U.S. official backs Radio Marti boss

By CHARLES COTAYO
El Nuevo Herald

An official of the U.S. Information Agency, which oversees the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, took exception Friday to a letter from the President's Advisory Board for Cuba Broadcasting demanding the ouster of OCB director Herminio San Roman.

The letter, sent Sept. 21 to President Clinton, accused San Roman of engaging in ``obstructionist tactics'' to cover up what the board called ``a significant deterioration'' of Radio Marti's programming. The OCB controls Radio and TV Marti's operations.

``We do not agree with the petition for the dismissal of Herminio San Roman,'' said Marthena Cowart, director of the USIA's Office of Public Liaison. ``The administration believes that Radio and TV Marti are an important component in U.S. policy toward Cuba, and we have full confidence in the quality and integrity of its programming.''

Some criticism in the letter was based on a study made by Florida International University at the request of the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Office of the Inspector General.

According to the board, the study was ``highly critical of [Radio Marti's] level of journalistic professionalism and quality.''

That study ``will not be made public until it's sent to Congress,'' said Joseph O'Connell, chief spokesman for the International Broadcasting Bureau, the USIA department responsible for the OCB. ``There's no specific date for its review, but we suspect it will be soon.''

San Roman told The Herald on Thursday that he was satisfied with the OCB's performance, but declined to comment on the presidential board's criticism of his work.

``I believe that the success of OCB broadcasts is evidenced by the number of independent journalists in Cuba with whom we maintain contact daily, and by the different groups that call us to report the violation of human rights on the island,'' he said.