Cuba says US denied visa to UN AIDS delegate

UNITED NATIONS, June 2 (Reuters) Cuba complained today that the United States denied a visa to the head of its delegation to a UN AIDS conference, but a US spokesman said he applied too late.

Cuba's Public Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera did not receive a visa, while four other members of the Cuban delegation were allowed into the United States to attend the conference.

The three-day conference, due to end on Friday, was convened to plot global strategy for battling AIDS.

''Once again, the United States is in blatant violation of its obligations under the Host Country Agreement,'' the Cuban mission to the United Nations said in a statement.

A spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations said Balaguer applied for his visa two working days before the start of the conference.

''His application was never denied. It is still being processed,'' Richard Grenell said. The four others received visas because they applied in due time, he said.

The United States, as host country for the United Nations, is obliged to give visas to foreign officials for official U.N.

business.

But diplomatic disputes occasionally occur between Washington and Havana over official Cuban activities inside US territory.

The United States broke diplomatic ties with Communist-ruled Cuba in 1961 and later imposed economic sanctions.

Reuters PDS VP0132