Reno may make trip to Miami

Wednesday, April 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Janet Reno may travel to Miami on Wednesday in hopes of easing the transfer of Elian Gonzalez to his Cuban father, Justice Department officials said Tuesday.

Ms. Reno would meet with community leaders and the 6-year-old's Miami relatives, who have resisted efforts to reunite the boy with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez.

The trip won't slow the government's resolve that the custody change take place this week - a plan that officials were preparing Tuesday evening, the officials said.

In a written statement released Tuesday, Ms. Reno said the change in custody "must move forward without delay."

Elian has lived at the Miami home of his great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, since the boy was rescued in late November after a boat accident that killed his mother. The two were part of a group that slipped out of Cuba to migrate to Florida.

The Miami relatives proposed a meeting Tuesday with the boy's father. But Juan Gonzalez has shown no desire to meet with the great uncle or his family unless it involved the transfer of Elian.

Republican congressional leaders who want Elian to remain in the United States also sought to meet with Mr. Gonzalez. The father, however, has only talked with congressional Democrats who support his cause.

During Ms. Reno's visit to Miami, where she grew up and served as an elected state prosecutor, she would urge the family to cooperate in a smooth transfer of Elian's custody, a Justice Department official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The attorney general would direct part of her message to the Cuban community in Miami, the scene of steady protests and threats to resist Elian's transfer.

Justice Department officials said Ms. Reno was likely to make the trip but would not explain why that was not a firm decision.

Justice Department officials are said to be discussing a plan that would have the relatives bring Elian to a Miami-area airport for a handoff directly to his father. The relatives, however, may go to federal court to try to block the order.

Lazaro Gonzalez has fought a January decision by immigration officials that Elian be returned to his father. Juan Gonzalez traveled to the United States last week to speed the reunion.

The great uncle's attorneys sent a letter Tuesday to Ms. Reno asking for a meeting with her. Manny Diaz, attorney for the Miami relatives, said such a meeting was suggested by a team of government-appointed mental health experts.

The counselors, two psychiatrists and a psychologist, met with Lazaro Gonzalez on Monday. Government negotiators asked the experts for advice on how to assure a smooth custody transfer.

Miami Mayor Joe Carollo traveled Tuesday to Washington to talk with Ms. Reno. He said the attorney general was "very willing" to meet with Lazaro Gonzalez and community leaders in Miami.

Staff writer Nancy San Martin in Miami contributed to this report.