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May 21

Conference was opened by Lisa Valanti, President of USCSCA

Comments:

This is our first real opportunity as a national organization to dialogue directly with Cuba. It is truly a historic occasion given the complexities we are working with, to simply come together, finally, face-to-face with our Cuban counterparts. It is worth noting, we are meeting together with our two national flags, side-by-side, as equals. Do not expect to see that reported by any major media.

US based sister cities are working within the deceptive calm of the eye of a hurricane; enmeshed in the quagmire of the conflict between the US and Cuba. USCSCA was created in March 1999 to help emerging sister cities work through these difficult challenges by sharing experiences, resources and mutual support.

This national organization is marked by profound diversity. It contains elected officials, various sectors of our communities and "ordinary" (in actuality, extraordinary) individual citizens from large cities to small towns, nationwide.

Lisa introduced the USCSCA officers present besides herself. Present were Vice President, Ricardo Gonzalez, Vice President, Jill Shinault, and Treasurer, Clare Weaver. USCSCA Secretary, John Downing, was unable to attend. Lisa also introduced USCSCA board member, Peggy Edwards, who would facilitate the rest of the conference. Lisa presented the purposes of this Sunday session:

• To present an overview of USCSCA
• To review the conference agenda
• To recognize city delegations present
• To take questions on the conference and USCSCA
• To look at the international protocols for sister cities, and Cuba's protocol.

Delegates were recognized from Mobile, AL; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Bloomington, IN; Oakland, CA; Tampa, FL; St. Augustine, FL; Niceville, FL; Tacoma, WA; Seattle, WA; Wichita, KS; New York City, NY; Rome, NY; Brunswick, ME; West Hollywood, CA; Youngstown, OH; St Paul, MN; Tennessee; and an international observer from London, England.

Lisa then gave a brief history of USCSCA from its founding conference in Pittsburgh, March 1999, through its 'coming out' conference in Mobile, October 1999, to the present. She considered USCSCA to be 'riding a wave of an overwhelming desire to know Cuba.' She also stressed the tremendous responsibilities for officials on the Cuban side to ensure that relations were put on the right track. The aim being to set up long term and sustainable relationships based on equality, not ideology.

After this, and under the guidance of conference facilitator and USCSCA Board Member, Peggy Edwards, the conference broke up into city and state groupings in order for delegates to compile a list of questions they wanted the conference to address. The questions were then read out and sorted.

USCSCA Vice President Ricardo Gonzalez then spoke about conference goals:

He stated that we are here to learn, primarily about what the Cubans think about sister cities with the US and with other countries. We are here as guests, to figure out how to proceed. This is a new project. The first sister city, Mobile-Havana, was only created in 1993. Madison commenced its work in 1994 but took five years to officially become sister city with Camaguay, largely due to US restraints.

He stated that whereas in the US, ordinary citizens most often take the initiative, in Cuba sister cities have to be approached through the governmental institutions. Cuba uses a centralized rather than an individualized approach. Unless this is understood from the start, expectations will be raised that cannot be met.

In the US, usually, citizens' committees spring up as the first step. These should be built as broad-based and inclusive as possible, unlike as is often the case in 'solidarity' work. But a sister city is not a solidarity project. To be credible, a sister city must be a truly reflective cross section of the community embracing many sectors, including business, and many shades of opinion. One cannot do this on the basis of support for (or criticism of) the Cuban government. Rather, it must be based on a willingness by all parties, to be open minded; to give people a space to draw their own conclusions, based on firsthand experience shared with the Cuban people within an environment respectful of the Cuban people's sovereign right to self-determination of their internal affairs.

Our task is not as easy as it might appear. We are attempting to "de-politicalize" and dismantle over forty years of isolationism and disinformation, and only by committing to build mutually constructive long term and sustainable community and cultural exchanges can we hope to really understand each other as complex human beings.

Sister cities must be built on the basis of understanding and respect, not of subordination or domination. Within these relationships, in which our differences are reflected and recognized, we are neither fighting for nor against Cuba, but to develop non-ideological relationships of equality between our city communities.

First Address - by Dr. Ricardo Alarcon Quesada, President of the National Assembly of Peoples' Power.

