Newsline for July 28, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: CONGRESS IS CLOSER THAN EVER TO LIFTING FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS ON CUBA. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM SENATOR BYRON DORGAN, REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE NETHERCUTT AND AMERICAN FARM BUREAU GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST AUDRAE ERICKSON. AUDRAE IS SPELLED A-U-D-R-A-E.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, NETHERCUTT SAYS LIFTING FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS ON CUBA, IRAN, SUDAN, LIBYA AND NORTH KOREA WOULD BE LUCRATIVE FOR AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. DORGAN SAYS, IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, HE IS OPPOSED TO SANCTIONS ON FOOD AND MEDICINE.

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

(ELLISON) THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE EACH PASSED MEASURES THAT WOULD LIFT FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS ON FIVE NATIONS, INCLUDING CUBA. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU'S AUDRAE ERICKSON SAYS LIFTING THE EMBARGO ON CUBA IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.

(ERICKSON) CUBA BUYS ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TODAY AND IT'S REALLY ACROSS THE BOARD IN TERMS OF GRAINS, OILSEEDS BUT ALSO MEATS AND FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

(ELLISON) REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE NETHERCUTT OF WASHINGTON HAS WORKED HARD TO GET RID OF FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS. HE SAYS IN ADDITION TO HELPING AMERICAN FARMERS, IT HELPS TO REFORM TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENTS.

(NETHERCUTT) WE HASTEN THE DEMISE OF FIDEL CASTRO, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WE CHANGED THE GOVERNMENT OF NORTH KOREA AND WE CHANGED THE OPPOSITION IN THESE OTHER COUNTRIES. THE POTENTIAL IS HIGHER IF WE CHANGE THIS POLICY ON FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS.

(ELLISON) DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BYRON DORGAN OF NORTH DAKOTA HAS ALSO WORKED TO GET SANCTIONS LIFTED, SAYING THEY ARE IMMORAL.

(DORGAN) THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT. I DON'T SUPPORT THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT. IT'S ABOUT THE ABSURDITY OF A PUBLIC POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY THAT PUNISHES POOR PEOPLE OVERSEAS, NUMBER ONE, AND PUNISHES OUR FARMERS HERE AT HOME.

(ELLISON) HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS WILL MEET IN SEPTEMBER TO WORK OUT DIFFERENCES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SANCTIONS MEASURES.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

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

(NETHERCUTT) THIS IS A SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR MARKET THAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR FARMERS IF WE LIFT THIS SANCTIONS POLICY AND CHANGE IT.

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

(DORGAN) THERE'S NOTHING WRONG AT ALL WITH DECIDING TO IMPOSE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON COUNTRIES WHOSE BEHAVIOR OUGHT TO BE PUNISHED, BUT THOSE SANCTIONS SHOULD NOT INCLUDE FOOD AND MEDICINE.

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