Vol. 17, No. 9 October 2009

www.cubanews.com

In the News New travel, trade, telecom regulations

How far can he go? benefit Cuban exiles — but few others GAO finds that White House still has wide BY ANA RADELAT restrictions on Cuban-American travel – which discretion to bend the rules ...... Page 3 resident Obama’s first foray into U.S.-Cuba were restricted to one trip every three years and policy is creating a two-tiered system — only to visit immediate family members — so 3 mega-projects P one for Cuban-Americans and a second for exiles could travel to Cuba once a year. all other U.S. citizens. The president now has now liberalized Water works aimed at alleviating floods, The administration’s long-awaited implemen- Cuban-American travel even further. drought in eastern Cuba ...... Page 4 tation of his Apr. 13 announcement that he’d Exiles can now send unlimited amounts of relax some embargo rules eliminated barriers money to Cuban nationals who are even remote- Political briefs for exiles who want to visit relatives in Cuba or ly related to them, opening the way for exiles to send them money. lawfully fund businesses in Cuba. Previous reg- Luís Posada spied on Cuban exile groups; But new regulations related to telecommuni- ulations limited such remittances to $300 every Wilhelm, Simmons settle suit ...... Page 5 cations, trade, direct mail service and agricul- three months. tural sales are likely to provide only limited “We didn’t expect [the new regulations] to be opportunities because of restrictions and resist- as broad,” said José “Pepe” Hernández, co- Obama’s ‘new beginning’ ance from Havana. founder and president of the Miami-based White House must streamline efforts to The new regulations, unveiled Sept. 3, allow Cuban American National Foundation, who wel- improve U.S.-Cuba relations ...... Page 6 exiles to visit “close relatives” in Cuba, defined comes the changes. “As far as Cuban-to-Cuban broadly to include even the cousins of an exile’s interaction, more is better.” grandparents. Exiles can now travel to Cuba as But Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), a champion Newsmakers many times as they wish and stay there as long of the embargo, opposed the liberalization of New Mexico’s Gov. Bill Richardson talks as they want. remittance rules, said the senator’s press secre- exclusively to CubaNews about his recent In March, Obama lifted Bush administration See Regulations, page 2 three-day visit to Havana ...... Page 8 Critics: State Department terrorist list, Manzanillo & Baracoa Two small — yet very different — airports which targets Cuba, ‘reeks of hypocrisy’ on opposite ends of Cuba ...... Page 10 BY LARRY LUXNER financed from secret bunkers in Damascus, Business briefs n Dec. 29, 1979, the State Department Havana, Khartoum and Tehran. For example, North Korea is no longer on the Cuban drug undergoes U.S. clinical trials; released its “state sponsors of terrorism” Oblacklist for the first time. All four coun- list, even though it still pursues nuclear wea- China to build Havana hotel ...... Page 12 tries singled out were radical Arab “rogue” pons in violation of numerous UN resolutions. nations: Iraq, Libya, South Yemen and Syria. And Pakistan, home of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Bookshelf Today, nearly 30 years later, only one of the Khan — widely believed to have supervised a clandestine international network of nuclear Cuban Landscapes; Cuba in the Shadow of original four, Syria, remains on that list, along with three other bad boys: Cuba (added in weapons proliferation involving Libya, Iran and Change and Road to Havana ...... Page 14 1982), Iran (1984) and Sudan (1993). North Korea — was never on the list to begin South Yemen came off the list in 1990 after it with, perhaps because from the beginning Isla- DVD or not to be? merged with the Yemen Arab Republic, Iraq was mabad has been an ally in Washington’s highly publicized war on terror. Possible video of Juanes concert in Hav- dropped following the U.S. invasion of 2003, and Libya was quietly removed in 2006 after Col. “I think the idea of identifying countries in- ana raises U.S. legal issues ...... Page 15 Muammar Qaddafi renounced terrorism and volved in terrorist actions against other coun- weapons of mass destruction. tries does make sense,” said Wayne Smith, sen- CubaNews (ISSN 1073-7715) is published monthly But critics charge that the list “reeks with ior fellow at the Center for International Policy by Luxner News Inc. © 2009. All rights reserved. hypocrisy,” saying it has less to do with reality and former chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Subscriptions: $429 for one year, $800 for two years. and more to do with political expediency. Havana. “But when some nations are on the list For editorial inquires, please call (301) 452-1105 and there’s no evidence at all to support them or send an e-mail to: [email protected]. After all, it’s highly doubtful that the whole world’s terrorist acts are all planned and See Blacklist, page 7 2 CubaNews ❖ October 2009 Another obstacle to trade is the political Most U.S. telecom and computer compa- Regulations — FROM PAGE 1 component of the Obama initiative. nies contacted for this article — including tary, Afshin Mohamadi. Menendez is con- The administration said the purpose of the AT&T and Microsoft — had no comment on cerned the new flow of dollars to Cuba will new regulations is to “promote democracy the issue. Neither did the Telecommunica- strengthen its economy. and human rights” and called them a continu- tions Industry Association. While the White House did not heed ation of the embargo-tightening 1992 Cuban Verizon spokeswoman Marta Mandala said Menendez on the remittance issue, the Democracy Act’s goal of destabilizing the her company is still reviewing the regula- Cuban-born senator was assured by the Cuban government through the free flow of tions. But former AT&T executive Jorge administration that a new regulation concern- information. Escalona, a telecom expert and founder of ing U.S. farmers hoping to travel to Cuba The new telecom regulations: Enlasis Consulting, calls the rules a “huge won’t make those trips much easier. ■ authorize payments to Cuba to provide step” toward opening the Cuban market. Congressional supporters of the measure telephone, including wireless telephone, serv- Escalona believes the greatest opportuni- wanted U.S. farmers and medical salesmen to ice to individuals on the island. ties will be found in new cellular phone serv- have unrestricted access to the island under a ■ authorize the provision of satellite radio, ice, notng that the new regulations, for the Internet and television service to Cuba. first time, let Cuban-Americans buy mobile “general license” from the Treasury Depart- ■ ment instead of having to apply for a new authorize the establishment of facilities phones for relatives in Cuba and arrange for license each time they wanted to visit Cuba. to provide fiberoptic cable and satellite serv- U.S. companies to provide that service. ices in Cuba. But the new regulations, limited to those ■ He said ETECSA and Cubacel, the compa- who “regularly employed by a producer or authorize telecom executives and sales- ny’s wireless subsidiary, “would be open to distributor of agricultural or medical items,” people to travel to Cuba in search of business discussing” the opportunity to earn new require qualified travelers to send written re- opportunities and to attend trade shows and income through roaming agreements. ports to Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets professional meetings. Carlos Saladrigas, co-founder of the Cuba Control (OFAC) “describing the purpose and Robert Muse, a Washington-based attorney Study Group, said “we need to find ways to scope of such travel” at least 14 days before who specializes in Cuba issues, said the move to liberalize telecom rules are “fraught with actually get equipment into Cuba to expand making a trip. its telecom infrastructure. The rules still don’t Within 14 days after returning to the historical tensions” exemplified by Cuba’s battle against U.S. government broadcasts of allow for direct investment, and until they do, United States, travelers under the new gener- we’re not really improving telecom there.” al license must send OFAC another report, Radio and TV Martí. “Given the contentiousness of the issue of Saladrigas added: “My only fear is that the describing all business activities conducted, administration is falling into the trap of condi- people with whom they met in the course of broadcasting, this is just a very odd place to begin an opening to Cuba,” said Muse. tionality. This is tantamount to giving Cuba such activities and all expenses incurred. veto power over our actions, and that is not in In addition, U.S. representatives of agricul- There are other obstacles to U.S.-Cuba tele- com trade. our best interests.” tural and medical companies must make sure Tomas Bilbao, the group’s executive direc- their free time in Cuba doesn’t exceed what it The Cuban Democracy Act prohibits in- vestment by any U.S. company in Cuba’s tor, said Obama’s initiative is a positive step — would be if they were working a 40-hour work but that he had hoped for quicker action and week and must keep all receipts and docu- domestic telecom network. That means U.S. companies can’t provide equipment, techno- fewer restrictions. Bilbao told CubaNews “the ments from their trips in case OFAC wants to logical expertise or services to ETECSA, U.S. government has to get out of the busi- examine them. Cuba’s state telecom monopoly. ness of micromanaging Cuba’s transition.” ❑ “The paperwork has always been cumber- some and I’m not sure it’s changed all that much,” said Jake Colvin, vice-president of the National Foreign Trade Council. “My under- U.S. official’s Cuba visit a sign of warming ties standing is what is required now is similar to uban authorities last month invited a that has occurred under the Obama adminis- the old system.” State Department official to turn her tration (see related story this page). Obama also changed Treasury rules to Cbrief visit to the island into a six-day U.S. officials have also resumed talks on allow facilitate direct mail between the United stay that included meetings with officials, migration that the Bush administration halt- States and Cuba. opposition figures and people from Cuban ed in 2003. Craig A. Kelly, the principal Another Obama initiative letting U.S. civil organizations, U.S. officials said. deputy assistant secretary of state for West- telecommunications companies do business State Department spokesman Philip J. ern Hemisphere affairs, met with his Cuban in Cuba is encumbered by restrictions. And Crowley told the Washington Post Sept. 30 counterpart earlier this summer in the high- the Cuban government, which has tight con- that Bisa Williams, deputy assistant secretary est-level such talks in years. trol over information and access the Internet, of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, was isn’t likely to agree to allow a flood of But Obama has held off on bolder meas- “taking advantage of an opportunity to have ures, insisting that the Castro regime first American TV programs and other U.S.