>X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Cuba press releases 44 46 47 > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Cuba press release 44, 46 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2000 > >CARACAS.- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he feels honored by >his friendship with Cuban President Fidel Castro and the Cuban >people. Chavez spoke to thousands of people who filled the main >square of Caracas, at a meeting for the registration of his >candidature for reelection in May's voting process. The President >referred to current attacks made by opposing political sectors on >Cuba, due to the relations between both governments and countries. We >are revolutionaries, and we are not ashamed to say we are friends of >Fidel Castro and Cuba, a brother country that I respect, he added. > >HAVANA.- Those who have retained Cuban child Elian Gonzalez in the >U.S. since the end of November, have hindered the minor's >conversations with his father by using cruel and cynical methods. >Granma daily offered a summary of the attempts by Elian's father to >speak to his son by telephone, and the Miami based distant relatives' >ways to prevent contact. The paper details what has happened in the >last 22 days, after information was systematically sent by Juan >Miguel Gonzalez, Elian's father and his relatives in Cuba to the >Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry, which has advised the U.S. >State Department. In spite of the fact that on March 8, the U.S. >authorities told Gonzalez he could call his son every day at 19:00 >local Miami time, with no time limits, communication has been >repeatedly interrupted, says Granma. > >HAVANA.- Cuba denies the possibility of a massive exodus to the U.S. >in spite of the non-fulfillment of migration agreements signed in the >90s with this country. "Nobody has any evidence that Cuba has taken >any steps in this direction", stated a Granma daily editorial >entitled "La reiteracion sistematica de un gran crimen, promovido por >la politica imperial contra Cuba" (The Sytematic Reiteration of a >Huge Crime, Encouraged by the Imperialist Policy on Cuba) in a clear >allusion to an alleged opening up of frontiers. The text condemns the >application of the Cuban Adjustment Act, passed in 1996 that favors >Cuban illegal immigrants, and which is contrary to all agreements >signed in 1994 and 1995 to prevent illegal departures from Cuba. >Granma condemns the wrong interpretation made by the foreign press >and U.S. authorities in their editorial entitled "La perfida politica >migratoria de Estados Unidos con la Ley de Ajuste Cubano" (The >Perfidious U.S. Migration Policy with the Cuban Adjustment Act), >published 48 hours ago, which warns of the dangers that could happen >at sea. > >HARARE.- A top level Cuban delegation headed by Cuban Foreign >Affairs Minister Felipe Perez Roque yesterday arrived in Harare to >carry out an official visit to Zimbabwe, in the third stopover of a >tour of Africa. The Cuban delegation's visit aims to revise bilateral >relations and promote trade links, as well as scientific, technical >and economic collaboration between Harare and Havana. According to >the first day's work agenda, the Cuban visitors will meet President >Robert Mugabe, after being received by Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs >Minister Stan Mudengue at the International Airport. When the visit >ends, Perez Roque will travel on to Namibia, South Africa and >Nigeria. > >ANDORRA LA VELLA.- Cuban Ambassador to Andorra, Isabel Allende, >yesterday presented the official letter which accredits her as Cuba's >main representative in the south west European principality to Bishop >D'Urgell, Joan Marti Alanis. Allende, who is also responsible for the >Cuban diplomatic mission to Spain, was received by Marti Alanis, >after a ceremony held at the Episcopal Palace in Andorra. During the >meeting, Andorra's co-Prince sent greetings to Cuban President Fidel >Castro through the Cuban Ambassador. He expressed his interest in the >future of bilateral relations in different sectors. > >HAVANA.- The Cattle Raising Trade Fair will encourage Cuban >agricultural development and allow the possibility for Cuban business >people, farmers and cattle raisers to increase business with other >countries. Agriculture Vice Minister Omelio Borroto Leal explained >that this event is above all an opportunity to increase Cuban >producers, experts and scientists capacity levels. In the event, said >the official, agreements in medicine, technology and pig and poultry >raising will be signed. This is a step forward in the future >development of national agriculture. The sixth edition of the fair >is being attended by 53 companies from 16 countries, including 71 >Cuban enterprises. The event ends tomorrow. > >LUANDA.