Published Sunday, May 17, 1998, in the Miami Herald

Castro rejects proposed U.S. aid to Cubans

GENEVA -- (AP) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro on Saturday denounced as ``humiliating and absolutely unacceptable'' a proposal by a U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms to use the country's church agencies to funnel humanitarian aid to needy Cubans.

``This aid won't enter Cuba because we have a government with a sense of honor,'' Castro said during a 3 1/2-hour speech to the Swiss-Cuban Friendship Association.

Helms, R-N.C., introduced the measure Thursday, saying it was aimed at undermining Castro's government.

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