ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602280085
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS
SOURCE: Associated Press
The Cuban fighter pilots saw the small white and blue Cessna they were tracking, and their excitement was palpable, according to transcripts supplied by a U.S. ambassador.
``The target is in sight. The target is in sight. It's a small aircraft,'' the MiG-29 pilot radioed back to his ground controller.
``The white and blue small aircraft. At a low altitude, a small aircraft,'' a MiG-23 pilot flying on his wing added. ``Give me instructions.''
``Fire,'' was the ground controller's answer. ``Authorized to destroy.''
Fifty-three seconds later came the response from the MiG-29 pilot: ``First launch.''
``We took out his b---s,'' the MiG-29 pilot shouted as his missiles struck the U.S.-owned Cessna.
``This one won't mess around anymore,'' the other pilot said.
These were some of the transcripts U.S. Ambassador Madeleine Albright released Tuesday of conversations between Cuban pilots and their control tower last Saturday when two small American-owned planes were shot down north of Cuba.
Albright, who earlier in the day orchestrated a Security Council statement Tuesday that ``strongly deplores'' the attack, said she was ``struck by the joy of these pilots in committing cold-blooded murder.''
``Frankly, this is not `cojones' (balls, or testicles, in Spanish). This is cowardice,'' Albright said at a news conference.
U.S. officials said the transcripts were ``authoritative'' but would not give their source.
The Cuban aircraft never warned the Cessnas by dipping their wings or hailing them on the radio before shooting them down, Albright said, adding the Cessnas ``posed no threat at all.''
The planes belonged to Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based group of Cuban exiles. The four Cuban-Americans aboard the two planes are presumed dead.
There was no indication in the transcript that either Cuban pilot believed the U.S.-owned Cessnas were armed.
The release of the transcript came as Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina arrived at the United Nations to present his government's version of events.
``I want to tell the world that we are the ones who were provoked, and that if airspace was violated, it was ours,'' Robaina said Monday in Mexico City.
Cuba has said the planes were shot down over its territorial waters, which the United States denies.
Albright, who is serving as president of the Security Council, said she would meet with Robaina if he asks. She also said she would consult with other members of the council to see what actions could be taken.
Despite the U.S. full-court press, the watered-down Security Council statement came only after grueling negotiations that did not end until before dawn Tuesday. It seems unlikely that the U.S. could succeed in pursuading fellow council members to approve strong measures against Cuba.
China repeatedly delayed acceptance of the statement, saying it wanted to hear from the Cubans before taking a position. Council statements must be unanimous.
The statement was softened before it was passed and included no threats of sanctions or other measures.
Brothers to the Rescue has used previous flights to rescue Cuban refugees from the waters around Cuba and has dropped leaflets over the country criticizing its Communist government.
Around the world, Cuba was widely condemned for downing the planes, but there was little support for Washington's moves to retaliate with sanctions.
Cheryl Carolus of South Africa's ruling African National Congress said the incident reflected ``the really ridiculous relations between the U.S. and Cuba.''
``I think the U.S. policy is ridiculous and outdated. It has caused untold hardship,'' she said in Johannesburg.
The 15-nation European Union condemned Cuba's action but called for ``moderation and restraint for all involved'' in the incident.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Albright. color.by CNB