DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42313
TITLE=U-S/ CUBA POLICY: EVOLUTION CONTINUES
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   ANALYSTS SAY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO 
EASE RESTRICTIONS ON CONTACTS WITH CUBA IS PART OF A BIPARTISAN 
EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR THE DAY WHEN 72-YEAR-OLD CUBAN LEADER FIDEL
CASTRO IS NO LONGER IN POWER. MANY OF THE NEW MEASURES ARE BASED 
ON RECOMMENDATIONS IN A NEW REPORT FOR THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN 
RELATIONS, A PRIVATE NEW YORK CITY GROUP.  CORRESPONDENT BARBARA 
SCHOETZAU REPORTS.

TEXT:   THE REPORT FOR THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS GREW OUT 
OF A BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO OPEN A NEW ERA IN 
CUBAN-U-S RELATIONS. THE REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY TWO FORMER 
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF STATE FOR INTER-AMERICAN RELATIONS, 
WILLIAM ROGERS -- WHO SERVED DURING THE FORD ADMINISTRATION -- 
AND BERNARD ARONSON, WHO HELD THE JOB UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE 
BUSH.  

MR. ARONSON SAYS THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE FOCUSED ON WAYS TO
REACH OUT TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY BE FUTURE
LEADERS.  

                       /// ARONSON ACT ///

         THE HEMISPHERE IS DEMOCRATIC AND NOW I THINK THE GOAL OF
         U-S POLICY AND THE FOCUS IS REALLY TO TRY TO SUPPORT AND
         ENGAGE WITH THE CIVIL SOCIETY THAT IS JUST BEGINNING TO 
         EMERGE IN CUBA THAT WILL BE PART OF A DEMOCRATIC 
         TRANSITION.


                         /// END ACT///

FOR YEARS, DISCUSSION OF U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA HAS BEEN 
DOMINATED BY CONTENTIOUS DEBATE OVER THE TRADE EMBARGO THE UNITED
STATES IMPOSED AGAINST CUBA 37 YEARS AGO. MR. ARONSON SAYS THE 
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS REPORT RECOMMENDS STEPS TO BRING 
ABOUT PROGRESS IN U-S CUBAN RELATIONS WHILE AVOIDING THE 
SENSITIVE EMBARGO ISSUE.   

                      /// ARONSON ACT ////

         WE GATHERED TOGETHER A VERY DIVERSE AND BROAD GROUP FROM
         THE CONSERVATIVE TO LIBERAL SPECTRUM AND WE DECIDED 
         CONSCIOUSLY NOT TO FIGHT ALL THE OLD ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE
         EMBARGO BUT TO SEE WHAT WE COULD AGREE ON IN TERMS OF 
         CONCRETE STEPS TO PROMOTE AND EFFECT CHANGE IN CUBA. AND
         WE REACHED BROAD CONSENSUS ON MANY STEPS, SOME OF WHICH 
         THE ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED AND MANY WHICH THEY HAVE 
         NOT YET IMPLEMENTED.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE CLINTON ADMINSTRATION HAS BASICALLY ADOPTED MODEST VERSIONS 
OF BOLDER MEASURES RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT. THESE MEASURES 
INCLUDE ALLOWING SOME SALES OF FOOD TO INDEPENDENT GROUPS IN 
CUBA, LIFTING THE CEILING ON REMITTANCES, RESUMING DIRECT POSTAL 
SERVICE AND PERMITTING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND 
INDEPENDENT GROUPS IN CUBA. THE UNITED STATES WILL ALSO EXPAND 
CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND ATHLETIC EXCHANGES AND 
PERMIT DIRECT CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM A VARIETY OF AMERICAN CITIES 
TO HAVANA. 

THE GOAL, MR. ARONSON SAYS, IS TO INCREASE CONTACT BETWEEN THE 
CITIZENS OF CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES.

                       /// ARONSON ACT ///

         WE BASICALLY FELT THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE MUCH BROADER 
         AVENUES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL 
         SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN CUBA, 
         MUCH GREATER PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT AND A LOOSENING ON
         FOOD AND MEDICINE AND THEY MADE STEPS IN ALL OF THOSE 
         DIRECTIONS.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DID NOT ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 
PRIVATE TASK FORCE THAT PROPOSED OPENINGS IN THE COMMERCIAL AREA.
AND IT TURNED DOWN A SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION MADE BY A GROUP OF 
LEADING REPUBLICANS TO APPOINT A BI-PARTISAN NATIONAL COMMISSION 
TO REVIEW THE UNITED STATES' CUBA POLICY. THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN 
RELATIONS DID NOT MAKE SUCH A RECOMMENDATION, LARGELY BECAUSE 
TASK FORCE MEMBERS CONSIDER THE IDEA DIVISIVE. SUPPORTERS OF THE 
U-S TRADE EMBARGO VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE ANY CHANGE IN POLICY. BUT MR.
ARONSON SAYS U-S POLICY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN EVOLVING FOR SOME 
YEARS. 

                       /// ARONSON ACT ///

         SOME OF THESE CHANGES WERE ACTUALLY EMBODIED IN THE 
         CUBAN DEMOCRACY ACT WHICH ACTUALLY CALLED FOR GREATER 
         PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACTS AND DIRECT TELEPHONE SERVICE 
         AND I THINK THERE HAS BEEN AN EVOLUTION IN THIS 
         DIRECTION. I THINK THE MEASURES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION 
         TOOK ARE ANOTHER STEP IN THAT DIRECTION AND I THINK IT 
         WILL CONTINUE AND IT WILL BROADEN.

                        /// END ACT /// 

BUT OTHERS SAY U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA HAS NOT CHANGED 
SIGNIFICANTLY AND THEY POINT TO LEGISLATION IN RECENT YEARS THAT 
HAS ACTUALLY TIGHTENED THE EMBARGO. SUPPORTERS OF THE EMBARGO SAY
THEY BACK THE NEW MEASURES BECAUSE GREATER PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE 
CONTACT HELPS THE CUBAN PEOPLE WITHOUT STRENGTHENING TIES TO THE 
CASTRO GOVERNMENT OR WEAKENING THE EMBARGO.  (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/PT

07-Jan-99 5:50 PM EST (2250 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.