For immediate release: May 10, 2002

Press contact: Brian Alexander with the Cuba Policy Foundation

Cell (202) 321-CUBA (2822)

U.S. CUBA POLICY IN FLUX AS CARTER HEADS TO CUBA

BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS FACE-OFF AS CARTER SEEKS DIALOGUE, ENGAGEMENT

Friday, May 10, 2002, Washington – As the Bush administration heightens its war of words against Havana, members of the U.S. Congress are taking moves to open relations with the island. The outcome of the trip of President Carter, who supports engagement and dialogue with Cuba, will have a significant impact on the Cuba debate back in the United States, according to Cuba watchers.

During his visit to Cuba, former president Carter will emphasize two sides of the U.S. debate on Cuba. He will raise human rights violations with the Castro government, which have become the main talking point for embargo supporters in the United States. But president Carter, a supporter of trade with Cuba and a proponent of lifting of the U.S. ban on American travel to the island, will encourage dialogue with Cuba and an easing of the four-decades-old U.S. embargo. During Carter’s Presidency, the travel ban was temporarily lifted, and diplomatic relations restored by the opening of interests sections opened in each country.

Members of the U.S. Congress support Carter’s views on Cuba. The newly formed bipartisan House Cuba Working Group also will announce a review of Cuba policy, which is expected to recommend Congressional measures that will ease the embargo. This Cuba Working Group announcement is likely to take place while former president Carter is in Cuba.

However, President Bush, who has said his administration “will resist all attempts to lift the embargo until XXX,” is expected soon to announce a review of Cuba policy that will include measures to step-up enforcement of restrictions already in place.

Even as Carter is in Cuba, U.S. agricultural goods will be arriving aboard ships into Havana harbor. Since November 2001, approximately $90 million in U.S. farm products have been contracted or sold to Cuba. These sales to Cuba are the first of their kind in over forty years, and were made possible under a 2000 law signed by then President Clinton. U.S. farm groups strongly support such sales, as Cuba has the potential to be an over $1 billion dollar annual export market to the United States.

By opposing the embargo and pressing dialogue rather than isolation, President Carter places embargo supporters in the United States in an awkward position. “Carter’s trip reflects the view of the majority of Americans, which is that engagement and dialogue are the best way to achieve political and economic reform in Cuba,” according to Ambassador Sally Cowal, president of the Cuba Policy Foundation. The outcome of this standoff remains to be seen.

According to public opinion polls by the Cuba Policy Foundation, the majority of Americans support lifting the embargo. By a wide margin, the American public also supports agricultural trade with Cuba. In a 2001 poll, 71.3% of Americans agree that American companies should be allowed to sell food to Cuba. Americans also want an end to the travel ban, with

For more information, please contact the Cuba Policy Foundation.