
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 19, 1995                   TAG: 9510190057
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

CASTRO GRANTED VISA TO ATTEND UNITED NATIONS

Republican senators bowed to Democratic opposition Wednesday and dropped a bid to starve the Cuban economy by denying it hard currency. They received another setback when the administration authorized a visa to President Fidel Castro to travel to the United Nations.

After a Saturday arrival in New York, Castro is expected to speak Sunday at the United Nations' 50th birthday celebration. Visas for foreign heads of government to travel to U.N. headquarters are routine although the State Department, not wishing to seem overeager, announced its approval nine days after the request was filed.

The announcement came shortly after Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., dropped a provision from Cuba sanctions legislation that was aimed at drying up foreign investment on the island. Following the deletion, a watered-down Cuba sanctions bill remained, and final approval was expected today.

Cuba has been actively courting investment from Spain and other countries to reverse the nation's economic decline, and Helms argued that Castro's days would be numbered if his bill forced would-be investors to take their money elsewhere.

Many lawmakers who had supported the provision also had been insisting that the administration deny Castro's visa request on grounds that Cuba has the hemisphere's worst human rights record. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole called the administration's decision ``regrettable.''

Dole's chief rival for the Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas called the decision shameful. He said Castro was a criminal and should be handcuffed and arrested upon his arrival.

Administration officials said they had little leeway on the visa request, citing U.S. obligations as host country for the United Nations.

by CNB