Former President Carter returns to Cuba

Jimmy Carter arrives in CubaSTORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Carter visits a Jewish center and temple and meets with the archbishop of HavanaThe trip is officially to strengthen bilateral tiesHowever, there are hopes the ex-president may try to lobby for an American prisonerThe U.S. contractor was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, landed in Havana on Monday for a private visit aimed at reducing tension between the Cold War enemies and seeing first-hand the economic reforms sweeping the communist island.

But expectations are high that Carter also will work behind the scenes to secure the release of American contractor Alan Gross, who was recently sentenced to 15 years in a Cuban prison.

Unlike his first visit in 2002, when then-President Fidel Castro personally greeted Carter on the tarmac, this time Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez was on hand to receive the former American leader.

The Carter Center has called the three-day trip a non-governmental mission at the invitation of the Cuban government. On Monday afternoon, he met with Jewish leaders and the archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega.

View the Original article

Posted in: Carter,former,president,returns