Castro denies accepting US aid

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban President Fidel Castro denied on
Thursday that his Communist government had accepted U.S. aid
for the first time in the wake of Hurricane Wilma.

The U.S. State Department said earlier its longtime foe
Cuba, whose own offer of help was snubbed by Washington after
Hurricane Katrina, had for the first time “in memory” accepted
U.S. disaster aid.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said a
three-person U.S. assessment team was on stand-by to go to Cuba
to see what was needed after Wilma flooded Havana and western
shore areas this week.

U.S. aid would be funneled through a nongovernmental
organization if it were needed, he said, adding that Washington
had sent a diplomatic note to Cuba on Tuesday offering help and
received a positive response a day later.

Havana’s reply to the U.S. offer, read out by Castro on a
live television broadcast, said Cuba had not requested
international aid. “That is not an acceptance of aid,” the
Cuban leader said.

Castro, annoyed that Washington was distorting Cuba’s
intentions, said Havana 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.

“We have no objections at all to the three officials
visiting us, to know their assessment and exchange views on
these matters,” Castro said. “We won’t close the door.”

Two months ago the United States did not take up Havana’s
offer to send more than 1,000 doctors and tons of medical
supplies to the United States after Hurricane Katrina hit the
U.S. Gulf Coast.

Cuba said the United States never formally responded to the
offer for political reasons, but State Department officials
said the help was not needed.