Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Carter Prepares to Visit Cuba

Aired May 11, 2002 - 09:04   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Former President Jimmy Carter is preparing for a historic visit to Cuba tomorrow. It will be the first time a current or former U.S. president has visited the communist country since it became a communist country.

The purpose of Mr. Carter's trip, to improve relations between the United States and Cuba. But the two countries appear to have conflicting agendas.

CNN Havana bureau chief Lucia Newman explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Very few Cubans who still walk the streets of Havana have ever welcomed an American president, even a former one. The last to touch Cuban soil was Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

So no wonder ordinary Cubans have high expectations about the visit of Jimmy Carter.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN (voice of translator): It is very good for our country. We will welcome him with open arms.

NEWMAN: The Cuban government hopes the visit by the highest- ranking American to come here since the revolution will be crucial -- crucial in convincing U.S. public opinion and Congress to ease four decades of U.S. economic and political sanctions against Cuba.

RICARDO ALARCON, PRESIDENT, CUBAN ASSEMBLY (voice of translator): President Carter represents the future, a day that will come in which there will be mutual respect and a good neighbor policy between the U.S. and Cuba, a future with a policy based on certain moral and ethical values.

NEWMAN: But Jimmy Carter's values include human rights, which is why he'll be meeting activists like Elizardo Sanchez. The leader of the outlawed by tolerated Human Rights and Reconciliation Commission met President Carter in Atlanta 10 years ago and asked him to try and help end the cold war between the U.S. and Cuba.

ELIZARDO SANCHEZ, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST (voice of translator): This is a once and only opportunity. If the Cuban government doesn't take advantage of it, it will be making a grave mistake. NEWMAN: Other government opponents fear President Castro will use the question of better relations with the U.S. to distract attention from the domestic issues of civil rights and political reforms.

JORGE OLIVERA, DISSIDENT JOURNALIST (voice of translator): I think the economic embargo and human rights should be put on an even scale.

NEWMAN (on camera): The vast majority of Cubans want friendly and normal relations with Washington. But, like the chicken and the egg, the dilemma here seems to be what comes first -- concessions from Washington, or political changes on this communist island.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com