Newsline for July 19, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:08.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: A U-S SENATOR SAYS CUBA COULD HELP THE EFFORT TO LIFT SANCTIONS. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM KANSAS SENATOR PAT ROBERTS.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, ROBERTS SAYS THERE IS SUPPORT FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, ROBERTS SAYS ANTI-SANCTIONS ADVOCATES COULD USE SOME HELP FROM HAVANA.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) REPUBLICAN SENATOR PAT ROBERTS OF KANSAS SAYS LIFTING TRADE SANCTIONS ON CUBA REQUIRES EFFORTS IN HAVANA AS WELL AS WASHINGTON. ROBERTS, ALONG WITH DEMOCRATIC SENATORS MAX BAUCUS OF MONTANTA AND DANIEL AKAKA OF HAWAII, RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO CUBA. ROBERTS SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES TOLD CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO THEIR CONCERNS.

(ROBERTS) WE STRONGLY URGED PRESIDENT CASTRO TO BEGIN THE ECONOMIC REFORM THAT WILL ALLOW SOME INCREASED TRADE SO THAT THE CUBAN PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT.

(ELLISON) ROBERTS SAYS A MAJORITY IN CONGRESS SUPPORTS LIFTING SANCTIONS ON CUBA HOPING IT WILL BENEFIT AMERICAN BUSINESSES, INCLUDING AGRICULTURE.

(ROBERTS) WE THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AGRICULTURE TRADE. I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUS. MORE SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO RICE AND TO POWDERED MILK AND ALSO SOME GRAIN SUPPLIES.

(ELLISON) ROBERTS SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE CUBAN AND AMERICAN COOPERATION AT A NON-GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL AS WELL.

(ROBERTS) WE SUGGESTED THAT SOME COOPERATIVE FARMER EFFORTS MIGHT MAKE A GOOD START.

(ELLISON) A BILL IN CONGRESS WOULD LIFT UNILATERAL SANCTIONS ON CUBA, IRAN, LIBYA, SUDAN AND NORTH KOREA.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS ELEVEN SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(ROBERTS) WE WANT TO REMOVE SANCTIONS ON CUBA AND THERE IS GROWING SUPPORT FOR THAT IN THE CONGRESS. THERE ARE SEVENTY VOTES IN THE SENATE TO DO THAT IN REGARDS TO THE SANCTIONS ON FOOD AND MEDICINE.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS EIGHTEEN SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(ROBERTS) SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON IN THE CONGRESS. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, WHY, CUBA SIMPLY MUST REALLY START TO OPEN UP ITS MARKETS AND ENGAGE IN SOME REALISTIC FINANCING.

(ELLISON) FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.