File #3546: "DI-1293_ref.pdf"

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ABC FORUM ON CUBA, INC.
113 Fourth street, S.E., Washington, DC 20003
Tel.
(202} 543-3210
Fax (202) 543-5177

Friday, January 12, 1996
Mr. R. Richard Newcomb, Director
Office of Foreign Assets Control
United States Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. -- Annex
Washington, DC 20220
By fax to: 202/622-1759
Dear Mr. Newcomb,

Thank you, Mr. Pinter and your colleagues for meeting with Mike
Ryan and me this morning so that we could respond to Mr. Pinter's
letter of January 4 re License C-18167 and report in detail about
our advance trip this week to Cuba for the purpose of finalizing
arrangements for the conference on the "United States and Cuba: A
New England Perspective" which is to be held in Havana, Cuba
between Tuesday, January 16 and Friday, January 19, 1996.
Should our request for the conference license be granted and if
it is permissible within the license, I plan to leave my home
(ph: 914/337-5096, fax: 914/337-5952) about 5 pm on Saturday,
January 13 -- fly to Miami Saturday night -- and then to Havana
on Sunday, January 14, to work with Ambassador Sullivan's staff
at the U.S. Interest Section; Roberto Dominguez Homerlein,
DPTO.EEUU in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (who is coordinating
Cuban Government participation); and Eric Splinter at the Hotel
Nacional to finalize & reconfirm logistical arrangements for the
conference.
On Sunday evening, January 7, when Jim McGovern, Senior Aide to
Congressman Moakley, Mike Ryan and I arrived in Havana,
Ambassador Sullivan and his staff met with us at the residence to
brief us and to discuss how best to make the most productive use
of our time in Havana this past week.
Ambassador Sullivan's staff kindly assisted us in arranging to
meet with the following individuals:
Dr. Rolando Suarez, Caritas Cuba
Martha Beatriz Roque, Institute for Independent Economists
Julio Suarez, Independent Press Bureau of Cuba
Gustavo Arcos, Cuban Committee for Human Rights
Rene Gomez Manzano, Agramonte Current (lawyers' association)
Vladimiro Roca, Socialist Democratic Current
Dr. Jose Miller, Jewish Community Center
Grand Master Heriberto Saborit, Masonic Lodge
Alejandro Nieto, Evangelical League of Cuba
Leoncio Veguilla, Western Baptist Conference
Eilzardo Sanchez, Cuban Commission for Human Rights and
National Reconciliation

Felix Antonio Bonne, Grupo de Reflexion Corriente Civica
Cubana
We also met with Father Orlando, personal secretary to Cardinal
Ortega, and were briefly introduced to the Cardinal.
The meetings we had with Cuban Government officials this past
week -- in addition to the multiple meetings with Roberto
Dominguez and members of his staff -- were:
Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, President of National Assembly
Carlos Martinez Salsamendi, Chamber of Commerce of Cuba
Our final session in Havana was with Ambassador Sullivan and his
staff, beginning at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 11, for an
extensive review of the past week's activities and an in-depth
discussion of all arrangements and plans for the conference
beginning on January 16.
We advised
Washington
during the
Government

the Cuban Government officials in Havana and in
that we intended to meet with a wide range of Cubans
advance trip and during the conference. The Cuban
has not placed any restrictions on our activities.

Attached is a list of all conference particpants, their
organizational affiliations and their experience in activities
that demonstrate the capability to provide support for the Cuban
people.
The conference agenda is:
Tuesday, January 16
12:30 pm
1:30 pm
4:00 pm

5:00 pm
6:00 pm
7:30 pm

Check-in at Miami Airport
Depart for Havana on Gulfstream flt #263
Check-in at Hotel Nacional in Havana
Briefing for Conference Participants by U.S.
Ambassador Sullivan and staff at the Ambassador's
residence
Reception at the Ambassador's residence for all
leaders on the Cuban nongovernmental organizations
Dinner with the Ambassador at the residence

Wednesday, January 17
8:00 am
9:00 am
10:30 am
12:30 pm
2:00 pm

Breakfast at Hotel National
Session with Roberto Robaina Gonzalez
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Visit La Casa Del HABANO and tour cigar factory
with Abel Exposito Diaz, Gerente (33-8060)
Lunch session with Jose Luis Rogriguez Garcia
Ministry of Economy and Planning
Session with Francisco Soberon Valdes
President, National Bank of Cuba

3:00 pm
5:00 pm

8:00 pm

Session with Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz
Ministry of Foreign Trade
Session with Group of 7 of Concilio Cubano
Martha Beatriz Rogue, Gustavo Arcos, Rene Gomez
Manzano, Vladimiro Roca, Elizardo Sanchez, Felix
Antonio Bonne
Dinner with Spanish Ambassador at the residence

Thursday, January 18
8:00 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
2:00 pm
4:30 pm

6:00 pm
8:00 pm

Breakfast at Hotel National
Audience with Cardinal Ortega at his residence
Session with Ricardo Alarcon
President of National Assembly
Lunch with Ministry for Foreign Investment and
Economic Cooperation
On-site visit to highlight micro entrepreneur
project with Dr. Rolando Suarez Cohiban, Director
Caritas Cubana
Visit with James Arena DeRosa and Oxfam America to
agricultural project
Reception at Hotel Nacional for Cuban officials
Dinner at Le Tocorroro

Friday, January 19
7:00
9:00
10:00
11:00

am
am
am
am

Breakfast at Hotel Nacional
Press Availability in VIP lounge of Havana Airport
Depart for Miami on Gulfstream charter flight
Arrive Miami International Airport

We are continuing the effort to ensure full compliance with the
Treasury Department license rules and regulations. Our efforts
include the fact that the conference registration form, which is
signed by the participants, states clearly that this is a USG
licensed project under the 515.574 Support for the Cuban People
regulations. Each participant receives a copy of the license with
a cautionary communication from us along with a copy of OFAC's
"What You Need To Know About The U.S. Embargo" dated 10-23-95.
During the flight from Miami to Havana on Jan. 16, Congressman
Moakley and his staff along with Mike Ryan will review with all
delegates the license rules. We have also asked Ambassador
Sullivan's staff to review these issues during their briefing.
As we plan to conduct additional such conferences in the future,
we will continue our efforts to conduct this entire conference
well within the spirit and the letter of the licen~e and
guidelines as you have kindly explained them to us.
During our meetings with Cuban NGO leaders and with Ambassador
Sullivan this past week we made a studied effort to learn about
and discuss practical ways and means of providing assistance to
them through activities in the US that can be licensed.
For
example, we have offered to help organize a U.S.-based 11 501
(c) (3) 11 concillio Cubana entity that can enlist resources and

channel them to Cuba after obtaining the required Treasury
Department licenses. Another good example is the possibility of
assisting the Caritas organization by providing professional
trainers who are capable of helping Caritas teach new small
business owners how best to develop their organizations
successfully and profitably.
Our ongoing discussions with the conference registrants
underscore the reality that as these U.S. public and private
sector leaders learn first hand during the conference of the
needs and "wish lists" of a multitude of Cuban-based NGOs; their
willingness to provide Support for Cuban People will produce the
resources your guidelines anticipate and that these individuals
and organizations need to fulfill their mission.
We genuinely appreciate all the efforts you and your colleagues
have made to direct and guide us during this process.
If additional information would be helpful to your consideration,
please call.
As agreed, should the conference license be issued we will report
in person immediately after our return and also submit a written
report on the Conference and our plans for follow up.

cc:

Mr . . Michael J. Ryan; President of ABC Forum On Cuba, Inc.