U.S., CUBA DISCUSS DRUG-FIGHTING EFFORTS

WASHINGTON - Amid protests from Cuban-American lawmakers, four U.S.
officials met Monday in Havana with Cuban officials to discuss ways of
improving counternarcotics cooperation, a State Department official said.

"This is not a change in U.S. policy," said Michael Ranneberger, who heads
the State Department's office of Cuban affairs.

The U.S. team consisted of two low-ranking State Department and two Coast
Guard officials.

Monday's meeting was aimed at elevating communications on counternarcotics
issues from an existing telex link to a phone link and other means, an
official said, adding that the U.S. team had no plans to offer assistance to
Cuba, to share intelligence or to discuss joint operations.

U.S. counterdrug specialists have grown concerned about South American
traffickers' use of Cuban waters and air space to transport drugs to the
United States.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, objected strongly, saying it was
ridiculous to give Cuban President Fidel Castro credibility on the drug
issue. She said Castro is notorious for helping drug traffickers.

Similar objections were voiced by Rep. Lincoln Diaz- Balart who, like
Ros-Lehtinen, is a Cuban-born South Florida Republican.

Diaz-Balart said a grand jury in U.S. District Court in South Florida
prepared an indictment against the Castro government concerning tons of
cocaine that entered the United States. The Clinton administration shelved
the indictment in 1993, despite ``massive'' evidence of Cuban involvement
with drug kingpins, Diaz-Balart said.

But Barry McCaffrey, the White House drug control policy chief, said last
month that Cuba has shown a willingness to help the United States fight
international drug trade.

McCaffrey also credited Cuba with acting on intelligence the United States
provides to Cuban authorities.