> >By Steven Pearlstein >Washington Post Foreign Service >Friday, March 3, 2000; Page A24 > >MONTREAL, March 2—Cuban diplomat Jose Imperatori left Canada today after his >five- >day stay to protest his expulsion by the United States on spying charges. He >returned >home to Havana, where he received a hero's welcome led by President Fidel >Castro. > >After spending five days at the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa, Imperatori was driven >under >police escort to the city's international airport, where he was put on a plane >sent by the >Cuban government. Heavy snow fell as Cuba's ambassador and aides waved goodbye >to >Imperatori, whom the United States has accused of being a spy while serving as >vice >consul of the Cuban interest section in Washington. > >Reuters reported that Castro hugged Imperatori and chatted with him on the >runway in >Havana. Also present were Imperatori's wife and child; National Assembly >President >Ricardo Alarcon, who is Castro's point man on U.S. affairs; and the family of >6-year-old >shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez. > >In a statement, Cuba said it agreed to recall Imperatori, 46, after reaching a >"reasonable >and satisfactory settlement" to the diplomatic standoff, with "maximum >possibilities" to >return to the United States and testify on behalf of an Immigration and >Naturalization >Service official accused of passing secret U.S. government information to the >Cuban. > >The State Department insisted there had been no negotiations. It repeated a >statement >made earlier in the week that "we would be willing to consider" >allowing Imperatori and another diplomat implicated in the case to return to >Washington >to speak to law enforcement agencies "under specified conditions." > >Imperatori, who had been given a Feb. 29 deadline to leave the United States, >had demanded he be allowed to stay and clear his name. Instead, he was >expelled that night to Canada with the understanding that he would catch a >flight to Havana the next day. But he defied Canadian insistence that he leave >and took refuge in the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa. Cuban officials said he had >gone on a hunger strike. > >The final deal concerning Imperatori's departure was reached Wednesday >night, and Cuba said he ended his hunger strike at 1:40 a.m. > >© Copyright 2000 The Washington Post Company > >=========================================== > >I, Gary Hart > >Gary Hart served 12 years in the Senate, ran twice for president (the Donna >Rice scandal derailed his 1988 campaign), and today toils as a globe-trotting >international lawyer when not writing fiction. On Monday night he'll be at >Chapters bookstore downtown to read from his fourth novel, "I, Che >Guevara," about the imaginary return to Cuba of the dead revolutionary >guerrilla after Fidel Castro steps down. > >"Everybody should read it," the 63-year-old Coloradan told us yesterday from >London, where he has been on an extended business trip. "If I may say so, I >like the story a lot. It interests me. From what amateur fiction writing I've >done, >I've learned that if you can't interest yourself, you can't interest anyone >else." > >As with his previous Cuban novel, "Sins of the Fathers," Hart (born Gary >Hartpence) used the nom de plume John Blackthorn. The reason for the >pseudonym? Hart had been making frequent trips to Havana and dining >occasionally with Castro, carrying messages between the Cuban and U.S. >governments. "I wanted to keep the fiction separate and not give the impression >to the Cubans that I was using the trips to do research on the book." > >Hart has been following the presidential race from afar, especially the crusade >of his old pal, Arizona Sen. John McCain. "It reminds me in some respects of >the campaign I ran in '84--the outside challenger, the reformer." Still, Hart >said, >"I'm way Democratic," and wishes that his former Senate colleague, Bill >Bradley, were doing better. "I thought he had a very good chance last fall. >He's >a formidable character. But it all gets down to money at the end of the day, >and >you have to win primaries to keep money coming in." > >==============================================</color><FontFamily><param>Arial< >/param> > > >United Church says Elian Gonzalez must be returned to Cuba > > > = > > > TORONTO, March 1 /CNW/ - There is one six-year-old child who > > should not > >be spending March Break in Florida, says The United Church of Canada. > >In a letter sent this week to Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd > >Axworthy, the Unite= d Church's Division of World Outreach calls on > >the Canadian Government to use every diplomatic channel to urge the > >US government to immediately return El= ian Gonzalez to his home in > >Cuba. > > "It is outrageous that the needs of this boy should be supplanted > > by > >ideological anti-Cuba propaganda," says the Reverend Chris Ferguson, > >Genera= l Secretary of the United Church's Division of World > >Outreach. > > In taking this stand, the United Church is responding to church > > partner= > >s > >in Cuba and the United States, all of whom have said that the only > >acceptab= le solution to this case, for pastoral and humanitarian > >reasons, is for Elian = to go home. > > Ferguson says the church is very concerned that after three > > months in > >Florida, Elian Gonzalez is no closer to being reunited with his > >father in C= uba than when he was found by the US Coast Guard > >following a shipwreck in which his mother drowned. > > "Elian Gonzalez has become a political pawn of some Cuban > > American grou= > >ps > >in an attempt to use the child to discredit the Cuban government," > >says Ferguson. "It is unconscionable that this child be held any > >longer." > > "Our concern is that the child's relationship with his father > > must come > >first," says Ferguson. He says the pastoral, ethical and legal > >imperatives = in this case are clear. "Compassion and due process > >cannot be lost in a sea of ideological posturing and legal > >maneuvering." > > The United Church of