JIMMY Carter, former U.S. president, talking direct to the
                   Cuban people on television and radio, has affirmed that
                   during his visit to Cuba he wants to find the answer to a
                   question: Is it possible that this century will see harmonious
                   relations between his country and the island?

                   From the Aula Magna of the University of Havana, and reading
                   his speech in Spanish, the U.S. statesman reflected on
                   bilateral relations since the 19th century, when Cuba fought
                   for its independence from Spanish colonialism.

                   Carter noted that the European colonial powers hoped that
                   the United States "would colonize Cuba in the same way as
                   they did in Africa," but that his country preferred to support
                   independence, although "not totally," as the Platt Amendment
                   (added to the first Constitution of the Republic) "gave my
                   country the right to intervene in Cuba," but "in May 1934,
                   President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the wisdom to revoke it."

                   In his lecture, Carter also noted that the dictator Fulgencio
                   Batista was defeated. "Since then our two neighboring
                   countries have followed different ideological and political
                   routes and neither the United States or Cuba has managed to
                   define beneficial relations.

                   "Is it possible that this century will see harmonious relations?
                   I have come to seek an answer to that."

                   Carter stated that some people believe that the dispute
                   between Cuba and the United States will end with the
                   elimination of the so-called embargo and others feel that the
                   conflict will end when what he qualified as free elections are
                   allowed. "There is no doubt that this matter merits a more
                   profound evaluation," he observed.

                   He said that he had understood that there are no simple
                   answers. He clarified that he had not come to Cuba to
                   intervene in its internal affairs, but to extend the hand of
                   friendship to the Cuban people and to offer a future vision for
                   our two countries and the Americas.

                   That vision includes a Cuba totally integrated into the
                   democratic hemisphere that is participating in the Free Trade
                   Area of the Americas (FTAA), and with citizens who can travel
                   without restrictions to visit each other. "I would like to see,"
                   he added, "a mass program of student exchanges among our
                   universities.

                   "I would like the peoples of the United States to share much
                   more than a passion for baseball and marvelous music. I
                   would like us to be friends and respect one another.

                   "For 42 years our two nations have found themselves trapped
                   in a damaging state of belligerence. The time has come to
                   change our relations and the form in which we think and talk
                   about each other," he commented.

                   "Given that the United States is the more powerful nation, we
                   should be the ones to take the first step. I have the hope
                   that the U.S. Congress will act soon to allow unrestricted
                   travel between my country and Cuba, establish open trade
                   relations and revoke the embargo.

                   In Carter’s opinion Cuba’s economic problems are not due to
                   those restrictions.

                   Carter stressed that he had the hope that with some
                   creativity, Cuba and the United States could resolve disputes
                   related to rights over former properties that have been going
                   on for over 40 years.

                   "I propose that our two countries establish a commission of
                   eminent citizens to examine the legitimate worries of all the
                   parties involved, in a positive and constructive manner."

                   "We have to define a future that could serve as a bridge of
                   reconstruction between Cuba and the United States. Is it
                   possible to establish this kind of normal relations? I believe
                   so," he commented.

                   The U.S. statesman reflected on democracy and clarified that
                   he was utilizing the definition as it is assumed in the United
                   States, as distinct from Cuba. He discussed conceptions of
                   human rights in both countries and expressed the view that
                   there is more possibility of changing laws in the United
                   States.

                   He praised the Cuban public healthcare and educational
                   systems and contrasted them with the resolution that
                   Washington managed to have passed at the UN Human
                   Rights Commission.

                   In another part of his speech Carter stated that public opinion
                   polls indicate that the majority of U.S. citizens want to see
                   an end to the economic embargo, the normalization of travel
                   between the two countries, friendship between our peoples
                   and that Cuba should be welcomed into the community of
                   democracies in the Americas.

                   "At the same time," he added, "the majority of my
                   compatriots believe that matters related to economic and
                   political freedom have to be defined by the Cuban people.
                   After 43 years of sentiments full of animosity, we hope that
                   in the near future you can extend your hands over this great
                   divide that separates our two countries.

                   "I hope that soon the people of the United States can open
                   their arms and say: ‘We welcome you as our friends.’

                                          • (Mireya Castañeda and Raisa Pagés)