-based further talks on specific subjects.” information. take steps to improve its human rights record “I wouldn’t characterize this as any kind of and move toward democracy. “It’s all kind of academic until Cuba says it’s a breakthrough,” he said of the previously willing to participate in those projects,” Officials had announced that Williams was undisclosed trip. traveling to Cuba for talks Sept. 17 on re- Colvin said of the new telecom opportunities. But Julia E. Sweig, a Cuba expert at the An editorial in the official media the day establishing postal service between the two Council on Foreign Relations, told the news- countries, which was cut off in 1963. The after they were announced called the new paper that U.S. diplomats are rarely permit- Cuban government asked her to stay on for regulations “a cosmetic coat of paint slapped ted to travel around Cuba and hold such over brutal U.S. sanctions.” meetings for years. additional discussions, a State Department The truth is, Cuba has little need for what “This is definitely a departure from stan- official said, speaking on condition of anony- U.S. telecom firms might offer. It upgraded dard practice for a good 10 years at least,” mity due to the delicate diplomacy involved. its telephone system years ago through a Sweig told the Post, adding that she knew of Crowley said Williams met with Cuba’s joint venture with Telecom Italia and buys no other case in recent years in which a U.S. deputy foreign minister, Dagoberto Rodrí- technology from other nations. diplomat had been invited to extend a visit guez and “civil society” representatives to dis- In fact, the day after the new regulations and discuss issues affecting Cuba. cuss political and economic issues. He said were published, China announced that it had The invitation to extend the visit appeared she also visited hurricane-ravaged areas of extended a $300 million credit line for Cuba to be another sign of a warming of relations Pinar del Río province in western Cuba. ❑ to buy satellite communications equipment. October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 3 FOREIGN TRADE GAO: Obama has liberal authority to ease Cuba embargo BY ANA RADELAT and Potential Presidential or Congressional purpose, the better,” said Hernández. But s soon as President Obama was sworn Actions,” says the White House still has wide he’s not sure there’s a consensus in the into office in January, foes of the U.S. discretion to bend the rules if it wants. Obama administration “on how far to go.” Aembargo against Cuba asked federal In September, the Obama administration One reason more travel restrictions haven’t investigators to determine how much author- lifted restrictions on Cuban-American travel been loosened, Hernández suggested, is that ity he has to ease sanctions. to the island, and on the amount of money and key nominees have yet to join the president’s The result: a recent Government Accounta- value of gift packages they send family mem- foreign policy team, including Arturo Valen- bility Office study — available in PDF format bers. But the GAO said Obama has the zuela, Obama’s choice for assistant secretary at www.gao.gov/new.items/d09951r.pdf — that authority to go even further — eliminating of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. says the president can go much further in restrictions on the types of articles that can be Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is blocking Valen- authorizing American travel and other activi- included in gift packages and allowing Cub- zuela’s Senate confirmation vote to protest tiees and begin lifting sanctions upon detem- ans besides family members to receive them. the administration’s policy on Honduras. rining Cuba has a transitional government The GAO also said the president could let The GAO report also said the president has that does not include Raúl or Fidel Castro. U.S. telecommunications firms enter into wide discretion to determine when a transi- The study was requested by liberal Reps. broader joint ventures with Cuba’s state-run tion government — or democratically elected Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Barbara Lee (D- phone monopoly and could issue a general government — is established in Cuba. CA), and by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) — among Treasury Department license allowing ves- A transition government that does not the most conservative members of Congress. sels that visit Cuba to sail into U.S. ports. include either of the Castro brothers would Despite ideological differences, all three Those ships are now banned from docking trigger the beginning of lifting all sanctions lawmakers share a disdain of the embargo. at U.S. ports for 180 days after visiting Cuba. under the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, and a dem- “It is our hope that this GAO report will GAO: NO TIMEFRAME NEEDED TO LIFT SANCTIONS ocratically elected government in Havana serve as a roadmap to finally reject a failed would allow for a full lifting of the embargo. and outdated policy that has not resulted in In addition, the GAO has determined that But the report said the White House does any advances for the Cuban or American peo- the president can ask Treasury to issue gen- not have to adhere to a specific timeframe to ple,” Rangel said in a statement. “A thorough eral licenses for other American travelers — lift sanctions. rethinking of our policy regarding our nearest including freelance journalists, professional While the president may have broader Caribbean neighbor is long overdue, and we researchers and full-time students — all of authority to ease sanctions, he may not want believe that the time to act is now.” whom are now required to apply for individ- to use it. Obama has repeatedly said he won’t Beginning shortly after Fidel Castro ual Treasury licenses to lawfully visit Cuba. make major changes in his Cuba policy until assumed power in 1959, Congress imposed a Although he opposes lifting all travel re- there’s a positive response from the Castro series of restrictions on travel and trade with strictions on U.S. citizens, Francisco “Pepe” regime in Havana. ❑ Cuba that has eroded presidential authority Hernández, founder of the Cuban American over the embargo. National Foundation, wants Obama to broad- Ana Radelat is a Washington-based freelance But the 40-page GAO report, entitled “U.S. en cultural and academic travel to Cuba. journalist and has been covering Capitol Hill for Embargo on Cuba: Recent Regulatory Changes “The more Americans who go there with a CubaNews since the publication’s birth in 1993. New rules ease money transfers, but high fees remain BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA who asked not to be identified. “There are not own Cuba-bound money transfer operations. uban exiles who voted for President as many customers with jobs here.” For those few banking entities who are seri- Obama can no longer complain that he’s CubaNews got a similar response from a ously studying the possibility of competing not living up to his campaign promise of rep at the Va Cuba money transfer agency, with Western Union and independent outfits C like Va Cuba for the Cuban remittance mar- change. Already, travel rules have been liber- which has five offices in Miami, Hialeah, and West Palm Beach. ket, they might consider lowering their fees alized for Cuban-Americans wishing to visit Eduardo Bencomo, president of the Cuban in order to lure customers. their relatives as often as they like. And now, state holding company Cimex (whose finan- An estimated $1.4 billion annually makes its for those unable to visit, the U.S. Treasury cial services arm, Cubapack, has an agree- way to Cuba via both wire transfers processed Department’s new rules allow exiles to freely ment with Western Union) confirmed this through Cubapack as well as more informal send money transfers to loved ones in Cuba. negative trend over the summer. means, such as professional “mules” and According to Treasury’s Office of Foreign Those Cuban-Americans who regular wire cash-carrying relatives arriving from the U.S Assets Control, close relatives (such as aunts, money to their relatives complain that they and elsewhere. uncles, cousins and second cousins), along still have to pay high fees. However, only time will tell whether banks with immediate family members, can now Outfits like National Multiservice still decide on competing for a piece of Cuba’s wire funds to Cuba. Family visiting Cuba can charge $23 to send $100 to Cuba, exorbitant remittance action, which may rise again when now carry up to $3,000 in remittances. compared to what Western Union, for exam- the U.S. economy recovers. “We do hope to increase our network to ple, charges for the same amount going to the If they choose to do so, their strongest Cuba,” said Western Union spokesman Dan- nearby Dominican Republic ($8). sales pitch will be their presumably stable iel Díaz, noting there are already 3,000 agen- One Cuban-American we spoke to said that reputation, and security that any funds sent cies authorized to send money to the island. the difference in such fees ($15 in this exam- will indeed get to their intended recipients — Despite Western Union’s expansion plans, ple) can buy a hearty lunch at Latin American something not necessarily guaranteed with cash remittances to Cuba and elsewhere in Café in Miami’s Bayside Mall. the “mules,” who are only accountable to Latin America have shrunk considerably. OFAC now allows “depository institutions” themselves in the end. ❑ “The economic climate is still not stable, to conduct money transfers to Cuba. However, Vito Echevarría is a New York-based freelance due to the recession,” said one money trans- the current economic slowdown will probably journalist who writes regularly for CubaNews fer agent at National Multiservice in Hialeah dissuade most banks from launching their about art, culture, music and e-commerce. 4 CubaNews ❖ October 2009 INFRASTRUCTURE Changing Cuba’s geography: 3 crucial water projects BY DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI Astrain Rodríguez, general director of the Tanamo and Moa, while westbound will ince the devastation of Hurricane Flora Direccion Integral de Proyectos-Trasvases. reach north-center areas of the Cauto Valley, in 1963, Cuban authorities have under- Work began in 2005 and it’s expected that by down to Las Tunas (and its three major reser- S taken many projects to mitigate the 2015 the three projects will be completed. voirs El Rincón, Cayojo and La Cana) and impact of floods and, at the same time, con- The projects are aimed at regulating the north of Camagüey. This segment alone com- serve water resources and improve irrigation usage of fresh water from rivers and creeks, prises most of the 80 kms of mountain tunnels and retaining and redistributing rainfall from systems to deal with prolonged drought. involved in the three projects. the three major mountain ranges of Cuba ■ Trasvase Centro-Este. First, a complete Dams, reservoirs, canals, and irrigation (Sierra Maestra, Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa, and systems were built, boosting reservoir capac- rehab project is underway to improve the Río Guamuhaya-Escambray) and funneling it to Zaza dam (the biggest dam in Cuba, holding ity from 29 million cubic meters in 1959 to dry areas that have been traditionally more around 9 billion cubic meters by 1986. one billion cubic meters) and its network of affected by droughts and floods. canals, while several new dams and large Yet after 1986, the system collapsed and the The idea is to make water available to new government failed to invest in new projects. reservoirs will be built around this area and and rehabilitated irrigation systems as well the Río Agabama basin. A new dam is to be The 1998-2005 drought was a disastrous expe- as urban