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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 01:15:39 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] RHC News Update-11 April 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 11 April 2001
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*JIANG'S VISIT WILL STRENGTHEN CHINESE-CUBAN RELATIONS
*CUBA DENOUNCES NUCLEAR ARMS INDUSTRY BEFORE UN COMMISSION
*MEXICAN CONGRESS REJECTS ANTI-CUBA RESOLUTION IN GENEVA
*PARAGUAYAN SOCIALIST PARTY GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS CUBA
*CUBAN DIPLOMAT RECOUNTS IMPACT ON CUBAN WOMEN OF US BLOCKADE
*CONGRESS ON CULTURAL HERITAGE BEGINS SESSIONS IN HAVANA
*CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH ACTOR KEVIN COSTNER
*Viewpoint: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMISTS TROUBLED BY US ECONOMIC SLUMP
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*JIANG'S VISIT WILL STRENGTHEN CHINESE-CUBAN RELATIONS
Havana, April 11 (RHC)--The President of the People's Republic of China,
Jiang Zemin's visit to Cuba will serve to further strengthen the already
broad and excellent relations between Havana and Beijing. The statement was
made by China's Ambassador to Cuba, Wuan Chen Jia.
Wuan Chen Jia recalled the traditional friendship that unites the two
peoples:
"It is common knowledge that China and Cuba have very good bilateral
relations. The traditional friendship that exists between the two nations
goes beyond the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. It goes
back to over 150 years ago. Cuba and China are both socialist countries. We
share the same ideals and objectives. Cuba was also the first Latin American
nation to establish diplomatic relations with China. Bilateral cooperation
between the two nations has strengthened, especially over the last decade."
The Chinese president is scheduled to arrive in the Cuban capital, as part
of a Latin American tour that includes Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and
Venezuela. The Chinese dignitary's visit, the second since 1993, is in
response to an invitation by Cuban President Fidel Castro.
The Chinese president's agenda in Cuba includes the signing of bilateral
cooperation agreements in areas such as technology exchange, transportation,
telecommunications, sports, education and tourism.
*CUBA DENOUNCES NUCLEAR ARMS INDUSTRY BEFORE UN COMMISSION
New York, April 11 (RHC)--Cuba considers nuclear disarmament of utmost
importance and will work intensely toward that end. According to Havana's
representative at the United Nations in New York, Rafael Dausa, those
countries that have nuclear weapons must adopt practical methods to totally
eliminate their stockpiles -- yet, in the real world, such a commitment is
not forthcoming.
Speaking before the United Nations Commission on Nuclear Disarmament, Cuba's
alternate delegate to the world body recalled that the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) maintains a strategic plan that -- far from working for
an end to the arms race -- actually promotes nuclear weapons.
Havana's representative before the United Nations also noted that Washington
is advancing a so-called "anti-missile program" -- also known as Star Wars
-- which will only open the way to a more accelerated arms race.
Rafael Dausa told delegates that there is a deliberate attempt to gut
agreements on nuclear disarmament -- in favor of huge profits by the
military industrial complex. He affirmed that a number of countries are
refusing to abide by the Final Declaration of the Millennium Summit, which
calls for an international conference on nuclear disarmament.
Despite efforts to slow down the arms race, military spending is
skyrocketing out of control. Havana's representative to the United Nations
stated that in 1999, more than 780 billion dollars were spent on arms and
weapons of mass destruction. And he called for an end to big business and
profits made on weapons and arms sales -- while social and human needs are
ignored.
*MEXICAN CONGRESS REJECTS ANTI-CUBA RESOLUTION IN GENEVA
Mexico City, April 11(RHC)--The Mexican Congress has agreed to reject any
resolution that attempts to condemn Cuba during the 57th Session of the
United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.
On Tuesday, the Mexican Senate unanimously passed a resolution, calling on
President Vicente Fox to adhere to the country's constitution and foreign
policy law in its vote at the Geneva commission next Wednesday, April 18th.
The document expresses the strong opposition of the Mexican Senators to any
resolution, which damages the Cuban sovereignty and violates the right of
people to self-determination and the principle of non-interference in the
internal affairs of other nations.
Mexico's Chamber of Deputies has also unanimously come out against arbitrary
economic and trade blockades, which in the deputies' own words: "do not
favor any nation's economic development, but rather constitute a way of
violating human rights."
The Mexican deputies say that relations between Mexico, Cuba and the United
States should be based on mutual respect, equity and non-interference, as
the only and best way to achieve a peaceful solution to current
confrontations and differences.
Other groups in Mexico asking the government to vote against the anti-Cuba
resolution in Geneva include the country's Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), as well as the Sao Paulo
Forum, the members of the Benito Juarez International Award and another 130
Mexican Intellectuals.
*PARAGUAYAN SOCIALIST PARTY GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS CUBA
Havana, April 11 (RHC)--The Secretary General of Paraguay's Socialist Party,
Manuel Laguarde, visited Havana's Psychiatric Hospital and the Latin
American School of Medicine.
