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
.