In a 28 August 2000 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an air transportation specialist (Especialista en Transporte Aéreo) at the Instituto Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba in Havana stated that a painting contest did take place at some time in 1998 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Comisión Latinamericana de Aviación Civil. She was unable to confirm the exact month in which the contest took place, but stated that the theme of painting contest was aviation. The specialist added that the first three winners of the contest won a free trip to a Cubana Airlines destination. She was uncertain as to whether the winners could choose the destination. Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Instituto Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba, Havana. 29 August 2000. Telephone interview with an air transportation specialist.

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites, including:

Excélsior [Mexico]. Search Engine. 2000.

La Jornada [Mexico]. Search Engine. 2000

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