Colorado Congressman In Cuba With Obama Hopes For Trade Ties

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado congressman in Cuba with President Barack Obama is looking forward to trade ties between his state and the island nation — starting with direct flights.

In a call from Havana Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter acknowledged decades of bitter differences over human rights and political and economic policy won't be resolved quickly. But the Democrat saw reason for hope in the opening of communications symbolized by Obama's visit, the first in nearly 90 years for a sitting U.S. president.

"We have some difference of opinion ... but at least the conversation is taking place," said Perlmutter, who was among several members of Congress and business leaders who accompanied Obama on a trip that started Sunday and ends Tuesday.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines announced earlier this month it had applied for permission to begin service to Cuba, including Denver-Havana flights. United, the main carrier at Denver International Airport, also has requested permission to fly to Havana, from Newark-New York, Houston, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

Perlmutter said flights could start within the year. Other relationships he hoped to foster could take longer, he said, describing meetings with Cuban government officials at which cooperation in renewable energy and bioscience research were raised.

Perlmutter also took part in meetings the Obama delegation held with Cuban dissidents, part of efforts, he said, to "hear some voices outside the government."

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