Statement from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs


ON May 20, 2003, the government of the United States of
America carried out yet more activities constituting an
escalation of the radio and television aggression that it
has been waging against the Cuban Revolution for decades.

The radio station created and operated by the U.S.
government with the aim of promoting subversion in Cuba -
offensively and perfidiously named after José Martí - went
out on air over four new frequencies that day, provoking
interference and affecting Cuban radio transmissions.
These acts constitute a blatant and crude violation of
international law and the norms and regulations established
by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an
international organization based in Geneva that was
established to promote proper conduct in telecommunications
throughout the world and, in particular, its Radio
Communications Regulations.

During the evening of the same day, television signals with
a similar objective were transmitted by the official U.S.
propaganda services towards Cuba between 6-10 p.m. using
channels and systems legally assigned to Cuban television
stations and duly registered with the above-mentioned
international organization. This action is likewise in
violation of international law and the norms agreed by all
states under the framework of the International
Telecommunications Union, and specifically in article 23.3
of the Radio Communications Regulations that prohibits
television transmissions outside national boundaries.

In virtue of article 15.34 of the same regulations, the
television aggression by the United States constitutes
detrimental interference caused by a television network
operating on Channel 13 VHF (210-216 MHz), which seriously
affected the Cuban television channels officially registered
on this wavelength.

The introduction to the ITU's constitution clearly outlines
the increasing importance of telecommunications in terms of
safeguarding the peace and social and economic development
of all states and, for that reason, states the need to
facilitate proper conduct in the telecommunications industry
through international cooperation in order to realize the
above-mentioned objectives. U.S.-led radio and television
aggression towards Cuba demonstrates that government's utter
contempt for the norms governing international relations.

U.S. aggression towards Cuba via radio and television is not
a new phenomenon. Every week, broadcasting stations on U.S.
territory transmit more than 2,220 hours of
counterrevolutionary programming to our country, promoting
subversion against the constitutional order that freely
corresponds to our people and sovereignty.

There are 24 frequencies devoted to programming specifically
with these aims.

On this occasion, violations of international law and, in
particular, the international norms regulating the use of
radio frequencies have been aggravated by various factors.
Beyond the premeditation and hypocrisy guiding the design
and instrumentation of the actions described, the most
outstanding fact is that the subversive transmissions
directed towards Cuba came from a U.S. Air Force plane at
peak viewing time, interfering with normal national
broadcasting by using frequency bands used by Cuban radio
and television channels.

The attitude of the U.S. authorities in relation to acting
against terrorist of Cuban origin José Basulto and his
attempts to transmit TV signals directed at Cuban territory
is likewise striking. Despite the fact that U.S.
representatives informed us through diplomatic channels that
they had warned Mr. Basulto that any transmission beamed at
Cuba would be considered a violation of U.S. law resulting
in action being taken against him, it is known that the
terrorist was able to fly unhindered on May 20. And if he
was unable to transmit that was due to problems with the
transmitter he was using, not because of any response by the
U.S. authorities.

In the face of the current U.S. government's pretension to
impose its will on the world as the sole applicable norm,
Cuba is calling for an international order in which respect
for international law governs everyone equally. This is an
essential paradigm for peaceful coexistence and justice on
the planet.

Even though our specialists were able to neutralize those
new radio and television aggressions, Cuba is obliged and
within its rights to denounce these illegal acts and to
demand that they be halted. To this end,
political-diplomatic measures are being taken, as much at
bilateral level as within the framework of the relevant
international scenarios.

Mr. James Cason, head of the U.S. Interests Section, was
summoned to our Foreign Ministry for a verbal protest
stating the violations committed by the U.S. government
against international telecommunication regulations and
international law.

In the same way, the Cuban radio-communications authorities
have denounced the action to the U.S. Government Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), clarifying all the
technical and legal parameters that have been blatantly
violated.

Cuba is also taking steps to denounce the above-mentioned
facts to the general secretary of the ITU and is requesting
the adoption of the customary measures taken in such cases.

Cuba intends to expose the U.S. government's radio and
television aggression at every forum and on any occasion it
deems appropriate and necessary.

The Cuban people, forged as much in the armed struggle as in
the battle of ideas that they are waging every day in the
face of the media manipulation and lies fabricated by the
powerful machinery of U.S. disinformation, are ready to
successfully confront any challenge presented to us. Our
government's actions are confirmation of its implacable will
to defend the sovereignty of the Cuban people, which
includes non-interference with the enjoyment of our country'
s radio and television frequencies, subject to the norms and
standards of international law.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Havana, May 22, 2003