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subject: Radio Havana Feb 15. Relations Havana-Mexico Much better
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 15 February 2001
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*CUBAN MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO PARTICIPATES IN CARICOM CONFERENCE
*SANTO DOMINIGO WANTS TO INCREASE TIES WITH CUBA
*MEXICO EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES OVER DEATH OF CUBAN DIPLOMAT
*MEXICO: FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION CONTINUE, DESPITE IDEOLOGICAL
DIFFERENCES
*FORMER CHIEF OF THE US SOUTHERN COMMAND VISITS CUBA
*SEMINAR ON ITALIAN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY KICKS OFF IN
HAVANA
*PEREZ ROQUE TO VISIT CHINA AND ASIA AT THE END OF THE MONTH
*NUMBER OF VICTIMS ON THE RISE IN EL SALVADOR'S EARTHQUAKE
*TENSIONS IN U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS AFTER SUB SINKS FISHING BOAT
*BRAZIL'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRICE-GOUGING DRUG COMPANIES
*Viewpoint: RELATIONS BETWEEN HAVANA AND MEXICO BETTER THAN EVER
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*CUBAN MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO PARTICIPATES IN CARICOM CONFERENCE
Bridgetown, February 15 (RHC)-Cuba's Minister without Portfolio,
Ricardo Cabrisas, is heading a delegation to the 12th Conference of
CARICOM leaders which was opened on Thursday by the Prime Minister of
Barbados, Owen Arthur.
The setting-up of the Caribbean Court of Justice, which was
formalized during the inaugural session, is seen as historic and an
expression of CARICOM independence and sovereignty.
The regional leaders will discuss an agreement between Cuba and
CARICOM on the Promotion and Protection of Investments and another on
the Rights of Intellectual Property.
At the conclusion of the inaugural session, the Caribbean Community
Award was given to three renowned personalities of the Caribbean.
*SANTO DOMINIGO WANTS TO INCREASE TIES WITH CUBA
Havana, February 15 (RHC)-The Rector of the University of Santo
Domingo and Vice President of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, Jose
Rafael Adinader said in Havana Thursday that his country wishes to
sign health and education agreements with Cuba.
The Dominican political and university leader, who is currently
visiting the island at the invitation of the Education Ministry, said
that he also wants to sign agreements in the alternative energy and
electronic sectors.
He is scheduled to meet with officials from Cuba's Public Health
Ministry to analyze the possibility of jointly creating a College of
Medicine at the University of Santo Domingo.
During his stay in Cuba, the Dominican official will also meet with
the President of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, as well as
other government officials.
*MEXICO EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES OVER DEATH OF CUBAN DIPLOMAT
Havana, February 15 (RHC)-The Mexican government expressed its
condolences over the death of Cuban diplomat Boris Valdez Lopez who
was killed on Thursday after two Mexicans attempted to steal his car
in Mexico City.
The Mexican ambassador in Havana, Ricardo Pascoe, said that in the
name of his government he regretted the death of the Cuban diplomat
and reassured Havana that his government will investigate the tragic
incident.
The Cuban diplomat received immediate medical assistance in the
Spanish Sanatorium Hospital in the Mexican capital, but died shortly
afterwards.
*MEXICO: FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION CONTINUE, DESPITE IDEOLOGICAL
DIFFERENCES
Havana, February 155 (RHC)-Mexico will maintain its friendship
and cooperation ties with Cuba, despite ideological and political
differences, said the President of Mexico's Chamber of Deputies,
Ricardo Garcia.
Garcia, who is heading a delegation of Mexican Parliamentarians to
the Cuba, condemned Washington's blockade 40-year blockade against
the island.
In statements to the press, the Mexican official pointed out
that parliamentarians' visit is aimed at reactivating relations
between the Cuban and Mexican governments. Both parliaments, said the
President of the Chamber of Deputies, are working to construct a
future relationship that will benefit the peoples of both countries.
