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American Morning

In Cuba, Former President Carter Wrapping Up Historic Five-Day Trip

Aired May 17, 2002 - 08:40   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Cuba, where former President Carter is wrapping up his historic five-day trip today. After meeting with 23 political dissidents from all walks of life, including one who had just been released from prison less than two weeks ago, the former president is expected to hold a news conference later this morning.

CNN's Kate Snow has been covering the president's trip, and she joins us now from Havana.

Good morning, Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Paula.

Well, just the fact that President Jimmy Carter who came here at the invitation of Fidel Castro was allowed to meet with these dissidents is news itself, the fact that he was able to sit down with people who are highly critical of Fidel Castro.

At that meeting, we're told that President Carter mainly listened as the dissidents described jail conditions to him. They talked about the future of their movement here, and the Varela Project, something we've mentioned many times on this weeklong trip, a petition that was signed by 11,000 Cubans that calls for a referendum on the government and on human rights.

Now Carter did have one piece of advice for the dissidents, Paula, and that was that they needed to unify. Right now, they're a very splintered group. In fact, some dissidents don't agree with the Varela Project that I just mentioned, because they say that it's working within the communist system. They say that's no way to make any change or make a difference. But the dissidents did speak with one voice on one thing, and that is that they all feel that President Carter's visit here was successful. They were very pleased with yesterday's meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RENE GOMEZ MANZANO, DISSIDENT (through translator): We talked about the situation in this country. He heard our thoughts and compliments about his speech at the university.

OSWALDO PAYA, PROJECT VARELA (through translator): Undoubtedly his audacity, honesty and courage opens new hope for our people. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: We just picked up a copy of this morning's Communist newspaper -- it's called "The Gramma (ph)," just to show you here they are not mentioning anything about President Jimmy Carter's visit in this morning's newspaper.

But, Paula, in yesterday's newspaper, something very remarkable happened. They reprinted the entire speech that Jimmy Carter gave here on Tuesday night. Wednesday morning's paper had coverage, but it didn't really mention some of the more critical aspects of his speech. Well, yesterday morning's paper had the whole thing word for word, Paula. that is a very significant step for Fidel Castro to take, for him to allow his newspaper to publish that. Some see it as a gesture that Castro thinks he can make in order to open things up for the U.S.

Back to you.

ZAHN: And, Kate, we mentioned before we got into your report that President Carter will be holding a news conference, and I understand you will have a one-on-one interview with him after that. Have you been given any indication about some of the things he will be willing to address about this trip?

SNOW: No, and I think that's what's interesting about this press conference and our opportunity to talk with him, Paula, is he's been really tight-lipped through this whole trip. Normally we're sort of used to getting briefings and press conferences everyday when an official visit happens. Well, on this trip, President Carter has said almost nothing to the press, has not granted any interviews until today.

He wanted to make sure, I think, that the trip went well, that he was able to meet with those dissidents without any problems and interference. And now that the trip is over, we're going to hear what he thought of the trip, what he thinks he's accomplished. We're going to ask him about the future holds, and particularly the difference that he has with the Bush administration. You know, he's calling for a real opening up, for lifting the embargo. That's not what the Bush administration is pushing for.

So will his trip here really matter? Will he be able to take back a message to the Bush administration and the U.S.?

Paula.

SNOW: Thanks so much, Kate. We look forward to seeing that interview. And I know as soon as we can get it turned around, we'll be watching it on CNN.

Thanks. Have a good rest of the trip.

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