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April 23, 2002.
Cuba-Mexico relations deteriorate as Castro says Mexican leader
encouraged him to not to attend conference
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer. Tue Apr 23, 2:54 AM
ET
HAVANA - As Cuba-Mexico relations tumbled to one of their lowest points in a
century of diplomacy, Fidel Castro publicly aired a tape recording of Mexico's
president suggesting the Cuban leader not attend a U.N. conference last month.
Castro caused a diplomatic flutter when he abruptly left the poverty
conference in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey. Mexican officials had
vigorously denied charges they had orchestrated Castro's early departure.
Castro's playing of the tape disputing the Mexican account before a roomful
of international journalists Monday night is the latest in a series of incidents
that have soured relations between the historic friends in the last three
months.
The violent occupation of the Mexican Embassy in Havana by Cubans seeking to
leave the island, a meeting by President Vicente Fox and his Foreign Secretary
Jorge Castaneda with political dissidents here, and Castro's sudden departure
from the Monterrey summit all contributed to the damage.
For Castro, Mexico's human rights vote against Cuba last week was "the
last straw."
Before that, "I was reluctant to expose the evidence of what developed
in Monterrey," Castro said. "I could not disclose the evidence without
implications for the Mexican head of state."
Although Castro said he recognized his decision to air the private
conversation could lead to severed diplomatic relations, Fox spokesman Rolando
Elizondo told a news conference in Mexico City that his country had no plans to
cut ties with the communist country.
Nevertheless, Castro's dramatic playing of the tape was expected to have
deep repercussions for already ticklish Cuba-Mexico relations and could create
more political problems for Fox.
Many Mexican leaders — especially those on the left — still
identify their nation's revolutionary history with Cuba's. Mexico was the only
Latin American nation that refused to cut ties with the island after the 1959
revolution that brought Castro to power.
In the telephone conversation played Monday night, Fox sounds tentative
about Castro's last-minute decision to travel to the conference already
underway, saying "this surprise, at the last minute, creates many problems
for me."
Ultimately, the tape has Fox agreeing that Castro has the "absolute
right" to attend the conference.
But the Mexican president asks Castro to leave immediately after lunch the
day he was scheduled to give his lunchtime speech.
The day of his speech, Castro spoke before noon, describing global
capitalism as "a gigantic casino." He abruptly left the conference
shortly afterward, citing "a special situation created by my participation
in this summit."
U.S. President George W. Bush arrived at the conference shortly after
Castro left.
In Mexico City, Elizondo accepted the contents of the tape but said that
Mexico never unfairly pressured Castro.
"President Fox never asked his counterpart to not go to the Monterrey
summit," Elizondo said. "As the recording shows, the president of Cuba
accepted the agreed forms of participation which, at any time, he was within his
rights to reject."
He said the two presidents ended their phone conversation "as friends."
Fox's spokesman denied that the United States pressured Mexico into
discouraging Castro's participation in the summit or into supporting the U.N.
resolution as the Cuban leader charged.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva on Friday voted 23-21, with nine
abstentions, calling on Cuba to extend greater civil and political rights to its
citizens. It also exhorted Cuba to allow a U.N. representative to visit the
island — an idea officials here have rejected.
Almost all Latin American nations on the 53-member commission approved the
human rights measure. Mexico historically has abstained during the annual
exercise.
Castro Claims Mexican Pressure
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer Tue Apr 23, 3:15 AM
ET
HAVANA (AP) - As Cuba-Mexico relations tumbled to one of their lowest points
in a century of diplomacy, Fidel Castro publicly aired a tape recording of
Mexico's president suggesting the Cuban leader not attend a U.N. conference last
month.
Castro caused a diplomatic flutter when he abruptly left the poverty
conference in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey. Mexican officials had
vigorously denied charges they had orchestrated Castro's early departure.
Castro's playing of the tape disputing the Mexican account before a roomful
of international journalists Monday night is the latest in a series of incidents
that have soured relations between the historic friends in the last three
months.
The violent occupation of the Mexican Embassy in Havana by Cubans seeking to
leave the island, a meeting by President Vicente Fox and his Foreign Secretary
Jorge Castaneda with political dissidents here, and Castro's sudden departure
from the Monterrey summit all contributed to the damage.
For Castro, Mexico's human rights vote against Cuba last week was "the
last straw."
Before that, "I was reluctant to expose the evidence of what developed
in Monterrey," Castro said. "I could not disclose the evidence without
implications for the Mexican head of state."
Although Castro said he recognized his decision to air the private
conversation could lead to severed diplomatic relations, Fox spokesman Rolando
Elizondo told a news conference in Mexico City that his country had no plans to
cut ties with the communist-run country.
Nevertheless, Castro's dramatic playing of the tape was expected to have
deep repercussions for already ticklish Cuba-Mexico relations and could create
more political problems for Fox among leaders of other political parties.
Many Mexican leaders — especially those on the left — still
identify their nation's revolutionary history with Cuba's. Mexico was the only
Latin American nation that refused to cut ties with the island after the 1959
revolution that brought Castro to power.
In the telephone conversation played Monday night, Fox sounds tentative
about Castro's last-minute decision to travel to the conference already
underway, saying "this surprise, at the last minute, creates many problems
for me."
Ultimately, the tape has Fox agreeing that Castro has the "absolute
right" to attend the conference.
