From Herald Wire Services

  MEXICO CITY - In a bold public statement, Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas said Wednesday that his country's elections next Sunday for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies are unconstitutional and illegitimate.

  ''In Cuba, candidates are put forth by organizations controlled by the government,'' Payá said. ``In Cuba there is an environment of disrespect for [civil] rights. This is neither constitutional nor legitimate.''

  PEOPLE'S RIGHT

  Payá said that he respected people's right to go to the polls, but 'I don't say `to vote' because there is no vote.''

  His remarks followed a similar statement issued Wednesday in Havana by his own Varela Project Committee, which announced its members would boycott the elections and urged Cubans to do likewise. The Varela Project is an independent referendum initiative that calls for social, economic and political reform on the communist island.

  As evidence that Cuban voters are not given a real choice, the Varela committee pointed out that 609 candidates have been named by the government's ruling party to occupy 609 seats in the National Assembly. It is ''an imposition, not an election,'' the statement said.

  THIRD TIME

  The election will be the third time since the 1992 electoral reform that Cubans vote to ratify the candidates to the National Assembly, the top legislative body since 1975. Delegates to the provincial assemblies will also be voted in.

  Tuesday night, Payá met with President Vicente Fox of Mexico to discuss democracy, freedom of expression and business ties with the Caribbean nation.

  The discussion lasted about 30 minutes at the presidential residence, Los Pinos, a presidential official said Wednesday.

  ''It was a cordial meeting. They talked about issues of democracy and human rights in Cuba,'' said the official, who asked not to be identified.

  Payá said he had received invitations to visit other nations but declined to give details. If he decides not to accept those invitations, he will return to Cuba on Friday, he said.