Laguarde arrived in Havana on Monday for a visit at the invitation of the
Cuban Communist Party. The distinguished visitor is also scheduled to visit
other centers of social and economic interest and meet with high-ranking
Cuban officials, among them Communist Party's Political Bureau member Jose
Ramon Balaguer, Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon and various ministers.
The visit of the general secretary of the Paraguayan socialist party runs
through until Sunday.
*CUBAN DIPLOMAT RECOUNTS IMPACT ON CUBAN WOMEN OF US BLOCKADE
Geneva, April 11 (RHC)--Washington's economic blockade of Cuba -- which has
lasted for 40 years -- is the biggest violation of human rights, primarily
affecting women on the island.
Speaking before the plenary of the 57th Session of the United Nations Human
Rights Commission, underway in Geneva, Mercedes de Armas -- a member of
Cuba's delegation to the Commission -- firmly stated that women's rights
took a huge step forward withthe triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.
She pointed out that women make up 44 percent of the island's workforce in
the State sector and that 32 out of every 100 Cubans in positions of
management or holding political office are women. In addition, Mercedes de
Armas noted that 67 percent of all technicians and professionals and 61
percent of all university graduates in Cuba are women.
The Cuban delegate to the Geneva-based Human Rights Commission stated that
the achievements of women since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution shows
just how deep the government's commitment is to bring about full respect for
human rights.
During the discussion on Theme 12 -- regarding women's rights and their
integration into society -- Mercedes de Armas compared the scenario in Cuba
with other Third World countries. She said that the growing gap between rich
and poor -- with the exception of Cuba -- is seen quite clearly in the daily
lives of women.
She explained that of the two billion people in the world living in poverty,
more than 70 percent are women. And she strongly criticized Washington for
attempting to condemn Havana for alleged human rights violation -- when it
is the United States that barely pays women 73 percent of the salary
received by men for the same work. In Cuba, equal pay for equal work is the
law and is fully enforced.
*CONGRESS ON CULTURAL HERITAGE BEGINS SESSIONS IN HAVANA
Havana, April 11 (RHC)--The 5th International Congress "Cultural Heritage,
Context and Preservation" began sessions in the Cuban capital with the
participation of specialists from Austria, Ecuador, Brazil, The Dominican
Republic, Turkey, Spain and Cuba.
Addressing participants during the inaugural session were Doctor Ana Cepero
Acan, Director of the Cuban National Center for Patrimony Restoration and
Eusebio Leal, Director of the Havana Historian's Office.
Papers presented for discussion deal with issues such as architecture,
folklore, the preservation of national identity and current urban
strategies.
*CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH ACTOR KEVIN COSTNER
Havana, April 11 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro has met with U.S. actor
Kevin Costner and an accompanying group of intellectuals and filmmakers.
Costner is in Cuba for the premier of his latest movie "Thirteen Days."
Set during the October 1962 "missile crisis," the movie shows the decisive
days of the crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Kevin Costner arrived in Havana aboard his private jet from Los Angeles on
Monday. Following his meeting with the leader of the Cuban Revolution,
Costner told reporters that he hopes his latest film will warn of the
dangers of the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The U.S. actor won an Oscar in 1990 for Best Picture and Best Director with
"Dancing with Wolves." Kevin Costner has also starred in more than 30 films,
including "JFK," "Robin Hood," "Bodyguard" and "Field of Dreams."
*Viewpoint: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMISTS TROUBLED BY US ECONOMIC SLUMP
We Cubans wouldn't wish severe economic hardship on our worst enemies. The
serious economic problems now being faced by the United States affect the
people both in that country and the peoples of countries who have been
struggling under globalized neo-liberal economies.
That type of economy, globally applied by the International Monetary Fund
and World Bank under pressure from the United States and is based on papers
that come and go, property titles that are bought and sold, is in danger of
total collapse.
When this house of cards falls it won't be easy to recuperate and the most
victimized will be U.S. workers and workers in the rest of the world: those
who have had no voice in the matter and yet will suffer the most from the
consequences.
Most of the U.S's money has ended up in the stock exchange because that is
where it earns the highest returns. Those who have placed the U.S. economy
in this dangerous game of stock trading are only concerned about making a
fast buck, but when the speculation bubble bursts and stocks become worth
nothing more than the paper they are printed on, it will cause serious
problems worldwide.
When the Great Depression hit in l929, only 3.3% of North Americans owned
stocks in the stock exchange. An article in Cuba's "Granma" newspaper noted
that by l956 that amount had only risen to 5.5% and in l973 it had gone up
to 15%. But beginning in the 1980's, Americans eager to earn easy money,
began investing in the stock market in rapidly increasing numbers and by the
2000 half of Americans were playing the stock market. In l999 North
Americans had more money invested in Wall Street than deposited in banks.
Hopefully the capitalists will find a less painful way out of this dangerous
crisis that is threatening the entire world economy and the world won't have
to go through another great depression this time of untold magnitude.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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