Some 30 Haitian refugees are currently staying in Punta de Maisi, Cuba's easternmost area, a source of the Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry stated Tuesday.

"I can confirm the presence of 30 Haitian emigrants in Punta deMaisi," an unidentified spokesman of the foreign ministry said.

He said the Cuban government would act, like in the past, "withthe utmost respect for the dignity" of Haitians and in cooperationwith the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The source also indicated that Cuba did not foresee the coming of a massive flow of refugees due to the crisis in Haiti.

Havana did not pledge to continue to host the displaced Haitians despite a request by the UNHCR, who sent an envoy to the camp to investigate if the Haitians were qualified for refugees orif they were economic emigrants.

Punta de Maisi was already used in 1991 to shelter almost 1 million Haitian refugees who fled their country after the deposition of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

During the political crisis that shook Haiti in the early 1990s Havana did not repatriate the people who found refuge in Cuba until they voluntarily decided to return.