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Congressional delegation meets Raul Castro as Fidel calls for more dialogue

The six-person U.S. congressional delegation visiting Cuba yesterday reported a productive first session of discussions on how to normalize the two countries’ relations. That will be a long, long road, but the momentum is growing. Restrictions on travel and remittances are rumored to be on the policy chopping block soon. The delegation from the Congressional ...

By Elizabeth Dickinson, International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia.

April 7, 2009, 5:46 PM

The six-person U.S. congressional delegation visiting Cuba yesterday reported a productive first session of discussions on how to normalize the two countries' relations. That will be a long, long road, but the momentum is growing. Restrictions on travel and remittances are rumored to be on the policy chopping block soon. The delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus was not sent from President Obama -- though carrying the self stated goal to "listen and talk" -- they became the first lawmakers to speak with Cuban officials since the president took office.

The six-person U.S. congressional delegation visiting Cuba yesterday reported a productive first session of discussions on how to normalize the two countries’ relations. That will be a long, long road, but the momentum is growing. Restrictions on travel and remittances are rumored to be on the policy chopping block soon. The delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus was not sent from President Obama — though carrying the self stated goal to “listen and talk” — they became the first lawmakers to speak with Cuban officials since the president took office.

Though it was Raul that the lawmakers were speaking to, the response to Comrade-blogger-brother Fidel was more anxiously awaited. Here are some interesting snippets (AP and my translations):

Praising Richard Lugar’s call to amend U.S.-Cuba policy:

those capable of serenely analyzing the events, as is the case of the senator from Indiana, use an irrefutable argument: The measures of the United States against Cuba, over almost half a century, are a total failure.”

Calling for dialogue with the U.S.:

There is no need to emphasize what Cuba has always said: We do not fear dialogue with the United States. Nor do we need confrontation to exist, as some foolish people think. We exist precisely because we believe in our ideas and we have never feared dialogue with the adversary. That [discussion] is the only way to build friendships among people.”

But remaining staunch on the Cuban revolution:

The Cuban revolution, which the embargo and the dirty war were not able to destroy, is based upon ethical and political principles; it is for this reason that it has been able to resist [attempts to destroy it].”

As I said, it’s a long — if increasingly well-lit — road ahead.

Elizabeth Dickinson is International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia.