Alarcon To Be Asked Tough Questions

Well...at least that's the hope. I'm not holding my breath.

Cuba's Alarcón may take questions at journalism conference

BY OSCAR CORRAL
ocorral@MiamiHerald.com

Ricardo Alarcón, president of Cuba's National Assembly, is considering participating in a question-and-answer session with reporters during this summer's National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Fort Lauderdale.

An invitation to Alarcón was hand-delivered to him personally by South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editor Earl Maucker in the last two weeks, said NAHJ Executive Director Iván Román.
Maucker's secretary said Maucker was unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon.

''The editor of the Sun-Sentinel, who was in Cuba on business, actually hand-delivered a letter from us,'' Román told The Miami Herald Thursday. 'All [Alarcón] basically said was, `Sure, I'll think about it. Let's work on the logistics.' ''

Román said Alarcón has not reached out to NAHJ or anyone planning the convention, including the Sun-Sentinel, since he got the invitation. The plan is to have Alarcón appear via satellite from Cuba, and undergo questioning from journalists chosen by NAHJ, Román said.

One staunch anti-Castro Cuban exile group, the Cuban American National Foundation, said they hope Alarcón accepts the invitation.

''I think it's a great opportunity to ask Ricardo Alarcón why there is no freedom of the press in Cuba,'' said CANF Executive Director Alfredo Mesa. ``I think it's a great opportunity to ask him why he participates in a forum where everyone else has to play by the rules of free speech and freedom of the press, and once the forum is over, his government is unwilling to offer the people of Cuba that same opportunity.''

Rumor has it Jim DeFede will take the lead in the interviewing.

Just kidding...I hope.