The Elian Gonzalez case and the potential easing of the decades-old embargo are refocusing attention on the current status of US-Cuban relations. Common Ground Producer Kristin McHugh recently spoke with four Cuban scholars about the embargo, the American media, and the future of US-Cuban relations.
Miguel Alfonso Martínez
Cuba has been portrayed in a very, very bad image. I think that there are a lot of half-truths. And this has been nourished by 40 years of, I would say, biased coverage of Cuba.
David González López
I perceive a change [but] there's still a long way to go. [We've] been misrepresented, I feel, for so long that it's not a question of days.
If the embargo goes away, will that solve all of Cuba's economic problems? Or are additional reforms needed in order to make Cuba a prosperous country?
Santiago Pérez Benítez
I wouldn't be so optimistic that if the embargo is lifted everything is going to be solved and Cuba is going to be next year a prosperous society. [We] do have our own internal problems linked with efficiency, etc. And I think that Cuba shouldn't follow the pattern it had before '59, [when] everything [was] acquired from the US. I think that Cuba should continue the way of diversifying dependency.
Are you optimistic that things will change in the next five years or so, in terms of relations with the United States?
David González López
I'm optimistic in the long run, and it's something that at some point it must be overcome and it must disappear. It has nothing to do with contemporary international relations. I know it's mixed with so many things of US politics, and there are so many complexities that, well, maybe it will still take some time. I would like to hope for the best, but I think like most Cubans we're prepared to continue like we are now.
If there was one thing that you wanted to tell our American audience about Cuba, what would that be?
Isabel Jaramillo Edwards
Cubans are a lovely people...the Cubans have a great sense of solidarity, a great sense of humor, great culture. So I think there's a lot of space for communications, exchange, and building a new relationship.
Miguel Alfonso Martínez and Santiago Pérez Benítez are with the Institute of International Relations. The Institute is closely tied to Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. David González López is with the Center for Studies on Africa and the Middle East. Isabel Jaramillo Edwards is from the Center of Studies on Central America.
—Excerpted by Kristin McHugh
NOV 2000 |
COURIER ONLINE
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