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Brazilian President to Meet Castro in Cuba***Silva will also be testing his country's delicate relationship with the United States, which has had no diplomatic relations with Cuba for more than four decades. The United States is both the largest exporter to Brazil and the largest recipient of Brazilian products. "If the visit turns out to be nothing more than a gesture to please leftist forces in Brazil and in the rest of world, it will be an empty and meaningless gesture," Marconini said in a telephone interview. "But if it becomes part of a broader approach to the Hemisphere it could turn into a constructive exercise that should please even the United States," Marconini said.

Cuban dissidents and their supporters have asked Silva to intervene on behalf of 75 activists sentenced to long prison terms after a crackdown this year. Silva should demand the release of the country's political prisoners, Cuban democracy activist Oswaldo Paya said in an interview published Sunday in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper. "Brazil should defend an opening in Cuba and a dialogue between the government and the opposition," Paya said.

The Paris-based advocacy group Reporters Without Borders has asked the Brazilian president to press for the release of the 26 independent journalists among the 75 jailed dissidents. While recognizing Silva's political affinities with Castro, the press group wrote this week that "no democrat of the left or right would understand if these affinities were to take precedence over respect for human rights." In 2002 Brazil exported $95 million worth of products to Cuba and imported less than $10 million.

Brazilian diplomats have said the president has no plans to meet with dissidents on the island. Economic issues will also be on the table during Silva's visit. Brazil's national Development Bank is negotiating a credit line of up to $400 million to finance Cuban imports of Brazilian machinery, farm equipment and food.***

Brazilian president seeks to keep today's Cuban visit low-key*** Da Silva is scheduled to meet twice with Castro during the 24-hour visit. They are to discuss possible cooperation in oil exploration and production as well as joint efforts in the sugar industry.

Analysts said that if Brazil extends a credit line worth $400 million to finance Brazilian exports to Cuba, it would give the South American nation a foothold in the region. But Brazil, apparently concerned about a perception of thumbing its nose at the United States, has discreetly asked Cuba not to spew anti-American rhetoric while da Silva is on Cuban soil, according to Brazilian media reports. A flamboyant welcome with a million Cubans on the streets also was reportedly declined.***