Bill Richardson, Former New Mexico Governor, Visits Jailed American In Cuba Alan Gross
HAVANA — Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that Cuban officials denied his request to meet with a U.S. government subcontractor who has been jailed since 2009, dashing hopes that the man might be freed soon.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Richardson repeatedly described 62-year-old Alan Gross as an "American hostage." He said he would not leave the island until he was allowed to see the Maryland native at a military hospital where he is being held.
"My mission here as a private citizen is to secure the release of Alan Gross, an American hostage," Richardson said. "I've been informed by the Cuban government that I would not be allowed to see Alan Gross during my visit."
Richardson said that he had been scheduled to depart Saturday, but that he told Cuban officials he would not leave until he was granted a meeting with Gross.
"I promised his wife, Judy, that I would see him," the governor said.
There was no immediate comment from Cuba's government.
The news, delivered by a somber Richardson at the end of a long day of meetings with Cuban officials, was sure to come as a shock to those who had felt certain Gross' long ordeal was nearing an end.
Gross' lawyer said Wednesday that Richardson came to Havana at the invitation of the Cuban government, and earlier Thursday a leading Cuban official praised the governor and described Gross as a "victim."
The case has chilled efforts to improve ties between Washington and Havana, and the failure of Richardson's visit to win his release would likely set things back even further.
Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has a working relationship with Cuba's leaders and a long history of winning the release of prisoners in Cuba and elsewhere. His description of Gross as a hostage – rather than a prisoner – was sure to rankle Cuban leaders.
Gross was arrested in December 2009 while on a USAID-funded democracy building program. A Cuban court convicted him in March of crimes against the state for illegally bringing in communications equipment and sentenced him to 15 years in jail, a decision that was upheld last month by the country's Supreme Court.
Gross has insisted he was only trying to help Cuba's tiny Jewish community improve Internet access, and says he had no desire to offend Cuba's communist government. Cuba says the USAID program was a thinly veiled attempt to overthrow the government.
In court testimony from March that was released last week by his own lawyer, Gross described himself as a "trusting fool."
"I was duped. I was used. And my family and I have paid dearly for this," he told the tribunal.
With the Supreme Court decision, which effectively ended Gross' legal options, efforts have turned to winning his release on humanitarian grounds.
Those who have met and spoken with him say Gross has lost 100 pounds (45 kilos) while in custody, and both his elderly mother and adult daughter are suffering from cancer, among other hardships the family has endured.
Richardson was last in Havana in August 2010, when he met with Cuba's foreign minister and appealed for Gross' release. As a congressman in 1996, Richardson secured the liberation of three island political prisoners during talks with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Havana.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter also raised Gross' case at the highest levels of government during a trip to Havana in March. The former president was received warmly by Fidel and current Cuban President Raul Castro and was even allowed to talk with Gross in jail, but he left empty-handed.
Richardson told the AP that the meeting was denied although Gross had formally requested it through a U.S. consular official.
It was not clear what Cuban officials would do if Richardson refused to leave. Physically kicking him out of the country would be public relations nightmare, particularly given the Democratic politician's previously strong ties with Cuban leaders.
Earlier Thursday, Cuban Parliament Chief Ricardo Alarcon lauded Richardson's efforts to improve ties between Washington and Havana, including advocating freedom for five Cuban agents serving long jail terms in the United States.
Richardson's effort toward rapprochement "is something legitimate," he said.
"It is something noble. I hope it gets results," Alarcon said.
He insisted, however, that he had no idea whether Richardson would be allowed to leave the island with Gross.
"I don't know what Bill's program here involves," Alarcon said. "I'm not a fortune teller."
But Alarcon seemed to signal that Havana's posture toward Gross was softening, blaming Washington and not him for his actions.
"It is a shame that this gentleman has been a victim of politics," he said. "They've used him."
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Thursday that President Barack Obama's administration has been in touch with Richardson, and expected to hear more about his discussions after he finished speaking with senior Cuban officials.
"We wish him every success in this very important mission," Nuland said.
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Paul Haven can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/paulhaven
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PAUL HAVEN and ANNE-MARIE GARCIA 09/ 8/11 10:29 PM ET Associated Press