Jimmy Carter to Speak Live on Cuban TV

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Ex-President Carter to Address Cuba

(c) The Associated Press 

HAVANA (AP), May 7--Former President Jimmy Carter will make a live,
televised address to the Cuban people during his visit here next
week, the only American head of state - in or out of office - to
visit this communist country.

Carter is to speak early Tuesday evening from the main auditorium of
the University of Havana, according to a schedule of his activities
here issued Wednesday afternoon by the Carter Center in Atlanta.

The subject of the speech was not announced, but President Fidel
Castro has said that Carter would be welcome to talk to a large group
of Cubans while he is here and issue any criticisms he likes.

Both the White House and Cuban exile groups have encouraged Carter to
address the issues of human rights and democracy during his stay
here, May 12-17.

In the latest such appeal, a group of U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday
sent Carter a letter asking him to discuss Cuba's political prisoners
with Castro.  Independent rights groups inside Cuba say they have
been able to document about 240 cases of prisoners of conscience
across the island.

``In Cuba, those who champion human rights, free speech and assembly,
and other democratic ideals are beaten, imprisoned, and tortured,''
U.S. Rep.  Chris Smith said Wednesday at a gathering in Washington of
12 members of Congress - including two senators - who sent the
letter.

``The challenge facing President Carter is that he must be upfront
and frank with Castro regarding Cuba's deplorable human rights
situation, said Smith, a Republican from New Jersey.

Castro will meet the former American president at the airport upon
his arrival Sunday and will be his dinner host twice - on Sunday and
again on Wednesday.

Carter will be accompanied by his wife, Rosalynn, and various
officials and staff from the couple's nonprofit Carter Center. Their
son Chip will also be in the delegation as president of a
non-governmental group called Friendship Force.

Carter is scheduled to see a variety of people, including top
government officials and religious groups and human rights
organizations critical of Castro's government.

05/08/02 19:00 EDT

 
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