Twenty-five years after first attempting to close the chasm between Havana and Washington, a beaming Jimmy Carter arrived here Sunday, shook hands with Fidel Castro and began the newest chapter in Cuba’s quest for reconciliation.
Speaking in Spanish, Carter told Castro and the Cuban people that he is eager to witness their accomplishments and discuss human rights and democracy.
“We realize that we have differences on some of these issues but we welcome the opportunity to try to identify some points in common and some areas of cooperation,” Carter said in a televised welcome ceremony.
Dressed in a double-breasted, pinstriped suit, Castro heaped praise on the former president, calling him a man of courage who deserved respect for daring to improve U.S.-Cuba relations “in the middle of the Cold War and from the depth of an ocean of prejudice, misinformation and distrust.”
Castro offered Carter “complete access” to the country’s biomedical facilities and its scientists, an invitation aimed at deflating recent allegations by the Bush administration that Cuba is producing biological weapons and sharing them with potential U.S. enemies. Carter is scheduled to tour a key biomedical center Monday morning.
Anticipating Carter’s meeting Thursday with leaders of Cuba’s opposition movement, Castro reiterated that the former president may talk to anyone on the island.
“You will have free access to every place you want to go,” said Castro, 75. “And we shall not take offense for any contact you may wish to make, even with those who do not share our struggle.”
With the U.S. and Cuban flags fluttering behind them, the men stood at a wooden podium at Jose Marti International Airport while their national anthems, “La Bayamesa” and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” played.
They made brief remarks moments after Carter, 77, his wife, Rosalynn, and a delegation of friends and Carter Center officials arrived from Atlanta in a private jet about 11 a.m.
Castro led Carter down a red carpet to a receiving line, which included Cuban Foreign Ministry officials and the head of the U.S. Interests Section, the diplomatic mission that Carter helped establish in 1977.
The joint appearance by U.S. and Cuban officials is rare. After Cuba’s revolution, the two governments severed relations in 1961. Most recently they have engaged in a war of words. Carter’s visit is the first by a former or sitting U.S. president since 1928.
Bush has stated his unwavering support for the 4-decade-old U.S. embargo against the island nation and appointed anti-Castro Cuban-Americans to key positions in his administration. Most significant is Otto Reich, the State Department’s expert on Latin American affairs.
Last month Cuban officials angrily accused U.S. diplomats on the island of “electronic espionage” and subversive activities. Last week in Washington, Undersecretary of State John Bolton accused Cuba of developing biological weapons.
After the ceremony, Carter and his entourage began their busy five-day itinerary. After lunch and changing from a suit to sneakers, cream-colored pants and a white guayabera, Carter was led on a tour of Old Havana’s colonial treasures by city historian Eusebio Leal.
Carter waved at passersby, who chanted his name from bars and balconies. The historic quarter’s cobblestone streets were not as busy as usual as state security agents shooed away residents and tourists.
Asked what he thought of Old Havana just before re-entering the Santa Isabel hotel, Carter said: “Beautiful, don’t you think? Real lovely.”
Carter then changed back into a suit and drove to an hourlong meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque. At a news conference afterward, Roque said the two men shared their mutual interest in better relations between their two countries.
Roque said Carter did not ask about the Varela Project, a dissident-led petition drive calling for broad government reforms that was presented Friday.
As in the past, Roque said the project is sponsored by the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.
“It is an imported product,” Roque said. “It is a product financed, encouraged and directed by foreign interests.”
One of Carter’s last stops before dining with Castro at the Presidential Palace was a brief visit to the residence of the top U.S. diplomat in Havana, Vicki Huddleston. Staff from the Interests Section applauded Carter, who in turn praised them.
“We are very proud of all of you who serve our country here,” Carter told the excited crowd. “As you know, this is very challenging. For the last 100 years we’ve never solved the basic issues between our countries. I hope in some way our coming here will complement what you are doing here.”
Huddleston, who has been vilified by the Cuban government and frequently voices her support for the dissident community, said she found hope in Carter’s visit.
“You want so much for President Carter to be successful and achieve an opening which the Cuban people can walk through and have freedoms,” Huddleston said.
“When you see Carter here, you think maybe it’s possible.”
