for all rights will only be achieved if the majority
of Cubans decide to conquer them peacefully," campaign coordinator Oswaldo
Paya said.
The delivery of the petitions appeared timed with the visit by Carter, who
arrives Sunday for a five-day visit at Castro's invitation.
Carter, who historically has been an advocate for human rights and
democracy, has been pressured by the White House and the Cuban exile community
to press those themes during his trip.
Specifically, the U.S. State Department is asking him to tell Castro that
it's time for a rapid and peaceful transition to democracy.
The former president also should urge Cuban officials respect their people's
freedoms of speech, assembly and choice of leaders, department spokesman Richard
Boucher said Friday.
Carter plans to meet with Cuban activists to discuss human rights and
religious matters next Thursday, his staff has said. He also may meet with
petition organizers.
One of Cuba's best-known veteran activists said the campaign wouldn't
necessarily spell the end of Castro.
"Project Varela does not say that the government should go, but rather
that it make some modernizing changes," said Elizardo Sanchez, who also
coordinated the campaign. "The important thing about Project Varela is the
mobilization of Cuban society ... the rupture of the culture of fear."
"The heroes are these Cubans, more than 20,000 who signed this demand
for an opening in a written declaration," said Paya. He said that of the
20,000 signatures activists gathered in recent months, volunteers verified
11,020 — those that were delivered.
Paya and two other men showed up Friday morning outside the offices of the
National Assembly with two white boxes labeled "Citizen Petition."
Two uniformed guards let them inside, where they stayed just seven minutes
before delivering the petitions.
Cuba's constitution says the National Assembly should schedule a national
referendum if it receives the verified signatures of 10,000 legal voters.
There was no immediate response from Castro's government.
Asked by reporters in April about the campaign, Foreign Minister Felipe
Perez Roque said he doubted it would succeed and accused its organizers of being
on the U.S. government payroll.
Paya, who says the project has received no money from any government or
group outside Cuba.
"This is not project of the opposition, but a citizens' project to
attain the rights of all Cubans," Paya said, reading a prepared statement. "The
world should know that we Cubans are traveling our own road to improve our
society. Whoever wants to express solidarity with Cuba, and respect the
self-determination of Cubans, should support this demand for a popular vote."
According to Paya, state security agents have harassed workers on the
petition drive. He said agents had confiscated several thousand signatures, but
volunteers had gone out and collected more.
Named for Felix Varela, Cuban independence hero and Roman Catholic priest,
the signature drive was discussed by activists here as early 1996. But it wasn't
until the last year that volunteers begin collecting signatures in earnest.
Volunteers in recent months have verified signatures, visiting each person
who signed and ensuring name, address and national identity documents match.
Castro was scheduled to speak live on state television Friday night to
respond to U.S. charges that it is trying to develop biological weapons for
transfer to countries hostile to the United States.
U.S. State Dept. urges Carter to urge transtion to democracy in Cuba
Fri May 10, 3:43 Pm Et . By George Gedda, Associated Press
Writer
WASHINGTON - With former President Jimmy Carter due to visit Cuba on Sunday,
the State Department is imploring him to tell President Fidel Castro that it's
time for a "rapid and peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba."
Carter should also urge that Cuban authorities respect the "Cuban
people's freedoms of speech, assembly and to choose their leaders,"
department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
During his five-day stay, he will meet with government officials and visit
health care and educational facilities and a farm cooperative. A dinner meeting
with Castro is set for Sunday.
Carter, the first U.S. president in or out of office to visit Cuba since the
revolution, was a strong advocate of protection of human rights during his
presidency and is expected to raise that issue during his visit.
He plans to spent part of Thursday, his last full day in Cuba, meeting with
human rights and religious groups. A dissident group has been collecting
signatures for a petition aimed at forcing the government to allow greater
freedom.
It delivered 11,020 signatures on Friday to the National Assembly, 1,020
more than the number required to mandate a referendum. The petition drive has
faced government harassment since last year.
Carter has said he will use his visit to seek an easing of the U.S. trade
embargo against Cuba and of travel restrictions.
"That's the best way to bring about change, and not to punish the Cuban
people themselves by imposing an embargo on them, which makes Castro seem to be
a hero because he is defending his own people against the abuse of Americans,"
he told a television interviewer recently.
The Bush administration has vowed to maintain the embargo. It believes
providing economic benefits to Cuba could prolong what it considers a failed
regime and enable Castro to devote more resources to anti-American pursuits.
Last Monday, Undersecretary of State John Bolton accused Cuba using its
expertise in biotechnology to undertake research for biological weapons and to
transfer its know-how to pariah states in the Middle East.
Ironically, Carter is scheduled to visit a biotechnology institute in Havana
Monday morning.
President George W. Bush and Carter come at the Cuba issue from different
perspectives. Bush heads perhaps the most anti-Cuban administration since
President Reagan threatened to go to war with Cuba in 1981 because of its
support of leftist movements in Central America.
The administration is undertaking a policy review to determine the degree to
which Cuba damages American interests.
Carter, along with many in Congress, believes that the embargo plays into
the hands of hardliners in Cuba who are resistant to change. He supports moves
on Capitol Hill to ease restrictions on travel by Americans to Cuba.
Carter has spent considerable time preparing for the visit. He has been
briefed by a State Department official and by a representative of Cuba's
diplomatic mission here. He also has received a delegation from the
Cuban-American National Foundation, the most powerful anti-Castro lobbying
group.
Judge Acquits Flotilla Group
Fri May 10,11:47 AM ET
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Two members of a Miami group known for sailing
flotillas toward Cuba were acquitted of charges they intentionally sailed into
the communist nation's waters without U.S. permission.
Senior U.S. District Judge Norman C. Roettger said Thursday he agreed with
defense attorneys that the government had not provided evidence that Alberto
Perez and Pablo Rodriguez had intentionally violated federal law.
A third man, Ramon Saul Sanchez, was denied a request for an acquittal, so
his trial continues with the defense phase. The defense had made its request for
acquittal in all three cases after the prosecution rested.
Sanchez faces up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines if convicted.
The three members of the Miami-based Democracy Movement were charged with
breaking a law that bars U.S. ships from getting within 12 miles of Cuba's
coastline without a Coast Guard permit.
The group launched a flotilla last July to mark the seventh anniversary of
the death of 41 Cubans who drowned trying to leave the island in 1994.
Defense attorneys said Perez and Rodriguez were passengers on Sanchez's
boat.
Perez and Rodriguez said they intended to stay at the trial to support
Sanchez. | 
