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Elian Gonzalez Case: Miami Family Seeks Mediation From 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Renews Offer to Meet With Juan Miguel

Aired April 20, 2000 - 2:07 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: In the Elian Gonzalez case, another offer and counteroffer from the Miami family and the boy's father seems to be leading nowhere, at least for the moment.

We get the very latest now on Elian from CNN's Mark Potter who is standing by live in Miami.

Hi, Mark.

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Andria.

Well, it's -- after yesterday's excitement, it's another quiet day in Little Havana as the waiting game resumes. The two big questions here today are: What will the Justice Department do now, and what will the father do?

Now, we've been told that Attorney General Janet Reno, for the last several hours, has been meeting with her aides and with INS Commissioner Doris Meissner. A source tells CNN that all options are still on the table now, including the possible use of force. But that is described as the last option. And the source says that if the family can agree to hold a meeting, government action could then be forestalled.

Now, here at the house, a small group of supporters is standing by -- maybe 60 people or so, nothing like the large crowd gathered here yesterday when the court announced its ruling. Earlier today, we also saw young Elian outside. He was playing in a pair of roller skates in the yard.

The family is now asking the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to serve as a mediator between the family relatives -- the Miami relatives, rather, and Juan Miguel Gonzalez, the boy's father. In its ruling yesterday, the court encouraged the parties to take advantage of its mediation service. And Lazaro Gonzalez, on another front, is renewing his offer of a family meeting to discuss Elian's future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE GARCIA-PEDROSA, MIAMI RELATIVES' ATTORNEY: His door is open, his home is open. He wants to have the family meet there. But if that's not acceptable to Juan Miguel -- and let's not try to score debaters' points on this issue -- let's bring this family together, almost any place -- . obviously we're not going to go to the Cuban Interests Section -- almost any place, any time, the sooner the better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POTTER: Now, the father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, continues to maintain that he will not meet until it is guaranteed that he will be able to take his son into his custody.

One other note: The Miami Police Department says it is investigating claims aired yesterday on Cuban television that some dissidents here are stockpiling weapons in a house near the Gonzalez home, supposedly to keep authorities from coming to take the boy. The police department says that, so far, however, it has not gone inside that house.

Andria, back to you.

HALL: Mark Potter, keep us updated if anything else occurs today.

Thank you, Mark.

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