Cuban cardinal meets with U.S. legislators,

CUBA-LEGISLATORS Dec-18-2006 (720 words) xxxi

Cuban cardinal meets with U.S. legislators, calls visit 'interesting'
By Catholic News Service

HAVANA (CNS) -- Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino called a
mid-December visit to his nation by 10 U.S. legislators "very interesting."

"It seems to me that they have a favorable attitude, and at this time of
year, when Christmas is near and we are so in need of peace and dialogue
among human beings, I consider this mission interesting, very
interesting," said Cardinal Ortega, archbishop of Havana.

The cardinal met Dec. 16 with the U.S. congressional delegation of six
Democrats and four Republicans.

"It was very pleasant. The legislators were pleased with our
conversation, and I was pleased with them," he told Catholic News
Service Dec. 17. "They want an improvement in the U.S. government's
relations with Cuba, and they have addressed various issues with Cuban
officials."

Asked about current prospects for bilateral relations between Cuba and
the United States, the prelate replied that "everything depends on
attitudes there in the United States."

During the visit to Cuba, which ended Dec. 17, the U.S. delegation met
with Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque; Ricardo Alarcon, president of
the national assembly; and Central Bank President Francisco Soberon. The
group also met with Yadira Garcia, minister of basic industry; Fernando
Remirez de Estenoz, head of international relations for the Communist
Party of Cuba; representatives of Alimport, the food importing company;
and Western diplomats.

At a press conference at the end of their three-day visit to Havana, the
legislators said that dialogue between the United States and Cuba has
begun, although Cuban officials have not acknowledged that "a new era"
has begun.

The visit came in the wake of conciliatory comments made Dec. 2 by Raul
Castro, ailing President Fidel Castro's brother who is acting as
president. Raul Castro said the two countries should settle their
differences at a negotiating table.

Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban revolution, is recovering from
intestinal surgery. On July 31 he temporarily turned his political
duties over to his brother, who is second in command in the government.
The U.S. lawmakers did not meet with Raul Castro, although they had
requested an appointment.

"Officials of the (Cuban) government told us that (Fidel Castro) does
not have cancer and that his condition is not terminal," Rep. Jeff Flake
(R-Ariz.), who headed the delegation, told the press conference.

In a joint statement, the legislators said it is "time for the United
States to enter a dialogue with Cuba."

"No one should be under the illusion that a negotiation with Cuba would
be easy, or that results would be guaranteed. But if we refuse to engage
in normal diplomacy, we are guaranteed to produce no results at all,"
the statement said.

The U.S. legislators called for regular consultation on issues such as
migration and drug trafficking, discussion of the environmental impact
that Cuban petroleum exploration could have on U.S. marine ecosystems,
and conversations about ways of collaborating on legal issues.

Rep. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., said the fact that Raul Castro used the
word "negotiation" indicates a willingness to take steps toward change.
Delahunt said he doubted there would be sudden changes in the country,
but he said he was confident that there was a willingness on both sides
of the Florida Straits to take advantage of what he called "a historic
moment."

"What we have been doing for 45 years did not work," said Rep. Gregory
Meeks, D-N.Y. "It has not led to a prisoner exchange. It has not done
anything. It has not brought about changes in Cuba ... so we need to do
something different, and that different thing would be to sit down and
talk. We can't be sure that will work, but we know that what has been
done did not work."

Meeks added that the legislative visit was not related to Fidel or Raul
Castro, but to foreign policy toward Cuba, which Rep. Jim McGovern,
D-Mass., called "a relic of the Cold War."

The lawmakers said the change in the balance of power in the U.S.
Congress could serve as a catalyst for future dialogue between the
United State and Cuba.

The two countries broke off diplomatic relations in 1961, two years
after the Cuban revolution. The only official relationship is through
the interest sections that were established in Washington and Havana in
1977.

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