aqueducts and sewer systems. The rience, followed by the extremely devastating constructed and then connected via large projects cover nine of Cuba’s 14 provinces: canals with Ciego de Avila and the southern consequences of the 2008 hurricanes. ■ Trasvase Este-Oeste. This is the lar- areas of Camagüey, down to the Muñoz dam. In this context, authorities decided to link gest of the three, and the most demanding in Cuba’s largest river, the Río Cauto — with its ■ Trasvase Norte-Sur. Connecting the terms of engineering technologies and large- Río Toa (where a major canal will be construc- basin covering 8% of Cuba’s territory — via a scale funding. major waterway with the Guirabo dam, in an ted together with 17 kms of tunnels carrying It aims to connect the Guirabo-Mayari water), the Río Yateras (a new dam will be effort to provide additional water to Holguín dams with other dams such as Melones and province. A new dam, the Mayarí or Melones Sabanilla (Biran), both of them located in the built here along with a 3.5-km-long tunnel), dam, holding 630 million cubic meters, Mayari mountains, and from there to the San and the Río Guaso with the Sabanalamar sys- should be completed by spring 2011. Andrés dam in Holguín province. tem (its dam and canals) and the large reser- Three huge projects, known as Proyectos- These will be interconnected with the old voir of Pozo Azul. Trasvases, are being carried out by the engi- dams of Nipe (after its complete rehab), The project also envisions the construction neering corps of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Gibara, Colorado and Naranjo. Six new dams of canals and a 11.8-km-long tunnel, carrying Forces, working together with the Instituto will be added by the completion of the proj- fresh water to the Valley of Caujeri, in the Nacional de Recursos Hidraúlicos (HNRI). ect, so freshwater may flow from east to southern portion of Guantánamo province. Representing FAR, is Col. Pedro José west, meaning east to connect with Sagua de See Water, page 7 October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 5 POLITICAL BRIEFS CIA: POSADA SPIED AGAINST OTHER CUBAN EXILES In their own words … Recently released CIA files from the mid-1960s show that Cuban exile and accused terrorist Luís “Music should be able to travel as freely as air, no matter what we think, no matter what our religion. Above and beyond all our differences, we are all Posada Carriles informed on violent Miami-based brothers and sisters. The future is in your hands: let’s change it for the better.” efforts to attack the fledgling Castro regime even as he was deeply involved in helping them. — Colombian rock singer Juanes, visibly moved by the crowd of 1.1 million The Associated Press reported Oct. 7 that in Cubans who attended his concert Sept. 21 at Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución. the files, the CIA also appeared confident that Posada was a moderate force who would not “The cultural barriers are down. All the artists’ words were from the heart. embarrass the agency or the United States. They said ‘Cuba’ and I swear I was shaking with emotion; I felt more Cuban The files come from a group of CIA papers than ever.” declassified between 1998 and 2003 and obtained — Amaya Terry, 20, telling the news service IPS how she felt about the concert. by Peter Kornbluh of the National Security Archive through the Freedom of Information Act. “The peace concert has been held. Anyone who doesn’t like it can lump it.” “A15 is not a typical kind of ‘boom and bang’ — Juan Formell, leader of Los Van Van orchestra, quoted in the same IPS story. individual. He is acutely aware of the internation- al implications of ill-planned or overly enthusias- “It’s not that I wouldn’t like [to overthrow the Castro regime]. It’s that I’m tic activities against Cuba,” Posada’s CIA handler, smart enough, and I have enough experience in these things, to know that Grover T. Lythcott, wrote in a July 26, 1966, that is not possible, and that it’s counterproductive at this time because the memo, using a code name for the Cuban exile. Cuban people don’t want that, and we don’t have enough resources.” Posada, 81, would later be accused of planning Francisco “Pepe” Hernández the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976. He cur- — , co-founder and president of the Cuban American rently faces immigration fraud charges in Texas. National Foundation, in a Sept. 12 interview with the Associated Press. DEATH OF ALMEIDA, 82, MARKS END OF AN ERA “From my perspective, President Obama fulfilled his campaign promises to The Sept. 12 death of Juan Almeida Bosque, a the letter, though I wish he had promised more.” vice president who was one of the last giants of — Carlos Saladrigas, co-founder of the Cuba Study Group, in a phone interview. Cuba’s 1959 revolution, plunged the island into mourning and was a stark reminder of the mor- “It’s about giving, rather than taking away ... It’s about opening the door to tality of all of Cuba’s aging leaders — including rationality and savings, about liberating the country from a burden that it can- brothers Raul and Fidel Castro. not continue to carry.” Almeida was the first of Cuba’s revolutionary — Editorial in Granma, estimating the annual cost of Cuba’s free-lunch program leaders to die since Raúl’s wife, Vilma Espin, a at around $350 million. In early October, cafeterias in four ministries were shut. one-time guerrilla commander in her own right, passed away in June 2007 at the age of 77. “I defend, not only for myself but for all Cubans, the freedom of information State media said Almeida, 82, died of a heart and the right to the free exchange of ideas.” attack but “will live on forever in the hearts and — Cuban singer and Castro supporter Amaury Pérez, who performed recently with minds of his compatriots.” Juanes, during a 25-minute phone interview with Miami TV host Oscar Haza. Almeida was one of three surviving rebel lead- ers who still bore the title “Commander of the Revolution” and a highly visible member of Cu- “While neither side is saying what was discussed, I believe that the presi- ba’s old guard, mostly men in their 70s and 80s. dent has authorized these talks because he has a plan for bridging the chasm between Cuba and the United States that has existed for 50 years ... These WILHELM SETTLES LAWSUIT AGAINST SPY CATCHER talks are taking place because the president decided it’s the right thing to do.” Sarah Stephens, executive director of the Center for Democracy in the A defamation lawsuit filed by a Cuban exile — Americas, quoted Sept. 29 in a New York Times article about U.S.-Cuba talks. against a U.S. counterintelligence expert who branded her a Havana “agent” was settled out of court, reported Juan Tamayo of El Nuevo Herald. “The bloggers, mainly young adults from a variety of professions, have “The case of Silvia Wilhelm vs. Chris Simmons opened a new space for free expression in Cuba, while offering a fresh glim- has been settled. The terms of the resolution are mer of hope for the rebirth of independent ideas in Cuba’s closed system.” confidential,” the two sides said Sept. 30. — New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, in a Sept. 11 report attack- Wilhelm’s Ft. Lauderdale lawyer, Bruce Rogow, ing the “systemic harassment” of bloggers and independent journalists in Cuba. declined comment; so did Simmons, a retired Cuba expert at the Defense Intelligence Agency. “People [looking to export to Cuba] get discouraged. They confuse being During a Miami TV show last October, Sim- nicely received by the Cubans with the idea they’re going to get business. mons said convicted Cuban agent Carlos Alvarez, Cuba is limited [in its ability to buy imports], and they’re price-conscious. You a former professor at Florida International Uni- almost have to have a certain passion to really want to be there.” versity, had identified Wilhelm in his confession. — Jay Brickman, VP of government services at Crowley Maritime Corp., quoted Simmons, who played a key role in identifying Sept. 7 in a Miami Herald story about selling agricultural commodities to Cuba. Ana Belén Montes, the DIA’s top Cuba analyst, as a Havana spy, also accused six others of being Cuban agents during his Miami TV appearances. “To get to go to Cuba and have softball as the vehicle is a double win.” Wilhelm, a Cuban-American opponent of the — Bob Clifford, a 64-year-old outfielder with the Eastern Massachusetts embargo, flatly denied the allegation and filed a Senior Softball Association, which will send 60 members to Havana — lawsuit against Simmons for malicious slander. all 57 to 74 years old — to play against Cubans of equal age and ability. Simmons said he based his allegations on de- classified records, interviews with various Cuban defectors and other witnesses he didn’t identify. 6 CubaNews ❖ October 2009 POLITICAL ANALYSIS Obama must streamline efforts to improve US-Cuba ties BY DOMINGO AMUCHASTEGUI allowing U.S. oil companies to drill in Cuban quires a consistent political will on the part of s long-dormant talks resume between waters — but Obama has implicitly and repea- the Obama administration. the United States and Cuba, keep one tedly refused to take such an initiative. Unfortunately, recent White House actions A thing in mind: these meetings mean lit- The crux of the embargo lies now within indicate an opposite approach to the “new tle unless other parties are brought into the the halls of Congress. But after the summits beginning” policy espoused during the Port picture. If not, there will be no tango to dance. at Port of Spain and San Pedro Sula, various or Spain summit in April. Many matters of substance are not in the bills aimed at undermining or bypassing dif- Earlier this year, the administration ratified hands of the executive branch or the U.S. Pos- ferent aspects of the embargo remain frozen. Cuba as one of the world’s four state sponsors tal Service. Congress and the judicial branch There appears to be no initiative in sight — of terrorism. Singer Silvio Rodríguez was play a big role in these talks, while judges in from either the White House or congression- denied a U.S. visa to attend Pete Seeger’s 90th South Florida — strongly linked to Cuban- al leaders — to bring these bills to a final vote. birthday. Obama ratified the embargo, and American voters and lawmakers — have the Is it because there just aren’t enough votes, only a few weeks ago, the State Department power to jeopardize these talks in many dif- or because the White House has sent a clear denied a visa to Ricardo Alarcón, president of ferent ways. And this is already happening. message that it’s not interested in the issue? Cuba’s National Assembly. So if the White House really wants serious Steve Clemons commented Sept. 14 in his Alarcón, Cuba’s top U.S. expert and trouble- and comprehensive negotiations, it must blog, The Washington Note, that “by stating shooter — with whom informal and explo- streamline the federal government’s political that he will not lift the embargo until Cuba un- ratory talks could have been held discreetly and institutional framework as a whole. That dertakes democratic and economic reforms, — had been invited to Washington by the means not beating around the bushes with Obama is perpetuating a fallacy that condi- Congressional Black Caucus. minor issues at the top of its agenda, while the tionality produces results in Cuba’s domestic Noted the Associated Press: “Obama by- real beef — matters of substance — remain internal affairs. That approach has failed for passed an opportunity to suggest a willingness off the agenda, seriously jeopardizing even decades — and needs to be dropped.” for easing U.S.