Emotional event as fishermen rescuers meet Elian's father

Juan Miguel Gonzalez, Elian's father, at the home where he is staying in Bethesda, Maryland

April 9, 2000
Web posted at: 2:59 p.m. EDT (1859 GMT)

In this story: Making transition easy on Elian Reno supports father's rights RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The two fishermen who pulled Elian Gonzalez from the sea said their Sunday meeting in Washington with Juan Miguel Gonzalez, the boy's father, went well.

"He just looked me in my eye, he shook my hand. We talked about me being a father, him being a father. We talked about the child growing up," said fisherman Sam Ciancio. "We laughed about some things, we cried about some things."

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Ciancio and the other fisherman, Donato Dalrymple, are cousins. Dalrymple said Gonzalez thanked him and said he was anxious to be reunited with his son. The men met at the office of Gonzalez's lawyer.

"He was eternally grateful to me. He embraced me. And you can tell that it was not fabricated," Dalrymple said. "He said the he wishes he could feel the same sentiment as me, to be as tearful-eyed, but he has no tears at this moment. He said maybe when little Eliancito is in his arms again, maybe his emotions and tears would come back to him. But right now, he feels so bad, that he feels that his boy has been held back from him."

Gonzalez met Sunday with two psychiatrists and a psychologist to discuss how best to transfer custody of his son from Miami relatives to himself, said Gregory Craig, the father's lawyer.

Elian in Miami's Little Havana, where he stays with relatives

U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno would not give a date for the reunion of father and son, but said she has asked Elian's Miami relatives to meet the same mental health professionals on Monday to work out a way to make the custody transfer in the least disruptive way. The Miami relatives will be given instructions on where and when to turn over the child.

"The (Miami) relatives say it would be wrenching to him to take him from the home, but four months is no substitute for six years for a father who had such an important role in raising such a wonderful little boy," Reno said.

On CNN Late Edition Sunday, Reno said she believed the Miami relatives will comply with orders to turn the boy over. She did not say if she was prepared to take the boy by force if the family refuses to turn him over.

"This is a very special little boy. His father did a darn good job raising him until he was six, along with his mother." Said Reno. "It's time we reunited them. And, it's time we do it in a peaceful way. Elian deserves that."

People opposing Elian's return to Cuba drive through Miami, honking their horns

Elian's case has stirred passions in Cuba and among Cuban-American exiles living in Miami. The fishermen rescued him in November after his mother and 10 others drowned trying to flee Cuba in a boat. Elian has been staying with his relatives in Miami since his rescue.

Some in Miami have threatened to prevent the boy from being taken from his uncle's home by forming a human chain.

Reno, who is from Miami, called Cuba a "repressive society" governed by a "dictator from whom thousands have fled." She said she respected the beliefs of those who oppose returning Elian to a communist country.

"But it is not our place to punish a father for his political beliefs or where he wants to raise his child. Indeed, if we were to start judging parents on the basis of their political beliefs, we would change the concept of family for the rest of time," Reno said.

Protesters, carrying placards reading "Pray for Elian," continued their usual vigil outside the home of Elian's great-uncle and a prayer vigil is planned for Monday night.

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April 8, 2000
Elian's father: 'Soon I'll have my son'
April 7, 2000
Officials drafting letter ordering transfer of Elian to father
April 6, 2000
Elian's father to arrive in U.S. Thursday, lawyer says
April 5, 2000
Talks over Elian recess, will resume Thursday
April 4, 2000

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
U.S. Department of Justice
LibertyForElian.org - Foundation to Help Save Elian
Granma Internacional Digital, Cuba
  • Kidnap in Miami
Cubaweb
Cuban American National Foundation

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