CUBA REJECTS DRUG 'HOT PURSUIT' CHASES IN ITS WATERS

MIAMI (AP) -- Cuba has denied the Coast Guard permission to pursue drug
smugglers in its waters, but has promised to consider other proposals to
improve counter-narcotics cooperation, The Miami Herald reported today.

Coast Guard and State Department drug interdiction experts and their Cuban
counterparts met Monday in Havana but were unable to negotiate a deal, the
newspaper said, citing an unnamed State Department official.

The Cubans rejected a proposal for a "hot pursuit" agreement. U.S.
officials, in turn, refused to expand the talks to other U.S. drug
enforcement agencies.

Both sides are still considering a proposal to base a Coast Guard officer
and drug testing equipment in Havana. Also being discussed is a plan to
enhance radio and telephone communications between U.S. and Cuban drug
fighting units.

U.S. officials have maintained their objection to sharing narcotics
intelligence or joint drug interdiction training exercises. Officials are
interested only in cooperating with Cuba on a case-by-case basis.

Smugglers are increasingly taking advantage of the island's weak drug
policing to transport drugs through Cuban sea and airspace to south Florida.