President, Ricardo Alarcon gave welcoming remarks on behalf of the National Assembly and the people of Cuba. He expressed Cuba's great appreciation of this opportunity to dialogue. There followed a long question and answer session in which, among others, the following points were made by Ricardo Alarcon:

An overview of US-Cuban relations was presented. The root and background of present problems goes back to the foundation of the US, which even before it had acquired Florida had sought to absorb Cuba from the Spanish Empire. He jumped forward to give a brief summary of US policy from the time of the 1959 Cuban Revolution. He then noted that today there is a growing trend among US public opinion to change that policy. In that context he mentioned the 'food and medicine' legislation, pressure from US agribusiness and small farmers and the case of Elian Gonzalez which has given more force to that trend. He considered it unprecedented that the reform of this policy should have such a high profile during an election year when usually such controversial issues would be not be raised.

In answer to a question as to Cuba's view of the role of USCSCA, noting these were the internal affairs of USCSCA , for the organization and board to determine. He stated that those in the US had to define the role they could play. It was not for Cuba to lay down terms. He considered sister cities to be "an excellent means of human communication, a vehicle for relations between peoples." Within the context of Western history, city administrations were historically the area where ordinary citizens had more direct control over their political representation.

"City work is at the heart of all democratic government," he noted. It is easier for city citizens to communicate directly with each other and in this way transform relations between nations, relations marked by national bureaucracies who are otherwise caught in conflict. Cuba hoped for neighborly relations but realized the long way to go before formal protocol relations would be established. Nevertheless, the sister city was a way to start that process today. Lastly on this point he mentioned that in Cuba, the actual decision of acceptance or rejection of sister city proposals rested at the autonomous level of Municipal and Provincial assemblies, not within the National Assembly, although of course, every development involving any international relation was under the direction and oversight of the National Assembly.

Asked about restrictions for Cubans coming to the US Alarcon informed the conference that there is no Cuban law restricting such travel. Cubans can travel anywhere in the world providing they have money to pay for the journey and an entry visa for the country of destination. The additional problems for Cubans wishing to to travel to the US were solely due to US migration policy, including setting the number of entry visas too low and the existence of the Cuban Adjustment Act which encourages illegal crossings at great risk to the Cuban migrants. He also pointed out that 95% of Cubans who wish to travel to the US wish to do so on temporary visas and to return to their homeland. Due to current US policy they have to choose between their homeland and permanent residency in the US. This is a cruel and inhumane policy.

The next session was introduced and presided over by USCSCA Vice President, Ricardo Gonzalez

Second Address: On Cuban Foreign Policy - by Jorge Bolanos, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Deputy Minister Jorge Bolanos began by stressing the need to understand the psychology of the Cuban nation, an island-state that had undergone a 200-year struggle for independence, within the context of Latin America.

Cuba lost 34% of its population in the war against Spain, which had posted 182,000 soldiers on the island. Then followed successive US interventions which only ended with the securing of Cuban sovereignty in 1959. Then, for 40 years, three generations of Cubans had known no rest. This has created a certain state of mind, but nevertheless Cuba held no grudges against the ordinary people of the US. "It is strange'" he mused, "that there is not one single 'anti-American' in Cuba."

1) The struggle for Cuba's survival. "70% of my daily work is spent in the struggle to neutralize the hostile US policy." Over the last 40 years the expression of US policy has changed (the blockade, Torricelli, Helms-Burton) but the essence has been the same.

He contended that the existence of conflict between the US and Cuba has historically been at the heart of three major developments in international politics: The Monroe doctrine from 1823 which sought to prevent Cuba from falling into the hands of the British as the Spanish Empire declined:

The economic plan for Latin America (Alliance for Progress) in the early 1960's, which sought to stop the spread of the Cuban example and: The Helms-Burton Act of 1996, which sought to force other countries to regulate their trade with Cuba and which represented the 'first legal expression of world government.'

Bolanos pointed out that the policy to isolate Cuba has not succeeded.

Cuba has diplomatic relations with 171 countries and has 118 embassies abroad - more than Mexico, Argentina or Brazil. These embassies are staffed by dedicated diplomats who live frugal, austere lives, and this is what makes them cost-effective and possible to sustain.

2) The struggle for survival of all poor countries. The second aspect of Cuba's foreign policy was to act for all poor countries. Cuba took a stand

against forms of globalization imposed on less-developed nations to their detriment. It argued for democratization of the United Nations which should act in the service of all nations.

Bolanos gave examples of the impact of neo-liberal trends on the countries of the South and argues for fair treatment by the North. He went on to describe some major accomplishments of Cuba in the areas of health, education and social welfare.

In conclusion, he argued that in the US, foreign policy toward Cuba is determined by a minority against the will and the interests of the majority. He estimated that US farmers alone had lost more than 20 billion dollars in revenue in food sales over the last 40 years, and asked how much the policy had cost the US as a whole, without its intended results, for Cuba would not bend to such pressure.

