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CNN Live Sunday

Carter Arrives in Cuba

Aired May 12, 2002 - 17:01   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.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN ANCHOR: We first go to Cuba for latest on former President Jimmy Carter's landmark visit.

CNN's Kate Snow is in Havana and joins us now live with the details.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Jon. Well, President Carter right now meeting with the foreign minister of Cuba, Mr. Felipe Roque (ph). He has been in Cuba for all of six hours now, arriving this morning.

He, as you mentioned, is the first president to come here since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Really quite remarkable that the president is here.

At the arrival ceremony there was a very poignant moment when they played not only the Cuban national anthem but for the first time in 43 years other than at sporting events they also played the "Star- Spangled Banner."

Castro said he invited President Carter here not as a political maneuver, as he put it, but in recognition of his attitude toward Cuba and his history during his administration of trying to open things up between the two nations.

In light of recent accusations by the United States that Cuba is trying to develop biological weapons, Castro said that President Carter would be free to meet with anyone that he wishes and go to any scientific facilities he chooses.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FIDEL CASTRO, PRESIDENT, CUBA: You will have free access to any place that you may wish to see. And we will not feel offended at all for any contact that you may wish to establish including with those that did not share our struggles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Those that do not share our struggle -- that's an allusion to dissidents here in Cuba -- political dissidents -- who will be meeting with Carter on Thursday of this week.

Carter also set to visit a medical school, the university, a sanatorium, many social centers. He expects, he says, to talk with people from all walks of life.

You are seeing pictures now of President Carter after he changed clothes into something a little bit more moderate for the temperature here out on the streets of old Havana -- that's a traditional Cuban shirt that he is wearing. Old Havana, a section of Havana that they are trying to really gear up for tourism.

He was taken through this area, Jonathan, kind of interesting, not a lot of Cubans out on the street to greet President Carter. And we think that's because, number one, they didn't publicize where he was going to walk, and, number two, as I mentioned, it's really more of a tourist area -- not exactly where real Cubans live.

But, again, the president saying he wants to talk to as many Cubans as he can while he's here -- Jon.

KARL: Kate, those are just such remarkable pictures to see Jimmy Carter -- Rosalyn Carter -- there with their hands on their hearts singing while the national anthem plays. And think of that band, which I am sure had never been practicing the national anthem before. This is a Cuban band greeting them on arrival.

What I'm wondering, though, how is it that we have now gone so long without any president -- current or former -- visiting Cuba -- way back to Calvin Coolidge, which is way before Castro?

SNOW: Right. And no one since 1959 since Castro took over. I think mainly because no one has asked. No former president has the kind of record that President Jimmy Carter has in terms of establishing the Carter Center in Atlanta where he does a lot of work on human rights.

He has done a lot of outreach to Cuba after being president. He has reached out and held meetings in Georgia. He had a summit there at one point. He's tried to get people in exile in Miami and Florida -- Cuban exiles -- to meet with Cuban leaders.

So he has been working on the Cuba question for a long time. And he said today that it came up a few years ago that Castro mentioned, "why don't you come visit us sometime?"

It has taken them a few years, but finally Carter got permission to come here, and the Bush administration, of course, has let him come.

KARL: All right. Well, Kate, thank you very much.

I know you've got a live report -- a full live report -- tomorrow on the visit, fascinating visit -- and we look forward to hearing more from you.

While former President Carter is making a push for improved relations with Cuba, President Bush is taking the opposite approach with plans to implement even tougher policies.

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now with more on that -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jonathan, very interesting because just as former President Carter visits Cuba and hopes to ease tensions between the United States and Cuba, President Bush definitely preparing to take a tougher stance against Fidel Castro.

Now the president arriving back here at the White House a little bit earlier today. We have learned that the president is preparing a major speech to be delivered next Monday, also to visit Miami in honor of Cuban Independence Day.

In that speech, aides say the president expected to unveil a new approach when it comes to dealing with Cuba.

Now the White House has already made some moves. We know that earlier this week the State Department publicly accusing Cuba of developing biological weapons. That is a charge that Havana strongly denies.

While on this date, Secretary of State Colin Powell once again put that charge out there, this during an interview with a Russian television station.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES: We know that Cuba has been doing some research with respect to biological offensive weapons possibly, and so we think it is appropriate for us to point out this activity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now, President Bush has made it clear he believes that tightening not easing the decades old restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba is the best way to isolate Fidel Castro and hopefully pave the way for democratic change on the island.

We know the president ordered a full top to bottom review of U.S. policy toward Cuba. We understand that review is nearly done and some possible actions the president could announce include a couple things: Tightening even more travel restrictions when it comes to travel to Cuba, increasing aid to bolster Cuban dissidents and stepping up broadcasts of U.S. government information to get that to the Cuban people.

Now, Jonathan, these would be moves that would be applauded by Cuban American lawmakers, especially those in Florida. That is a crucial ally for any administration in that battleground state of Florida.

On the other side, though, you have lawmakers who say they also believe it is time for Fidel to go, but they believe it's time to end what they say has been a failed travel and trade ban. They say embargo is not working. It's time to end that and look for other ways to bring about democratic change in Cuba -- Jonathan. KARL: Yeah -- and it's interesting because strong majorities in both the House and the Senate are in favor of actually loosening that embargo.

But what I'm wondering, Kelly, is the president's upcoming speech on Cuba a response to Carter's visit?

WALLACE: We asked that question. Aides say no. They say the speech was planned well in advance of President Carter's trip.

Still, it will give the president an opportunity to counter any new pressure that might develop to ease sanctions following the visit of former President Carter to Cuba and it will also, though, be an opportunity to appease some Cuban Americans, some who have been somewhat unhappy with the approach this administration has taken so far. They wanted to see tougher restrictions on Cuba. So, they will be pleased with what they hear from this president -- Jonathan.

KARL: All right. Kelly Wallace at the White House. Thanks a lot.

WALLACE: Sure.

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