Canada considers the case of Elian Gonzalez > >particularly worrying given the history of hostile US-Cuba relations > >and th= e four-decade economic blockade that continues unabated. In > >its letter to Minister Axworthy, the United Church affirms the > >Canadian tradition of constructive engagement with Cuba and calls on > >the Canadian Government to continue to provide a voice of reason with > >respect to Cuba. > > "As a voice of reason, Canada must reject attempts to portray > > Cuba as > >hell on earth, or even hell in the hemisphere." says the letter. "We > >encour= age the Canadian Government to continue to downplay the > >rhetoric, dispel the my= ths and advocate for the rule of law in the > >hemisphere." > > Ferguson adds that the church is also concerned that the lure of > > a > >consumer society would so easily be seen to take precedence over a > >child be= ing with his father in his home. "It is truly scandalous > >that a group of people with clearly political aims have been able to > >keep Elian Gonzalez in Florid= a based on the argument that his only > >chance for a decent life is in the Unit= ed States," comments > >Ferguson. > > He adds that it's critical as Canadians enjoy the Florida > > sunshine duri= > >ng > >March Break, that they also remember the tragedy of the little boy > >who's be= ing kept away from his father and his home in Cuba. > > The emotional and psychological harm to Elian Gonzalez is real, > > says > >Ferguson. And, he adds, "All the dazzle of Disney World can never > >compensat= e for the loss of one parent, much less both parents." > > > > >-30- > > >For further information: Mary-Frances Denis, Manager of Public > >Relations = > > >and Information, The United Church of Canada, (416) 231-7680 ext. > >4033 = > > >(business), (416) 766-0057 (residence) > > > >**************************************************************************** > ><color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>Statement at Congressional Hearing / >Conference in Miami > > ><bold></color><FontFamily><param>Times New Roman</param>Excerpts of Elisa Apel >Greenberg's statement for the Congressional >Hearing last Wednesday, March 1st, 2000.</bold> > >. . . The Cuban American Alliance Education Fund is an inclusive organization >dedicated to create an environment where the education in, and the discussion >of, >Cuban American issues can take place. Some of our members are involved in >humanitarian causes in Cuba, such as, our work with the physically disabled. >Others, such as myself, are involved in helping to create academic exchanges >between American and Cuban universities. One of our most important >endeavors is that of family reunification ... > >. . .Elian Gonzalez is neither a means to punish a political enemy, nor a >prize to be >handed to a political ally. Elian Gonzalez is a six year old child who >suffered the >horrible experience of losing his mother under unimaginable circumstances, and >now finds himself away from the only people he has known in his young life. > >. . . He has a father who according to all reports is a caring, involved >parent, >even while divorced from Elian's mother. Elian's father who, according to our >laws, is the person called upon to speak for this minor, has made clear his >desire >that his son be returned to him and be raised by him. This is fact, all else >is >conjecture. > >. . . That the country to which Elian is to be returned is Cuba should not >enter >into consideration. Should American children in similar circumstances not be >returned to the United States, because the government of those countries where >they now reside consider our system of government evil? That his father is a >member of the communist party and that the US relatives are able to give Elian >more material goods is also a non issue. It would be a sad day in this country >when parental acumen is measured by your socio-economic level and/or your >political affiliation. This would set an obviously dangerous precedent. This >is a >clear case involving parental rights and US immigration policies. Our laws are >clear on both issues. The sanctity of the family should always take >precedence. > >American citizenship for the foreign born is earned through hard honest work, >compliance of the laws of the land, and respect for such American values as the >sanctity of the family. It should not be used in order to circumvent laws we >wish >to avoid, however tempting the situation or humanitarian our intent. That your >decsion would make Fidel Castro happy or sad is totally immaterial. He is the >president of Cuba, not the president of the United States. However good, bad >or >indifferent a leader he may be should not be a deciding factor in this case >for the >US Congress. Our elected officials foremost considerations should be the best >interest of the people of the United States. I sincerely believe that it is >in the best >interet of the people of the United States that you abide by the expressed >wishes >of the Majority of US citizens, and honor this father's request as our laws so >indicate. To do otherwise would be a betrayal of our laws, of our >responsibility >as world leaders, and of our commitment to uphold our proclaimed values of the >sanctity of the family. > > > > ><bold>Help reunite Cuban child Elian González with his father, grandparents, >baby brother and great grandmother. </bold>Click at the link below and send a >message for family values to the President, Vice-President, Janet Reno, Mrs. >Clinton and Mrs. Gore in support for the quick return of Elian to his family in >Cuba. > >[EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED],Vice.President@whiteho >use.gov,[EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED] >****************************************************************** > ><FontFamily><param>Arial</param> Copyright 2000 InterPress Service, all rights >reserved. > > Worldwide distribution via the APC networks. > > > *** 01-Mar-0* *** > > >Title: POLITICS-CUBA: People, Not Castro, Victims of US Embargo > > >By Dalia Acosta > > >HAVANA, Mar 1 (IPS) - Cuban authorities