Cuba says its ready to negotiate Gross fate

Posted on Wednesday, 09.12.12

Cuba says its ready to negotiate Gross fate
By PAUL HAVEN
Associated Press

HAVANA -- A senior Cuban diplomat said Wednesday her country is prepared
to negotiate a solution in the case of a jailed American contractor, but
is awaiting a U.S. response.

Foreign Ministry official Josefina Vidal also rejected allegations by
the wife of 63-year-old Maryland native Alan Gross that her husband's
health is failing after more than 2 1/2 years in custody.

"Cuba reiterates its willingness to talk with the United States
government to find a solution in the case of Mr. Gross and continues to
await an answer," Vidal, who heads the ministry's Office of North
American Affairs, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

She gave no details. It was the first time a Cuban official has hinted
that a specific proposal has been made and indicated that the ball was
in Washington's court.

Previously, senior officials in President Raul Castro's government have
raised the case of five Cuban agents sentenced to long jail terms in the
United States, though they have not spelled out publicly that they are
seeking an exchange.

U.S. officials say privately, however, that Havana has made it
increasingly clear they want a quid pro quo, something Washington has
repeatedly rejected.

Jared Genser, a Washington-based attorney for the Gross family, said in
a telephone interview he knows of no active proposal that the Cuban
government has put forward for his client's release.

He said American officials had long made clear to the Cubans that
trading Gross for the Cuban agents is a nonstarter.

"My definition of a proposal is something that is specific and
actionable," he said.

Genser challenged Vidal to publicly name a date, time and location where
the Cuban government would willing to meet with U.S. officials to
negotiate a release.

Gross's wife, Judy, traveled to Cuba and visited her husband in custody
several times last week. She said upon her return to the United States
that she feared he would not survive his ordeal.

Gross, who was obese when he was arrested in December 2009, has lost
more than 100 pounds in custody. His wife and lawyer say he also suffers
from arthritis and has developed a mass behind his right shoulder blade
that is not believed to be cancerous.

Vidal said the American's physical condition is fine.

"Mr. Gross's health continues to be normal and he exercises regularly,"
she said in the brief statement.

Genser, the Gross family lawyer, called on the Cuban government to allow
a doctor of Gross's choosing to come in and perform a physical,
something he said the Cubans have rejected.

"She says he's in great health, so they've got nothing to hide," Genser
said.

Gross was working on a USAID-funded democracy building program when he
was arrested at Havana's Jose Marti airport. He says he was only trying
to provide internet service to the island's small Jewish community.

Cuba says the multimillion dollar programs are an effort by Washington
to undermine the government, and has noted that Gross was carrying
sophisticated communications equipment.

Gross was sentenced to 15 years, and has lost his final appeal, leaving
him out of legal options.

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Jessica Gresko contributed from Washington, D.C.

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