Miami Delegation Lobbies Carter

A delegation from the Cuban American National Foundation met in Atlanta with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, encouraging him to push human rights and democracy during his upcoming visit to Cuba.

CANF Chairman Jorge Mas Santos on Thursday presented Carter with a four-page letter outlining issues the group wants addressed with Cuban President Fidel Castro. The letter focused on human rights, democracy and free elections.

CANF is opposed to Castro and his communist government.

"Our fear is that this trip becomes a referendum on U.S.-Cuba policy," he said. "There's a true opportunity to talk about human rights. That's what his trip needs to be about."

The delegation, which included CANF's president, Francisco Jose "Pepe" Hernandez, had a 45-minute meeting with the former president at his nonprofit Carter Center in Atlanta, then returned to Miami.

"We talked about the need to focus the trip on human rights, on democracy, on freedom, on the right of the Cuban people -- through free and concurrent elections -- to choose their own form of government," Mas said.

Mas said the delegation urged Carter to attain unfettered access to the Cuban people to discuss human rights and democracy. He also asked Carter to visit with political prisoners, take books to independent libraries and meet with those journalists not affiliated with the government.

During his 1977-1981 presidency, Carter slightly eased diplomatic and travel restrictions to Cuba and promoted the opening of interests sections -- missions that perform basic consular services in the absence of full embassies -- in both Havana and Washington.

Carter will head a delegation to the island May 12-17, making him the first American president in or out of office to visit Cuba during Castro's 43 years in power.

"(President Carter) wants to focus on human rights," Mas said. "He expressed frustration that a regime such as Castro's still enslaves the Cuban people. He wants to see if he can make an openings or any difference."

Staff members at the Carter Center have said the former president plans to discuss human rights in separate meetings with Cuban leaders and dissidents.

Last week, Castro told a group of visiting Americans that he will invite Carter to address a large group of Cubans on any topic he wants.