Miami Relatives Of Elian Ask For a Meeting

MIAMI, June 5 –– The Miami relatives of Elian Gonzalez have written to request a meeting with him after a session with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez.

"Although they have their differences with Juan Miguel, he is certainly family and it would be beneficial for Elian for the families to meet and mend their problems," said the letter from lawyer Linda Osberg-Braun, which added that the Miami relatives love Elian and wish to see the boy.

The letter to Elian's father's attorney, Gregory B. Craig, was sent Friday, the day after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta dealt what has been widely seen as a definitive blow to the relatives' efforts to prevent 6-year-old Elian from returning to Cuba. If the relatives do not appeal for either a rehearing by the Atlanta court or to the Supreme Court, Elian's father would be free to take his son home in three weeks.

The Miami relatives, who were backed in their campaign to keep Elian in the United States by many among the city's anti-Castro Cubans, apparently hope bad blood over the highly politicized custody feud can be set aside.

Craig said his client would be willing to meet with Lazaro Gonzalez and his daughter Marisleysis, but Craig has denounced requests for such meetings made through the news media.

"Since you mentioned Juan Miguel is willing to meet with the family, please let me know when and where this would be convenient," Osberg-Braun wrote.

"I think the families should meet alone without any lawyers, government officials or unrelated people, so they can break the ice and move forward with their future relationship however they choose to define it," the letter said, adding that after the meeting with Juan Miguel, the relatives would like to see Elian.