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CNN Live At Daybreak

Jimmy Carter Speaks at University of Havana Tonight

Aired May 14, 2002 - 05:16   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Former President Jimmy Carter speaks at the University of Havana tonight. The speech will be carried live on state run television and radio and he's probably going to be asked about allegations by the White House that Cuba is trying to develop biological weapons.

Our Lucia Newman is in Havana with more on this trip that is not without controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What was conceived as a visit to learn about Cuba's scientific achievements ended up highlighting a far more controversial issue. At the Center for Biotechnology, Jimmy Carter asked about U.S. allegations linking Havana with bioterrorism and questioned the Bush administration's motives for making the charges on the eve of his visit here.

PRES. JIMMY CARTER: I asked them specifically on more than one occasion is there any evidence that Cuba has been involved in sharing any information to any other country on earth that could be used for terrorist purposes? And the answer from our experts on the challenges was no.

NEWMAN: Mr. Carter says the Cubans assured him they were not exploiting technology to Libya or Iraq. It wasn't the only controversial subject of the day. When Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba Sunday to begin his historic visit, his host assured him he was free to go anywhere and meet anyone he pleased. Carter did just that by inviting two prominent government opponents to breakfast.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The most amazing thing for me is the good intention this man has brought with him to Cuba. We hope that the two governments, Washington and Havana, take this opportunity to start to twist in the bilateral relations that can't be any worse.

OSWALDO PAYA, CUBAN DISSIDENT: We summed up the situation in Cuba and our plans for peaceful and civic struggle, spurred by the new hopes raised by the Varella (ph) project, a subject Mr. Carter was very interested in.

NEWMAN: The Varella project is an unprecedented opposition initiative to introduce political change through a referendum, an initiative the Cuban government would rather ignore. So far, Jimmy Carter, a staunch human rights activist, has met behind closed doors with President Fidel Castro and his opposition and will continue to do so in the next few days.

Cuban people, meanwhile, are standing by with a mixture of curiosity and amazement about the visit of a former American president, once vilified here and now welcomed as a friend.

(on camera): One of the key moments of Mr. Carter's visit will be Tuesday night. That's when the people of Cuba will be able to hear his opinions in an address that he'll make at the University of Havana and which is scheduled to be broadcast live throughout Cuba on state run television and radio.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And be sure to catch our report on Cuba tonight live from Havana at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

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