(3 Apr 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Tilt down of the exterior of the Hotel Nacional in Havana
2. Bus carrying the US congressional representatives arriving at the hotel
3. Barbara Lee, Democratic US Representative from California exiting the bus and being greeted by two men
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Lee, Democratic US Representative from California:
"Thank you very much. We're delighted to be here and of course we believe this is a new era in our foreign policy."
5. Cutaway of Lee talking with the media
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Lee, Democratic U.S. Representative from California:
"Well, I must say that we are always optimistic about the possibilities of dialogue between two countries. Many of us are supporting the travel bill."
7. Lee walking inside hotel with Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez and kissing him goodbye
STORYLINE
Seven members of the Congressional Black Caucus arrived in Cuba on Friday to discuss improving relations with the government amid speculation that Washington could ease travel restrictions to the island.
Democratic Representative from California, Barbara Lee said the trip is designed to demonstrate to Cubans that the American people are interested in building a new relationship with them.
Lee told the media that the visit marked a "new era in our foreign policy. "
The Democratic lawmakers planned to be in the country six days and meet with new Foreign Relations Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Ricardo Alarcon, the head of parliament, among other officials.
The group also was scheduled to take a day-trip to the beach resort of Varadero, 90 miles (140 kilometres) east of Havana.
There was no official word on whether they would see President Raul Castro, but conspicuous holes in their
agenda appeared to suggest such a meeting was not out of the question.
Jonathan Farrar, head of the US Interests Section in Havana, shook hands with delegation members outside the
elegant Hotel Nacional.
Inside, the caucus was greeted by the head of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington Jorge Bolanos and Dagoberto Rodriguez, Cuba's deputy foreign minister.
Both countries maintain interests sections, not embassies, in each other's territories because they have no
diplomatic relations.
Visits to Cuba by members of the US Congress are not new, but this one comes three days after a bipartisan group of senators proposed legislation that would prevent the president from stopping travel to Cuba except in extreme cases.
An identical bill in the House has 120 co-sponsors.
Asked about lifting the travel ban, Lee said "many of us are supporting the travel bill."
The Obama administration has said it is not in favour of doing away with the 47-year-old trade embargo against Cuba entirely.
Still, a provision of a catchall spending bill signed into law last month already made it easier for Cuban-Americans to come to the island, allowing those with relatives here to visit annually instead of once every three years.

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