10-30-05,7:44am

Havana, October 27 (AIN).- Cuban President Fidel Castro said that Cuba will accept the visit by US experts in order to dialog on their assessment of the damage inflicted by hurricane Wilma.

During a TV appearance on Thursday, the Cuban President explained that the island's Foreign Ministry sent the US Interests Section in Havana a note explaining that Cuba had not requested international assistance.

However, we share the viewpoint that the United States as well as other countries of the region should help each other in disaster situations, said Fidel Castro.

Cuba does not oppose the visit by three US experts in order to learn of their criteria and discuss the issues related to the storm, said the Cuban president as he read a diplomatic note issued by the island's Foreign Ministry.

Earlier in the day, the US State Department had stated that Cuba had accepted US assistance following the recent passage of hurricane Wilma, which caused coastal flooding and inflicted damage mainly in western Cuba.

On October 25th, Washington proposed sending a three-expert team to Havana.

We have been informed that the Cuban government accepted our offer, said State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack.