VANCOUVER -- The Cuban government, trying to polish its international image in the post-Soviet era, is reluctant to get involved with the Peruvian hostage crisis, Canada's ambassador to Cuba said Tuesday.
Mark Entwistle didn't rule out Cuba as a potential haven for Tupac Amaru guerrillas holding 72 people at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima since Dec. 17.
But he suggested Fidel Castro's regime didn't want to appear sympathetic to them, despite their Cuban-inspired roots.
``As far as what the Cubans have told us, they're not in the terrorist-receiving business, or the terrorist-promoting business,'' Entwistle said after a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade.
Cuba has been broached as a possible sanctuary for the guerrillas if the Peruvian government negotiates a peaceful end to the standoff.
``We've discussed the issue in general, just monitoring it with the Cubans,'' Entwistle said.
``I believe their position is very similar to our own, that it's an issue for the government of Peru to resolve. I think like all governments, they'd be willing to consider anything that might be helpful, but it's not their issue.''
The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe eliminated 85 percent of Cuba's export markets overnight and paralyzed 65 percent of its manufacturing capacity, Entwistle said.
Cuba now realizes it needs to integrate into the global community, liberalize its economy and reform its trading practices.
Entwistle said the result has been a more pragmatic approach when it comes to issues such as human rights.
The policy has built trust and confidence, leading to Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy's controversial visit to Havana last month and an agreement aimed at fostering human rights in Cuba, Entwistle said.
But it's too early to say whether the policy will produce real progress, he said.
Entwistle played down the impact of the U.S. Helms-Burton Act, which penalizes anyone investing in Cuban property expropriated from Americans.
But even excluding such investments, there are plenty of opportunities to trade in goods and services not covered by Helms-Burton, Entwistle said.
Copyright © 1997 The Miami Herald