- Cooperation between Cuba and Angola will be encouraged at >the end of this month with an intergovernment Joint Commision to be >held in Havana between both countries. Before traveling to Havana, >head of the national delegation Education and Culture Minister >Antonio Burity da Silva said that "new methodologies will be >discussed and new work areas found" during the 10th session. After >noting that a cooperation protocol was recently signed in Luanda, he >said that a trade agreement is also expected to be signed. "This >trade agreement could be the starting point for participating >sectors" in bilateral cooperation, and observed that ties in >education and culture are expected to be extended. >DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX " JC > > **************** >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cube press release 46 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2000 > >HANOVER, GERMANY.- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage arrived in >Hanover yesterday to attend the city's famous Industrial Fair 2000, >initiating an official 3 day visit to Germany. Lage was invited to >the event by Federal Minister of Economy, Werner Muller, and Minister >of Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczorek. The Cuban Vice >President's official visit to Germany also includes a full agenda in >Berlin, meeting German Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Fischer, top >Parliamentary authorities, plus German Industries Federation business >people and executives. After participating in the industrial fair, he >later held talks with the European Commission President, Italian >Romano Prodi who attended the ceremony, as well as top Italian >figures. > >WINDHOEK.- Namibian President Sam Nujoma confirmed his attendance at >the South Summit, taking place in Havana on April 10-14, to Cuban >Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Perez Roque, and criticized the U.S. >for their constant hostility against Cuba. Perez Roque delivered a >letter from Cuban President Fidel Castro to Nujoma, and gave him >current information on the Group-77 meeting arrangements. They later >exchanged impressions on diverse themes. "I will be in Havana", said >Nujoma, adding that he considers the summit will be an excellent >opportunity to present his own contribution, from the Namibian point >of view, to the South-South cooperation, for example Cuban >collaboration with his country. During talks with 55 >Namibian businessmen, Perez Roque emphasized the political importance >for his country in collaborating with African countries' development, >over and above whatever economic benefits. > >WINDHOEK.- Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Perez Roque and >Namibian Foreign Affairs Minister Theo Ben Gurirab held official >talks and signed an agreement to create a diplomatic consultation >mechanism between both ministries. The document's signing was made >during Perez Roque's visit to Windhoek, at the invitation of the >Namibian authorities, part of an African countries tour which began >on March 13. Up till now, Perez Roque has visited Angola, Zambia, and >Zimbabwe; at the conclusion of his visit to Namibia, he will travel >on to South Africa and Nigeria. The Cuban delegation arrived >on Saturday night; shortly after they met collaborators and Cuban >diplomatic officials. > >HAVANA.- Cuban International Law Society Vice President Olga Miranda >Bravo denounced U.S. plans which encouraged illegal departure from >Cuba, carried out before the Cuban Adjustment Act was passed. During >an interview with the Tribuna de la Habana weekly, the expert states >that Cuban emigration is not the largest, but the U.S. government >exaggerates the theme in order to give an image of successive mass >exoduses. The most immediate antecedent was in February 1962, when >President John F. Kennedy approved the Cuban Refugee Program, which >coincided with the beginning of the blockade on Cuba. Miranda said >that on November 2, 1966, the Cuban Adjustment Act was passed, with >its original regulations establishing that a person had to remain in >U.S. territory at least for two years before receiving residency. >This period was later reduced to one year. > >HAVANA.- Delegates from 30 nations will participate in the South >Business people Forum taking place in Havana on March 21- 23. The >meeting was convoked by the Group-77 Chamber of Commerce >Organization. The main topic will be challenges for business people >from southern countries, said President of the Cuban Chamber of >Commerce (CCC) Hector Perez Paez. In the forum, participants will >also reflect on business competition, financing of small and middle >sized companies, and access to markets. The event is the last one of >three prior to the South Summit, and will enable delegates from under >developed countries to find common points in order to >decrease weakness and become stronger when confronting the challenges >of globalization, emphasized the CCC >President. DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX" JC > > *********** >frorm: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cuba press release NO. 47 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Cuban child Elian Gonzalez' retention in Miami is part of >the dirty war carried out from the U.S. against Cuba, and constitutes >a crime against humanity, reads the weekly Trabajadores. In an >editorial entitled "Crueldad sin limite" (Unlimited Cruelty), the >paper denounces the essence of the six year old boy's retention since >November 25. This is taking place on the aberrant pretext that Elian >will find an abundance of material goods that "those who defend the >U.S. way of life are proud of", states the daily. > >HAVANA.