-Cuba animosity.” So true. ❑ the minor issues. It took almost nine months to legally clarify President Obama’s simple announcement relaxing rules on Cuban-American travel and remittances to Cuba. Now the administration is negotiating direct mail service, but how LARRY LUXNER long will it take? Will it be viable? Will Cuban authorities and planes have the same gurantees when landing on U.S. territo- ry with their share of the mail? A long chain of questions remains unanswered — and those answers are not exclusively in the hands of U.S. negotiators. TERRORIST LIST PRECLUDES EVERYTHING ELSE The official rhetoric from the White House is that mail, telecommunications and other initiatives mentioned in early 2009 by several key Obama advisers are aimed at helping the Exiles belonging to the hardline Vigilia Mambisa protest warming U.S.-Cuba ties at a Miami trade expo. “Cuban people.” Officials keep on talking Recently, Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) predicted about the “Cuban people” but not the Cuban Water— FROM PAGE 4 authorities — as if the people would be their that by year’s end, a Cuba travel bill allowing interlocutor. But they know perfectly well that all U.S. citizens to visit the island may pass a Along with these crucial projects, a number their interlocutor is the Cuban government. final vote in the House of Representatives. of sewer and aqueduct grids, pumping sta- Any initiative requires negotiations and According to his math, 37 votes are still tions and other installations have been com- agreements with Cuban officials, yet accord- needed to reach the magic number of 218. pletely renovated or replaced in many central ing to Washington these authorities represent Imagine that it’s finally approved. The bill and eastern urban centers — entailing major a regime that supports terrorism. then needs to be hammered out with the investments in both Cuban pesos and dollars. In accordance with such classification, the Senate, and then comes the huge obstacle: In Holguín province, some $12.2 million United States cannot have normal relations — U.S. citizens cannot travel to a terrorist state. and 35 million pesos were spent on water works between 2007 and 2009, according to meaning tourism, direct mail and telecom TALKS MUST TAKE ON A NEW APPROACH arrangements — with such a state. René Mesa Villafana, president of HNRI. So first things first: remove Cuba from the Furthermore, the court system could cre- The government hasn’t released the total State Department list of terrorist states (see ate and multiply obstacles of every sort. It cost for these projects on a national level, article in this issue, page 1). A host of presti- might, for example, validate the confiscation though they clearly rank as the largest public- gious retired U.S. generals and admirals and of Cuban assets (planes, boats, etc) to be used works endeavor now underway in Cuba. several lawmakers have suggested this re- against compensation claims or any type of At the same time, Cuban authorities claim peatedly, but no one is actually listening. charges against top Cuban leaders. to be following strict environmental regula- Will the State Department make its policies Negotiations with Cuba must take on a dif- tions. The government says forests now cover more constructive path anytime soon? That ferent approach. They must clear away dis- 15% of the Río Cauto basin, a number expect- doesn’t seem very likely. It’s the same story crepancies between branches and institutions ed to rise to 23% by 2015. with Congress and the embargo. of government by establishing a strong feder- During a recent inspection tour, President Executive orders can bypass some aspects al “eminent domain” policy to avoid obstacles Raúl Castro was said to be quite adamant of the embargo — for example regarding and tensions. Above all, however, this re- about adhering to environmental standards. ❑ October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 7

Blacklist — FROM PAGE 1 Basque separatist group ETA and two terterrorism standards until 2003, when Colombian rebel groups — FARC and ELN — Qaddafi agreed to let U.N. inspectors oversee being there, it’s counterproductive.” remain free in Cuba. the dismantling of Libya’s nuclear weapons The State Department designates countries But it noted that last July, former President program and accepted legal responsibility for determined to have “repeatedly provided sup- Fidel Castro urged FARC to free the hostages the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over port for acts of international terrorism” pur- they were holding without preconditions. And Lockerbie that killed 270 people. suant to three laws: Section 6(j) of the Export Castro “has also condemned the FARC’s mis- “When Libya opened its arms to the West Administration Act, Section 40 of the Arms treatment of captives and of their abduction of and endorsed Washington’s unilateral counter- Export Control Act, and Section 620A of the civilian politicians who had no role in the terrorism policies, it received a prize. When Foreign Assistance Act.” armed conflict.” Cuba fails to do so, it remains blacklisted,” In simple English, this means that under The State Department said it has “no evi- said Bloch. “Yet despite this, Cuba certainly is U.S. law, such countries may not buy dence of terrorist-related money laundering no more a terrorist state than Libya.” weapons, defense-related equipment and cer- The Syrians are also eager to make their tain “dual-use” items from the United States. case that the State Department list is a work It also implies various financial and other of politics. Like Iran, Syria officially remains a restrictions aimed at punishing them for their State Sponsors state sponsor of terrorism because of its out- support of international terrorism. spoken support for Hamas and Hezbollah — Of Terrorism both of which are committed to Israel’s de- CUBA’S ON THE LIST, BUT NOT NORTH KOREA struction. These groups operate and train mil- The four main categories of sanctions The list made headlines in October 2008, itants on Syrian territory, often with the tacit when President Bush removed North Korea resulting from designation under these approval of the Assad regime in Damascus. after it agreed to verification of its nuclear authorities include restrictions on U.S. Ahmed Salkini, press attaché at the Syrian weapons programs. The regime in Pyong- foreign assistance; a ban on defense Embassy, disagrees and says his country has yang had been branded a terrorist-supporting exports and sales; certain controls over remained on the list for 30 years “because state in 1988 after its bombing of a South exports of dual use items; and miscella- unfortunately, U.S. policy is based on Israel’s Korean airliner, and after it gave asylum to neous financial and other restrictions. interests.” Salkini said that “far from support- members of the Japanese Red Army Faction. ing terrorism, Syria is the forefront of the North Korea’s removal from the blacklist Country Designation Date war” against terrorism. was a major triumph for leader Kim Jong-il, In the meantime, U.S. trade relations with who in May conducted an underground Cuba March 1, 1982 Syria have suffered tremendously as a result of the designation. “We’ve been on it for a nuclear test. In early September, North Korea Iran January 19, 1984 announced that it had nearly completed the long time, and it’s definitely had a negative reprocessing of spent fuel rods, from which Sudan August 12, 1993 impact on our economy,” he acknowledged. plutonium is extracted to make nuclear Syria December 29, 1979 BEING ON LIST HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES weapons, and that “uranium enrichment tests have been successfully carried out and that Indeed, getting off the list is just as impor- process is in the concluding stage.” SOURCE: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT tant as having sanctions removed because In retrospect, says Nicholas Szechenyi, a both forms of punishment come with severe or terrorist financing activities in Cuba,” but economic consequences. specialist in Northeast Asian affairs at CSIS, said Havana still allowed members of U.S. mil- Bush’s decision to delist North Korea was “The terrorism list is more than a symbol of itant groups like the Boricua Popular, or an anachronistic policy,” said COHA’s Bloch. “extremely unfortunate.” Macheteros, and the Black Liberation Army “It was an extraordinary gesture for which “In an era when the lifting of the trade embar- to live on its territory, even though they were go appears to be a real possibility, Cuba’s des- the United States got nothing in return,” fugitives from U.S. justice. Szechenyi told CubaNews. “Of course, as soon ignation as a terrorist state has practical impli- By that logic, perhaps the United States cations for the potential extent of trade as we took them off the list, North Korea re- should appear on its own list, since it holds neged on the deal and said they were not go- between the two nations.” several fugitives of Cuban justice. ing to negotiate anymore. I don’t sense that, Bloch explained that even if Washington’s even if the administration tried, they’d suc- The most famous of them is Luís Posada 47-year-old embargo against Cuba were lifted ceed in putting North Korea back on the list.” Carriles, an anti-Castro militant who bragged tomorrow, “there would still exist significant Meanwhile, he says, the “Obama adminis- to the New York Times that he masterminded impediments to full bilateral trade and other tration is applying very strict financial sanc- the 1976 bombing of a Cubana de Aviación jet links between the two countries. tions to pressure the regime to change its off the coast of Barbados, killing 73 civilians. “The U.S. would be forced to deny tax-free behavior while trying to prevent North Korea Posada, a former CIA agent, is also linked treatment of imported goods from Cuba; U.S. from proliferating its nuclear technology.” to a series of 1997 bombings in Havana and an citizens wanting to trade with Cuba would Yet the case of North Korea clearly demon- assassination attempt against Fidel in 2000. first need to seek a license from the Treasury Department, and the U.S. would be forced to strates the politics that come into play in COHA: LIST ISN’T A REAL GAUGE OF ANYTHING deciding who gets blacklisted — as does oppose any World Bank or IMF loans to the Cuba, according to many experts. Washington has refused repeated Cuban country. These stipulations would stall Cuba’s “The notion that North Korea is no longer and Venezuelan requests for his extradition, economic development and the growth of designated a state sponsor of terrorism, while claiming Posada would face torture in these meaningful U.S.-Cuba trade relations.” Cuba remains on the list, is absurd,” charges countries, despite assurances to the contrary. Sanctions imposed against countries on the the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), “This list is often employed by Washington State Department’s blacklist not only affect a liberal think tank focusing on Latin America. as a political lever, a carrot or a stick to be their governments, but also multinational cor- Even the State Department itself has had used on a country that abjectly follows or def- porations that deal with those countries. difficulty justifying Cuba’s inclusion on the initely renounces U.S. policies, and not as a In July, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets list, conceding in its April 2008 report that the legitimate measure of a country’s attitude Control slapped a $5.75 million fine on Castro regime “no longer actively supports” toward international terrorism,” says COHA Australia and New Zealand Banking Group armed struggle beyond its shores. research associate Brandon Bloch. for transactions that allegedly benefited Cuba “The Cuban government continued to pro- And the case of Libya only bolsters this and Sudan through U.S. bank accounts. vide safe haven to several terrorists,” said the argument, he said, recalling that the Libyan OFAC says the alleged violations occurred report, pointing out that members of the government refused to conform to U.S. coun- between 2004 and 2006. ❑ 8 CubaNews ❖ October 2009 NEWSMAKERS New Mexico’s Bill Richardson can’t hide his enthusiasm BY MICHAEL COLEMAN suit of human rights and economic progress. Florida and New Jersey, so they have the ew Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — one “The main focus was the New Mexico trade most at stake on the salary remittance and of the highest-profile Hispanic politi- side, but I also wanted to make some recom- human rights issues. Ignoring Cuban-Ameri- Ncians in the United States — has long mendations on policy,” he told us. cans on these policies makes no sense.” held a deep fascination with Cuba. The Richardson visit became something of Cuban officials Richardson met with said Richardson was just an 11-year-old boy liv- a national news event, with the governor they’re already communicating with exile ing in Mexico City back in 1959, when Fidel earning both compliments and criticism for leaders on thorny issues between the two Castro seized power in Cuba. The governor his mission. During his three-day stay in countries. But the New Mexico governor remembers following the dramatic news with Havana, Richardson met with Chamber of scoffed at that assertion. a sense of youthful curiosity. Of course, Cuba’s political dynamics got even more interesting in the years to come. And when Richardson landed a job as a Capitol Hill staffer in the 1970s, he began to delve into the issues with vigor. A decade later, after winning election to Congress in 1983 as a Democrat from New Mexico, the Spanish-speaking politician found himself courted by members of the Cuban American National Foundation, who OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RICHARDSON were eager to host Miami fundraisers for him in exchange for a chance to persuade him of how terrible the Castro regime was. “My views on the Cuban issue were con- flicted,” Richardson wrote in his 2005 book “Between Worlds,” a memoir and precursor to his failed 2008 presidential bid. “On the one hand, I felt the embargo was not working and was wasting precious politi- cal captial in Latin America. On the other hand, I found Castro’s human rights record, his treatment of political dissidents and his antipathy toward free elections downright abhorrent,” he said. “One thing was certain: I desperately wanted to see Cuba for myself.” NOT JUST ABOUT SELLING NEW MEXICO WHEAT Fast-forward 25 years. Richardson has not only seen Cuba for himself on multiple occa- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (left) meets in Havana with Dagoberto Rodríguez, former chief of the sions, he’s become one of America’s most vis- Cuban Interests Section in Washington and now the country’s deputy vice-minister of foreign relations. ible envoys to the communist nation, having negotiated with Castro for political prisoners Commerce President Pedro Alvarez and Igor “I said, ‘yeah, but these are Cuban-Ameri- and more friendly economic relations. Montero, president of Alimport, the Cuban cans who are already for you,’” Richardson In August, the 60-year-old governor once government agency responsible for agricul- recalled. “I’m talking about the exile commu- again returned to the island that had fascinat- tural commerce, among others. nity — the CANF, Cuban-Americans with ed him so much as a young man. This time he Some news outlets reported that fellow strong ties to the Obama and the Bush admin- traveled there on an official trade mission for baseball fanatic Fidel Castro had sent Rich- istration — you know, the players.” the state of New Mexico. But, of course, in ardson a friendly note during his stay. It wasn’t The Cuban response to Richardson’s sug- typical Richardson style, he made the mission a note but rather a word-of-mouth message gestion was cool. “They didn’t reject it out of about much more than just selling New expressing goodwill, Richardson explained. hand but they didn’t say they were ready to do Mexico’s agricultural products. GOVERNOR PUSHES FOR DIALOGUE WITH EXILES it,” he conceded. The who once aspired to the White House And the response from some notable — and who was forced to relinquish his ap- Among the main recommendations Floridians was downright chilly. According to pointment as President Obama’s commerce Richardson made upon his return — aside the Miami Herald, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen secretary in the midst of a New Mexico from eliminating the 47-year-old trade embar- (R-FL) called Richardson’s proposal “one of fundraising scandal before being cleared by go — was that Cuban dissidents in the United the lamest ideas” she’s ever heard. federal authorities in August — also engaged States meet with Cuban officials to try to hash Jaime Suchlicki, who heads the University in a little soft diplomacy on his trip, as well out their differences. of Miami’s Institute of Cuban and Cuban some personal political rehabilitation. “I think it’s essential there be a dialogue American Studies, told the Herald that Rich- In a wide-ranging interview with CubaNews between Cuban-Americans and the Cuban ardson underestimates how little Raúl Castro after he returned from Havana, Richardson government because Cuban-Americans have offered impressions on issues ranging from been drivng this policy for 40 years,” feels for the South Florida exile community. the embargo to Cuban political dissidents to Richardson said in the interview. “What does Raúl care about Cuban-Amer- the need for both Washington and Havana to “In the Republican and Democratic parties icans?” Suchlicki said. “He has Venezuela, the soften their diplomatic strategies in the pur- there are very strong political presences in See Richardson, page 9 October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 9 Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to broader ones,” Richardson continued. Richardson — FROM PAGE 8 the United Nations and occasional diplomatic He said President Obama has proven will- Chinese just gave him $600 million, and Iran troubleshooter who’s traveled to North Korea ing to budge on some issues, but the Cubans and the Russians gave him millions. What five times, made it clear to both U.S. and have been “inflexible.” Washington won’t do does he need Cuban-Americans for?” Cuban media that he was not acting as an offi- all the heavy diplomatic lifting, he said. Nevertheless, Richardson told CubaNews cial envoy of the White House. “The Cubans need to make some gestures he was sticking by his suggestion. “The administration knew I was going be- too, such as allowing Cubans to come to the “Actually, I expected a lot more negativity,” cause I told them,” Richardson explained. “I U.S. without such heavy fees and restrictions Richardson admitted, while still insisting that also made a trip beforehand to Miami, for my on visas,” the governor said. “There is con- someone needs to initiate the dialogue. own political reasons, to talk to Cuban-Ameri- sideration of a proposal to allow both of our Of course, the official reason for Richard- can exile leaders with ties to the Obama ad- diplomats to travel more freely. Our diplomats son’s latest mission to Cuba was trade. ministration, as well as to Republicans. That’s can only be in Havana, and in Washington and Richardson said New Mexico farmers, and because I know how sensitive this issue is.” New York, the Cuban diplomats can only go a especially Native Americans of the Navajo A savvy negotiator who’s often boasted that certain mileage outside of both. “I said ‘you guys have to move on political prisoners, human rights issues, humanitatri- an issues,’” Richardson told CubaNews. “I told “The administration knew I was going because I told them. I also them they can’t just expect the U.S. to lift the embargo and you do what you want. These made a trip beforehand to Miami, to talk to Cuban-American exile are going to be some hard negotiations and leaders with ties to the Obama administration, as well as to they are being a bit inflexible. “So, I’m urging reciprocal steps on both Republicans. That’s because I know how sensitive this issue is.” sides,” Richardson added. “On the U.S. side, — BILL RICHARDSON, GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO the Obama administration needs to pay more attention to this issue and move more rapidly. On the Cuban side, they need to be more flex- Nation — who already have a trade deal with “bad guys like me,” Richardson said he tried ible. They’re sitting there taking their hard Cuba — are interested in boosting sales of during his latest Cuban trip to convince those line position wanting us to do everything.” wheat, grain, potatoes and apples. Richardson he met with to focus on humanitarian issues EXCITED ABOUT FUTURE POSSIBILITIES said his administration began planning the first. Then, he said, America may be more trip a year ago, to “set the wheels in motion.” willing to come to — and stay at — the nego- Easing travel restrictions is a good start, he That’s because a trip to Cuba — even for an tiating table on economic and political issues. said, because it can lead to cultural exchange American public official of Richardson’s and eventually, more mutual understanding, a stature — requires a slew of permits from RECIPROCAL STEPS ON BOTH SIDES softening of temperments on both sides and both governments. He said the Castro regime seems most con- eventually policy changes, Richardson hinted. The state of New Mexico has embarked on cerned with ending the embargo, closing the In early September the Obama administra- two other trade missions to Cuba, one headed Guantánamo Bay Naval Base and ending tion renewed the embargo — a move by the secretary of agriculture and another by Radio and TV Martí broadcasts. Richardson called “expected.” But the admin- the secretary of cultural affairs. “What I said to the Cubans privately is ‘you istration also ended most U.S. restrictions on guys need to stop thinking just about the family travel to Cuba and removed limits on RICHARDSON: ‘BAD GUYS LIKE ME’ embargo, Guantánamo and stopping the radio the amount of money American citizens can Richardson said doing business with Cuba and TV broadcasts,’” he said. “Let’s focus on send to their families in Cuba. is extremely difficult because of all the barri- people-to-people humanitarian issues first — Richardson said he’s excited about the pos- ers to trade that have been established. specifically easing travel of Americans to sibilities for U.S.-Cuban relations. He called “Even if agricultural goods are permissible Cuba, the remittance issue, letting Cuban sci- the Cuban people “naturally pro-American” to trade there’s a lot of red tape — no question entists come to the United States, easing the and said “the buzz was good” on the streets of about it,” he said. “This is why it makes sense, embargo on medicines and biotechnology. Havana about the potential for improved dia- and in my assessment it is in both of our inter- “Let’s develop some short-range immediate logue in the post-Fidel era. ests, to improve the relationship.” improvements before we start tackling the “I sense we should take advantage of that buzz,” said Richardson, who in light of his recent exoneration in the New Mexico fund- raising scandal has been mentioned by sup- Top UAE official visits Cuba to discuss Mariel port porters as a possible special envoy to Cuba. bdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, foreign eign Ministry as saying “we have great confi- Richardson’s second and final term as gover- minister of the United Arab Emirates, dence in Cuba’s leaders and in our capacity to nor of New Mexico ends in 2010. Aheld talks with Cuban Vice-President bring about projects of this magnitude.” “I’d be interested in helping the dialogue Ricardo Cabrisas about possibile joint ven- A source close to Dubai Ports told the [between] Cuban-Americans and the Cuban tures — chief among them a project by Dubai Florida-based monthly Cuba Trade & Invest- government, but I’m not interested in special Ports World to build and operate a container ment News that the company’s proposed $300 envoy,” Richardson told us. terminal at the Port of Mariel, in order to re- million project is still very much on track. Of course, that’s what elected officials lieve the bottleneck in Havana, 30 miles east. “They had some last-minute haggling to do always say before such a job is offered. “It’ll be a strong competition, but you have about contract details. But that’s pretty much Richardson sounded almost wistful for been working on that for a long time and we sorted now, and [an agreemnt] is going to be Cuba upon his return to U.S. shores. Said the expect you to have a very competitive offer,” signed soon,” the source told the newsletter. cigar-loving governor: “It’s a beautiful coun- Cabrisas told his Arab visitor. In June, Brazil announced it would grant a try and the people are warm — and we’ve lost Zayed al-Nahyan is the first high-ranking $300 million loan for construction at Mariel. a lot of business by not being there.” ❑ representative of the United Arab Emirates But it wasn’t clear whether that would cover to visit Cuba since the establishment of diplo- Brazilian participation in the project, or be Michael Coleman is Washington bureau chief matic relations between Havana and Abu restricted to building and operating an off- of the Albuquerque Journal and a regular news Dhabi in 2002. He was quoted by Cuba’s For- shore oil logistics center at the port. contributor to the Washington Diplomat. This is his first feature article for CubaNews. 10 CubaNews ❖ October 2009 INFRASTRUCTURE Cuba’s smaller airports, Part II: Manzanillo & Baracoa

BY OUR HAVANA CORRESPONDENT New lighting systems were installed as well as ast month, CubaNews featured a report on a new perimeter fence. New equipment for lug- two airports in central Cuba: Abel Santa- gage handling was acquired and installed. Lmaria International in Santa Clara and MZO currently has three standing positions Jaime González International in Cienfuegos. for large and midsize jets in front of the inter- This time, we look at two more smaller — national terminal, which is located at the south- yet very different — airports on opposite ends western end of the runway. A large apron at the of the island: Manzanillo and Playa Baracoa. opposite side of the runway serves military and executive needs with hangars, warehouses and MANZANILLO: SIERRA MAESTRA INT’L AIRPORT office buildings. Traffic is assisted with stan- Manzanillo’s Sierra Maestra International dard aerial navigation equipment, including Airport (MZO) was built during World War II radars, radio beacon, lighting approach and as a domestic terminal for the service of small maneuvering systems. The airport can operate aircraft, and was totally rebuilt in 1978. In 2006, small to medium aircraft from 10 am to 10 pm. MZO’s terminal and runway were upgraded ECASA (Empresa Cubana de Aeropuertos y for overseas traffic. Servicios Aeronáuticos in Spanish) says Manz- Manzanillo International has a 9,842-by-148- anillo can process 50 travelers per hour at its ft ENE-WSW concrete and asphalt runway peak. Last year the terminal received 22,000 capable of accommodating large transconti- tourists coming mainly from Canada and head- nental passenger aircraft. ed for the Marea del Portillo area in the During the Cold War, Manzanillo — like foothills of the Sierra Maestra. most Cuban airports — was turned into a sur- Canada’s Sunwing Vacations — with connec- rogate military aerodrome. tions to Toronto and Kingston, Jamaica — is In 2006 the airstrip was lengthened by 1,970 one of four international carriers using MZO. feet and it received a second asphalt coating. The international terminal has a restaurant,

cafeteria, duty-free shopping, car rental facilities and travel agencies. MZO is served by a two-lane road that connects the airport to the city of Manzanillo (97,000 residents) and to the rest of Granma province (823,000 inhabitants). The lack of major tourism attractions and the province’s relatvely sparse population reduce opportunities for MZO’s future development. Demographic records show that the residents of Granma are less like- ly than other Cubans to flee the island. As a consequence, fewer people abroad would likely be traveling to visit their relatives here. Marea del Portillo is a modest tourist hub in southeastern Cuba, located some 60 miles south from the airport facing the Caribbean Sea. It has 553 rooms in two unpretentious hotels, the Marea del Portillo and Farallón del Caribe. October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 11 HAVANA: PLAYA BARACOA EXECUTIVE AIRPORT Despite its relatively small size and subdued activity, Havana’s Playa Baracoa Executive Airport is one of the best-positioned in Cuba for a revival of trade and commerce with the United States. Located only three miles from Havana’s western suburbs, MUPB (as designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization) is Cuba’s top executive aerodrome and is superbly positioned to serve as a support terminal to nearby Jose Martí International Airport. It’s only 30 minutes by air from Key West, Fla., and 40 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA). As such, Playa Baracoa is tightly guarded and boasts a superb infrastructure, including an excellent runway, several aprons, hangars, aircraft hideouts, warehouses and the barracks and head- quarters for the elite forces of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces. It’s close to the Havana business and diplomatic district of Miramar and the upscale neighborhood of Siboney, where Cuba’s political elite reside. Playa Baracoa wasn’t accessible for civil aviation until the late 1980s, when the armed forces made of it the hub of AeroGaviota, the airline created and managed by the military for tourism. This airport serves the transportation needs of Cuba’s top execu- tives. The facilities around the executive terminal in Aprons 1 and 3 are for the exclusive use of Fidel and Raúl Castro, while the civil ter- minal at Apron 2 was and is still used by lower-rank ministers and officials of the Cuban Communist Party. Apron 4 is the deployment site for aircraft of the local garrison and special military operations. MUPB features a 7,562-by-148 feet NNE-SSW concrete and asphalt runway capable of accommodating mid-range passenger aircrafts while serving military purposes. Only Apron 2 at the northern end of the runway is currently used for civil purposes to fly tourists and workers on intra-island com- muter flights. It has permanent links with airports in leading tourism hubs such as Jardines del Rey International and Cayo Largo Inter- national (see CubaNews, April and June 2009 respectively). As it falls within the navigational range of José Martí International, traffic is assisted with modern aerial navigation equipment, including radars, distance measuring equipments, radio beacons, lighting approach and maneuvering systems. It can operate small to medium aircraft 24 hours a day. No data is available concerning the operational capacity of Playa Baracoa, which is located 11 miles east of the port of Mariel (see CubaNews, January 2008). That shipping port will grow in impor- tance as an auxiliary to overwhelmed port facilities. It is connected both to Havana and to Mariel by the four-lane Vía Azul east-west high- way running along the shore through the plains and hills that plan- ners envision as the focus of Havana's future expansion. ❑ 12 CubaNews ❖ October 2009

that nimotuzumab works by attacking epider- reports Cruise Critic website. BUSINESS BRIEFS mal growth factor receptors, shutting off the The cruises will be operated by the new growth of cancer cells. 1,506-passenger, 54,000-ton Thomson Dream, AGRICULTURE MINISTRY ADMITS SCREW-UP Early studies in Europe indicate the drug which will join the fleet in April 2010. Cuba has acknowledged a failure to pay showed considerable promise in prolonging Not many cruise lines visit Havana, due to cash-strapped farmers on time and said some the lives of children who have inoperable U.S. restrictions on travel. Even U.K.-based local officials lied to cover up the problem — brain stem glioma. Even with radiation, those Fred Olsen has only four cruises calling in a blunt admission from the regime in Havana children generally survive only 8-15 months. Havana in 2010; German line Hapag-Lloyd that crucial agriculture reforms lauded by To test the Cuban drug in the U.S., YM offers just a couple of calls in Cuba, as well. President Raul Castro have so far fallen short. needed an exception from the embargo by However, when Thomson Dream sails its According to AP, the public mea culpa came applying to the Department of the Treasury's new two-week cruises from December 2010 to in a full-page spread Sept. 28 in state-run Office of Foreign Assets Control — a process March 2011, it will not only offer a full season Granma, which acknowledged that the issue that Allan called “slow and formal.” of Cuban visits but also will feature two or is a main cause of discontent in rural areas. Other companies have done this — Smith- three days in Havana on each itinerary. The newspaper said that after an enormous kline Beecham for a Cuba-made meningitis Thomson’s new Caribbean itineraries will effort to repay farmers that began in 2004, the vaccine, and CancerVax for a cancer vaccine. go on sale Nov. 5. problem has come up again. For nimotuzumab, YM received approval in Details: Thomson, TUI Travel House, Craw- “We ought to admit that provincial agricul- 2006 for trials involving children with inopera- ley Business Quarter, Fleming Way, West Sussex ture officials, local governments and the ble brain cancer. Those tests are still pro- RH10 9QL, Great Britain. Email: pressoffice@- Agriculture Ministry itself have not taken gressing. Results are expected next year. thomson.co.uk. URL: www.thomson.co.uk. responsibility,” Agriculture Minister Ulises Details: David Allan, YM Biosciences, 5045 Rosales de Toro is quoted as saying. Orbitor Drive, Bldg. 11, Suite #400, Missis- CUBA REPORTS 45% DROP IN CITRUS OUTPUT The minister said some local officials have sauga, Ont. L4W 4Y4, Canada. Tel: (905) A decade-long decline in Cuban citrus and falsified records to hide the lack of payments, 629-9761 Email: [email protected]. juice production continued through July with which he described as “unconscionable.” CHINESE