By Dalia Acosta
HAVANA, Jan 17 2000 (IPS)

Cuba’s foreign minister Felipe Pérez Roque met Monday with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican as part of a diplomatic offensive seeking the repatriation of six-year-old Elián González, in the custody of family in the United States since November.

In his visit with the Pope, the foreign minister communicated a message from Cuban president Fidel Castro and informed the pontiff of the status of Cuban-US relations, including the stepped-up economic blockade, which the Pope himself had criticised during his 1998 visit to Havana.

Pérez Roque arrived Sunday evening in Rome for an official visit to meet with the highest authorities at the Vatican and the Italian government. The foreign minister’s tour also includes stops in San Marino, France, Denmark and Russia.

The Cuban minister told the press that in all his meetings he would explain the details of the Elián case and the position of the Cuban government.

The boy is one of three survivors of a shipwrecked boat that carried illegal Cuban emigrants toward the United States. The tragedy killed Elian’s mother, but he was rescued November 25 and turned over to his great-uncle and great-aunt living in Miami, Florida.

The US Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) announced Jan 6 that the boy would be returned to Cuba prior to last Friday to be reunited with his father, Juan Miguel González.

But lawyers for Elián’s family in Miami and influential groups of Cuban exiles in the United States won a delay of the boy’s return. His fate now depends on proceedings in US federal court.

Meanwhile, Florida Senator Connie Mack, a Republican, announced he would ask Congress on Jan 24 to grant the Cuban boy US citizenship.

President of the Cuban parliament, Ricardo Alracón, announced that the island nation’s government would continue its demands for Elián’s return and would seek backing from supporters at the international level and within the United States.

Pérez Roque’s schedule at the Vatican, in addition to his audience with the Pope, included meetings with secretary of State Angelo Sodano and with secretary for State Relations Jean Louis Tauran.

The Cuban minister discussed the same issues with the two secretary’s as he had with John Paul II, affirmed a state-run radio station in Havana.

In addition to the Elián case and US-Cuban relations, Pérez Roque and the Vatican officials also discussed the ties between the Roman Catholic Church and the Cuban government. The Vatican’s policy is to encourage greater religious freedom on the Communist- led island.

During his visit to Italy, Pérez Roque will also try to boost diplomatic relations with the signing of a bilateral accord to prevent the double taxation of exchanged goods.

The Cuban official is scheduled to meet with Italian prime minister Massimo D’Alema, and foreign minister Lamberto Dini.

In Rome, Pérez Roque also met with the executive director of the World Food Programme, Catherin Bertini, to study several joint projects.

The foreign minister reiterated Castro’s offer to provide Cuban doctors to take part in this United Nations agency’s actions around the world.

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