|
CUBA
NEWS
The
Miami Herald
Brazilian president seeks to keep today's
visit low-key
A South American leader with close ties to
Fidel Castro will walk on a political tightrope
during his trip to Cuba.
By Nancy San Martin, nsanmartin@herald.com.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva, South America's new pragmatic democratic
leader, will have to dance a political tango when
he steps on Cuban soil today for a visit with
his longtime comrade in the Western Hemisphere's
only remaining communist nation.
Armed with a $400 million line of credit and
accompanied by an entourage of high-level Cabinet
members and some 40 business executives, da Silva
is expected to sign new deals with Cuba that will
further advance Brazil's effort as a serious player
in the economic trading field.
CLOSELY WATCHED
But as he meets President Fidel Castro and participates
in a series of public activities, international
observers will be paying close attention to whether
da Silva reaches out to government opponents on
the island or criticizes human rights abuses.
''If he's going to maintain his credibility as
a freedom fighter, he needs to speak out on behalf
of the dissidents,'' said Miguel Díaz,
a South America specialist at the Center for Strategic
and International Studies in Washington. "This
visit is being closely watched, not only outside
but also inside Brazil. You cannot be a democrat
elsewhere and not in Cuba.''
The 57-year-old da Silva, a former trade union
activist, remains loyal to 77-year-old Castro,
a personal friend who has backed his three failed
presidential bids before he finally took office
in January. Castro made one of his recent trips
out of Cuba to attend da Silva's inauguration.
Da Silva also is nurturing a delicate relationship
with the United States, both the largest exporter
to Brazil and the largest recipient of Brazilian
products.
Apparently aware of the political risks involved
with this visit, da Silva's administration has
strived to keep it low-key.
DISSIDENTS' REQUEST
So far, da Silva has not responded to requests
by dissidents for a meeting. And Brazilian authorities
have said no public speeches are planned. However,
Thursday's Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, reported
that the Brazilian president will make reference
to the need for human rights improvements in Cuba
but did not say how.
Brazil is among the few Latin American countries
that have not joined world-wide condemnations
of Cuba's arrest of 75 dissidents who are serving
prison terms of up to 28 years.
GATHERING OF FRIENDS
The Cuban government has portrayed the trip as
a gathering of friends.
Da Silva is scheduled to meet twice with Castro
during the 24-hour visit. They are to discuss
possible cooperation in oil exploration and production
as well as joint efforts in the sugar industry.
Analysts said that if Brazil extends a credit
line worth $400 million to finance Brazilian exports
to Cuba, it would give the South American nation
a foothold in the region.
But Brazil, apparently concerned about a perception
of thumbing its nose at the United States, has
discreetly asked Cuba not to spew anti-American
rhetoric while da Silva is on Cuban soil, according
to Brazilian media reports. A flamboyant welcome
with a million Cubans on the streets also was
reportedly declined.
''We have to be careful to avoid diplomatic problems,''
a top Brazilian official recently told O Globo,
a newspaper in Rio de Janeiro.
"We don't want to make waves.''
Knight Ridder correspondent Kevin G. Hall
contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro.
Aznar's views on Cuba hailed
The Spanish prime minister tells exiles in
Coral Gables that a peaceful transition must take
place within Cuba.
By Nancy San Martin, nsanmartin@herald.com.
Posted on Thu, Sep. 25, 2003.
Spanish Prime Minister José María
Aznar told a group of Cuban exiles Wednesday that
a peaceful transition toward democracy in Cuba
must be fostered from within the island with outside
support.
''What I want for Cuba is what Spain has obtained,''
Aznar was quoted as saying by some of the 18 guests
invited to the private gathering at the Biltmore
Hotel in Coral Gables.
Aznar, who recently angered President Fidel Castro
with his strong condemnation of the mid-March
jailing of 75 dissidents, also branded Castro's
government as ''oppressive'' and condemned Cuba's
use of the death penalty, guests said.
''It was a very heartfelt expression of support,''
Miami lawyer Pedro Freyre said. Others at the
meeting included human rights activists, academics,
religious leaders and representatives of eight
exile organizations, including the Cuban American
National Foundation, the Cuban Committee for Human
Rights, the Cuban Democratic Directorate and the
Havana-based Christian Democratic Party.
