CUBAN university students challenged former President Jimmy
                   Carter over the benefits of “Western democracy” in a round of
                   questions at the end of the statesman’s lecture, “The United
                   States and Cuba: a Vision for the 21st Century.”

                   University of Havana Rector Dr. Juan Vela gave the floor to
                   law student Miguel Fraga, who told Carter that he had
                   listened carefully to his words and would like to reply.

                   “We live in the 21st century, and live with the consequences
                   of an unjust international economic order, and a democracy
                   that does not guarantee peoples the most minimal rights to
                   health and food, talks to us of freedom and human rights.
                   What is your opinion?” he asked Carter, “is it possible to talk
                   of democracy without social justice and equality of
                   opportunities?”

                   The former president virtually repeated the ideas expressed in
                   his address, replying that he had tried to explain the
                   differences between both countries and the two systems of
                   government as clearly as possible.

                   Through The Carter Center, the former president noted, his
                   wife and himself approach the problems of human rights in
                   their totality, and in Cuba, on visits to different places,
                   accompanied by President Castro, they had seen tremendous
                   demonstrations of human rights guaranteed to the people:
                   the right to health care and education, and these are truly
                   incredible achievements, they have attained very difficult
                   objectives that other countries have not reached.

                   He reiterated that he and the Cuban president have their
                   differences over the totality of those rights, and cited among
                   them the right to elections, in terms of the U.S. system, or
                   that of the Catholic Church to have private schools.

                   Carter observed that his visit and the presence of U.S.
                   students in Cuba are the cement for future relations and
                   highlighted that the great majority of U.S. people, including a
                   majority in Congress, would like the freedom for U.S. citizens
                   to travel to Cuba (a right that various governments have
                   wrested from its citizens; during his presidency, Carter
                   himself lifted the restriction on travel to Cuba, but it was
                   subsequently reimposed by later presidents).

                   Chemistry student Daniel García returned to the theme of
                   democracy, which in Latin America “has killed millions of
                   children from hunger and disease and whose governments
                   have embezzled their peoples’ money,” and asked him if this
                   was his concept of democracy.

                   In his response, the former president cited the Varela Project,
                   a document drawn up by counterrevolutionary elements that
                   was refuted by some of the university students who spoke.

                   He also reiterated that he had perceived great progress on
                   the island in terms of public health, which had prompted his
                   intense admiration.

                   He recalled the meeting on May 13 at the Latin American
                   Medical School and how Cuba, poor as was, has more than
                   2,000 doctors serving in other countries, something that no
                   other country in the world can boast.

                   The former U.S. president expressed the view that relations
                   between the two countries are at “an impasse”, but that he
                   hoped that there would be progressive change, that the
                   United States would take one step, that Cuba would respond
                   with another, thus leading to a new round of mutual efforts.

                   CUBA, AN ISLAND POLITICALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY

                   José Luis Toledo Santander, dean of the law school,
                   commenced by saying that it is a tribute to justice to
                   recognize part of the work of the Revolution, which has been
                   ignored for over 40 years by those who have tried to destroy
                   it. In his view, that was the source of ignorance about the
                   Cuban institutional system and the functioning of its
                   democracy, which establishes free elections every five years.

                   Hassan Pérez, president of the Federation of University
                   Students, expressed thanks to Carter for the opportunity to
                   express his ideas, representative of many in his generation.
                   With his habitual eloquence, Hassan informed Carter that
                   Cuban achievements go far beyond the sectors acknowledged
                   and extend to different spheres. He refuted Carter’s concept
                   of peace, saying:

                   “For us to be able to live in peace, the blockade, which is an
                   act of genocide, is unacceptable,” and added that normal
                   relations are also needed.

                   He also questioned democracies in which less than 50% of
                   the voters go to the polls.

                   The student representative informed Carter of the existence
                   of five young Cubans unjustly sentenced and imprisoned in
                   the United States, and focused his question on that issue. He
                   voiced the hope that the U.S. government would act in a just
                   way and free those five Cubans, who had not committed any
                   act of espionage or intelligence whatsoever.

                   Carter stated that international opinion recognizes the
                   independence of judicial power from other levels of
                   government: the legislative and executive. And he added that
                   when it is proven that a person is innocent, or there is
                   evidence of an unfair trial, there is the possibility of
                   appealing to the higher courts, right up to the Supreme Court.

                   He said that he was not familiar with the details of the five
                   young imprisoned Cubans, but affirmed that they are entitled
                   to legal representation if they believe that they were unjustly
                   sentenced or charged.

                   For Carter, talking to Cubans in this televised dialogue was a
                   real demonstration that he had been tremendously honored,
                   and he added that he was extremely grateful to President
                   Castro for having invited him.

                   Moreover, he recalled Fidel’s words to the media on the
                   visitor’s freedom to meet with anyone he wanted to, to
                   criticize the system and to openly express his opinions.

                   Former President Carter stated that working for the
                   normalization of relations between the two countries
                   continues to be one of his objectives.

                   At the end of his address, the rector of the University of
                   Havana presented Carter with the University Medal, together
                   with a book listing the names of figures who have received
                   honorary from that teaching institution.