Cuba Hosts Latin Leaders

Spanish King Juan Carlos toasted his host President Fidel Castro on the eve of Tuesday's Ibero-American summit, wishing prosperity for the Cuban people but reminding the long-serving leader of the importance of human rights.

But despite the grumbles about the communist island's rights record, Castro was basking in the international limelight and taking pains to be a gracious host to his summit guests – leaders from 14 Latin American countries as well as Spain and Portugal.

Â"Only with an authentic democracy, with full guarantee for liberties and with scrupulous respect for human rights by all of us can our peoples face the challenges of the 21st century with success,Â" Juan Carlos told the Cuban leader during a formal state dinner at the Palace of the Revolution.

But Castro, who changed from his trademark olive green military uniform into an elegant black suit for the dinner, was not fazed. The Cuban leader had toasted the king as well. He thanked him for becoming the first reigning Spanish monarch to set foot on the island.

Â"Thank you, your majesty, for privileging a generation of Cubans with your friendly and supportive presence,Â" Castro said.

Human rights have been in the background to the summit's major themes -- Ibero-American integration and the world economy -- bringing the heads of state together Tuesday.

The prime ministers of Spain and Portugal met with opponents of Castro's government earlier in the day, breaking a long-standing tradition of foreign leaders shunning dissidents while on Cuban soil.

The delegations of Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama held similar meetings over the weekend.

The king's gentle prod was far more subtle. But his message was not likely to be lost on Castro, who has been irritated in recent days by internal dissident groups' attempts to use the summit to bring their human rights complaints to the world.

The gathering by top leaders of 14 Latin American countries, along with those of Spain and Portugal, flies in the face of U.S. efforts to make the communist state an international pariah.

Only five heads of state were absent. The presidents of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador refused to attend because of Cuba's human rights record or a lack of diplomatic relations.

Presidents Eduardo Frei of Chile and Carlos Menem of Argentina boycotted to protest Spain's attempt to extradite former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet from Britain for alleged human rights abuses during his 17-year rule.

Castro on Monday spent most of the day engrossed in his guests, whom he had personally received at the airport – a job normally reserved for the foreign ministry.

At the end of the working sessions Tuesday, the heads of state and government were widely expected to offer a resounding rejection of the long-standing U.S. embargo against the Cuban island.

Castro, who put many of his guests up in protocol houses -- sprawling mansionbuilt in western Havana near the Palace of Conventions -- appears to hope that his efforts at being a gracious host will bring the previously isolated island long term benefits.

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