He also said that the upcoming visit of Mexican President, Vicente
Fox, to Cuba will strengthen political and commercial ties between
both countries.
*FORMER CHIEF OF THE US SOUTHERN COMMAND VISITS CUBA
Havana, February 15 (RHC)-The former chief of the U.S. Southern
Command, Charles Wilhelm, is currently visiting Cuba sponsored by the
Defense Information Center.
According to reports, the four-star retired general is on a personal
visit to the island.
The Washington D.C. based Defense Information Center has officially
opposed Washington's economic blockade against Cuba.
According to the Director of the Defense Information Center, Dan
Smith, Cuba is not a threat to the U.S. or anyone else.
*SEMINAR ON ITALIAN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY KICKS OFF
IN HAVANA
Havana, February 15 (RHC)-A seminar on Italian agricultural machinery
and equipment started, Wednesday, in Havana sponsored by Italy's
Foreign Trade Institute and other groups related to the sector.
Italian business executives from the northern region of Piedmont
or Piamonte, participated in the event to obtain information on
possible investment and cooperation on the island.
The Director of the Chamber of Commerce from the province of
Cuneo, Giancinto Chiri said that the group is visiting Cuba to get a
firsthand look at the island's realities with its extraordinary
geographic and human potential which could serve as the basis of a
Regional Reference Center.
*PEREZ ROQUE TO VISIT CHINA AND ASIA AT THE END OF THE MONTH
Havana, February 15 (RHC)-Cuba's Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez
Roque, is scheduled for an Asian tour which will include Vietnam and
China.
The Cuban Foreign Minister will visit Vietnam at the invitation of
his counterpart Nguyen Dy Niem to examine the status of bilateral
relations.
During his visit to China, the Cuban official will be welcomed by
China's foreign minister and is scheduled to visit places of
interest.
This is Felipe Perez Roque's first visit to China since he became
Foreign Minister.
*NUMBER OF VICTIMS ON THE RISE IN EL SALVADOR'S EARTHQUAKE
The death toll in El Salvador's most recent earthquake has risen to
276, with more than 2,700 wounded and some 123,000 people left
homeless. These figures could continue to rise, however, since there
are communities that are still inaccessible by land. During the last
two days there have been more than 300 aftershocks.
As Salvadoran health and civil defense authorities make urgent pleas
for blood and food, meanwhile, diverse sectors of Salvadoran society
are warning of the social and economic earthquake hovering on the
country's horizon. The head of the Economy Department at El
Salvador's Central American University, Javier Ibizate, said the
country's economy has been thrown back 20 years, with one in five
Salvadorans homeless and an already high poverty rate that will grow
considerably.
According to the Housing Ministry, El Salvador is capable of building
38,000 homes a year, but Ibizate pointed out that in optimum
conditions this means it would take fully eight years to provide
shelter for all the homeless. And he pointed to the government's
temporary solution, consisting of providing sheet metal and lumber
until the victims can acquire loans and credits.
The academic pointed out that most of the victims don't have
sufficient incomes for loans and credits, and that therefore the
temporary solutions could well become permanent. And, he added, this
situation is going to lead to a massive migration towards the big
cities which will increase the already high levels of unemployment,
marginzalization and crime.
*TENSIONS IN U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS AFTER SUB SINKS FISHING BOAT
Havana, February 15th (RHC)--Japan has officially protested
Washington's initial silence concerning the presence of civilians in
a U.S. nuclear submarine that crashed into and sunk a Japanese
training vessel. In a telephone conversation with Secretary of State
Colin Powell, Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said that if it's
confirmed that the presence of civilians at the submarine's command
controls caused the accident, thesituation would be extremely
serious.
The submarine sunk the training vessel last Friday during a
surfacing maneuver, leaving 9 of the 35-member crew disappeared --
including four 17 year old students. Thus far Washington is saying
that the civilians were under strict supervision, but that an
investigation must be completed.