J-V TO BUILD HOTEL AT HAVANA MARINA the government reporting a steep decline “Anybody who acts in this way calls into over the same period in 2008, said Reuters. question his moral authority to lead,” he said. China’s Suntime International Techno-Eco- “Citrus, with a production of 234,000 tons, Cuban markets offer a grim selection of nomic Cooperation (Group) Co. Ltd., together declined 45.3% due to low production of basic products, and often run out. Many com- with Grupo Cubanacán, will build a 600-room oranges and mainly grapefruit,” the National plain that it is hard to get by on government hotel at Marina Hemingway in the western Statistics Office reported on its web page. ration books that grant only about 15 days suburbs of Havana, reports Reuters. The grapefruit harvest begins in August worth of food for an entire month. Suntime, with a 49% stake in the venture, and peaks before year’s end, with oranges The government claims Raúl’s agriculture will provide $150 million in financing. Chinese harvested mainly from January through June. reform program — in which 80,000 parcels of state entity CITIC Construction will build the Citrus production was 391,800 tons in 2008, fallow state land have been given to private hotel beginning next month. down from 469,000 in 2007 and 792,700 in farmers — is working. But farmers say they In 2003, Cubanacán partnered with Suntime 2003. Local officials blame aging groves, hur- often lack the equipment and fertilizer to plow to build a 700-room property in Shanghai. ricanes and disease and say they’re working the new fields, and that inefficiency has That hotel, in the upscale Pudong district, is to replant and thin and spread out orchards. caused some food to rot before it can reach managed by Spanish hotel operator Sol Meliá. In the 1980s, Cuba was the world’s biggest supermarket shelves. citrus fruit exporter, producing more than a THOMSON TO OFFER A HAVANA PORT OF CALL million tons of mainly oranges and grapefruit CUBAN DRUG UNDERGOES U.S. CLINICAL TRIALS British line Thomson Cruises is shaking on 120,000 hectares, most destined for the for- For the first time since Fidel Castro took things up in winter 2010-11 with a series of mer Soviet Union. The crop declined, then power in Cuba over 50 years ago, a drug new 14-night Caribbean itineraries — includ- recovered, reaching 800,000 tons in 2001, developed by the communist regime is going ing Thomson’s first-ever calls in Havana, before beginning to decline once more. through clinical trials in the United States. The Miami Herald reported Aug. 28 that nimotuzumab targets cancer cells including Cuban musicians getting U.S. visas again those in rare, deadly types like glioma, the brain cancer that killed Sen. Ted Kennedy. he flow of artists and musicians in mid-November to guest-conduct the The hitch: Even if trials prove successful, between Cuba and the United States Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. nimotuzumab could not be sold in the United T— choked off since 2003 — has Finally, Pablo Milanés will travel to States because 20% of the entity holding the begun to trickle again, the Miami Herald Puerto Rico in October — and all this license is owned by the Cuban government. reported Sept. 30. comes on the heels of Juanes’ historic “We’re in the business of developing The most famous voice to hit stateside Havana concert on Sept. 20. drugs,” said David G.P. Allan, chief of YM from the island is Omara Portuondo, the Another mostly off-the-radar event, Biosciences, based in Toronto. “We could lone female artist from the Buena Vista which saw a Cuban theater group collabo- care less about the political side.” Social Club, who has received a visa to per- rate with the University of Alabama on per- YM Biosciences owns 80% of CIMYM, the form in the United States in October. formances of Shakespeare, took place this company that has the rights to develop nimo- Omara, who just got a Latin Grammy summer, reports the Herald. tuzumab in North America, Europe, Japan nomination for Best Contemporary Tropi- And the New York Philharmonic is plan- and other places. The other 20% is owned by cal Album for her album Gracias, will per- ning performances on the island, though Havana’s Center of Molecular Immunology, form during the San Francisco Jazz Festival on Oct. 20 and at UCLA on Oct. 23. dates haven’t been set yet. Given by injection, nimotuzumab is already Meanwhile, the king of Latin crooners, approved for marketing in 20 countries, The Latin Grammys will be held on Nov. including India and China, where the licens- 5 in Las Vegas; no word yet on whether Julio Iglesias, recently said he’d play Cuba ing was done directly by Cuba, not YM. It is Omara will attend. if asked. And René ‘Residente’ Pérez, out- not approved in North America, Europe or Also coming will be composer/conduc- spoken frontman for alt-reggaeton act and Japan, but almost 20 trials are in progress. tor Zenaida Romeu, who was granted a visa multi-Latin Grammy nominee Calle 13, said Amy Smith, a pediatric neuro-oncologist at in early September to travel to Fargo, N.D., he’d also like to do a concert in Havana. ❑ the University of Florida, said the theory is October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 13

Today, 80% of the crop is processed into Messina, speaking at a Sept. 29 conference Cuban agriculture and infrastructure. juice by five plants across the country, 5% in Miami, said Cuba “has such good soil and it The tragedy coincided with a decrease in exported fresh and sold to the tourism indus- represents a challenge of such magnitude food imports, said John Kavulich, president of try, and the rest used for domestic consump- that, with the end of the embargo, the agricul- the U.S.-Cuba Economic and Trade Council. tion, the Agriculture Ministry reported. tural market impact on the continent would be “Food and agricultural exports went down larger that of the Free Trade Treaty. But the approximately 20% so far this year due to the UF EXPERT SAYS CUBA HAS ‘HUGE’ AG POTENTIAL truth is that we don’t see big trends toward its consistent lack of foreign currency in Cuba,” Cuban agriculture has huge post-embargo development in terms of regulation.” said Kavulich. “They have always opted to use potential, said Bill Messina of the University The UF expert mentioned that 2008 hurri- that type of currency to buy food.” of Florida’s Agriculture Science Institute. cane season inflicted $10 billion in losses on CHINA’S GEELY THREATENS LADA’S DOMINANCE After 30 years as the favored car of Cuban SAMPLE FOOD PRICES AT VARIOUS TYPES OF MARKETS IN HAVANA nomenklatura, the Russian-built Lada has spotted a Chinese rival in its rear-view mirror. Reuters reports that ministers, communist officials and police are switching their Ladas, with its stiff manual steering, for the smooth hydraulics of the Chinese-made Geely CK, which has already sold 1,500 models between January and June 2009. But Cubans say their love for Ladas, which are probably the most visible legacy of the country’s Cold War alliance with the Soviet Union, will keep the cars on Cuban roads. “I do not think it’ll be easy to displace the Lada,” said mechanic David Pena, 39, and founder of Cuba’s Russian Automobile Club. “For us this car is like a family member.” There are some 100,000 Ladas in Cuba, compared to 60,000 pre-1959 U.S. vehicles. The Geelys, based on a Daewoo design and powered by a 1.5-liter Toyota engine, have a sleek, stylish look and come with air-condi- tioning, electric windows and CD players. PHILIPS TO CUBA: WE DID NOTHING WRONG Dutch electronics giant Philips dismissed claims by Fidel Castro of “betrayal” and blamed bureaucratic red tape for a delay in delivering medical equipment to Cuba. “Because of the complexity of the applica- tion of the rules to the transactions, the com- pany did not obtain all the licences required” for the delivery of spare parts for medical equipment, Philips said in a statement. “We have disclosed the matter, cooperated fully, accepted the penalties and improved our procedures to prevent similar recurrences.” In early September, Cuba’s former presi- dent slammed the company as a “traitor” for failing to deliver the parts under pressure from the United States. He claimed that in 2006, at the request of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, Cuba bought from Philips and Germany’s Siemens thousands of pieces of advanced medical equipment for the two countries. While Siemens “kept its promises,” Philips did not deliver on time the 3,553 pieces of equipment worth $72.8 million due to what Castro called “brutal intransigence” on the part of unnamed U.S. authorities. Only in June did Philips deliver the needed spare parts, Castro said, after it paid a 100,000-euro fine to the Obama government. “While the Cuban government is entitled to its interpretation of this settlement,” said the company, “it is not a matter of if Philips can sell medical equipment to Cuba, but how, en- suring we adhere to relevant export laws and the laws of all countries in which we operate.” 14 CubaNews ❖ October 2009 BOOKSHELF Cuba in the shadow of change; sailing the ‘Road to Havana’ eriodically, CubaNews offers reviews of bizarre economic and political environment of ROAD TO HAVANA books we think will interest our readers. Cuba during its ‘Special Period,’” said Ritter. “Road to Havana” is a first novel by Richard P This month, we present a serious analy- Cuba’s political and economic systems in de Grasse, recent winner of the annual Key sis of life in Cuba, and a light adventure novel. the post-Soviet period pose ongoing chal- West Writers Guild Award. lenges to ordinary Cubans as they struggle in Its 332 pages tell the story of Bob Quimby, CUBA IN THE SHADOW OF CHANGE the waning years of the Castro regime. an American sailor — much like de Grasse “Cuba in the Shadow of Change: Daily Life Weinreb demonstrates that the major reason himself — who in the Twilight of the Revolution” is a scholarly they’ve been ignored in scholarly literature is sails off to Cuba work by Amanda Rosenberg Weinreb. because remaining obscure is one of their and falls in love The 272-page hardcover book (ISBN 978- strategies for coping with these challenges. with the beautiful 0-8130-3369-3, $69.95) is a “masterpiece,” Weinreb has made repeated visits to the Cuban singer Gis- says Archibald Rit- island, frequently living in local communities elle, whose broth- ter, a Cuba expert along with her family. Thus her ethnography er Carlos is the at Carleton Univer- of this “shadow public” is based upon tradi- most popular dis- sity in Ottawa. tional participant-observer methodology. sident in Cuba. Weinreb takes Her experiences — from the clothesline, When Quim- readers deep inside the back bedroom, the kitchen table and the by’s visa expires, the everyday lives living-room sofa — allow her an unprecedent- he reluctantly of middle-class Cu- ed opportunity to bring to outside readers the leaves Havana bans — arguably reality of daily life in Cuba. only to find Gis- the majority of citi- Weinreb, a lecturer in the anthropology elle stowed away zens on the island. department of the University of Texas at onboard his boat. Untheorized and Austin, also includes an epilogue addressing Meanwhile, Fidel Castro allows a presiden- under-described, citizen and consumer changes that have tial election to take place. After tumultuous this is a group that taken place since Raúl Castro became presi- events in South Florida and Cuba, the couple Weinreb portrays are finally wed in Havana as Carlos becomes