Summary

TAPE_NUMBER: EF00/0165 IN_TIME: 19:00:44 // 20:48:34 - 22:06:49 LENGTH: 02:55 SOURCES: APTN RESTRICTIONS: FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: Spanish/Nat The head of Cuba's National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon says six year old Elian Gonzalez is surrounded by "drunks" . The statement by the top Cuban official came in the wake of the revelation that the boy's great uncles have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. The father of Elian Gonzalez met with a group of Native Americans who came to support his cause. Gonzalez says that the legal wrangling in the U-S is of no interest to him and he just wants his son back. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "A: I don't know. I never understood all this. It means nothing to me. I just want him to return as soon as possible. That's all. Q: If you could say something to your son right now, what would it be? A: That I miss him and I hope he returns as soon as possible." SUPER CAPTION: Juan Miguel Gonzalez Ricardo Alarcon, head of Cuba's National Assembly and Fidel Castro's pivotal U-S/Cuba relations man, said Wednesday the convictions prove the uncles' Miami home is no place for Elian. He said Elian was "surrounded by two drunks." SOUNDBITE:(English) "So far, according to my research, practically everybody surrounding him has been or may be in the future, in the prison system in the U-S. That is not in the best interest of the child. An additional reason, as if more reasons were needed, to immediately place the boy in a safer place." SUPER CAPTION: Ricardo Alarcon, Head of Cuban National Assembly Armando Gutierrez, a spokesman for the Miami relatives, dismissed the criticism. But the convictions may make it more difficult for Elian's relatives in Miami to argue that they can offer Elian a better life than his father in Cuba. Florida state records show Lazaro Gonzalez, 49, with whom Elian has been living in Miami, was found guilty of driving under the influence at least twice from 1991 to 1997. Records show his 62-year-old brother, Delfin Gonzalez, also has been found guilty at least twice of driving under the influence. Alarcon slammed the U-S authorities for allowing the boy the stay with the pair. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "And now, from independent source, like the New York Times, the boy is in a place that no responsible authority would allow a child to remain in even temporary custody - not even for one night - in those surroundings. SUPER CAPTION: Ricardo Alarcon, Head of Cuban National Assembly Elian was clinging to an inner tube when he was rescued off the coast of Florida after a boat wreck that killed his mother and 10 other people. Elian's relatives and other Cuban exiles in Miami want to keep him in the United States, saying his mother died to give him freedom. But Cuba's government is staging a massive campaign to have the boy returned to his father in Cuba Daily rallies are being held with rousing speeches, choir performances and poetry readings. On Wednesday, Castro and Elian's father and grandparents joined hundreds of people - most of them children - at the imposing Fortress of San Carlos de Cabana to demonstrate in favor of the boy's repatriation. With the towering stone walls as a backdrop, costumed members of a children's drama group sang songs, read poems and performed skits dedicated to Elian. The U-S Immigration and Naturalization Service has ruled in favor of his return to Cuba, but Elian's U-S relatives are challenging that decision in a Miami court. SHOTLIST: Havana, Cuba - Feb 9, 2000 1.Shot of building 2.Shot of bus arriving 3.Shot of news cameraman 4.Medium of Elian's family getting out of bus 5.Medium shot of a man. 6.Medium shot Elian's grandparents walking in 7.Medium shot of Elian's father walking in 8.Close-up of family member with baby 9.SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Elian Gonzales' Father 10. Closeup of Elian's grandmother 11.Various of Elian's father being hugged 12.Elian's family walking out 13. Medium shot of Elian's father being hugged 14. Medium shot of Elian's father walking surrounded by press 15. Medium of Elian's grandparents in Native American ceremony 16. Various of Native Americans dancing 17. Elian's father getting hugged. 18. Cutaway press 19 SOUNDBITE: (English) Ricardo Alarcon, Head of Cuban National Assembly 20. Cutaway press 21. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Ricardo Alarcon, Head of Cuban National Assembly 22. Various of protest with Fidel Castro XFA?