U.S. Legislators in Cuba to jump start dialogue

HAVANA (Reuters) - The largest delegation from the U.S. Congress to visit Cuba since 1959 arrived in Havana on Friday seeking to open a dialogue with the communist government of acting President Raul Castro despite White House opposition to such contacts.
The stepping aside of ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who has not appeared in public for four months, has set the stage for ending political hostility dating from the start of the Cold War, they said.
"We sense this is an important time and we hope to meet with officials and hopefully launch a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations," said Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican. The six Democrats and four Republicans hope to meet with Raul Castro, who took over July 31 after his brother underwent emergency surgery for an undisclosed illness.
Raul Castro two weeks ago said he was open to negotiations with Washington to settle the longstanding dispute that emerged after the Castros seized power in a 1959 revolution and turned Cuba into a Soviet ally.
The Bush administration, which opposes a "dynastic succession" from one Castro brother to the other, has rejected talks in the absence of democratic reform to Cubas one-party state.
The State Department opposed the trip, delegation members said. "The bottom line is, we think it is the right thing to do," said Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern. "I have long thought our policy toward Cuba has been arrogant and dumb."
The visiting legislators said momentum was gathering in Washington for a new chapter in ties with Cuba and changes in U.S. policy are likely next year under a Democrat-controlled Congress.
"The U.S. Congress come January is under a different leadership and I think that on a bipartisan basis there is a desire to engage in dialogue and determine areas where we can agree, despite the fact that we will, I am sure, continue to have profound differences with the Cuban government," said Rep. William Delahunt, a Massachusetts Democrat.
Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, on Wednesday criticized a greater crackdown on dissent since the younger Castro took over.
Delahunt declined to comment on whether the delegation will meet with Cuban dissidents who are seeking democratic changes.
Flake and Delahunt are co-chairmen of the Cuba Working Group in the House of Representatives that plans to work to relax a ban on travel and a cap on family remittances to Cuba next year.
They favor engagement and trade with Cuba rather than sanctions as the best U.S. policy to foster change on the island.
Delegation members said their requested meeting with Raul
Castro has not been confirmed.


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Cohiba

During his second voyage to the New World in 1496, Christopher Columbus revisited western Hispaniola, which is now known as the Dominican Republic. To his surprise, he discovered that the Taino Indians of Hispaniola were smoking leaves of cured tobacco. "Cohiba," they called it. Today, Cohiba remains as much a part of Dominican history as ever.

What can I say, this Cigar was one I was excited about. A good draw right off the bat, the aroma was strong but the flavor sure did wow me. At times it went from cedar to berry in flavor, which is rare for me to experience, I usally get a ceder to toast flavor but the zip this cigar had was wonderful. The wrap was great and burned smooth. I enjoyed it very much with my Coffee last night.

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Cuba Defends its Rights to Cohiba Cigars Havana, Nov 7 (ACN) Cuba is determined to stand up for its right to the Cohiba Cigar brand, which American transnationals are trying to seize with the help of the Bush administration, said Habanos S.A Vice President Manuel Garcia. The executive of the joint venture, a world leader in the distribution of the famous Cuban cigars, pointed out that it is a matter of principles to continue defending the Cuban hallmark "whenever there is a legal framework where we can claim our product." In a press conference, Garcia explained that the Cohiba brand was created by Cubans, "along with the Revolution," adding, "we will continue fighting for our right," reported the Opciones weekly newspaper. He explained that the company's sales have continued a steady rise over the first nine months of this year, and the results for this period are even better than expected, despite the strong worldwide campaign against smoking. Garcia said that even though various European countries have been implementing measures against the habit, the Habanos Corporation has grown in relation to the same period last year. During the press conference, the executive announced the celebration of the 9th Festival of the Habano, which will kick off February 26, 2007. He said the event will be led by the Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann and Jose L. Piedra brands. Experts and regular participants, including smokers, cigar dealers and Habano lovers, have named the Habano Festival the world's most important public relations event in the arena of premium cigars. Garcia told the press that Cuba has been able to introduce itself in all markets of the world except the United States, where the Cuban cigars can not be marketed because of prohibitions against US trade blockade with the island.

It has been quite some time since I posted. So, let us warm things up in this horribly cold weather with a nice cigar and some freinds to smoke them with.