honestly, accurate- dent in February 2008. embroiled in the Cuban presidential election. ly and emphatically. Details: Stephanie Williams, Publicity Man- The book (ISBN 0-7414-5313-4, price “Accurate, lyrical ager, University Press of Florida, 15 NW 15th $17.95) is also available via amazon.com. and empathetic in Street, Gainesville, FL 32603-1933. Tel: (800) Details: Richard de Grasse, Infinity Publi- its illumination of the lives of ordinary 226-3822. Fax: (352) 392-0590. Email: shing. Email: [email protected]. URL: Cubans, as they survive and thrive in the [email protected]. URL: www.upf.com. www.richarddegrasse.com. ❑ Cuban Landscapes: ‘Essential reading’ for Cuba-bound travelers uban Landscapes: Heritage, Memory, and Place” by Joseph L. al semblance, from its dawn in colonial times, to the splendor of the Scarpaci and CubaNews cartographer Armando H. Portela, is a early socialist era to its collapse in a post-Soviet 21st century. Clively review of the island’s geographic, cultural and built envi- Chapter 4 pays critical attention to heritage preservation efforts of ronment milieu from the Spanish Conquest until today. cultural sites and national landmarks,, and provides details of The book (ISBN 978-1-60623-323-8, price $30.00 UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Cuba and of the paperback, $60.00 hardcover) explores the intricate national protected zones, sites and monuments. weaving of Cuban landscapes and their change over Chapter 5 examines selected layers of Cuba’s tourist time, but also deeps into the explanation on how the landscapes and ponders its potential as an economic environment and history shaped a particular charac- engine for the Caribbean. It also points to the Cuban ter, culture and behavior of a population with pro- diaspora in the United States or other countries eyeing found Hispanic, African and indigenous roots. their homeland as a possible second home or retire- How cubanidad (literally, Cubanness) is expressed ment destination in a future friendly environment. — from Alexander von Humboldt’s observations to The authors reserved Chapter 6 (Information Land- popular music and architecture — is an overarching scapes) as one of the most conspicuous and ubiquitous theme of this 212-page book. elements of the modern landscape in Cuba: the use of The authors depict the evolution of the natural and public space for the political message, which strikes cultural landscapes under socialism both in the fields many unaware visitors and fills pages of pictorial books as well as in the streets of the island, suggesting what with the contrasting fiery propaganda broadcasting the other transformations may lay ahead. virtues of socialism contrasted by dire penury. Cuban Landscapes triggers the imagination of the In their preface, the authors wrote: “Our belief is that reader from across the entire political spectrum to landscapes are useful mirrors to understand what has envision the future display of creativeness, vibrancy and warmth of transpired and what contributed to the visible consequences that an island that urgently needs to reinvent itself in the same way that give a place or a region its discernible features, or, in the case at it has been doing for ages. hand, what constitutes the essence of Cuba: cubanidad.” A historical analysis in Chapter 2 turns to Humboldt’s classic early Thomas Klak, director of the Latin American Studies Program at 19th-century portrait of Cuba, grounding much of the island’s sub- Miami University, calls the book “essential reading for anyone em- sequent social, economic and political history. barking on a trip to Cuba, especially one that goes beyond Havana.” The book examines the role of sugar (Chapter 3) as the backbone Details: Joseph Scarpaci, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va. of the economy and major shaper of the island’s physical and cultur- Email: [email protected]. URL: www.guilfordpress.com. October 2009 ❖ CubaNews 15 ARTS & CULTURE Possible DVD of Juanes concert raises U.S. legal issues BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA Martínez noted that before the Audioslave therefore is not in existence and does not qual- ow that Colombian rock star Juanes has concert, he arranged a conference call be- ify for the informational materials exemption.” pulled off a miracle — attracting more tween an OFAC attorney and Sony (the Another expert who asked not to be named Nthan 1.1 million people to his Sept. 20 record label responsible for producing and said “if the performance was authorized by concert at Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución — marketing that DVD) to ease potential con- OFAC, and now they want to sell DVDs of that cerns about selling that video in this country. performance, it is exempt” under Berman. attention now turns to finding ways for Cuban- Under the Berman amendment, “informa- Apparently, the White House attitude on Americans to enjoy the event on DVD. tional materials” such as publications, films, Cuba dictates whether an artist already autho- The concert was broadcast live on Cubavi- music and artwork, in any format or medium, rized to perform in Cuba has to take addition- sión, as well as on various TV networks in the are exempt from the U.S. embargo against al steps to legally sell any recordings of musi- musician’s native Colombia, Peru, the Domi- Cuba. That same exemption has previously cal performances while visiting that country. nican Republic and other Latin countries. The been used to allow Cuban artwork and music The Audioslave event took place in 2005, event, which featured 15 artists from six coun- CDs from groups like Buena Vista Social Club during the middle of the Bush administration, tries, was aired live by four Miami TV stations into the U.S. market. which imposed some of the most draconian and generated enormous interest throughout anti-Cuban laws in existence. That’s why law- the South Florida exile community. DOES BERMAN AMENDMENT PROTECT DVDs? yers like Martínez who represented rock per- Fernan Martínez Communications Inc., the However, legal experts on OFAC sanctions formers hoping to record and market their rocker’s Miami-based management firm, has dispute the scope of the Berman amendment, Cuban events to U.S. audiences felt the need declined comment on plans to produce and and whether Juanes could sell a concert DVD to get explicit permission from OFAC to do so. market a DVD amidst questions as to whether without explicit authorization from OFAC, After that 2005 concert, Martínez had trou- it can even do this in the United States. even though he was already authorized to ble bringing another American musical group CubaNews recently spoke to San Francisco conduct his concert in Havana. into Cuba for commercial purposes. attorney Bill Martínez, who helped put Lisa Crosby is an attorney at the Washin- “We were told by OFAC whatever happened together the DVD of a 2005 concert in Havana gton office of law firm Sidley Austin, which ad- with Audioslave, will not happen this time. You by the American rock group Audioslave. vises U.S. firms on doing business with Cuba. are now entering anti-engagement mode.” “We got a license from OFAC to go to In an email to CubaNews, Crosby said that In this case, however, Secretary of State Hil- Cuba,” said Martínez. “As part of that license, “according to the regulations, the informa- lary Clinton personally gave Juanes her bless- we got authorization to commercially record tional materials already have to be in exis- ing for the Havana show, so such measures and distribute [the Audioslave concert in tence to qualify for the exemption. The music may not be necessary. Cuba] for the U.S. market.” [concert] has not yet been recorded and Juanes will have a ready market for such a DVD. Some Cuban-Americans area already lining up to buy it, with others asking for more Cuban filmmaker gets Emmy nomination than just a video of the concert. “What I’d really like to purchase is a docu- wo years ago, we profiled Havana- nominated for an Emmy stemming from mentary on the bigger picture,” New York film- based independent filmmaker Boris their work in Browne’s TV project. maker Jauretsi Saizarbitoria told CubaNews by TIván Crespo and his production com- “We hired Boris Crespo because I had phone. “Not so much on the concert only, but pany BIC Producciones (see CubaNews, heard from several U.S. filmmakers that he also the build-up to the show, and the politics August 2007, page 2). was a great line producer, and was able to that unfolded a few weeks prior — the artists Crespo, 45, has since been nominated for make all our arrangements for filming [hir- who confirmed, the death threats, who pulled a News and Documentary Emmy Award, in ing a crew, arranging equipment, obtaining out of the show, who feared commercial reper- “Outstanding Individual Achievement in a permits],” Browne told CubaNews by email. cussions, Obama’s statement. I think the back- Craft: Research.” “He was also able to make contact with ground context of the show is much more Crespo helped put together an intriguing Cuban historians we knew we wanted to educational about our community.” ❑ documentary that aired in June 2008 on interview, and he also identified other scho- PBS-TV called “Traces of the Trade: A Story lars we did not know about, which resulted from the Deep North.” in some powerful interviews.” Poll: 53% of exiles liked concert In it, independent filmmaker Katrina Browne said one of the people Crespo uban-American support of Juanes’ Browne reveals that her ancestors, the contacted, Zoila Lapique, did research Cuba concert has almost doubled in Rhode Island-based DeWolfe family, en- showing that the DeWolfes might have Cthe aftermath of the Sept. 20 event, gaged in slave-trading from 1769 to 1820. owned plantations as late as 1875. according to the Miami Herald. Browne’s story about her ancestors — “Boris took on the crucial job of locating The paper, citing a Sept. 24-26 study of which dispelled the notion that only two of the places where DeWolfe’s planta- 400 exiles by Sergio Bendixen & Associ- Southerners profited from the American tions had been,” added Browne. “It was ates, found that 53% had a favorable opinion slave trade — involves ships shuttling from great to have him named as a member of of the show, while 29% were against it. Bristol, R.I., to West Africa trading rum for our research team.” The results are a stunning about-face slaves, captives taken to plantations in Crespo found two of the five plantations from a previous Bendixen poll conducted Spanish colonial-era Cuba, and auctions at believed to be owned by the DeWolfes: Aug. 24 among 400 exiles showing 47% op- Havana and Charleston, South Carolina. Mariana (near Artemisa in La Habana pro- posing the concert, while 27% were in favor. vince) and Arca de Noé. Of those two, only The DeWolfe family was responsible for “The support is logical,” said Carlos Sala- the second had ruins of a building which enslaving over 10,000 Africans. A member drigas, co-chairman of the Cuba Study of that family, James DeWolfe, became a appeared to have belonged to the family. Details: Public Broadcasting Service. Group, which commissioned both studies. U.S. senator and was for a time the second- “Cubans had fun and heard Juanes scream richest businessman in the nation. URL: www.pbs.org/pov/tracesofthetrade/. ‘Cuba Libre!’ in the middle of Plaza de la Crespo and six other filmmakers were – VITO ECHEVARRÍA Revolución. He had courage.” 16 CubaNews ❖ October 2009

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