By Jim Burns. CNSNews.com
Senior Staff Writer. January 22, 2002
(CNSNews.com) - Cuba's top diplomat took his government's campaign against
the U.S. trade embargo to Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday, prompting criticism from
a U.S. congressman.
Dagoberto Rodriguez, chief of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, was
invited to Palm Beach by Allan Manning, the president of a business group called
the Palm Beach Pundits.
Manning said he invited Rodriguez to speak to the group in hopes of
reactivating a Rotary Club chapter in Havana. Palm Beach Rotarians have
organized several trips to Cuba in the past, and Rodriguez said he would look
into the request about re-establishing a Rotary Club.
Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who represents the Palm Beach area in Congress and
knows Manning personally, said he didn't think it was wise for Manning to invite
Rodriguez to speak.
"It's as if we were going to bring somebody from the Taliban to talk
about opening a Rotary (Club) in Afghanistan," said Foley in an interview
with CNSNews.com. "I don't support Allan's invitation and I certainly
wouldn't have attended the speech," he added.
Manning told CNSNews.com that Rodriguez's trip to Florida was cleared by the
State Department, in accordance with federal law. He also said Rodriguez was
well received by those in attendance.
"The feeling here was that we should be reconsidering our dealings with
Cuba. We have opened up dealings with China and North Vietnam," said
Manning.
Manning also said the principle of free speech comes into play. "Our
group is non-political and we discuss all sides of issues. It isn't a question
of whether we support what the chief of the Cuban Interests Section said, but we
wanted to hear what he had to say. We were in disagreement on a number of his
positions."
Manning called Foley a good friend. "I would like to invite him to
address the Palm Beach Pundits so he can tell us why he is opposed to our having
the chief of the Cuban Interests Section address us," Manning said.
Rodriguez's speech was closed to the media but many of the attendees told
reporters that he expressed doubt about whether talks between the United States
and Cuba were imminent.
After his speech, Rodriguez told the Palm Beach Post that he has visited
several American cities and that feedback has been favorable to lifting the U.S.
embargo against Cuba.
"What we are hearing from the American people is a great desire to have
normal and civilized relations. From what we're hearing from U.S. government
officials, there isn't much hope of that happening soon," said Rodriguez.
President Bush has said there will be no lifting of the economic embargo
against Cuba until Cuban leader Fidel Castro frees all political prisoners and
holds free and fair elections.
Rodriguez said U.S. demands that Cuba hold democratic elections as a
condition of restoring diplomatic relations will not be subject to negotiation.
"We are willing to sit down in a civilized manner to discuss any issue
of a bilateral nature, but not our internal affairs. It's clear that we have
different viewpoints. We have an opinion on the U.S. political system, but I do
think it's time for thinking about common ground, rather than controversies,"
said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also predicted that Cuban exiles hoping for radical change when
Castro dies or steps down would be disappointed.
"There will be a tremendous impact psychologically, because Fidel has
been such an important historical figure. But Cuba is very organized and
institutionalized. I don't foresee any major changes," Rodriguez said. | 
