29 December 1998
(Action taken following FBI investigation, says Rubin) (250) WASHINGTON -- Following is the text of State Department Spokesman James Rubin's December 23 statement on the U.S. expulsion order for three members of the Cuban mission to the United Nations: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN December 23, 1998 STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN Expulsions from Cuban U.N. Mission On December 23, 1998, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York advised the Cuban Mission to the United Nations that three of its diplomatic personnel must depart the United States for activities incompatible with their status as members of a U.N. mission. In accord with normal practice, we are requiring these officials to make arrangements expeditiously to depart. This action was taken as a result of evidence developed during an exhaustive investigation by the FBI. The FBI investigation also implicated two other members of the Cuban U.N. Mission who have already departed the country. The United States takes its host country responsibilities for the United Nations seriously. We cannot accept violations of U.S. laws and endangerment of our national security interests. Under the U.N. Headquarters Agreement the U.S. has the right to require the departure of individuals who have engaged in activities constituting an abuse of the privilege of residence in the United States. (end text)