Posted on 01/25/2002 4:40:11 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
HAVANA -- (AP) -- Encouraged by signs Cuba may be ready to buy more U.S. products, the head of a leading agricultural firm said Thursday his company is willing to sell the communist county as much food as it wants.
Illinois Gov. George Ryan arrived here Thursday with drug company representatives keen to do business with Cuba.
``The embargo robs us in Illinois and in the United States of a vast consumer market of 11 million people,'' Ryan said, referring to the 4-decade-old U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba. ``It's time to end the embargo and welcome Cuba into the international marketplace.''
The high-profile visits by Minnesota agribusiness giant Cargill and the Illinois delegation come as Cuba woos Americans who oppose U.S. restrictions on trade with the island.
``It is our sincere hope that the success of this initial commercial transaction will lead to a further improvement in U.S.-Cuban relations,'' Cargill chairman and chief executive Warren R. Staley said Thursday as he announced the arrival of 25,000 metric tons of U.S. corn his company sold directly to Cuba.
While hopes for a trade thaw are high among Cuban officials and U.S. firms, one expert warned against excessive optimism. Most U.S.-Cuba trade is barred by the embargo, and it was only after a November hurricane that Cuba got to buy its first U.S. food since the embargo began.
``The relationship between the United States and Cuba has never been reflected in one moment, but rather a series of moments, some more important than others'' said John Kavulich, president of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.
Nevertheless, it was notable when Pedro Alvarez, president of Cuba's food import enterprise, said this week that Cuba could buy more U.S. farm products if it receives encouraging signs from Washington. It was the first time a Cuban official had indicated the communist government would consider buying more U.S. food. Alvarez repeated his assertion at Cargill's news conference.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro had said that the $35 million food purchase contracted late last year was a one-time deal. Deliveries are being made this month and next.
Before Hurricane Michelle, Havana had refused to take advantage of a U.S. law passed in 2000 allowing direct food sales, because it prohibits U.S. government or private financing.
While the focus on Cuba trade centers on food, drug companies also want to do business, said Mark Rasenick, director of Biomedical Neuroscience Training at the University of Illinois' College of Medicine.
The embargo has never barred sales of medicine or medical supplies, but ``a lot of American companies just give up because it is so hard to get the licenses,'' Rasenick said by telephone.
Ryan was accompanied by representatives of Ferris Manufacturing, Medline, DMS Pharmaceutical, JLR International and Century Healthcare.
INVESTMENTS IN CUBA-- The more things change in Cuba, the more it remains the same. To dispel any doubts about it, Fidel Castro has made it very clear that he is not contemplating any meaningful economic or political change in Cuba for the next one hundred years. When CNN's Bernard Shaw interviewed the Cuban tyrant on October 22, 1995 he asked if he would retire in order to facilitate an economic recovery in Cuba, but he was adamant- he would not. When he questioned if he would allow another political party in Cuba, the dictator for life responded - not in one year, not in ten years, not even in 100 years. A Hitler's fan, Castro is more modest, he is foreseen only 100 years forward not 1,000 as his German homologue. Evidently Castro thinks he will break the record of Methuselah!
Under Castro and communism, "Self-enrichment" by the Cuban people is not allowed! Cuba Wages Offensive on 'Over-Sized' Houses -- ``The day money is the factor behind distribution of the nation's properties is the day we will be divided into social classes. We will not allow that,'' said Juan Contino, who heads the movement of Cuba's state-affiliated neighborhood groups, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR).
``The embargo robs us in Illinois and in the United States of a vast consumer market of 11 million people,'' Ryan said, referring to the 4-decade-old U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba. ``It's time to end the embargo and welcome Cuba into the international marketplace.''Let me get back to you on that.
Ex-ambassadors debate Cuba policy, agree to disagree---Elian's "hostess" in D.C., Sally Grooms Cowal, (past president and CEO of Youth for Understanding) until he was shipped back to Castro, is calling in her chips.
Letter to Youth For Understanding from Sally Grooms Cowal: February 22, 2001 -- To all of my friends and colleagues in the YFU World: Greetings. I want to tell you about my plans. I will be the President of the Cuba Policy Foundation, a newly established non-profit, non-partisan organization, which has been set up to promote normalization of US-Cuba relations. It is a challenge I believe our nation needs to address. I was approached by the backers of this Foundation who, given my previous service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Ambassador in the Caribbean, as well as my current involvement with Cuba, have persuaded me that I am in an absolutely unique position to successfully execute this task. After considerable personal agonizing, I decided to accept. I will, therefore, be stepping down as President of YFU, although I expect to remain actively involved as a member of the Board of Trustees, like all Trustees serving without compensation. [End Excerpt]
Cowal's group (Cuba Policy Foundation) received its initial funding from the ARCA FOUNDATION, a wealthy organization devoted to more contact and fewer trade restrictions with Cuba. Its chairman is SMITH BAGLEY, a grandson of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds and a major Democratic donor. ******(Remember the two DNC fundraisers with Elian as their trophy?)*******
( UNDER THE GUISE OF RELIGION, NCC, UMC, PASTORS FOR PEACE)-- Another one of the most militant, fanatic and violent "religious" and "humanitarian" organizations part of this network in the U.S. appearing to be working for Castro's tyranny are the "interreligious" group Pastors for Peace. These "pastors" as well as the NCC have received grants from the ARCA FOUNDATION, which according to scholar Irving Louis Horowitz, is a "highly pro-Castro and partisan," grant-giving agency. From 1994 to1998, ARCA awarded about $3 million for pro-Castro projects.---I imagine the number is higher now.
The real cause of Cuba's hardship is not the embargo but the state's Soviet-style economy. Traditional exports such as sugar cost the regime more to produce than they sell for on the global market. Tourism brings in hard currency but not nearly enough to provide for Cuba's needs. Debt payments are so uncertain that major trade partners often must extend new loans.--(End Excerpt)
Friends of Fidel--Washington Times--(Excerpt) Louisiana rice and Illinois wheat producers should not assume that selling to Havana is synonymous with getting paid. U.S taxpayers should be wary. Mr. Castro desperately needs credits and subsidies, and Washington is being pressured to provide them.
If the United States begins to subsidize trade with Cuba estimated at $100 million a year five years from now, U.S. taxpayers could be holding, or paying off, a $500 million tab. That´s real money.
Before extending Mr. Castro credit, grain growers should visit any street corner in Manhattan and observe a game played there. Called three-card monte, it consists of convincing the player that he knows exactly where the card carrying his money is. Until it disappears. In this game, the gambler takes his own chances. Where trade with Mr. Castro is concerned, the U.S. taxpayer will be left holding the losing card. --(End Excerpt)
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