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June 2, 1999
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HAVANA (CNN) -- As Cuba's new foreign minister made his first appearance before the media, Cuba announced a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against the United States, seeking damages for what it called a 40-year "dirty war" against Havana.

The Cuban Communist newspaper Granma published the lawsuit on Tuesday, saying that Cuba was seeking $181.1 billion from the U.S. government.

The massive claim, filed on behalf of 3,478 Cubans said to have been killed and 2,099 injured by U.S. "aggression," included those who died during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, which was organized and financed by Washington.

The lawsuit states that the Cuban people were harmed by a forced over-spending on military defenses to cope with the constant threat from their northern neighbor. And it details a history of "terrorism" allegedly supported by the United States, from the 1976 blowing up of a Cuban plane, killing all 73 on board, to the 1997 bombing campaign at Havana hotels that killed an Italian tourist.

The United States has long denied any involvement in the hotel explosions and the airliner bombing over the Caribbean, for which a Cuban exile was convicted by a Venezuelan court.

Response to U.S. court actions?

The lawsuit comes on the heels of two U.S. court actions: a Miami ruling that families of three pilots shot down by a Cuban plane in 1996 are entitled to compensation and a judgment in New York allowing the liquor firm Bacardi to use Cuba's famous rum label, Havana Club.

New Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, in his first appearance since taking office last week, said Tuesday the compensation claim had no special significance, although a certain "climate" had been created by the recent U.S. rulings.

"It's not our style to do nothing when we are attacked," Perez told reporters. "So these court cases undoubtedly stimulate us to take an action that was already in the works for some time."

If Havana's Popular Provincial Tribunal agrees to press the claim and, as expected, the United States refuses to pay, "we will pursue it over and over, and will deafen them in search of justice," he added.

Perez was named foreign minister in a surprise move by Cuban President Fidel Castro on Friday. He replaced Roberto Robaina, who was largely seen as a reformer during his six years guiding Cuba's diplomatic relations with the rest of the world.

Perez told reporters he did not anticipate any major changes in Cuba's foreign policy, which has become increasingly important in the years since the collapse of the nation's former Soviet allies at the beginning of this decade.

Foreign minister lashes out at NATO

The Cuban lawsuit cites the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion among its allegations of U.S. 'aggression'

Perez made numerous references to "companero Fidel" during his news conference. He indicated that part of his policy as minister would be to express more of a moral voice in world affairs, especially in violent events such as the NATO attacks on Yugoslavia.

The first 40 minutes of the news conference were dedicated to a lengthy chronology of the Kosovo conflict. Perez called for NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana to be judged for war crimes before an international tribunal.

"Stop the bombing! Stop the genocide! Stop the war! Look at all cost for a political solution! Impose peace!" concluded his statement.

Perez said he plans to work together with others in the foreign ministry, the Communist Party, Cuba's parliament and other parts of the government to continue policies aimed at strengthening the island nation's ties with other countries, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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