brandish studies to prove > >in local > >court that the island nation's 11 million people are the primary > >victims of > >the United States-imposed blockade, which has left the Fidel > >Castro > >government relatively unscathed. > > >Evidence of the harm inflicted on the population and the economy > >made its > >appearance in the Provincial Court of Havana, Monday, as part of a > >case in > >which Cuba is suing the United States government for 121 billion > >dollars. > > >The first testimonies in the trial's oral arguments attempted to > >show that > >the nearly 40-year-old trade embargo has failed in its goal to > >bring down > >president Castro, but was effective in hurting the nation's living > >standards. > > >According to experts from the government-run import enterprise, > >Alimport, > >Washington's sanctions are responsible for shortages of milk, > >bread and > >other foodstuffs, especially since the early 1990s when the island > >lost its > >partners from the now-defunct socialist bloc. > > >As a result of the US-imposed embargo, Cuba must spend millions > >more dollars > >annually than most other countries to buy the same quantities of > >grains, > >powdered milk, chicken and soy products, according to Alimport. > > >The government firm spent some 15 to 18 dollars more per tonne of > >wheat last > >year -18 million dollars total - because it could not purchase the > >product > >from the United States, the world's leading grain exporter, > >affirmed Alberto > >Rios, Alimport's assistant trade director. > > >The official stated that Cuba imports a million tonnes of wheat > >each year, > >which is used for producing bread and for livestock forage. But > >because Cuba > >does not have access to its large neighbour's market, it is forced > >to pay > >higher prices for wheat coming from Argentina, Canada and Europe. > > >Other food products, such as powdered milk and frozen chicken, > >have a > >similar fate, and are sold under ration to the Cuban people. > > >Igor Montero, another Alimport official, pointed out that in order > >to buy > >milk and chicken, the island had to seek suppliers in Canada and > >in distant > >areas such as the Latin American Southern Cone and the European > >Union. > > >The price differential for these products coming from the United > >States > >versus other countries cost the Cuban government an extra 2.5 > >million > >dollars for powdered milk and 1.7 million for chicken last year, > >affirmed > >Montero. > > >Havana assures that the difficulties in finding markets where it > >can buy > >food worsened over the last decade as the United States > >implemented the > >Torricelli Act in 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act in 1996. > > >The Torricelli law banned branches of US-based companies located > >in other > >countries from conducting trade with Cuba, just when the island > >lost its > >major suppliers in the collapse of the socialist bloc, which had > >represented > >85 percent of Cuba's export market. > > >Then the Helms-Burton Act established sanctions against companies > >in other > >countries that acquired or utilised property in Cuba that had > >previously > >belonged to the United States, a measure that went into effect > >just months > >after the Castro government approved a law creating incentives for > >foreign > >investment. > > >The direct effect of these US laws was rising shipping costs, as > >any boat > >that has docked in a Cuban port may not enter the United States > >for six > >months. This threat to shipping companies cost Cuba a great deal > >of income, > >according to Alimport. > > >The blockade is another thorn in the context of the crisis that > >has affected > >the Cuban economy since 1990, worsening a situation that experts > >say has > >primarily hurt the population, creating a sharp decline in living > >conditions. > > >Studies indicated that at the worst points of the economic crisis, > >in 1992 > >and 1993, there was a notable deterioration in the Cuban > >population's > >nutritional levels, which led to health problems. > > ><color><param>0000,0000,FF00</param>>From 1989 to 1993, the calorie intake per >capita dropped from > ></color>2,845 kcals > >daily to 1,863, and protein intake fell from 76.5 grams to 46 per > >day. > > >Last year, nutrition levels recovered, reaching 2,363 kcals and > >59.4 grams > >of protein per capita per day, but even this is lower than the > >internationally recommended nutritional allowances. > > >In the early 1990s, Cuban authorities considerably reduced > >subsidised milk > >sales, limiting access to children under age seven and to > >individuals with > >special diets due to illness, such as diabetes mellitus. > > >Bread, which had been inexpensive, was strictly rationed. > >Agricultural and > >seafood products alike, meats and processed foods in general grew > >scarce and > >began to appear for sale on the underground market. > > >The situation began to improve with the legalisation of the dollar > >in 1993, > >public access to stores sell their products for dollars, and the > >opening in > >1994 of free-trade farmers markets. > > >But the food supply to be purchased with Cuban pesos continues to > >lag behind > >and broad sectors of the population lack the resources to ensure a > >balanced > >diet. > > >Montero stated that, in addition to having to pay more than any > >other > >country for certain foods, Cuba suffers because it does not have > >access to > >international loans normally available to most nations. > > >According to the embargo laws, the island may not use the US > >dollar in its > >trade transactions, nor is it authorised to maintain dollar > >accounts in > >foreign banks. > >*******************************************************<color><param>0100,0100, >0100</param> > >|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| >|||| ***Cuba Information Access *** >|||| The current events in La Republica de Cuba... >|||| Where else are you going to get it ? >|||| [EMAIL PROTECTED] >|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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