The commander of the submarine, Captain Scott Waddle, has been
temporarily suspended from duty. Numerous observers are commenting
that the incident comes amid several disputes between Washington and
Tokyo related to the presence of U.S. troops in Okinawa. Foreign
Minister Kono called on Powell to turn over to Japanese authorities
an American soldier suspected of causing two fires in Okinawa in mid-
January.
Powell said the case was in the hands of the commander of U.S.
military forces on the Japanese island, Earl Hailston. Hailston,
himself, was at the center of another recent incident when it was
revealed that he sent an e-mail message calling Okinawa authorities
loonies and nincompoops.
The insult came amid the protest of Okinawa authorities when another
U.S. soldier lifted the skirt of a young Japanese girl to take a
picture of her underwear. One municipality in Okinawa today
unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the withdrawal of U.S.
troops from the island.
*BRAZIL'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRICE-GOUGING DRUG COMPANIES
Havana, February 15th (RHC)--The government of Brazil has continued
its campaign against transnational pharmaceutical firms that charge
exorbitant prices for medication to fight AIDS. Brazilian Health
Minister Jose Serra today warned that today warned that the
intellectual property rights of thetransnationals Merck and Roche
will be suspended if they don't reducethe prices of two anti-AIDS
medications used in the cocktail of drugsthat helps control the
disease, and that Brazil itself will producethem.
During the year 2000, Brazil spent some $108 million to import both
drugs, which corresponds to 36 percent of the total cost for the
distribution of the anti-AIDS cocktail -- free of charge - to 100,000
patients. Currently, Brazil imports only 4 of the 12 drugs used in
the cocktail, which has led to disputes with transnational
pharmaceutical firms claiming that Brazil is violating intellectual
property rights.
But Brazil is widely recognized as one of the Third World countries
with the most efficient anti-AIDS program, and has offered to help
South Africa and other nations to fight the disease.
*Viewpoint: RELATIONS BETWEEN HAVANA AND MEXICO BETTER THAN EVER
Fully 132 years have passed since Mexico and Cuba established
diplomatic relations and ties of friendship that have weathered all
kinds of pressures. Relations between the two nations were
exceedingly warm during the past century when Cuba's National Hero,
Jose Marti, found a safe haven in Mexico from which to carry out his
struggle for the independence of his country. The sanctuary was later
extended to a young Fidel Castro and his followers as they prepared
for their return to the island where they would fight for Cuba's
independence.
Mexico, the closest Latin American neighbor to the United States, has
always remained upright in its foreign relations and has never signed
on to any international conspiracy hatched by Washington against
other countries of Latin America.
In the case of Cuba, in line with the Estrada Doctrine which governs
Mexican foreign relations, Mexico was the only Latin American country
that refused to break relations with its sister Caribbean island
after the Revolution and always maintained close cultural ties with
the Cuban people.
More recently, after Mexico became part of the North American Free
Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, some ups and downs occured in Cuba/Mexico
relations, but without any permanent consequences.
Now, with the coming to power of the latest Mexican government,
relations are being revitalized between Havana and Mexico in a
bilateral process which has already begun. Perspectives for
strengthening all types of relations between Mexico and Cuba are
excellent, though not as much so as they could be were it not for
Washington's obession with destroying the Cuban Revolution.
The warm relations between the two countries was clearly demonstated
during the recent visit to Cuba of a large delegation from the
Mexican state of Zacatecas which included representatives of the
government, lawmakers and intellectuals. The distinguished group
presented Cuban president, Fidel Castro with an honorary doctorate
degree from their state's autonomous university and recognized
publically the Cuban president's merits as a statesperson at the
service of his people and Cuba's solidarity with the peoples of the
other nations struggling under U.S. domination.
It is clear that Mexico will never be presssured into harming any
other Latin American nation, much less Cuba, with whom Mexico has
always had the most courtial, friendly relations. The new Mexican
president, Vicente Fox, will soon visit the island, which will no
doubt strengthen even more these traditional Cuban/Mexican relations.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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