Latin America leads effort

 BY NANCY SAN MARTIN

  The United States will join the growing number of countries sponsoring a resolution against Cuba at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
  annual gathering in Geneva, officials announced Friday.

  The U.S. participation brings to 16 the number of countries joining the effort to censure Cuba, including nine from Latin America -- the first time such action
  on Cuba's human rights record has been spearheaded by the region.

  ''This is the first time Latin American countries have said that human rights issues in Cuba is a matter of concern,'' said James Carragher, coordinator of
  Cuban affairs for the U.S. Department of State. ``Some courageous Latin American countries and leaders have taken a principled stand on human
  rights.''

  This year's gathering in Geneva also represents the first time the United States has had to rely on other countries to present a resolution condemning
  Cuba. The U.S. lost its seat on the commission last year, being relegated instead to an observer status for the first time since the rights commission
  began to convene in 1947.

  The resolution, presented by Uruguay, recognizes Cuba's efforts in ''fulfilling the social rights of its people, despite an adverse international environment.''
  But it also exhorts the communist nation to promote fundamental liberties for its people and urges the government to let a U.N. human rights
  representative visit to help Cuban officials comply with the resolution. A vote is expected Friday.

  Cuba already has condemned the proposed resolution, saying it is the handiwork of the United States, and has rejected the suggestions of a visit from a
  human rights monitor.

  ''They're having vain illusions if they think that Cuba would let an inspector in the service of the United States government come here under these
  conditions,'' Foreign Minister Felip Pérez Roque told reporters earlier this week.

  In addition to the United States, other cosponsors include Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada,
  Sweden, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Australia.