DATE=10/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240501
TITLE=CASTRO / CUBAN SPIES (S & L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO IS ADMITTING HE SENT CUBANS
TO SPY ON THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO ACCUSES THE U-S GOVERNMENT
OF SPYING ON HIS COUNTRY. AS V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS, MR.
CASTRO'S COMMENTS - MADE TO THE U-S TELEVISION NETWORK, C-N-N -
COME ONE MONTH AFTER TEN SUSPECTED CUBAN SPIES WERE ARRESTED IN
MIAMI (FLORIDA).
TEXT: PRESIDENT CASTRO SAYS CUBA HAS DISPATCHED WHAT HE TERMED
"CUBAN CITIZENS" TO THE UNITED STATES TO INFILTRATE EXILE GROUPS
THAT OPPOSE HIS GOVERNMENT. INTERVIEWED BY C-N-N WHILE ATTENDING
THE IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT IN PORTUGAL, THE CUBAN LEADER SAID HIS
GOVERNMENT'S ACTION IS JUSTIFIED, GIVEN WHAT HE CALLED THE
SUBSTANTIAL ESPIONAGE CAPABILITIES OF THE UNITED STATES. HE WENT
ON TO ACCUSE WASHINGTON OF HAVING SPIES IN CUBA -- A CHARGE THAT
HAS BEEN DISMISSED BY U-S OFFICIALS.
OF THE TEN SUSPECTED CUBAN SPIES ARRESTED LAST MONTH IN SOUTH
FLORIDA, FIVE HAVE PLEADED GUILTY TO ACTING AS UNREGISTERED
AGENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEY ARE
ACCUSED OF TRYING TO INFILTRATE U-S MILITARY BASES.
//OPT// THEIR DETENTION CONSTITUTED THE LARGEST ROUND-UP OF
SUSPECTED CUBAN SPIES SINCE THE 1959 CUBAN REVOLUTION. // END
OPT//
IN THE INTERVIEW, PRESIDENT CASTRO DENIED HIS AGENTS TRIED TO
PENETRATE U-S MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, SAYING HIS GOVERNMENT WAS
SEEKING INFORMATION REGARDING ANY POSSIBLE TERRORIST ATTACKS
AGAINST CUBA BY EXILE GROUPS.
// REST OPT FOR LONG //
HE SAID HE HAS LITTLE INTEREST IN U-S STRATEGIC AFFAIRS, ADDING
HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES PLANS DIRECT AGGRESSION
AGAINST HIS COUNTRY.
PRESIDENT CASTRO'S OPEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SPYING ON THE UNITED
STATES IS UNUSUAL. HARRY VANDEN, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, SAYS FEW LEADERS
SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT THEIR NATION'S ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES.
// FIRST VANDEN ACT //
IT IS INTERESTING THAT HE WOULD DO THAT. OFTEN,
POLITICAL LEADERS WILL IGNORE IT OR DENY IT WHEN
CONFRONTED.
// END ACT //
PROFESSOR VANDEN COMPARES MR. CASTRO'S ADMISSION OF MAINTAINING
SPIES IN FLORIDA WITH PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER'S ADMISSION IN
1960 THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD BEEN FLYING OVER THE FORMER
SOVIET UNION WITH THE U-2 SPY PLANE.
ALSO ON THE C-N-N INTERVIEW, THE CUBAN LEADER SPOKE ABOUT
RPRESIDENT CLINTON -- CALLING HIM HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND
WELL-EDUCATED. MR. CASTRO SAID CUBA IS OPEN TO DISCUSS ANY
MATTER WITH THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS, BUT ADDED
THAT THE CURRENT SEX-AND-PERJURY SCANDAL IN WASHINGTON APPEARS TO
HAVE PUT THE CUBA ISSUE ON THE BACK BURNER. (SIGNED)
NEB/MCB/WFR
20-Oct-98 6:59 PM EDT (2259 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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