Posted on Wednesday, 04.08.09
Castros tell lawmakers they want talks with U.S.
Returning from meetings with both Fidel and Raúl Castro, members of the Congressional Black Caucus said Cuba would welcome talks with the United States.
BY LESLEY CLARK
lclark@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON -- The Castro government is interested in talking to the United States, a delegation of black members of Congress said Tuesday, returning from a five-day trip to Cuba where they met with Raúl and Fidel Castro.
But members of the Congressional Black Caucus said they didn't discuss whether Cuba was prepared to offer any concessions in return.
''We didn't get into any of the details,'' said caucus chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., who led the trip. ``We just want to see a dialogue. You don't have to offer anything to talk.''
The group of seven lawmakers, which included six members of the Congressional Black Caucus, spent four hours with Raúl Castro, including dinner. Three members met separately with Fidel Castro at his home. They described the aging leader as ``very engaging, very energetic . . . very talkative.''
The visit marked the first meeting between Raúl Castro and U.S. lawmakers since he took the helm of the country a year ago and the first with the elder Castro since he took ill in 2006.
`TIME TO TALK'
''It's time to talk to Cuba,'' Lee said. 'We are convinced, based on the meetings, that the Cubans do want dialogue, they do want talks and they do want normal relations with the United States of America and I believe it's in the United States' best interest to do that.''
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