Cuba considered the US people to be noble and virtuous, as shown in the sentiment expressed for Elian Gonzalez, and that the blockade would eventually pass. In the meantime, he noted, Cuba remains at the center of US concerns, occupying more attention in Congress than any other foreign policy issue.

At this point, the presentation ended and the conference recognized and welcomed the presence of a ten woman delegation of state officials from Washington. Then followed a question and answer session with Jorge Bolanos during which the following points were made:

Cuba presently has over 500 municipal and city relationships with more than 40 nations.

With regard to the possibility that the blockade could one day become more effective in its goals to isolate and strangle Cuba, Bolanos recounted that Cuba daily loses investments and trade due to the blockade and that conditions for finance and loans are incredibly difficult. Cuba has to pay huge commissions to get the dollars it needs to trade. It also had to pay over 70 million dollars in extra freight costs last year alone, due to the Torricelli law.

However, progress is being made both in inward investment and in trade. Nevertheless, he perceived a negative trend in international relations toward the elimination of the principal of equal relations between states, which made him pessimistic. He identified this trend as blatent violation of the principal of non-interventionism into the internal affairs of other countries. He cited as evidence for this the war in Kosovo, the attempted imposition of a Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and the Helms-Burton law.

The question and answer session ended

Third Address: On Cuba's Trade Relations - by Orlando Hernandez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade

Deputy Minister Orlando Hernandez gave an exposition on the changing state of external trade relations over the last decade.

Internal Changes

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 'Special Period' that followed was marked by a 75% reduction in Cuba's foreign trade. This threatened the collapse of Cuba's economy and an economic reform process was initiated to adapt quickly to the new reality.

In agriculture, where previously 75% of the land was organized as state farms, new co-operatives were set up reducing the state sector to 35%. That is, 40% of agricultural production was transferred from state to private control, mostly in the form of co-operatives.

The banks were reformed and decentralized replacing one centralized bank with a network of ten Cuban and ten foreign banks. The central bank still retains overall charge of currency.

Whereas the Provinces had previously utilized the soviet model of economic planning based on setting material goals for production, now financial balances are the basis for production, with an emphasis on the efficient use of material and human resources, including management and an emphasis on product quality.

There has also been a dramatic downsizing of economic and state administrations.

External Changes

There has been a decentralization of foreign trade and a growth in joint enterprises. Previously, trade and commerce were specialized through 40 state entities. Today, over 400 different Cuban entities participate. Changes have only been made after careful analysis and preparation and on the basis of the stabilization of the internal economy.

The European Union is now Cuba's number one trading partner encompassing more than 40% of its foreign trade. Latin America is number two. Trade with this region has risen from 3% to 30% in ten years. Russia is still important for spare parts and sugar exports and commerce with China is growing rapidly.

In spite of Helms-Burton, etc., inward investment is growing due to the tremendous potential of Cuba, its natural resources, its skilled work force, its general competitiveness and efficiency.

Cuba remains dependent and underdeveloped economically but growth has been achieved in various sectors. As a whole the economy has grown 19% in ten years. A particular boom has been tourism. Almost 2 million tourists visit the island each year and the figure is expected to rise to 7 million by the year 2010. And this is without considering the US market should the blockade and travel ban be lifted.

Another element is the process of Latin American integration, which works against the objective of the blockade to isolate Cuba. Cuba's objective is not simply to establish relations but to qualitatively advance them, not just for Cuba but for the sake of the region as a whole. Cuba is now a member of the Association of Caribbean States, which includes Central America, Venezuela and Colombia, an area with over 400 million inhabitants. Cuba is co-operating with the Caribbean nations in joint promotion of regional tourism and on agreements for commercial preference and market access.

Despite all this work, the blockade has placed a heavy burden on the Cuban economy, costing it over 120 billion dollars over 40 years.

Question and answer session:

In answer to a question on how tourism can alter or destroy communities, increase instability and lead to resentments and how one might balance the benefits against the costs, Hernandez explained that Cuba has sought to learn from the negative aspects of the explosive growth of

tourism in other nations and to apply those lessons in developing multifaceted tourism, spread over the whole island.

Hernandez expressed confidence in the future of Cuba should the blockade be lifted. Cuba was never a satellite of the Soviet Union and would strongly resist such pressure from the US. Indeed the lifting of the blockade would enhance the conditions for Cuba's growth. But, he stressed, present economic plans were not based on any speculation on changes in US policy. Cuba's goals are the stable recovery of her economy based on present circumstances.

