WASHINGTON -- (AP) -- The United States should reject its ``uncompromising
 approach'' to Cuba and push for an eventual democratic transition and an end to
 repression on the island, a hemispheric policy group said today.

 The recommendation for U.S.-Cuban dialogue was in a report by the
 Inter-American Dialogue, a gathering of former presidents and specialists from the
 United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

 ``It is time for the United States to shift to a policy of engagement to press the
 Cuban government to end its repressive practices, restore the rule of law and stop
 human rights abuses -- even if, realistically, dramatic improvements in these
 areas are unlikely,'' the report said.

 It also suggested ``redesign'' of U.S. policy toward Cuba to increase the prospect
 that once President Fidel Castro leaves office, ``Cuba will have a peaceful and
 successful transition toward democratic politics and market-driven economics.''

 The new approach would end U.S. isolation on the Cuba issue and would allow
 Washington to begin cooperating with the governments of Latin America and the
 Caribbean as well as those of Canada, Europe and Japan, the study said. It said
 all those friends of the United States share the U.S. goal of peaceful transition to
 democracy in Cuba but resist Washington's ``uncompromising approach.''

 The report said few take seriously the argument that the U.S. embargo and other
 sanctions will hasten Castro's downfall or bring even modest political or economic
 changes to Cuba.

 ``The next U.S. president should undertake to dismantle the web of restrictive
 laws and policies that block efforts to reintegrate Cuba into hemispheric affairs,''
 the report said.

 Two weeks ago, the Council on Foreign Relations issued a report on Cuba that
 also recommended an easing of the embargo on the premise that relaxation
 would help transition in the post-Castro era and reduce chances of U.S. military
 intervention.

 President-elect Bush has said he envisions no change in U.S. policy toward Cuba
 unless free elections are held and political prisoners are freed.

 The Inter-American Dialogue report was signed by former President Carter and
 other former hemispheric presidents, including Raul Alfonsin of Argentina, Oscar
 Arias of Costa Rica, Violetta Chamorro of Nicaragua, Nicolas Ardito Barletta of
 Panama, Osvaldo Hurtado of Ecuador and Gonzalo Sanchez de Losada of Bolivia.

 The report also offered recommendations on a wide range of other issues.

 Among Andean countries, the study said, Colombia faces the most severe
 challenge. It said the recently approved $1.3 billion U.S. aid package may not be
 able to address the fundamental task of restoring the authority and credibility of
 the Colombian government as it attempts to cope with guerrilla war, rights
 abuses, pervasive criminal violence and economic recession.

 The Colombian army needs to be able to respond more effectively to guerrilla and
 paramilitary violence, the study said, and its government needs to manage the
 peace process better, with a more effective commitment to human rights.