Pell Urges ‘Small Steps’ to Normalize Cuba Ties

Chairman Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who talked last week with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, said Wednesday that it is time to take “small steps” to try to normalize relations between the United States and the Communist island nation.

As one example of the steps he believes should be taken by Washington, Pell said he would introduce legislation to modify an American economic embargo against Cuba to allow the shipment of medicines and medical supplies.

In return, he suggested at a news conference, Castro should release four prisoners who have been held for more than 25 years, a move that would be viewed as a humanitarian gesture.

Pell also proposed more cooperation between the U.S. and Cuban coast guards against narcotics trafficking, an increase in visas for Cuban visitors and an end to limits on telephone calls to Cuba from the United States.

“The Cubans expressed sincere interest in my suggestion that relations can be improved by each country taking small steps to demonstrate good will and upon which other, progressively more difficult but mutually beneficial steps can be taken,” Pell said.

“We’ve tried invasion, assassination and a full embargo, and our relations are just as sterile today as they were in 1960,” he added. “It is an appropriate time to attempt to move toward more rational and normalized relations with Cuba.” Pell’s mention of assassination apparently referred to a series of reported attempts by the CIA to do away with Castro.

Pell said that improved U.S.-Soviet relations and the succession to the presidency by Vice President George Bush make it timely to seek a new accommodation with Cuba, looking toward an eventual restoration of diplomatic relations.

The visit by Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to Cuba this month also may help smooth Cuban-American relations, Pell suggested. He said the Soviet Union now spends $6 billion a year to support the Cuban economy.