>Via NY Transfer News Collective - All the News that Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 30 May, 2000 22:00 > > >*CUBAN TV ROUNDTABLE UPDATE ON EVENTS PERTAINING TO ELIAN GONZALEZ >*IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL MARIANO FAGET FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING ESPIONAGE LAW >*ARKANSAS FARMERS, LEGISLATORS OPPOSE US BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA >*CUBAN HEALTH MINISTER VISITS MEDICAL TEAMS IN GUATEMALA >*CHINESE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND INFORMATION WRAPS UP VISIT TO CUBA >*3rd CHINESE FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN HAVANA >*AMERICAN ARAB FEDERATION DEMANDS END TO WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE OF CUBA >*CUBA'S CARIBE COMPANY OPENS NEW NAVIGATION ROUTES TO THE CARIBBEAN >*RENOWNED CUBAN SCULPTOR DIES >*VICE PRESIDENT OF VALONIA ARRIVES IN CUBA >*Viewpoint: CUBAN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DEMAND IMMEDIATE RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ > > >*CUBAN TV ROUNDTABLE UPDATE ON EVENTS PERTAINING TO ELIAN GONZALEZ > >Havana, May 30, (RHC) -- On Tuesday night's roundtable broadcast on Cuban >television, experts in the case of Elian Gonzalez spoke about the enormous >sums of money involved in the legal struggle to prevent the 6 year old from >returning to his home in Cuba. > >Some $1,400,000 has been spent on such things as logistics and protection >for the child as well as the court time and local police overtime. The money >could have been used to help so many needy children in not only poor >countries in the world but in the US itself where many children live in >abject poverty. > >Charles Currie, the President of the Washington-based Association of Jesuit >Colleges and Universities, expressed his support for the return of Elian to >his homeland. In a live interview with Cuban Television for the roundtable, >he commented that the child should return to Cuba with his father and that >the Jesuit community is waiting for an appelate court judgement in favor of >this position. > >The Cuban government today maintained its longstanding position of accepting >the Atlanta Court of Appeals decision concerning the Elian Gonzalez case. >While concurring with the American public, Attorney General Janet Reno, the >Immigration and Naturalization Service, and President Bill Clinton that the >child should be returned to his homeland with his father, Cuba will >nonetheless respect the court's legal judgement on the matter. > >In other news reported during the roundtable discussion was the creation of >a website by Gregory Craig, the attorney for the Cuban child's father Juan >Miguel Gonzalez. The site is designed to respond to the many thousands of >requests for updated information on the well-being of Elian. > >The roundtable discussions occur every weekday and offer information to the >Cuban public on developments relating to the case of Elian Gonzalez and >related issues. > > >*IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL MARIANO FAGET FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING ESPIONAGE LAW > >Havana, May 30, (RHC) -- Former U.S. Cuban-American immigration official >Mariano Faget today was found guilty of violating the country's Espionage >Law. Faget, considered the highest-ranking Hispanic in the Florida office >of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, was found guilty of four >counts. > >Following deliberations that began late last week, a jury found him guilty >reveling national defense secrets, using secret information for personal >gain, and two counts of issueing false declarations to authorities. His >arrest came on the heels of an FBI sting operation in which Faget was >falsely led to believe that a Cuban diplomat in Washington was about to >defect, and told that this information was secret. > >But the former immigration official immediately communicated the >information to a associate in New York, with whom he had hoped to begin >business operations in Cuba once Washington's blockade against the island >was lifted. The arrest led to the expulsion of Cuban diplomat Jose >Imperatori, despite his insistence that he was not involved in espionage and >was willing to remain in the United States without diplomatic immunity to >clear his name. > >Initially, authorities and media outlets gave the impression that Faget was >arrested for spying on behalf of the Cuban government, but 2 weeks after his >detention the FBI admitted that it had no proof of such allegations and had >not charged Faget with spying for a foreign government. At the time, Cuba >charged that the entire manouver was a smokescreen closely tied to the case >of the Cuban child, Elian Gonzalez, retained in the U.S. > >Faget's defense was unable to convince the jury that no evidence had been >presented prooving that their client had intended to harm the United States >or benefit Cuba. Though it was orignially reported that Faget faced up to >35 years in prison, it's now reported that he faces a maximum of 10 years. > > >*ARKANSAS FARMERS, LEGISLATORS OPPOSE US BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA > >Havana, May 30, (RHC) -- In Havana, a group of visiting agro producers and >legislators from the U.S. state of Arkansas has come out against >Washington's blockade of Cuba. At a press conference late Monday, following >their arrival in Havana Sunday evening, Democratic Senator Blanche Lincolon >and House Representative Marion Berry stated that an upcoming congressional >vote on eliminating restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba >would be a first step in totally lifting the blockade. > >The lawmakers are accompanied by the president of Arkansas' Farmers >Federation, David Hilman, who pointed out that his state is the US's leading >producer