US mission says Cuba should communicate through diplomatic channels, not news conferences

US mission says Cuba should communicate through diplomatic channels, not
news conferences
The Associated Press
Published: May 24, 2008

HAVANA: The U.S. mission in Cuba on Saturday called on the island's
communist government to use diplomatic channels rather than news
conferences to criticize American officials.

The U.S. government will not respond to Cuban charges that its top
diplomat funneled money to dissidents on the island until Cuba files a
formal complaint, according to a statement from the U.S. Interests
Section, America's de facto embassy in Havana.

Cuba has released e-mails, letters, videos and audio tapes it claims
prove that Michael Parmly, America's top diplomat in Havana, carried
funds to activist Martha Beatriz Roque, who allegedly passed them on to
other dissidents.

Parmly has declined to comment on the charges, despite demands by Cuban
Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.

The United States acknowledges it provides "humanitarian assistance" to
dissidents in Cuba, but has not said specifically whether Parmly
hand-carried cash from a Miami-based group that the communist government
calls a terrorist organization.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/24/news/CB-GEN-Cuba-US.php