Raul manda mensaje de "dialogo" a Washington a travez de embajador Suizo en la Habana.

Cuba hints at desire to begin formal talks with U.S.
By Pablo Bachelet
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - The Swiss ambassador to Havana came to Washington last month in what's believed to be an effort to deliver a Cuban message reiterating Havana's eagerness to open contacts with the Bush administration, several persons familiar with the trip said Wednesday.
Ambassador Bertrand Louis met with State Department officials and influential members of the Cuban-American community in Washington, including Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, the people added. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the communications.
The Swiss Embassy in Washington confirmed the visit but declined to comment on its purpose. But those who met with Louis believe he came as an emissary of Havana to repeat the message of Raul Castro that he's willing to open talks with the Bush administration - something Washington has refused to do so far.
In his talks with Cuban-Americans, Louis also explored the exile community's possible responses to Cuba's search for a dialogue with Washington, according to those who met with him.
The Louis visit was the first signal that Castro is pulling diplomatic levers beyond public view to communicate his position, several Cuba watchers said. Raul Castro has twice expressed a readiness to talk with Washington since his brother Fidel surrendered power July 31 because of a still undisclosed ailment.
The State Department was tightlipped on the Swiss envoy's visit and on any efforts that may be taking place to bring the United States and Cuba to the negotiating table.
"We decline to comment on our diplomatic consultations," said Eric Watnik, a spokesman for the State Department.
The United States and Cuba don't have formal diplomatic relations. Switzerland acts as official host to the Cuban mission in Washington and to the U.S. mission in Havana, known as Interests Sections.
Raul Castro first made his offer to negotiate with Washington in an August interview with Cuba's official Granma newspaper and then again on Dec. 2, in a speech marking Fidel's 80th birthday.
In both instances, he conditioned the talks on Washington respecting Cuba's "independence" - an apparent rejection of Washington's condition that Cuba must commit itself to a democratic path before any earnest engagement can begin.
The Bush administration has repeatedly said it has nothing to discuss with Cuba at this time, a message that officials reiterated to the Swiss envoy in Washington, according to those familiar with the visit.
The State Department's top Latin America official, Thomas Shannon, told reporters Wednesday that the administration has made it clear "at a variety of levels" that the Cuban authorities had to initiate a dialogue with their own people before talking to the United States.
"We're attentive to what will happen after Fidel Castro passes from the scene," he said, "but when we engage it has to be part of a process of democratic change."