US withdraws offer to send hurricane team to Cuba
02 Nov 2005 22:03:52 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday effectively withdrew an offer to send a U.S. team to longtime foe Cuba to assess damage from Hurricane Wilma, saying President Fidel Castro had politicized the mission.
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Last week, the State Department announced Cuba had accepted U.S. disaster aid for the first time "in memory" and that a three-member U.S. technical team was on standby to go to the communist-ruled island to assess what was needed after Hurricane Wilma.
Castro immediately denied his government had accepted such a gesture and said on live television he was annoyed Washington was distorting Cuba's intentions.The Cuban leader said he had only accepted a visit by the assessment team in an effort to build regional cooperation in dealing with the growing danger posed by hurricanes.
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A State Department official said Washington was annoyed at Castro's wish to use the assessment team as a tool to open up diplomatic channels with the United States.
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