Castro Warns of Damaged US Ties Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Castro Warns of Damaged U.S. Ties By ANITA SNOW The Associated Press HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro warned Wednesday that limited Cuba-U.S. relations could be cut further and the American mission here could be closed if U.S. diplomats persist in ``violations of our sovereignty.'' Migration agreements between the two countries also were being put at risk by American diplomats ``who go around the country as they like, organizing networks and conspiracies,'' the Cuban president said. Castro's warning comes as Washington steps up programs it says are aimed at bringing democracy to the communist island, such as distributing radios here so Cubans can tune in to U.S. government programming and increasing funding for dissident support groups in the United States. ``We are not willing to permit violations of our sovereignty, nor the humiliating disregard of norms ruling the conduct of diplomats,'' Castro told lawmakers gathered for a special session examining a constitutional change declaring Cuba's economic, political and social systems ``untouchable.'' Castro's speech was aimed in large part at the growing advocacy role by the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. Under mission chief Vicky Huddleston, the Interests Section last year distributed hundreds of small shortwave radios that can be used for listening to the U.S. government's Radio Marti, which is run by Cuban exiles opposing Castro. The Cuban Foreign Ministry formally complained to the United States about that distribution. Cuba views the broadcasts from the United States as enemy attacks and has jammed them in the past. The broadcasts began in 1985 during the administration of then-President Reagan. ``The contraband of merchandise in diplomatic pouches also is not admissible,'' Castro said, apparently referring to transporting the radios into Cuba. He said it will be the United States' responsibility if these practices cause the annulment of migration accords signed in 1994 and 1995 - and discussed every six months - or even the withdrawal of the Interests Section. Castro said a further cut in ties ``would mean an unfortunate step back in the few advances'' in the countries' relationship. Huddleston's office did not immediately answer requests for comment. The State Department had no reaction, a spokeswoman in Washington said. Castro also took issue with President Bush's mention in a May 20 speech of a scholarship program for Cuban students and professionals. U.S. officials say the program is designed to teach skills that Cubans could use later if the island embarks on a democratic path. But Castro said that money instead should focus on low-income American blacks, Indians and Hispanics who cannot afford a university education. ``He shouldn't imagine that we would cooperate with such a tendentious plan,'' Castro said. He said Washington's idea was to ``form subversive and destabilizing agents at the service of their interjectionist and imperialist plans.'' 06/26/02 21:42 EDT source - JosePertierra@aol.com ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcov-06.27.02-00:13:31-31112