DATE=8/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237229
TITLE=TIMES NOTE(L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER ISSUED AN 'EDITOR'S NOTE' 
SUNDAY TO CLARIFY A STORY PUBLISHED LAST MONTH. A RECENT ARTICLE 
IN THE TIMES REPORTED THAT PROMINENT CUBAN EXILES LEADERS IN 
MIAMI SUPPORTED A SERIES OF HOTEL BOMBINGS IN CUBA.  BUT AS SCOTT
ANGER REPORTS, THE PAPER SAYS WORDING OF THE ARTICLE WAS NOT 
INTENDED TO MEAN LEADERS SPECIFICALLY PAID FOR THE ACTS.



TEXT:   THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS BECAUSE OF AN EDITING ERROR, IT 
REPORTED THAT CUBAN EXILE LUIS POSADA CARRILES HAD CLAIMED 
LEADERS OF A PROMINENT EXILE GROUP IN MIAMI DIRECTLY SUPPORTED A 
SERIES OF HOTEL BOMBINGS IN HAVANA LAST SUMMER.

BUT THE PAPER SAYS THE WORD 'SUPPORTED', WAS NOT INTENDED TO MEAN
THAT MR. POSADA HAD SAID THAT THE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL 
FOUNDATION LEADERS PAID SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BOMBINGS.

NANCY NIELSEN, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TIMES SAYS THE PAPER WANTED
TO MAKE CLEAR ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

                        ///NIELSEN ACT///

         THE EDITOR'S NOTE THAT RAN IN NEW YORK TIMES ON SUNDAY, 
         AUGUST 16, 1998 IS NOT A RETRACTION.  THE POINT OF THE 
         EDITOR'S NOTE WAS TO CLARIFY A WORD THAT RAN IN THE 
         FIRST STORY.  THE WORD WAS NOT INCORRECT BUT IT COULD 
         HAVE BEEN MISLEADING AND, IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE DID 
         MISUNDERSTAND IT.

                          ///END ACT///

DURING TAPE-RECORDED INTERVIEWS WITH TIMES, MR. POSADA 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE ORGANIZED THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN AND OTHER 
ANTI-CASTRO OPERATIONS.  HE SAID THE LATE LEADER OF THE 
FOUNDATION, JORGE MAS CANOSA WAS HIS MAIN FINANCIAL SUPPORTER. 
BUT IN INTERVIEWS AFTER THE TIMES PUBLISHED ITS ARTICLES, MR. 
POSADA CLAIMED HE LIED TO THE PAPER TO HIDE THE REAL SOURCE OF 
HIS FINANCES.

AFTER THE STORIES WERE PUBLISHED, THE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL 
FOUNDATION DENIED FUNDING ANY TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND DEMANDED A
FULL RETRACTION OF THE ARTICLES.

DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY AT THE FOUNDATION'S 
HEADQUARTERS, JORGE MAS JR. SAYS THE CENTRAL PREMISE OF THE 
NEWSPAPER'S STORIES NO LONGER HOLDS ANY CREDIBILITY.

                        ///MAS JR. ACT///

         THE NEW YORK TIMES PRINTED INFORMATION THAT WAS FALSE 
         AND THEY KNOWINGLY DID SO AS WE STATED HERE A MONTH AGO.
         THEY KNEW MR. POSADA CARRILES, ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, 
         STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATIONS BETWEEN JORGE MAS 
         CANOSA AND THE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION AND 
         HIMSELF.  SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RETRACTION FROM 
         THE NEW YORK TIMES.

                          ///END ACT///

ALTHOUGH THE FOUNDATION SEES THIS AS A RETRACTION, THEY ARE STILL
CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE TIMES.  FOUNDATION LEADERS 
SAY AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY 
FILE A LAWSUIT OVER THE ARTICLES.  (SIGNED)



NEB/SA/WDC/PT 

17-Aug-98 7:26 PM EDT (2326 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.