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CNN Sunday Morning

Jimmy and Roslyn Carter to Touch Down in Cuba

Aired May 12, 2002 - 08:01   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, our top story this hour, President Carter's trip to Cuba. He's due to arrive there in less than three hours.

Our John Zarrella is in Havana now with the latest on what we can expect.

Interesting get-together, to say the least, John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is, Kyra. And if you look back, you know, the last U.S. president, sitting or otherwise, to visit Cuba was in 1928. It was Calvin Coolidge. So it has been a long time. A lot of things have certainly changed here in Cuba over those long, many years.

At about 10:30 Eastern time, former President Jimmy Carter, his wife Roslyn and a delegation from the Carter Center in Atlanta will touch down at Havana's Jose Marti Airport, where, from now until next Friday, the former president will conduct meetings with all levels of people inside and outside of the Cuban government, including a group of dissidents towards the end of his trip here. Today, of course, there will be arrivals at the airport, there will be a walking tour through downtown, through the old section of Havana, and this evening a state dinner with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Now, the stated purpose of President Carter's trip is to perhaps mostly open a dialogue, to see if there is some common ground where relations can be bettered between the two countries. Of course, the Bush administration has been staunchly against any better relations or any easing of the trade embargo until the Castro government does some awfully serious things on this end, such as more open elections, announcing some open elections. And, of course, human rights issues are very, very prominent.

So it's going to be a very difficult battle for the president if he expects to accomplish anything very significant, the former president, while he's here.

The Carter administration back in the '70s had very good successes with the Castro administration. In fact, the intersection here in Havana and the one in Washington, the two diplomatic missions, were opened during that administration, the Carter administration. Thirty-six hundred political prisoners were freed in a deal during the Carter administration. And hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles have been allowed to fly back here to see their relatives because over a deal made during the Carter administration.

We had the opportunity to fly over here on one of the chartered flights that brings the refugees for a visit and we had the opportunity to talk with two women who were coming here to see their mother for Mother's Day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA (voice-over): For Emma and Maria, the waiting is almost over. It has been too long between visits and this one is special. They're going home to Cuba to see their 108-year-old mother for Mother's Day.

EMMA AUDEVERT, CUBAN EXILE: I'm very nervous last night because, you know, it's too long for me. I want to see her every day.

ZARRELLA: The charters to Cuba fly every day. Since they began during the Carter administration, hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles have been reunited with their families. They fill the luggage, then stuff the carry-ons. Emma and Maria's mom will have a good Mother's Day.

AUDEVERT: Clothes, perfume and shoes, medication, money for buy medicine in Cuba with the dollar, because they need the dollar.

ZARRELLA: The flight is full. They always are. For some, it's their first trip to Cuba.

(on camera): For Emma, Maria and other Cuban-Americans, the saying so close yet so far away is very real. This flight is going to take us about 40 minutes from Miami to Havana. That's less time than it takes to get from Miami to Orlando. Yet Cuban-Americans can only go home to visit once a year.

(voice-over): Only a family emergency can get you another trip. Maria touches up her makeup, thoughts of Cuba, of mom, on her mind. Before you know it, the Cuban coastline is below us. The applause is tradition. Outside Havana's Jose Marti Airport, families wait. Patience is a needed virtue. Slowly, the exiles emerge from Cuban customs to be swallowed up in the embrace of loved ones.

A relative spots Emma.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emma!

ZARRELLA: Where's Maria? More time passes, more reunions and finally, in her white dress with a red rose, Maria.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, gracia.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gracia.

ZARRELLA: Divided families, tears of reunion have fallen on this dusty pavement of Jose Marti Airport now for four decades.

(END VIDEOTAPE) ZARRELLA: It may be difficult for the former president to establish anything as significant as what he did during his administration. But clearly he is here to try. But he has also said he is not in favor of the U.S. embargo against Cuba, which is something that the current administration is holding firmly to.

This is John Zarrella reporting live from Havana.

PHILLIPS: John Zarrella, thank you so much. What a lovely package, perfect for Mother's Day. We appreciate it. Thank you.

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