CUBA . . . ACCORD WITH U.S. REACHED

Talks in New York City yielded a U.S.-Cuban agreement that President Clinton says could halt the refugee exodus. In return for serious efforts by Fidel Castro to discourage Cubans from taking to the sea, the U.S. would admit at least 20,000 Cubans a year, as allowed under existing U.S. legislation. About 6,000 Cubans on the waiting list for visas would also be given entry to the U.S. Cuba agreed to repatriate Cubans who have recently left and wish to return, and it pledged not to mistreat them. Meanwhile, Attorney General Janet Reno said Cubans in the Guantanamo Bay naval base don't have a leg up in getting to the U.S. For now, they'll have to remain there, return to Castro-controlled Cuba or stay in a third-country "safe haven."