Cuba 'clarifies' slam on Reagan

Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement distancing the communist government from a statement this week on Cuban radio declaring President Reagan should "never have been born."

The ministry notes the "judgements and commentaries" broadcast Monday by Radio Reloj were presented by the international media as "an official declaration by the Cuban authorities."

Although the Cuban media is tightly controlled by the totalitarian regime, the statement Thursday said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received instructions from the leadership of the Cuban Revolution to clarify that the commentaries made on the radio station were not an official statement by Cuban authorities nor do they express any official opinion."

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According to an Associated Press report, the radio commentary on Reagan said: "As forgetful and irresponsible as he was, he forgot to take his worst works to the grave. He, who never should have been born, has died."

Reagan, a stanch foe of communism, took a hard line against dictator Fidel Castro's regime while in office. The two nations have not had diplomatic relations since 1960.

Radio Reloj lambasted Reagan's military policies, AP reported, especially the so-called "Star Wars'' anti-missile program.

Though the commentary failed to mention Reagan's 1983 military operation in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada, it criticized his policies in Central America, where his administration backed an anti-communist rebel army that fought against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. The Reagan administration also supported an El Salvador government that battled Marxist guerrillas during that nation's civil war.

"His apologists characterize him as the victor of the Cold War,'' the radio broadcast said. "Those in the know knew that the reality was not so, but rather (he was) the destroyer of policies of detente in the overall quest for peace."

In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged President Ronald Reagan was a "tenacious opponent" of the Cuban Revolution.

But the ministry said "Cuban revolutionaries possess a sense of ethics and honor that is incompatible with the idea of issuing critical judgements or attacks at what is a moment of profound sorrow for his family. That has been and will always be the conduct of the Cuban people and leadership."

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