CUBA RESPONDS

Roger Noriega, a senior professional staff member of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, adds to his long record of attacks against Cuba in his
June 4 letter.

It is obvious that Mr. Noriega is trying to eliminate all possibility of
improving and strengthing the anti-drug cooperation between Cuba and the
U.S. government, which will mainly benefit American families, victims of
drug traffickers who see the United States as their principal market.

In 1998, during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Cuba, Mr. Noriega -- with
the support of the Cuban government -- had the opportunity to travel to Cuba
to meet with all the persons he wanted, including Cuban government
officials, which proved to him that Cuba has nothing to hide; on the
contrary, it is ready and willing to increase bilateral collaboration in the
fight against drug trafficking.

The U.S. Director of national drug policy, Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, has
declared there is no evidence of Cuba being linked to drug smuggling; David
Ridgeway, British ambassador to Cuba, stated that the level of cooperation
with Cuba is excellent and that he is most pleased with the adequate use our
country is making of the resources Britain has donated for the fight against
drug smuggling. Twenty-one countries -- Canada, France and Mexico among them
- -- already have signed agreements with Cuba to increase the efficiency of
our fight against that scourge of society.

LUIS FERNANDEZ

Press Officer

Cuban Interests Section

Washington