On a question about prostitution, Hernandez pointed out that this was not solely, as the foreign press suggested, a product of foreign trade. Cuba sought to deal with this universal social issue (in which tourism was a catalyst, but not the cause) through better education and economic and professional opportunities for women rather than repression. In this the women's organization, The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) had a very powerful role to play. He also referred to Cuba's public educational program on AIDS and Cuba's quest for an AIDS vaccine.

The session ended

Monday Afternoon

The following US cities gave presentations on the status of their sister-city projects:

• Bloomington-Santa Clara
• Mobile-Havana
• Madison-Camaguey
• Pittsburgh-Matanzas
• Oakland-Santiago
• St. Augustine-Baracoa

In addition the following non-partnered cities gave presentations:

Brunswick, ME; Tampa, FL; West Hollywood, CA; Seattle, WA; Youngstown, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Tacoma, WA; Philadelphia, PA and Hayward, CA.

Fourth Address: On Cuba's Sister Cities - by Julio Espinoza: Coordinator, General Commission for International Relations, National Assembly.

Sister cities are founded on links between local governments, city to city.

60% of Cuba's sister cities are with Spain. Even within a difficult situation nationally, with Aznar as head of government, city committees can forge relationships which cannot be forged at higher levels.

Cuba is small and is poor. It has only 169 cities. It is important that the biggest and best known of Cuba's cities do not monopolize the sister city relations, which must become a truly national phenomenon. We need to spread out to give lesser known or smaller cities equal opportunity to twin. This needs to be clearly understood and strategically thought out.

Sister cities must be based on relations of equality, but Cuba and the US are different. US is highly developed while Cuba is a third world nation. We have different ideosyncracies and work with different criteria. Equality means that one side, due to its differences and its strength, does not monopolize the forms and criteria applied to these relationships. Equal weight must be given to these diverse realities. Cuba needs to be an equal partner in determination of future relationships. Until now, US cities have approached Cuban cities. Cuba would like to approach US cities.

For Cuba, a sister city is a political relationship. That is not to say it is based on ideology, but on an official agreement made between political representatives at the city or municipal level. Fundamentally, it is a relationship between communities. In this way, Cuba does not engage in these projects as a device to receive aid donations. It has other vehicles for that. The relationship is neither humanitarian nor ideological, but is political, based on equality.

Cuba has a long experience, having established more than 500 sister city relationships, and has many in formative phases. It has learned positive and negative lessons.

Cuba is interested in developing fluid and long term relationships. Our experience is that whereas the sister city agreement is officially consummated from above, unless there is strong grassroots involvement, the project will lack continuity as elected officials change and the project can become a shell. Continuity comes from the grassroots.

Between the grassroots and the elected officials we have to fill a vacuum. Sister cities offer unique opportunities that no other type of organization can duplicate; the lifetime challenge to dedicate our time, resources and activities to create concrete, long term, mutually beneficial, and most important; sustainable relationships between our communities; not to serve solely in response to current US/Cuba relations or as social science projects. Within this context special interest exchanges can develop between different sectors - cultural - business, etc., but must be supplemental to the overall framework of the political relationship established.

Session ended

Presentations from the Cuban Provinces

The following Cuban Provinces gave reports through their elected officials responsible for international relations. These reports continued over to Tuesday morning.

Camaguey, Santiago, Matanzas, Las Tunas, Ciego de Avila, Isle of Youth, Havana Province, Granma, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Pinar Del Rio, Holguin, Sancti Spiritus, City of Havana Province.

There followed a short question and answer session during which the following matters were discussed:

Espinoza stressed that specific links between sectors, for example between schools, should be made through the sister cities, not directly, although such direct friendship links can be made through the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (I.C.A.P.) Sister city relations need to be kept "political" (in the sense discussed above). Similarly, humanitarian aid may be useful within the US, as an umbrella under which to avoid the travel ban, but cannot be at the center of sister city work.

Regarding the difficulties in maintaining so many sister cities as live projects, Cuba tries to offer the few resources it can afford. Cuba also partners with small villages in Central America, even though both partners suffer from lack of resources. "We learn to get by on little," he went on, "like our diplomats do. The material aspects are not the most fundamental." He added that Cuba has to be flexible in programs and in methods as each city is different. "One cannot construct a manual in how to build a sister city relationship."

Responding to a question on voluntary work, as a possible part of sister city programs, Espinoza explained that I.C.A.P continues to organize such volunteer brigades, but that these are not the same as people-to-people initiatives, and that although some provinces at some times may have such projects, nowadays they are not general or ongoing, but of limited duration and local. He stressed that in any case, supporting Cuba through material or human resources does little to resolve Cuba's problems, which flow from US policy. Cubans themselves have the ability and determination to resolve their most severe material deficits.