- Cuba will call for support in the fight for Elian Gonzalez' >return and an end to the U.S. blockade on Cuba during the 14th World >Union Federation (WUF) Congress. Union of Cuban Workers (CTC) General >Secretary Pedro Ross Leal will head the Cuban delegation at the New >Delhi, India meeting, on March 23-28. The event includes a solidarity >with Cuba union conference - an opportunity for him to denounce the >application of anti Cuban legislation on the part of the U.S., and >demand the return of the Guantanamo naval base, he said. Ross Leal >said the forum will revitalize the WUF and strengthen the >organization which the union movement needs to defend workers' >interests throughout the world. > >WINDHOEK.- Cuba and Namibia began official talks in Windhoek >between their respective Foreign Affairs Ministries, prior to the >signing of an agreement to create a mechanism of systemic bilateral >consultations. Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Perez Roque and >Namibian Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Tuliameni Kalomoh revised >the state of bilateral links and ratified a reciprocal commitment to >encourage exchange in all possible sectors. > >HAVANA.- The Cuban State Council created a national commission to >organize celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of the birth of >National Hero Jose Marti, according to official information. The >commission is chaired by Armando Hart Davalos, Jose Marti Program >Office Director, who will initiate a comprehensive program for >remembering and paying homage to this important Cuban figure. Jose >Marti 150th anniversary takes place on January 28, 2003. That year >coincides with important anniversaries of events in Cuban history. > >HAVANA.- Belize's ambassador in Cuba, Amalia Mai praised the material >and organizational conditions created for the Group 77 (G-77) >presidential summit scheduled for April 10-14 in Havana. Mai >highlighted Cuban experiences in similar meetings and remembered the >organization of the 9th Ibero American Summit of Heads of State and >Government held last November. When confirming the attendance of >Belize Prime Minister Said Musa at the event, she stated that this >first meeting is of special interest due to the themes to be >discussed. > >HAVANA.- Cuba called for an immediate solution to the suffering of >the Iraqi people, victims of sanctions that are part of U.N. Security >Council policy, said Cuban Foreign Affairs ministry spokesman >Alejandro Gonzalez. He agreed on the total rejection of restrictive >measures used to pressurize peoples and governments. Gonzalez added >that the recent statements by Hans von Sponeck, U.N. Humanitary >Programme in Iraq coordinator, and Jutta Burghart, World Food >Programme head in Baghdad, express their disagreement with >this policy. > >HAVANA.- Cuban University Students Federation (FEU) president Hassan >Perez considered that the training in humanism of higher education >students is very important for maintaining their awareness of social >problems. In an interview with the daily Juventud Rebelde, Perez >spoke on one of the themes to be discussed by the 700 delegates to >the 6th FEU Congress, to be held from tomorrow to next Sunday, March >26. The FEU president said that the students union places special >importance on the study of history, not only for pleasure, but as a >tool to help explain who we are, where we come from and where we are >going. > >HAVANA.- Reduction in production costs per ton of sugar, compared to >the previous sugar cane harvest, is the best evidence of economic >efficiency achieved in the current season, according to figures >revealed in Havana. Six provinces: Pinar del Rio, Granma, Holguin, >Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba and Villa Clara, spend less than >330 pesos (equivalent to the same amount in US dollars at official >exchange rate) to produce one metric ton (MT) of sugar. More evidence >of this efficiency was the announcement made in the last few days >that the provinces of Villa Clara, in the center of the country, and >Holguin, in the east, have already produced 300,000 MT. Other regions >such as Camaguey, Cienfuegos, Ciego de Avila, Granma, Matanzas, >Las Tunas and Santiago de Cuba, have produced 200,000 MT of sugar. >DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX " JC > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
