‘We didn’t hesitate to return to Cuba because we knew that we were safe’

                   • Third group of participants (this time numbering more than 700) in
                   the Semester at Sea study program, organized by the University of
                   Pittsburgh, to have met with the Cuban president • Growing rejection
                   of blockade within U.S. society • The island agrees with the need to
                   confront terrorism, but disagrees with Washington’s methods

                   BY ORLANDO ORAMAS LEON (Granma daily staff writer)

                   IT was apparent on January 25, in President Fidel Castro’s meeting
                   with hundreds of U.S. students, which included young people from
                   the island, that frank, unconditional dialogue is what is needed to
                   improve communication between Cuba and the United States.

                   The plenary room at the International Conference Center was packed
                   with more than 700 students and their professors, who arrived in
                   Cuba on January 23 aboard the Universe Explorer cruise liner, as
                   part of the Semester at Sea study program run by the University of
                   Pittsburgh.

                   For the third consecutive occasion, Fidel met with participants in the
                   U.S. educational project, accompanied by hundreds of Cuban youth
                   and students, and Communist Party, state and government leaders.
                   Hassán Pérez, president of the Federation of University Students,
                   acted as moderator.

                   A U.S. professor opened the exchange, recalling that this was the
                   sixth time they had come to Cuba. She referred to the last journey,
                   which took place shortly after the events of September 11 last year.
                   "We wondered then where we could find a safe haven. We didn’t
                   hesitate to return to Cuba because we knew that we were safe and
                   would receive a warm welcome and many opportunities to learn."
                   Her words were confirmed by a standing ovation from the Semester
                   at Sea professors.

                   Another U.S. citizen, Dr. Max Brandt, speaking in Spanish, expressed
                   his appreciation for what he described as an exceptional exchange
                   and dialogue between Cuban and U.S. youth, "at a time when we
                   know that relations between the two nations have not been easy."

                   Fidel then spoke to an interested and respectful audience. "I’ve
                   become a kind of collaborator for Semester at Sea," he commented
                   in relation to the previous encounters, "during which I have enjoyed
                   myself and learned things."

                   He praised the program directed by the University of Pittsburgh,
                   through which U.S. students have the experience of discovering
                   other parts of the world. He then opened the meeting to the floor.

                   "What do you think of the U.S. occupation of the Guantánamo base
                   and the transfer there of Taliban prisoners?" That was the first
                   question.

                   "I should say that we do not have jurisdiction over the base and the
                   use to which it has been put is the result of unilateral decisions," he
                   stated. He recalled that during the Kosovo war, the United States
                   decided to put a refugee camp within the base. "On that occasion,
                   we were informed of the decision made, for the first time. We
                   responded that we would not raise any objections and that we were
                   prepared to cooperate in caring for those refugees."

                   He went on to say that now a new situation with the base has
                   arisen, this time with prisoners. Initially they were called prisoners of
                   war. Then there were disagreements as to what to call them, but as
                   on the earlier occasion, the United States made the gesture of
                   informing Cuba, which made the same response of not placing
                   obstacles in the way and cooperating in the sphere of medical
                   services, cleaning up the exterior perimeter and air traffic facilities he
                   explained.

                   He continued with an illustrative historical outline of the
                   circumstances in which the United States appropriated that part of
                   Cuban territory, and referred to the Platt Amendment, which
                   established the United States’ right to intervene in Cuba and the
                   concession of naval and fueling bases. He added that U.S. laws and
                   amendments have been utilized to create the blockade structure
                   against the island, starting right after the triumph of the Revolution.

                   The Cuban president went on to stress that the Revolution has never
                   inculcated hatred of the U.S. people and the people of that country
                   have never been blamed for the blockade. "I would venture to say
                   that probably no other country treats U.S. citizens with such
                   hospitality as Cuba does. Our estimation of the American people has
                   grown a lot; it is an idealistic people. It is very difficult for Americans
                   to support anything that they consider unjust," he noted. In that
                   context he described U.S. public support as decisive in the return of
                   Elián González, the Cuban child held in Miami two years ago.

