National Summit on Cuba: Tampa

October 8, 2004

Grand Salon, University of Tampa

Sponsored by
Alliance For Responsible Cuba Policy Foundation
Americans For Humanitarian Trade With Cuba
Florida Cuba Business Council
World Policy Institute

AGENDA

7:45 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM Welcoming Remarks: The Honorable Pam Iorio, Mayor, Tampa, Florida

8:45 AM Moderator Introduction
Rita Cosby, National Anchor, FOX News

9:00 AM Individual Panels Offering Perspectives on Cuba

U.S. Policy: History of How We Got Here, What It Is
Dr. Wayne Smith, Center for International Policy
Former Cuba Desk Chief at U.S. Department of State

A Military Perspective: A National Security Analysis
(Ret.) General John Sheehan, Former Supreme Allied Commander,
Atlantic (NATO), headed Guantanamo Bay refugee operations
during last Cuban migration crisis

Bush Administration Perspective
tba

Constitutional Perspective: Free Travel
tba

Congressional Perspectives: Support for Change or Status Quo?
U.S. Representative William Delahunt (D-MA)
U.S. Representative Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL)*

Perspectives on Cuba from Democrat and Republican Campaigns
Party spokespersons tba

10:45 AM View from On-the-Ground: The Changing Dynamics of Cuba Today
Peter Bourne MD, Co-Chair of Medical Education Cooperation
With Cuba (MEDICC), on Cuba’s medical industry/research
Debra Evenson, Institute of Employment Rights, lawyer/expert on
Cuban labor practices
Ambassador Paul Hare, recent past British Ambassador to Cuba
Kirby Jones, President, Alamar Associates, on Cuba’s
business culture today
Emily Morris, Cuba Country Director, Economist Intelligence Unit,
on current economic trends and foreign investment
Antonio Zamora, Esq., Director of Cuba-Florida Business Forum and
President, U.S.–Cuba Legal Forum, on evolving Cuban legal system

12:15 PM Keynote Luncheon Speaker
U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)

12:45 PM Screening of Film “Free to Fly” by Estela Bravo

1:15 PM The Experience with Current Cuba Trade and Travel
Chris Aberle, FC Stone, Des Moines, Iowa
Ruben Bonilla, Chairman, Port Commission,
Port of Corpus Christi, Texas and Former National President,
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Jay Brickman, Crowley Liner Services, Jacksonville, Florida
Maria Conchitas Mendez, Port of Mobile, Alabama
Marvin Lehrer, USA Rice Federation, Houston, Texas
J. Parke Wright, J.P. Wright and Associates, Naples, Florida

3:00 PM A Cost / Benefit Analysis of U.S. - Cuba Policy
Tim Lynch, Director, Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis,
Florida State University, on policy’s impact on Florida economy
Henry Mendoza, Chief Operating Officer, Agencia 12 y 23 Inc.,
Tampa, a Cuban American and licensed travel service provider to Cuba
Robert Muse, Muse & Associates, Washington DC, on how trademark
policy, the Helms-Burton law and laws on Cuba affect U.S. business
Lissa Weinmann, World Policy Institute, on the cost of current
policy to the U.S. taxpayer

3:45 PM Roadmap for Change: Experiences in Moving from Sanctions to Engagement
Ambassador Pete Peterson, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam
Former U.S. Representative from Florida
Ambassador Nicholas Platt, President, Asia Society, former U.S. Ambassador
to the Philippines, delegation member of Nixon’s historic China visit
Ambassador Malcolm Ferguson, current Ambassador of South Africa to
Mexico, former South African political counsel during sanctions debate

5:00 PM Closing Remarks
U.S. Representative C.L.“Butch” Otter (R-ID) who has engaged senior Cuban officials in a dialogue on human rights, free elections and free trade.

7:00 PM Evening Cocktail Reception and Cultural Program

*speaker invited but participation not yet confirmed

Saturday, October 9, 9:30 a.m.: Historic Breakfast Presentation and Walking Tour
A special breakfast presentation on the fascinating historic ties between American Gulf Coast communities and Cuba will be held in Ybor City. Historians from New Orleans, Mobile and Tampa will present and then lead participants on a walking tour of Tampa’s famous Cuban enclave. Interested Summit registrants should indicate whether they wish to attend when registering for the conference. The breakfast costs an additional $15.

National Summit on Cuba Archive

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