Summary

Footage Information

ABCNEWS VideoSource
Cuba Farmers - US political and farm officials after meeting Castro
12/10/2002
APTN
VSAP357763
TAPE: EF02/1041 IN_TIME: 23:55:43 DURATION: 1:52 SOURCES: APTN RESTRICTIONS: DATELINE: Havana - 9 December SHOTLIST: 1. Wideshot of conference hall 2. Midshot of journalists 3. Midshot of conference table and lobby group 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Sherrer, Lieutenant Governor, State of Kansas: "The state of Kansas is pleased to partner with Cuba in building the foundations for a stronger relationship. We look forward to working with you to forge even stronger ties in the future." 5. Cutaway of press 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Sherrer, Lieutenant Governor State of Kansas: "But change comes in small steps so we decided the first step would be to engage in what the Congress of the United States has allowed and that is discussions and action on trade of agricultural products." 7. Mid shot of conference table 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Moore, Lieutenant Governor Elect of Kansas: "To make certain that the chairman has the assurances of myself and the next administration that we will work very, very hard toward build a partnership which is certainly in the best interests of Kansas and the best interests of Cuba as well". 9. Audience 10. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Pedro Alvarez, President of Alimport (Cuban Food import company): "It is a noble interest. An interest in doing business. It is an interest in establishing a bridge of friendship and commerce between both countries." 11. Wideshot of conference room 12. Midshot of both governors shaking hands with Alvarez STORYLINE: Political and farm officials from the state of Kansas met Cuban President Fidel Castro on Monday, after calling for the United States to normalise relations with the communist nation. A Cuban official said his country will have purchased about 175 (M) million US dollars in goods from U.S. producers by the year's end. Lieutenant Governor Gary Sherrer, a Republican, speaking told a news conference in Havan, there should be a "normal political relationship" between the United States and Cuba. John Moore, the Democrat who will replace Sherrer as lieutenant governor on 13 January, said he also supports "normalisation of relations." No deals were signed during the five-day trip, but Sherrer said he believed the trip would promote valuable trade between the two countries. The delegation had a 2-hour, 45-minute meeting and lunch with the Cuban leader, before leaving for the United States. Sherrer said he believes the majority of the Congress and American people "believe that relaxing the embargo" is a step in the right direction, but President George W. Bush has opposed such measures. U.S. farmers and agricultural business companies have attacked the four-decade-old trade embargo against Cuba that is most strongly supported by Cuban exile organisations based in Florida. Pedro Alvarez, head of the Cuban food import company, Alimport, said Cuban food imports will reach about 950 (M) million US dollars this year. According to Alvarez, they're expected to rise to about 1-point-4 (B) billion US dollars by 2005 or 2006. He said Cuba has signed agreements to buy about 250 (M) million US dollars in food from the United States. The United States began imposing limits on trade with Cuba in the early 1960s, shortly after the revolution led by Castro overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista. But a law passed in 2000 created an exemption in the embargo, allowing direct sales of food.
Summary
}