PATH TO CHANGE
Aznar also sought input from the group about
how to achieve change in Cuba and said support
for democracy in Cuba is growing in the European
Union, the guests reported after the closed-door
meeting.
''He emphasized that there has been a watershed
of world opinion [against the Cuban government],''
said Damían Fernández, director
of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International
University.
Fernández described the gathering as ''very
civil'' despite some differences of opinion. Everyone
in attendance thanked Aznar for taking on a leadership
role in denouncing human rights abuses in Cuba,
he added.
''It was extremely formidable,'' said Diego Suarez
of the more hard-line Grupo por la Libertad de
Cuba. "Aznar has taken an impressive leadership
role. He spoke of the day after Castro being the
day when transition and reconciliation starts.''
''We agree with that,'' Suarez said. "The
Cuban people must achieve reconciliation.''
Aznar became one of Castro's public enemies after
worldwide condemnation of Cuba for the arrests
of the 75 dissidents. Castro lashed out against
the entire European Union but singled out Aznar
and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi by
comparing them, respectively, to Adolf Hitler
and former fascist leader Benito Mussolini.
CASTRO'S REACTION
Castro's outburst against traditional allies
and important trading partners came after the
EU issued a statement saying it was ''deeply concerned
about the continuing flagrant violation of human
rights'' in Cuba.
Aznar also addressed a dinner in his honor hosted
by the Spain-United States Chamber of Commerce.
He pledged his support to the United States in
the fight against terrorism and said Europe should
follow Spain's example in demonstrating solidarity.
Today, Aznar will participate in a business seminar
and attend a luncheon with Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.
He will then go to Tallahassee for a gathering
with Gov. Jeb Bush before returning to Madrid.
Cuban banker and longtime community leader,
Luis J. Botifoll, dies at age 95
By Fabiola Santiago. fsantiago@herald.com.
Posted on Thu, Sep. 25, 2003 in The Miami Herald.
Retired banker Luis J. Botifoll, hailed as the
dean of the Cuban exile community for his decades
of civic leadership and willingness to help thousands
of Cuban refugees obtain loans to launch new businesses,
died in Miami of heart failure Wednesday night,
shortly after returning home from a meeting with
the Spanish prime minister.
He was 95 and still active in the Cuban American
National Foundation, which he helped found in
1981. Botifoll, who turned Republic National Bank
into the nation's largest Hispanic-owned bank
while helping fellow Cubans start over in Miami,
was representing the foundation at a gathering
Wednesday night with José María
Aznar, who was visiting Miami.
He gave a short speech. He spoke to the press
afterward.
''It was his last mission,'' said CANF spokesman
Joe Garcia, who frequently lunched with Botifoll
and sought his advice. "He was a fascinating
man who got around with a driver, wore hearing
aids, but all the meetings ended with a commentary
from him. He was a man young of mind. He had this
clarity of mind, he knew how to lead.''
Botifoll, who lost his beloved wife of 70 years
on Aug. 2, had been to the cemetery to visit her
grave Wednesday, as he did every day, said his
grand-daughter Sofia Powell-Cosio.
''No matter how prominent he was in the community,
he was always a very humble person,'' Powell-Cosio
said. "He was always available to anybody
and he was willing to help anybody. Professionally,
the most remarkable thing was that he was friends
with the most diverse people in the world. He
believed that everybody, as long they had honest
intentions and were doing something positive for
Cuba, had a place and had a reason to be. He was
criticized sometimes for that, because he had
diverse vision.''
A viewing will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at
Caballero-Rivero-Woodlawn Funeral Home, 8200 Bird
Rd. A Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday
at Church of the Epiphany, 8235 SW 57th Ave.,
followed by burial at Woodlawn North Cemetery,
3260 SW Eighth St.
He is survived by his three daughters, Aurora
D. Powell, Lourdes Riera and Luisa Murai; son-in-laws,
Jorge L. Powell, Arturo Riera and Rene V. Murai;
eight grandchildren, Aurora Carrido, Carolina
Macias, Diana Powell, George L. Powell, Sofia
Powell-Cosio, Elisa Murai, and Arturo and Juan
Luis Riera, and 14 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, Botifoll wanted donations
to be made to Editorial Cubana at Belen Jesuit
School, Oficina Biblioteca Guiteras, attention
Jose Ignacio Rasco, 500 SW 127th Ave. Miami, Fl.
33184.
|