End of session.

Definitions and Explanations

This short session devoted some time to explaining and thinking out some specific terminology that had been used within our discussions.

'Political': Being used by Cubans not in the context of the ideological dogfight we are accustomed to but in the context of the links that need to be made between elected city officials and their counterparts in order to consummate the sister city relationship. That is, political relationships are those made between political representatives.

'Donations': Aid to Cuba is usually handled by I.C.A.P. (institute of Friendship with Peoples) on the Cuban side and excellent organizations such as Global Links and Pastors for Peace on our side. The sister city is not to be a charitable link. It is based on partnership, not patronage, however well-intentioned.

'Track Two': This term is used consistently in the 'Cuba Democracy Act of 1992' sponsored by Sen. Torricelli. "Track One" of this law consolidated and developed the overt ways in which the US would apply external force to bring about the overthrow of the Cuban government; such as seizing any ship coming into US waters which had docked in a Cuban port and other uses of direct interventionism through the blockade.

"Track Two" legalized and developed the array of covert policies which would be used to stimulate internal opposition necessary to rationalize interventionism; to build a contra movement or support a 'dissident' faction, for example, through the political control of access; of essential aid and travel to Cuba through the issuing of licenses, and through controlling the funding of oppositional activities.

'Solidarity': Solidarity is the act of one side giving support to the other in time of need. The sister city concept is based on mutuality, or partnership, which is a deeper relationship where the benefits flow both ways.

Presentations were then made by Global Links and C.A.A.E.F (Cuban-American Alliance Education Fund)

Global Links

Brenda Smith described the tremendous work her organization had done with Cuba, having delivered over 51 million dollars in medical aid to the island since 1994. She considered the campaign for humanitarian aid to be a useful educational tool but that aid should be useful, not merely symbolic. Sister cities should think long and hard about what they collect and why.

C.A.A.E.F.

Delvis Fernandez explained that CAAEF originated as a coalition to give voice to those in the Cuban-American community who had none. Those who were not happy with the political direction of the leadership and who were moving toward an understanding of the need for dialogue. CAAEF does not agree with licensing of travel regulations, but abides by those laws.

CAAEF organizes advocacy on issues including informing people about bills in congress, and the sending of aid to Cuba. It is presently organizing a US - Cuban-American Summit on the theme of 'What is

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happening in the US in local and national elections.'

Delvis observed that as fast as we try to correspond to the regulations the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assetts Control set for sending aid or for licensed travel to Cuba, the US administration keeps changing the implementation of those rules, making things ever more difficult.

Sister-Cities: Criteria and Procedures

USCSCA Vice President, Jill Shinault presented the item.

Criteria:

Agreements are made between government entities, either city to city/municipality or state to province.

Sister cities must be representative of the whole community, containing all sectors where possible; business, cultural, religious, ethnic, etc.

We are seeking to build viable, long term, sustainable relationships.

We are seeking partnerships where some commonality already exists, for example, in industry, culture or history.

Procedures:

You have to build a basic "generic" organization with the formalities of officers; a president, chair, treasurer, secretary; open a bank account, etc., and join USCSCA.

USCSCA is committed to help with all developmental problems which will be unique to every situation.

Engage your community and identify future exchanges and projects, work within your city to create a city profile to present to prospective partners in Cuba through USCSCA.

Get community support and lobby your city council for support.

Where possible, and with the aid of USCSCA, seek a partner within regions where there are established relationships with cities in your state so that eventually we can advance to a state-province relationship.

Work within USCSCA which has established relations with the Cuban Interests Section and the National Assembly of Cuba in order to focus on appropriate choices.

Formal signing between elected officials from both cities is the final step, not the first step in the process of forming this new relationship. Be patient.

After some discussion, there was a consensus to move forward on the basis of these recommendations, with the understanding that procedures would be developed more precisely in light of discussion at the upcoming USCSCA conference in Madison.

Conference concluded as delegates made arrangements for their respective trips to the provinces of Cuba.

Minutes prepared and submitted by USCSCA Minutes Committee:

• Peggy Edwards, CA.
• Tammy James, KS.
• Ivania Del Pozo, OH.
• Richard Snitzler, PA.
• Paul Davidson, Britain
• With style/grammar corrections by:
• Jill Shinault, AL.
• Ellen Farmer, CA.
• With Very Special Thanks to International Observer, Paul Davidson, Britain.