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CNN Sunday Morning
Historic Cuba Trip for Former President Carter
Aired May 12, 2002 - 10:02 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Former President Carter's trip to Cuba, the former president's plane is expected to arrive in Havana this hour. John Zarrella is covering that ceremony for us. He joins us live now with a preview from Havana.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly an historic trip, but how significant it will be will probably remain unclear until the end of this five-day trip. The former president's plane should land here in less than 45 minutes, carrying a delegation from the Carter Center, including his wife. They will be greeted at the airport by Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Now, the stated purpose of this trip is to explore issues of mutual interest between the United States and Cuba and to find ways to share ideas on how to better relations. Now, the former president has of course stated publicly that he is opposed to the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
The current administration, the Bush Administration, is, on the other hand, taking a very hard line against Castro's Cuba, saying there will be no improvement in relations until the Castro government begins to move towards free and Democratic elections and more human rights for everyone here on the island.
But, if the former president, if anyone, can make some progress here, it's probably going to be him. His history during own administration was one of making progress with the Cuban government. During that administration, the U.S. intrasection here in Havana was established, as well as the one in Washington, D.C.; 3,600 political prisoners were freed in 1978 as part of a deal that also allowed Cuban Americans, living in Miami, exiles, to fly here to visit relatives.
We were fortunate enough to fly over on one of the chartered flights with a couple ladies coming to Cuba to visit their mother and celebrate with her on 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)
On the agenda today for the former president and his wife, a walking tour of old Havana, a meeting with Cuba's foreign minister, then a meeting with Vicky Huddleston (ph) who is the highest ranking U.S. diplomat here, and then, this evening, a state dinner with President Castro.
This is John Zarrella reporting live from Havana.
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