                   Fidel referred to growing rejection of the blockade against Cuba in
                   U.S. society, which is also made evident by the volume of visits from
                   the island’s northern neighbor. "We should call this January the
                   month for the United States in Cuba," he added, "given the number
                   of citizens from that country who have visited us: scientists,
                   academics, businesspeople and legislators, among others."

                   He stressed that Cuba agrees with the need to confront the scourge
                   of terrorism, although it differs with the methods applied by
                   Washington.

                   Another U.S. professor, who had come for the first time, said that he
                   felt privileged to meet with the Cuban president, and by the reception
                   given them by the Cuban people. He didn’t ask any question, but
                   simply asked for permission to go up to the platform and present
                   Fidel with his book Understanding Latin America, which he did
                   personally.

                   Responding to a young student from Dallas, Texas, Fidel asked the
                   auditorium: "What is freedom, justice, what is democracy, what are
                   genuinely free elections? We can discover amazing things starting
                   from very simple questions," he affirmed, going on to observe that
                   without culture there is no freedom.

                   He then posed the question as to whether an illiterate person could
                   participate in free elections, if he or she does not understand the
                   issues being discussed, and when, moreover, neoliberal policies are
                   closing schools. Can freedom be divorced from equality? In a
                   developed country is a beggar free? What kind of freedom does he
                   enjoy? More than questions, they were ideas aimed at provoking
                   analysis.

                   "Our elementary school pupils have twice as much knowledge in
                   language and mathematics than the Latin American average. We
                   have provinces in which that knowledge is double that of the
                   country’s capital," continued the president, as a way of emphasizing
                   that "we could do much more and better, which explains the dozens
                   of social, educational and integral cultural programs. We are doing all
                   this in the search for a society that is genuinely free and truly
                   democratic," he noted.

                   He made the contrast that while Cuba is demonstrating how there
                   can be many advances in education with a minimum of resources, in
                   the capitalist world billions are being invested in the speculative
                   economy, despite UN recognition of the existence of 800 million
                   illiterates. "In terms of education," he stated, "experiments are under
                   way in our country that could be of benefit to many nations in need."

                   Later on in the meeting, he urged the U.S. university students to
                   walk the streets of the Third World countries they are about to visit.
                   They will be able to see how the underdeveloped countries are
                   becoming more and more distant from the First World; they will find
                   African nations with a high percentage of AIDS cases.

                   A student from the University of Pittsburgh asked if culture could help
                   to break down barriers between the two countries. "We are open as
                   a country to world culture," said Fidel, explaining that U.S. music is
                   much liked in Cuba. "Yes, culture can help a lot, as does your
                   presence; when you do us the honor of exchanging opinions, you
                   know a bit more about Cuba and we know a bit more about your
                   country."

                   Another youth told the Cuban president about a personal experience.
                   He had food poisoning, felt sick and fainted. When he came to, he
                   was surrounded by a group of Cubans trying to help and concerned
                   about his health. They took him in a private car to a hospital, where
                   he received immediate attention from three highly specialized
                   doctors, and although communication was difficult because of the
                   language, they made him feel very secure. He wanted to express his
                   thanks for that.

                   And the last person to speak asked Fidel to embrace him which, in
                   the midst of applause, was a complete symbol of how much the two
                   neighboring peoples can do, in a respectful and peaceful manner.

                   VISIT TO ERNESTO GUEVARA MEMORIAL

                   SANTA CLARA.- A group of U.S. students and professors,
                   representing different universities and colleges in the United States,
                   visited the Ernesto Guevara Memorial that holds the remains of Che
                   and his comrades who fell in Bolivia.

                   The group laid flowers at the base of the bronze sculpture of Che and
                   toured the caskets and museums which comprise the memorial.
                   They asked about the people who conceived the project and made it
                   a reality.

                   Kathy Houghton, assistant dean of Semester at Sea, said that this
                   historical site had impressed her and that she had gained more
                   respect for the heroes and lives that she had just learned about,
                   adding that now had a better idea of the pride Cubans have in their
                   heroes.

                   Cuba is the first country to be visited on the Semester at Sea
                   itinerary organized by the University of Pittsburgh, which has
                   maintained relations with the University of Havana for more than 20
                   years. (José Antonio Fulgueiras).