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Cuba in no hurry for US relations

Cuba is not interested in improving relations with the US while US President George W. Bush is in office and will wait for a change in US leadership before extending an offer for dialogue, says Cuba's top diplomat in the US.

As the island nation heads into weekend parliamentary elections that undoubtedly will extend the ailing Fidel Castro's grip on power, Havana is looking to US elections in November to decide whether it wants to talk to Washington, said Jorge Alberto Bolanos Suarez, head of the Cuban Interest Section in Washington.

In an interview on Thursday he said Cuban offers for dialogue with the US made by Raul Castro -- Fidel Castro's brother -- after he took day-to-day control of the government in 2006 were not intended for the Bush administration, which staunchly supports the nearly 46-year-old US economic embargo of Cuba that was designed to choke off money to the Castro government in an effort to force a change in his communist system.

"When Raul spoke about it, he was not referring to the present administration," Bolanos said.

"He was speaking clearly that after the US elections, the new [US] government should take a position with regard to Cuba. That is the time when Cuba would be ready to dialogue on the basis of mutual respect, without the arrogance that has always colored the US position," he said.

"I'm not concerned what the current State Department says because we are waiting for what the next one has to say about Cuba," Bolanos said

Soon after emergency intestinal surgery forced Castro in July 2006 to cede power to a provisional government headed by his brother, Raul Castro reached out for dialogue with the US government as long as Cuba's sovereignty was respected. He repeated the offer in December 2006 in a sign he had consolidated his leadership during Fidel's absence.

Many longtime Cuba watchers consider Raul the more pragmatic of the Castros, who would be likely to communicate better with Washington. At the time of the offers, the State Department brushed them off.

Bolanos' comments on Thursday appeared to indicate that Havana is digging in its heels, refusing all but cursory contact with the US until Bush, who has pursued strong anti-Castro policies during his seven years as president, is gone in January of next year.

Prospects for any significant changes in US policy toward Cuba, no matter who takes over the White House from Bush, are uncertain.

Meanwhile, Bolanos said the 81-year-old Fidel Castro might not be healthy enough to campaign, but he is strong enough to work for the Cuban people.

"He has always won the seat, he has always gotten the highest [proportion] of votes of the population. I think this election will not be different," Bolanos said.
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