CUBA SUPPORTS CHINESE, RUSSIAN POSITION ON WASHINGTON'S STAR WARS PROGRAM Beijing, March 2 (RHC) -- Visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque has reiterated Cuba's full support of China's and Russia's position regarding Washington's plans to deploy an anti- missile system in space. Following a meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Perez Roque said that Cuba also affirms that Star Wars constitutes not only non-compliance with international commitments regarding strategic missiles, but will also lead to another arms race. The Cuban Foreign Minister affirmed, nevertheless, that Cuba has no plans to deploy in its territory Russian strategic weapons in response to Star Wars. Perez Roque's statements come on the heels of U.S. President George Bush's comments during his first speech before Congress, in which he reiterated Washington's intention to deploy a space-based anti-missile system. Bush's words sparked another wave of criticism from Moscow and Beijing, and scepticism from the U.S.'s European allies. Meanwhile, the Chinese President saluted the Cuban people for having, in his words, endured pressure from abroad, overcome numerous difficulties, and successfully explored models of development compatible with the island's conditions. Cuba's chief diplomat arrived in China last Sunday on an Asia tour that has taken him to Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, and whose last leg will be Japan.
