Cuban diplomats hope for continued access to 6-year-old

The Miami Herald
April 25, 2000

Cuban diplomats hope for continued access to 6-year-old

BY ANA RADELAT
Special to The Herald

WASHINGTON -- Cuban diplomats, who have visited Elian at Andrews Air Force base, hope to
continue to have access to him when he and his immediate family make an expected move to a rural
Maryland retreat later this week.

Luis Fernandez, spokesman for the Cuban Interests Section, said diplomats from the mission
have visited Elian and his family at Andrews to bring them mango juice and clothes. ''Elian loves
mango juice,'' he said.

He also said he didn't know if any U.S.-based Cuban diplomats will be able to stay with the family
if they move to Wye Plantation on Maryland's rural Eastern Shore, but he said he felt fairly sure they
will continue to have access to the boy. U.S. marshals will provide security at Wye, according to
INS spokeswoman Maria Cardona.

''We need access in case we need to supply food or medicine,'' Fernandez explained.

Justice Department spokeswoman Carol Florman said Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, is
''making decisions for his family and making decisions about access to his family.''

Florman also said that Juan Miguel's attorney, Gregory Craig, is handling visits to Elian and his
father. ''Craig is his liaison -- with the public, media and Justice Department,'' Florman said.

Wye Plantation, located about 70 miles from Washington, is a 1,100-acre conference center
near the Chesapeake Bay, owned by the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit involved in foreign affairs.

Juan Miguel Gonzalez, his second wife Nercy and infant son Hianny stayed in seclusion with Elian at
their small guest house at the air base near Washington.

Meanwhile, second cousin Marisleysis Gonzalez and Elian's great-uncles, Lazaro and Delfin
Gonzalez, also kept a low profile. Emilio Vasquez, an official for the Cuban American National
Foundation, said Elian's Miami relatives spent much of the rest of the day resting in their hotel
in Georgetown.

''They're just exhausted,'' Vasquez said.

Marisleysis said she would continue to try to see Elian and his father, although earlier efforts have
been rebuffed. ''I still keep my faith in being able to meet with the father,'' she told reporters.