Cuba hits back at Richardson over failed visit
By PAUL HAVEN
Associated Press
HAVANA -- Cuba accused former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson of
"blackmail" and slander on Wednesday, denying his claims that he was
invited to the island to negotiate the release of a jailed American
government subcontractor.
In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, the Foreign
Ministry's head of North American affairs, Josefina Vidal, said Cuba
closed the door on Richardson's request to even see imprisoned
Maryland-native Alan Gross only after the American politician described
him as a "hostage," in an interview with AP.
"His request to see the prisoner ... became impossible due to his
slanderous statements to the press in which he described Gross as a
'hostage' of the Cuban government," Vidal said. Richardson made the
comment last Thursday after he said his demand to see Gross was rebuffed.
But Vidal said Cuba was already unhappy that word of Richardson's visit
was leaked to the press even before it had begun.
"Even before he had met with a single Cuban official the media fallout
and the speculation had begun," she said. Vidal insisted that no Cuban
official ever led Richardson to believe he would leave the island with
Gross.
"The release of the North American prisoner Alan Gross was never on the
table," she said, adding that Cuba was caught by surprise when word of
Richardson's visit was leaked amid news reports that he was coming to
take Gross home.
An aide to Richardson who was with the governor on the trip took
exception to Vidal's account, insisting that the American politician was
indeed invited to discuss the Gross case.
"The Cubans are making flimsy excuses only after they personally invited
Gov. Richardson to discuss the Alan Gross detention and only after they
inexplicably stonewalled Governor Richardson," Gilbert Gallegos said in
comments e-mailed to AP late Wednesday. He said Richardson would meet
with State Department officials and recommend no softening of the U.S.
position toward the island until Gross is released.
Gross was sentenced to 15 years in jail for crimes against the state
after he was caught illegally bringing communications equipment onto the
island while on a USAID-funded democracy building program. His final
appeal was denied in August by the country's Supreme Court. Cuba says
the programs aim to bring down the government; Gross contends he was
only trying to help the island's tiny Jewish community get Internet access.
The case has crippled attempts to improve relations between Washington
and Havana, and destroyed what had been a warm relationship between
Richardson and Cuban leaders.
In the past, Richardson has been an outspoken proponent of improved
relations between the Cold War enemies. But the Democratic politician
said Tuesday that he was treated so poorly on his visit that he doubted
he could ever return to the island as a friend.
The feeling appears to be mutual.
Vidal said the former governor's behavior amounted to a crude attempt to
box the Cuban government into a corner.
"We explained to Mr. Richardson that Cuba is a sovereign country which
does not accept blackmail, pressure or posturing," she said.
Richardson is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations with a long
history of negotiating the release of prisoners around the world. While
he stressed that he was here as a private citizen, he said he was in
close contact with the U.S. State Department.
A department spokesman, Mark Toner, expressed regret Wednesday at
Richardson's failure to even see Gross.
"We're disappointed that he was unable to visit him," Toner told
reporters. "The fact that the Cuban government refused to permit any
kind of contact between Gov. Richardson and Mr. Gross is unfortunate,
and it stands in stark contrast to Gov. Richardson's good-faith effort."
Toner said the U.S. remained "very concerned" about Gross' welfare.
"We're going to continue to use every available diplomatic channel to
try to press for his release," he said.
Asked whether Richardson brought with him any specific offer from the
U.S. government of a quid pro quo, Vidal said only that discussions that
Cuban officials had with Richardson were private and confidential. She
also would not close the door on any future decision to release Gross on
humanitarian grounds, though she said she had no knowledge whether one
was imminent.
"This is how things work all over the world ... When a law is broken
there is a legal process which must be respected and once the legal
process ends it is normal that people wait to see if another process can
start," she said.
Gross's final appeal was denied by Cuba's Supreme Court in August, and
since then calls for his release on humanitarian grounds have grown louder.
Gross's elderly mother and adult daughter are both suffering from
cancer, his family has had financial troubles since his incarceration,
and those who have visited him in jail say the previously corpulent man
has lost over 100 pounds and now appears gaunt and frail.
On Tuesday, his wife Judy, told the Cuban-related blog Cafe Fuerte that
she was extremely worried about her husband.
"Every time I speak with him, he sounds increasingly depressed and
anxious to be home," she was quoted as saying. "We are all very worried
about both his mental and physical health. He sounds increasingly
hopeless; his voice is weaker."
Vidal took exception to descriptions of Gross as seriously ill, saying
his health is "normal, in accordance with his age and chronic ailments."
She said he received close medical attention, as well as regular
consular visits.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/14/v-fullstory/2407390/cuba-hits-back-at-richardson-over.html
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