BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We are trying to keep pace with this Elian Gonzalez story from Florida all the way up to the Justice Department and also at the State Department. Richard Roth, new developments as well, live in Washington. Richard, what do you have for us?</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, the morning after President Fidel Castro of Cuba said the boy's father, the father of Elian Gonzalez, would come to the United States to reclaim his son, developments here at the State Department: Officials with the Cuban interest section -- that's kind of the de facto Cuban embassy here in Washington -- came here to the State Department to meet with officials regarding this controversial case. The chief of the interest section, after the brief meeting, described the purpose of their visit.</s>FERNANDO REMIREZ DEESTENOZ, CUBAN INTEREST SECTION: We just informed the official of the State Department the proposal of Juan Miguel Gonzalez in light of Elian and also the proposal of a group of children, doctors, and people, who are ready to come together with Juan Miguel and his family in a way to help to find a positive solution and just to make a constructive contribution to find a solution, according to the best interest of Elian. That's all...</s>ROTH: Despite the harsh rhetoric in the last few weeks regarding this case, this meeting said to be about cooperation, according to the Cuban side. The Cuban delegation, according to our sources, did not request a visa for anyone visiting, the father or any of the children who might be coming. It was a meeting to describe to the State Department what President Fidel Castro of Cuba would like to settle this dispute. Richard Roth, CNN, reporting live at the State Department.</s>HEMMER: Richard, thank you. Keep us posted from there. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
Cuban Officials Deliver Castro's Message to State Department