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Castro wants to hear details on expected easing of U.S. sanctions
March 20, 1998
Castro during his exclusive interview with CNN
Web posted at: 4:31 a.m. EST (0931 GMT)Havana, CUBA (CNN) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro tells CNN he wants to hear the details of the expected announcement from Washington on Friday of an easing of sanctions against Cuba.
In an exclusive interview at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, Castro was willing to comment on reports of the possible resumption of direct flights between the United States and Cuba, the reinstatement of direct payments of up to $1,200 from Cuban-Americans to relatives living on the island, and an easing of restrictions on the sale of medicine and food to Cuba.
Excerpts from CNN's interview with Castro
VXtreme streaming video (3:15)
CNN's Lucia Newman on the interview
Castro, commenting on the possibility of an easing of restrictions said, "those three measures sound to me positive, they would be a positive thing, constructive measure that would be helpful and conducive to a better climate between the United States and Cuba, but as I'm telling you,we would have to study them fully to express our views in that connection."
On the streets of Havana and in workplaces in the capital, the news of the expected announcements from Washington is being applauded. For Cubans with family in the U.S., the resumption of direct flights between the two countries is seen as particularly important.
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Clinton set to ease some restrictions on Cuba
Transcript of CNN's interview with Fidel Castro
For Ibis Perez, an executive secretary who has family in Miami, the renewal of direct flights would be a tremendous help. "I think this is wonderful for family reunification. The people in the states can take these flights more often and more comfortably to see their relatives here. This will help them and it will help us here," she says.
Cuban-Americans have to fly through a third country to get to Cuba Washington suspended direct flights to Cuba two years ago in retaliation for Cuba's downing of two planes flown by a MIami-based anti-Castro group, Brothers to the Rescue. Since then, Cuban-Americans have had to fly, often illegally, through third countries to get to Cuba.
While President Castro sees the expected announcements as a positive step, he says he can only hope that U.S.-Cuba relations will someday become normal. "We trust that one day those relations will improve. As far as we are concerned, we are willing to do everything we can," Castro told CNN.
What Castro is not willing to do, as he has said many times before, is what Washington wants him to do most; renounce Cuba's communist political system.
CNN Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Cuba ordered to pay $187 million for fatal shootdown - December 17, 1997
- Families of Cuban shootdown victims to get day in court - November 13, 1997
- Cuban exiles mark anniversary of fatal shoot down - February 24, 1997
- FBI: Cuban shoot-down may have been planned - March 11, 1996
- Civilian U.S. planes shot down near Cuba - February 24, 1996
Related sites:
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- CubaWeb - National web site of the Republic of Cuba
- Cuban-American Pilots Association
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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