This past week, former US President Jimmy Carter visited Cuba on a 3-day visit to discuss Cuba's economic reform and the strained diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US, which have existed since the Cold War. Carter was invited by the Cuban government to make this visit and met with President Raul Castro during his second day in Havana. He also met with members of Cuba's small Jewish community to learn about their role in Cuban society. His interest in this community comes from the imprisonment of USAID contractor Alan Gross, who came to Cuba to help the Jewish community establish internet connections, but has been accused by the Cuban government of subversive action by setting up illegal internet connections. Before heading to Cuba, Secretary of State Clinton urged Carter to ask for the release of Gross. Carter met with Gross in prison, but was unable to convince the government to release him anytime soon. In addition, Carter met with Cuban dissidents; on a visit to Cuba in 2002, Carter openly gave a speech in which he criticized Cuba's limited freedoms.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/29/cuba.carter.visit/index.html
Mark Zajac
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment