ARRIVAL STATEMENT OF FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

                   Rosalynn and I are delighted to be in Cuba again after 47
                   years, and we are grateful for the invitation to visit this proud
                   country.

                   We come here as friends of the Cuban people, and we hope to
                   meet many Cubans from different walks of life. We are eager
                   to see firsthand your accomplishments in health, education
                   and culture. We also appreciate the opportunity to meet with
                   President Castro, other members of government, and representatives
                   of religious and other groups, and discuss ideals that Rosalynn
                   and I hold dear, principles on which we established The Carter
                   Center 20 years ago – peace, human rights, democracy, and
                   the alleviation of suffering. We realize that we have differences
                   on some of these issues, but we welcome the opportunity to try
                   to identify some points in common and some areas of cooperation.

                   During this week, we look forward to seeing your health
                   research centers, farms, the Latin American Medical School,
                   new Social Workers School, the Solidaridad con Panamá
                   School for disabled children, and the University of Havana,
                   where I will make a speech to the Cuban nation on Tuesday
                   evening at 6 p.m. On Thursday, we will meet with
                   representatives from the religious and human rights
                   communities. We will have a final press conference on Friday
                   morning at 10 a.m. before we return to Georgia.

                   I would like to introduce the members of the delegation. From
                   the Carter Center are Dr. John Hardman, executive director;
                   Dr. Jennifer McCoy, director of the Americas Program; Dr.
                   Shelley McConnell, associate director of the Americas
                   Program; and Dr. Robert Pastor, Emory University professor
                   and advisor to the Americas Program. Also joining us is my
                   son, Chip Carter, president of the Friendship Force, who is
                   here with an exchange delegation from Georgia.