of rice. He noted that Cuba annually consumes 600 thousand tons of >rice, of which 50 percent is bought in the far-away, and therefore more >costly markets in Thailand and China. > >Members of the Farmers Federation of Texas, with 300 thousand affiliates, >recently visited Cuba along with legislators from that state. While here, >Federation president Donald Patman called Washington's blockade of Cuba a >"spectacular failure". The Arkansas delegation will wrap up its visit on >Wednesday. > > >*CUBAN HEALTH MINISTER VISITS MEDICAL TEAMS IN GUATEMALA > >Quiche, May 30 (RHC)-- Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres is currently in >Guatemala, visiting medical teams from the island that are offering their >services in the Central American nation. > >During a meeting on Monday with representatives of the nearly 500 Cuban >health specialists in Guatemala, Dotres conveyed fraternal greetings sent by >Cuban President Fidel Castro on behalf of the entire Cuban people. > >The top Cuban health official recalled the historic date -- November 21, >1998 -- when Fidel Castro suggested that Cuba contribute its vast human >resources to resolve the serious health problems in Central America, the >Caribbean and Africa. > >Since then, said the Cuban health minister, that idea is being progressively >implemented, thanks to the patriotism and selflessness of the Cuban health >professionals. > >There are Cuban doctors currently working in 12 nations, implementing a >health cooperation program conceived by Cuban authorities. The program is >designed to help Third World nations develop integral health care systems >aimed at improving living conditions. > >Cuban doctors and medical personnel are treating people in remote regions >where, in many cases, there had never been a doctor before. > > >*CHINESE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND INFORMATION WRAPS UP VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, May 30 (RHC)-- The Chinese Minister of Industry and Information, Wu >Jinchuan, has wrapped up a three-day official visit to Cuba, aimed at >strengthening bilateral ties with the island in areas such as informatics, >communications and radio broadcasting. > >During his stay, Wu Jinchuan met with high-ranking government officials >including his Cuban counterpart, Ignacio Gonzalez Planas, and Vice President >Carlos Lage, who pointed out that Cuba annually produces some 170,000 >television sets with Chinese collaboration. > >China's cooperation can also be seen in the development of the national >telephone system, as well as the production of household appliances in Cuba. > >The Chinese minister of industry and information also visited the recently >concluded International Fair Informatics '2000, the Digital Research >Institute and a TV assembly line. > > >*3rd CHINESE FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN HAVANA > >Havana, May 30 (RHC)-- The Third Festival of Chinese Abroad began Tuesday in >Havana's Chinatown -- the oldest in Latin America. The festival marks the >153rd year since the arrival of the first Chinese to Cuba. > >The festival began three years ago in an attempt to revitalize the city's >Chinatown, which is much smaller than many of those in other nations of the >region. This year's theme will be based on food -- the most well known >aspect of Chinese culture abroad. Renowned chefs from the People's Republic >of China will be attending the festival, giving demonstrations of their >culinary skills to the delegates attending a parallel conference. The >conference includes meetings between business people of Chinese-origin, >interested in joint ventures in the community. Delegates from Jamaica, >Canada, China, the United States and Mexico will attend. > >Due to the economic crisis of the island's Special Period, the Chinese >community in Cuba has shrunk and there is concern among its elders that it >may disappear altogether once the older generation has died off. Many young >people are fully integrated into Cuban culture and do not necessarily >identify with the culture of their parents and grandparents. It is said >that traditions are being lost and although Chinese language and culture >classes are offered to the young, it is a long process to put true Chinese >flavor back into what is called Havana's Barrio Chino. > >Funding for the festival has been provided by Chinese communities abroad. >Although the festival will only run through next Sunday, June 4th, Chinese >products will be on sale to the public at reduced prices throughout the >month. > > >*AMERICAN ARAB FEDERATION DEMANDS END TO WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE OF CUBA > >Damascus, May 30 (RHC)-- The American Arab Federation has demanded an end to >Washington's 40-year blockade of Cuba and reaffirmed their solidarity with >the Cuban people in their struggle for the return to the island of >six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. > >During a meeting of the federation, held over the weekend in Damascus, >Syria, representatives from Syria and Lebanon highlighted the achievements >of the Cuban Revolution, despite the U.S. economic war against the island. > >The meeting of the American Arab Federation was attended by representatives >of the more than 16 million Arabs and their descendants who live in North, >Central and South America. > > >*CUBA'S CARIBE COMPANY OPENS NEW NAVIGATION ROUTES TO THE CARIBBEAN > >Santiago de Cuba, May 30 (RHC)-- Cuba's Navigation Caribe has inaugurated >three new routes, linking the port of the eastern Cuban city of Santiago de >Cuba with those of neighboring Caribbean nations. > >The move means a step forward for this maritime navigation agency, since it >allows for the transportation of scrap iron from eastern Cienfuegos province >to ports in Jamaica, as well as containers from Santiago de Cuba