[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chilean Author Nixes Cuba Over Journalism Award [Full Text] SANTIAGO, Chile - Chilean author Carlos Franz is turning down a journalism award from Cuba to protest the crackdown on dissidents by the government of President Fidel Castro.

"I decided that I could not accept a journalism award purported to support freedom of expression because among 78 dissidents imprisoned in Cuba there are a number of authors and some 20 newsmen," Franz told the Chilean daily La Segunda Tuesday in an interview from his London residence.

He said "it was a hard decision" to turn down the Jose Marti Journalism Prize awarded by Cuba's government news agency, Prensa Latina. Franz said he has sent a letter to Cuba rejecting the prize, awarded for an ironic story describing a visit to the U.S. Naval Academy. [End]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Mission to Cuba seeks a door***Cuban officials asked for help lobbying to lift or further loosen the U.S. trade embargo, although they said that wasn't a condition of doing business, according to Williamson. The local group declined. "We don't do politics," Williamson said.

The port director said he was impressed by the Cubans' knowledge of Tampa and of the port's business.

They brought up cruises, saying that if the U.S. government lifted the ban on visits to Cuba, Tampa could have three- and four-day trips that cruise lines can't offer now from the port.

"They certainly know who we are," Williamson said.***