Envoy takes Cuba's message to the U.S.

Posted on Thu, Dec. 14, 2006

CUBA
Envoy takes Cuba's message to the U.S.
Cuba is sending back-channel signals to the Bush administration on a
desire to begin talks.
By PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com

WASHINGTON - The Swiss ambassador to Havana came to Washington last
month in what is believed to be an effort to deliver a message from Cuba
reiterating its eagerness to open contacts with the Bush administration,
several persons familiar with the trip said Wednesday.

Ambassador Bertrand Louis met with State Department officials and
influential members of the Cuban-American community in Washington,
including Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, the persons added.

The Swiss embassy in Washington confirmed the visit but declined to
comment on its purpose. But those who met with Louis believe he came to
repeat Raúl Castro's message that he's willing to open talks with the
Bush administration.

In his talks with Cuban Americans, Louis also explored the exile
community's possible responses to Cuba's search for a dialogue with
Washington, according to those who met with him.

The Louis visit was the first sign that Raúl Castro is pulling
diplomatic levers beyond public view to communicate his position,
several Cuba watchers said. Castro has twice expressed a readiness to
talk with Washington since his brother Fidel ceded power July 31 for
health reasons.

U.S. RESPONSE

The State Department was tight-lipped on the Swiss envoy's visit, or on
any other back-channel efforts that may be taking place to bring the two
longtime foes to the negotiating table. ''We decline to comment on our
diplomatic consultations,'' said Eric Watnik, a spokesman for the State
Department.

The United States and Cuba do not have formal diplomatic relations, and
Switzerland acts as official host to both the Cuban mission in
Washington and the U.S. mission in Havana, known as interests sections.

Raúl Castro first made his offer to negotiate with Washington in an
August interview with Cuba's official newspaper, Granma, and then again
on Dec. 2, at a speech marking Fidel Castro's 80th birthday.

`INDEPENDENCE'

In both instances, he conditioned the talks on Washington respecting
Cuba's ''independence'' -- an apparent rejection to Washington's
precondition that Cuba must commit itself to a democratic path before
any earnest engagement can begin.

Emilija Georgieva, a spokeswoman for the Swiss embassy in Washington,
described Louis' visit as part of a ''framework of regular
consultations'' and noted that the Swiss ambassador in Havana travels to
Washington once every two or three years.

The Swiss ambassador carried a message that ''it was time to work out
the differences,'' according to one person familiar with the Cuban
government's outreach. Several sources consulted for this story declined
to be quoted by name because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The Bush administration has repeatedly said it has nothing to discuss
with Cuba at this time, a message that was reiterated to the Swiss envoy
by his interlocutors in Washington, according to those familiar with the
visit.

The State Department's top Latin America official, Thomas Shannon, told
reporters Wednesday that the administration has ''made it clear'' at ''a
variety of levels'' that the Cuban authorities had to initiate a
dialogue with its own people before talking to the United States.

`WAIT-AND-SEE'

''We're attentive to what will happen after Fidel Castro passes from the
scene,'' he said, ``but when we engage it has to be part of a process of
democratic change.''

Shannon said Washington was in a ''wait-and-see'' mode for events to
unfold in Havana, where Fidel Castro reportedly has terminal cancer.

Under Raúl, Shannon said, the Cuban government has ``become harder and
more orthodox.''

''So we don't feel that we've lost an important moment,'' he said,
``because, quite frankly, we don't see any significant possibility of a
change of any kind until Fidel's gone.''

Diplomats say many countries in Europe and Latin America, who condemn
the U.S. sanctions against Cuba, have urged the Bush administration to
talk with Havana.

Shannon recognized there were ''differences of approach'' with other
nations but that there was ''broad consensus'' on the importance of
promoting a transition to democracy on the island ``recognizing that
this is a transition that the Cuban people themselves have to make.''

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