to the port >of Kingston. > >The vessels that will cover these new inter-Caribbean routes were designed >according to the characteristics of the ports in this area. The company will >use self-propelled barges with a 500-ton capacity, which can carry >containers of up to 40 feet long. > >Hector Vazquez, an expert from the company's Commercial Office, pointed out >that Navigation Caribe maintains a route to ports in Haiti and also offers >tugboat services in the Atlantic Ocean. > > >*RENOWNED CUBAN SCULPTOR DIES > >Havana, May 30 (RHC)-- Renowned Cuban sculptor Rita Longa died of a heart >attack on Monday evening at the age of 87. With her death, the fine arts >movement in Cuba has lost one of its best representatives. > >The funeral service for this outstanding Cuban artist will be held tomorrow, >Wednesday, when she will be buried at Havana's Colon Cemetery. > >Rita Longa's vast work includes the sculptural complex called "The Family >Group," located at the entrance of the National Zoo, the clay reproduction >of a village of a Cuban indigenous Taino tribe in eastern Guama tourist >center and the ballerina that identifies the world famous Tropicana Cabaret. > >Rita Longa had received important recognition for her outstanding work. >Among the many awards was the 1995 Fine Arts National Award. > > >*VICE PRESIDENT OF VALONIA ARRIVES IN CUBA > >Havana, May 30 (RHC)-- The Vice President of the Belgian province of >Valonia, Serge Kubla, has arrived in Cuba, heading a large business >delegation. > >Kubla is also the province's economy minister in charge of small and >medium-sized enterprises, research, new technologies, tourism and foreign >trade. > >The visiting delegation has a tight agenda that includes visits to places of >interest and talks with Cuban government and business officials. > >The Belgian business community has increasingly expressed interest in >several Cuban economic sectors over the past few years. Just last February, >a business delegation from the Belgian biotechnology and pharmaceutical >industry visited Cuba. And in late March this year, Belgium's Foreign Trade >Minister Pierre Chevalier paid an official visit to Cuba, leading a large >business delegation from that European country. > > >*Viewpoint: >CUBAN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DEMAND IMMEDIATE RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ > >Demonstrations that have been taking place regularly throughout Cuba, >demanding the immediate return of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez -- illegally >held in the United States -- continue across the island with the massive >participation of the Cuban people. > >Over 100,000 enthusiastically took part in last Saturday's demonstration >held in Caibarien, located in the central part of the country. At the same >time, informational roundtable discussions continue being broadcast live >each day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., where the latest events related to the case >of Elian Gonzalez are analyzed. In addition, important issues of national >and international interest are also tackled by outstanding Cuban journalists >and experts in international law. > >These political activities point to the Cuban people's unity and willingness >to struggle which, far from weakening after more than four decades since the >triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1st, 1959, have gained in >strength and militancy. > >Over the past 41 years of their Revolution, the people have suffered from >all kinds of aggression carried out by Washington. The United States has >tried to destroy the island's social process -- which freed this Latin >American nation from the neo-colonial regime imposed by the U.S. during the >first half of the century. > >Subjected to the most brutal economic blockade in the history of humanity -- >designed to create an unsustainable political and economic situation in Cuba >-- the people of this nation have fought non-stop, with the conviction that >this struggle is the key to maintaining true and definite national >independence and sovereignty. > >Cuba's powerful enemies have failed in their efforts to eliminate the >example of the Revolution -- which continues to shine as a beacon, not only >for Third World nations, but also for those who suffer from social injustice >in developed countries of the world. > >It is not only a question of returning Elian Gonzalez to Cuba, but of >continuing to struggle against the aggressive and inhumane measures >maintained by Washington against this island and the tragic results of the >Cuban Adjustment Act. > > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. All rights reserved. > >================================================================= > NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems > Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us > 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 > http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >================================================================= > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Hot off the press- summer's here! >School's out and it's sizzling hot. Whether you're planning a >graduation party, a summer brunch, or simple birthday party, >shop GreatEntertaining.com before your next celebration. >http://click.egroups.com/1/4473/0/_/30563/_/959763795/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Cuba SI - Imperialism NO! >Information and discussion about Cuba. >Socialism or death! Patria o muerte! Venceremos! >http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi > >Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Change Delivery Options: http://www.egroups.com/mygroups > > > > __________________________________ 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] ___________________________________
