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CNN Live Today

Carter Tours Biotechnology Lab

Aired May 13, 2002 - 14:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the last hour, former President Jimmy Carter toured a biotechnology lab on the outskirts of Havana, part of his landmark five-day visit to the communist country.

Joining us now on Carter's Day, John Zarrella is with us live in Havana for more.

Hey, John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill -- good afternoon.

Well, that's right. Former President Jimmy Carter just concluding his visit there to that genetic engineering and biotechnology center. He spent about three hours in the center. During most of that time, he listened to questions and answers -- took questions and answers, listened to presentations by scientists and researchers there, and asked some questions on his own.

Now, that center has become tremendously controversial within the last week. The Bush administration has said that the center is working on biological weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)]

(voice-over): On his first full day in Cuba, former President Jimmy Carter, joined by Cuban president Fidel Castro, visited the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, considered by the Castro government one of the social state's crowning accomplishments, but now under attack by the Bush administration as a place where Cuba has developed limited bio-terrorism capabilities.

Carter stepped into the middle of the Washington-Havana fray from the minute he touched down in Havana on Sunday. In his welcoming remarks, Cuban President Fidel Castro told Carter he could look at anything he wanted.

FIDEL CASTRO, CUBAN PRESIDENT (through translator): You will have free and full access, with specialized staff that you will choose -- access to that or any other prestigious scientific research center, some of which have been recently accused of producing biological weapons.

ZARRELLA: Later, after a meeting with Carter, Cuba's foreign affairs minister was asked if President Castro's offer was also good for President Bush.

FELIPE PEREZ ROQUE, CUBAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MIN. (through translator): President Bush is not visiting Cuba. I do not doubt one day maybe he is. But he is not visiting Cuba now.

ZARRELLA: Cuba is fiercely proud of its research institutes, which have developed vaccines for hepatitis B and meningitis. They're working on medicines to promote the growth of new skin.

Like researchers elsewhere in the world, they're working on an AIDS vaccine and another to prevent Lime Disease in animals.

During a rally, and later a news conference, Cuba's research scientists called the bio-weapons allegations lies, and defended their work.

DR. JOSE FERNANDEZ, RESEARCH SCIENTIST (through translator): After dedicating more than 35, 37, 30 years of your life, and considerable effort, to saving human life, it is not easy to bear these accusations so unworthy and without ethics.

ZARRELLA: So far, the Bush administration has not produced any specific evidence to support the charges.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Now, before he left the center, former President Carter said that before he left on his trip here to Havana, he asked the State Dept. for a briefing on what, if any, intelligence they had to support the accusations of the development of any biological weapons.

He said that from that briefing, there was no evidence presented to support those allegations.

Now, alter today the president will go to a social worker's school in the town of Cojimar, not too far outside Havana. And then from there he will go to a medical school, the Latin American Medical School here.

So, once again, another full plate of activities today, and some controversial activities too, for the former president of the United States.

This is John Zarrella, reporting live, from Havana -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, thank you very much.

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