Message-Id:

Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 21:16:04 +0300 (WSU)

To: o.dupuis@agora.stm.it

From: Joaquim Utset

Subject: Re: UN human rights conference on Cuba

Nikolai,

the dossier was sent by fax a couple of days ago. PLease tell me whether you received it already or should I send it again. Also, you can look up our webpage, wheer most of the info I sent you is available.

http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf

In reference to the trip to Geneva, we figured that the money matter would be the problem, so we thought about a couple of projects to raise some money, at least for one or two Russian guests. I'll keep informing you on this issue as soon as we have some results. In the meantime, please see if they would be willing to come. Take into account that in Geneva with us will be Italian congressman Gianni Pilo (from Forza Italia), US congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Republican), and very possibly a few more politicians from the US. It would be a good opportunity for them to make contacts and netwroking while they are there.

About the release of prisoners: yes, it is true that some political prisoners have been released. However, the numbers are very unclear. The government claims they released about 300 prisoners. What it fails to say is that, out of these 300, 106 were already in the streets when the Pope left, and that most of the 300 are COMMON prisoners, not political prisoners. So, it seems to be a propaganda move more than anything else.

In any case, nobody is certain about the numbers because there is no official list of released prisoners. Romero, so far, continues in jail, and the prospects for his liberation are small as of now. However, I think there is a possibility to take advantage from this confusion if we do NOW a bold move and ask insistently for the interview with the Cuban ambassador in Moscow. Being the situation as confusing as it is, they may want to include him in the release package together with all others, since a lot of noise is being done for him, in Moscow, in Rome, in Miami, in Sweden, and even in Spain, along with the internet pages.

Therefore, I urge you to please act as quickly as your schedule allows you in this matter, since this is a very high time for Romero's release. Please keep me informed of the evolution of things there. Be certain that we'll do as much as we can to raise money for a Russian delegation. I can't promise anything but we'll try.

Thanks very much.

Cordially,

Xavier.