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Jimmy Carter pushes for democratic reform in Cuba during historic visit

A day after making an unprecedented public critique of Cuba's one-party system, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met with a senior member of the Cuban government May 15 and discussed a dissident petition for reforms, known as the Varela Project.

Carter, the most prominent American to visit Cuba since the 1959 revolution, discussed the Varela Project with National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon, Castro's top adviser on U.S. affairs.

The project is a petition to the National Assembly signed by more than 11,000 Cubans calling for a referendum on reforms to expand civil liberties and was mentioned by Carter in his televised speech.

Carter's speech May 14, broadcast live to Cubans on television and radio, called for an end to a "destructive state of belligerence" between Washington and Havana and a lifting of the U.S. embargo.

He said political rights, such as freedom of expression and the right to assemble opposition groups, did not exist in Cuba.

In Washington, the White House welcomed Carter's criticisms of Cuba's human rights record but held fast to its defense of the trade embargo against Havana that Carter said should end.

Local dissidents said Carter's call for political freedom surpassed their expectations, but they were skeptical the state would allow change

Shukan ST: May 24, 2002

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News Jimmy Carter pushes for democratic reform in Cuba during historic visit A day after making an unprecedented public critique of Cuba's one-party system, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met with a senior member of the Cuban government May 15 and discussed a dissident petition for reforms, known as the Varela Project. Carter, the most prominent American to visit Cuba since the 1959 revolution, discussed the Varela Project with National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon, Castro's top adviser on U.S. affairs. The project is a petition to the National Assembly signed by more than 11,000 Cubans calling for a referendum on reforms to expand civil liberties and was mentioned by Carter in his televised speech. Carter's speech May 14, broadcast live to Cubans on television and radio, called for an end to a "destructive state of belligerence" between Washington and Havana and a lifting of the U.S. embargo. He said political rights, such as freedom of expression and the right to assemble opposition groups, did not exist in Cuba. In Washington, the White House welcomed Carter's criticisms of Cuba's human rights record but held fast to its defense of the trade embargo against Havana that Carter said should end. Local dissidents said Carter's call for political freedom surpassed their expectations, but they were skeptical the state would allow change Shukan ST: May 24, 2002 (C) All rights reserved