Pell Calls for ‘Normalized’ Relationship With Cuba

WASHINGTON —  Sen. Claiborne Pell, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said today that the time has come for the United States to move toward “more rational and normalized relations with Cuba,” starting with a series of small steps by both countries.

Pell also said Radio Marti, which beams news and entertainment broadcasts to Cuba, “exacerbates” relations between the two countries and should be controlled.

The Rhode Island Democrat commented after a trip to Cuba that included a private three-hour meeting with President Fidel Castro.

At a separate news conference, Sen.-elect Connie Mack (R-Fla.) said that normalizing relations with Cuba and reining back Radio Marti are bad ideas.

“Absolutely not,” Mack said. “This is not a time to show concessions. “We’ve got to keep the pressure on Castro.”

But Pell said he believes the international climate favors moves toward warming relations with the communist island state 90 miles from U.S. shores.

“Peace is busting out all over the world,” he said. “We are on the verge of a settlement in Angola with the withdrawal of Cuban troops, the Soviets are committed to withdrawing from Afghanistan and U.S.-Soviet relations are vastly improved.

“I return from this trip believing . . . it is an appropriate time to attempt to move toward more rational and normalized relations with Cuba.”

He proposed the opening of talks between the two countries to discuss the many issues that divide them and said, “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 he is considering introducing legislation to lift the current embargo on the delivery of medicines and medical supplies to Cuba.