PASADENA--City Councilman William Paparian arrived in
                      Cuba on Thursday with more than $150,000 in medical
                      supplies collected by a Los Angeles relief organization for
                      hospitals.
                      Paparian's frequent visits to Cuba began two years ago while he was
                      mayor and have ignited controversy among local conservatives.
                      The former mayor said he is participating in a humanitarian mission to
                      save the lives of Cuba's children. Paparian, who has advocated that
                      Congress lift the three-decade-old Cuban embargo, delivered another
                      package of supplies earlier this year.
                      Today Paparian was scheduled to be a guest lecturer at the Center
                      for U.S. Studies at the University of Havana.

                      Copyright 1998 Los Angeles Times.