Carter begins Cuba visit

By Daniel Schweimler BBC correspondent in Havana

The former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, has arrived in Cuba for a six-day visit designed to help bridge the huge gap between two neighbours that have been arguing for more than 40 years.

The Cuban Government is not really interested in having a normal relationship with the government of the United States

Cuban journalist Moises Saab

He was met at the airport by Cuban President Fidel Castro and will go on to talk to Cuban politicians and political dissidents before addressing the nation on television.

Mr Carter is the highest profile American politician to visit Cuba since President Castro came to power 43 years ago.

After he left office in 1981, Mr Carter set up an organisation designed to advance peace and understanding around the world.

Mixed signals

But Cuban journalist Moises Saab says he will have a tough job in Havana.

US Under Secretary of State John Bolton identified Cuba as part of America's 'axis of evil'

"The Cuban Government is not really interested in having a normal relationship with the Government of the United States," he said.

"And from the same point of view of the Americans, I don't see any possibility in the near future of any wish to accept the Cuban Government or the Cuban regime as it is right now."

The signals being transmitted by the Cuban Government are equally mixed.

Last week the authorities released the country's highest profile political dissident, Vladimiro Roca, from prison - two months before the end of his five-year sentence.

Mr Roca, speaking to the BBC at his home in Havana, says he has seen a small increase in the freedoms he was fighting for.

"I believe that at the moment there is a little more tolerance, or perhaps more than tolerance, permissiveness by the Cuban Government towards the dissident movements and human rights groups than there was in 1997 when they detained me and my colleagues," he said.

In a bold move on Friday, opponents of Mr Castro presented a petition said to contain more than 11,000 signatures for a referendum on political and economic reforms.

Project Varela, as the campaign is called - named after Cuban independence hero Felix Varela - seeks a vote on civil liberties including freedom of speech, an amnesty for political prisoners, support for private business, a new electoral law and a general election.

Difficult relations

The day after Mr Roca was released, the US Under Secretary of State, John Bolton, placed Cuba firmly in what Washington calls its axis of evil, accusing Cuba of trying to develop biological weapons.

Five days later President Castro responded live on Cuban television, calling Mr Bolton a liar and challenging the US to provide some proof to support its allegations.

Relations between Washington and Havana, which have always been difficult, have deteriorated in the past few months.

But there are groups on both sides who want to see an end to the conflict and hope that Mr Carter can at least make some progress.