But the Mexican president asks Castro to leave immediately after lunch the
day he was scheduled to give his lunchtime speech.
The day of his speech, Castro spoke before noon, describing global
capitalism as "a gigantic casino." He abruptly left the conference
shortly afterward, citing "a special situation created by my participation
in this summit."
President Bush arrived at the conference shortly after Castro left.
In Mexico City, Elizondo accepted the contents of the tape but said that
Mexico never unfairly pressured Castro.
"President Fox never asked his counterpart to not go to the Monterrey
summit," Elizondo said. "As the recording shows, the president of Cuba
accepted the agreed forms of participation which, at any time, he was within his
rights to reject."
He said the two presidents ended their phone conversation "as friends."
Fox's spokesman denied that the United States pressured Mexico into
discouraging Castro's participation in the summit or into supporting the U.N.
resolution as the Cuban leader charged.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva on Friday voted 23-21, with nine
abstentions, to invite Cuba to extend greater civil and political rights to its
citizens. It also exhorted Cuba to allow a U.N. representative to visit the
island — an idea officials here have rejected.
Almost all Latin American nations on the 53-member commission approved the
human rights measure. Mexico historically has abstained during the annual
exercise.
Senator Criticizes Cuban Embargo
By Anita Snow, Associated Press. Mon Apr 22, 7:22 PM ET
HAVANA (AP) - The latest weapon in the arsenal of American politicians who
want warmer relations with Cuba: the humble baked bean.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer came to Cuba with a delegation packed with
Californians who brought California-grown beans — and then ate them at a
dinner with Fidel Castro that lasted until 3 a.m. Monday.
The California Democrat pronounced her plate of beans "wonderful"
and said it was a symbol of the benefits that can be gained when Americans and
Cubans cooperate.
"There are certain things that pull people together," including
food, said Boxer, who criticized the 40-year-old U.S. trade embargo against the
communist island.
"We have all come away with a single point of view on America's travel
ban and America's embargo: We oppose it because we believe that it is an old
policy for a new day," she said.
She suggested increased exchanges and cooperation would do more to improve
democracy and human rights in Cuba than the existing restrictions.
"We are doing nothing to move this country toward more freedom and more
rights," Boxer, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told a
news conference.
Boxer indicated she would support legislative changes that would let Cuba
use U.S. financing to buy products under a 2-year-old law that loosened the
embargo somewhat by allowing direct sales of American food to the island.
Currently Cuba must pay cash or obtain financing through a third nation to
buy U.S. agricultural products under the law.
Boxer said Cuban officials seemed very interested in products from America's
biggest farming state, including beans, rice, turkey, fruit and wine. "My
state has many products to sell to Cuba," she said.
The 24-member delegation included Bill Mattos, president of the California
Poultry Federation.
It also included British actress Julia Ormond, who Boxer said spoke with
Castro at dinner about the possibility of producing a documentary on ties
between Americans and Cubans.
She said that Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, also in the delegation,
talked about a project that would bring musicians from the two countries
together.
Boxer said she also met with Vicky Huddleston, chief officer of the U.S.
Interests Section — the American mission here — and with several Cuban
dissidents.
"I think that the dissidents should be heard here, that they make very
important points on human rights," the senator said.
She said the dissidents told her about their effort to force a referendum
that would re-examine some aspects of Cuba's system, from an amnesty for
political prisoners to opportunities for Cubans to run their own businesses.
Activists say they have gathered enough signatures for a referendum but have
not yet submitted them to the National Assembly for approval.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer says Castro looking forward to Carter
visit
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer. Tue Apr 23, 3:32 AM
ET
HAVANA - President Fidel Castro told a group of visiting Americans that he
is delighted with Jimmy Carter's upcoming visit and will invite him to address a
large group of Cubans on any topic the former U.S. president chooses.
"He says he is going to give permission to President Carter to speak to
huge numbers of people and say whatever he wants to say," U.S. Sen. Barbara
Boxer, a California Democrat, told international reporters Monday before
wrapping up a trip to the communist-run country.
Castro said as much last month when he spoke publicly for the first time
about the former American president's visit, saying that Carter could even talk
in the Plaza of the Revolution if he wished. The plaza historically has been
Castro's favored place for addressing large groups of people.
"He can criticize all he wants," Castro said in a nationally
televised speech at the time. "We only want him to see the country."
Boxer, who headed a 24-member delegation made up mostly of Californians,
indicated she thought the Carter visit would help promote relations between the
two countries.
During his 1977-1981 presidential term, Carter slightly eased diplomatic and
travel restrictions to Cuba and promoted the opening of interests sections —
missions that perform basic consular services in the absence of full embassies —
in both Havana and Washington.
Carter announced last week that he will head a delegation here May 12-17,
making him the first American president in or out of office to visit this
communist country during Fidel Castro's 43 years in power.
The visit by Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, comes amid a toughening of the
White House's policies toward Cuba. The State Department has said it hopes
Carter will deliver Castro a message in favor of democracy and human rights.
Staff members at the former president's nonprofit Carter Center in Atlanta
have said that Carter plans to discuss human rights in separate meetings with
Cuban leaders and dissidents.
Carter has said he does not believe that his trip will change Cuba's
policies, it will allow Cubans and Americans to discuss ways on how to improve
the relationship between their countries. | 
