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Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 05:04:15 -0500
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Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-27 November 2001
Radio Havana Cuba-27 November 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 27 November 2001
.
*OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AT UN FOR CUBA'S RESOLUTION TO END US BLOCKADE
*CUBAN YOUTH DELEGATION CONTINUES ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO
*DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF LAOS VISITS THE ISLAND
*FIRST CONGRESS OF CUBAN ORTHOPEDICS SOCIETY BEGINS IN HAVANA
*TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET FROM U.S. TOUR
*IRAQ REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH U.S. DEMAND TO ADMIT WEAPONS INSPECTORS
*UN-SPONSORED TALKS BEGIN TODAY IN GERMANY BETWEEN RIVAL AFGHAN FACTIONS
Viewpoint:
*A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND PROTEST FOR CUBANS
.
*OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AT UN FOR CUBA'S RESOLUTION TO END US BLOCKADE
New York, November 27 (RHC)-- Cuba received overwhelming support on
Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly for its annual
resolution to end the U.S. economic blockade against the island. A
total of 167 countries voted in favor of ending the U.S.-imposed
blockade, only three countries voted against -- the United States,
Israel and the Marshall Islands -- and another three abstained.
During a speech before the UN General Assembly this morning, Cuban
Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque officially presented the
resolution. Havana's top diplomat referred to the recent authorization
by the United States for a one-time sale to Cuba of food, medicines
and raw materials for the production of medicines. He noted that the
U.S. government expressed its sorrow and concern for the Cuban people
as a result of the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Michelle,
announcing its willingness to immediately assess the need for
assistance, with a view to possible humanitarian assistance.
The Cuban foreign minister said it was an unusual gesture, which Cuba
received with the proper appreciation. And he stated that throughout
40 years of tense relations between the two countries, nothing like
this had ever happened before.
Cuba responded by requesting that, on this one exceptional occasion,
the United States allow Cuban state companies to purchase certain
amounts of food, medicines and raw materials for the production of
medicines in order to restore the country's reserve stocks as quickly
as possible.
Felipe Perez Roque said that with a positive decision coming from
Washington, Cuba can now make this one-time purchase from the United
States. But he said that does not mean the end of the blockade. The
Cuban foreign minister said that it is only under these special
circumstances that the island has been able to do this, with no
reciprocal trade whatsoever, overcoming absurd obstacles and countless
laws and regulations that specifically prohibit relations and trade
between Cuba and the United States.
During his speech Tuesday morning before the UN General Assembly,
Cuba's top diplomat said that Washington's blockade is the main
obstacle to Cuba's economic development today and is responsible for
the hardship and suffering of millions of Cubans. But he affirmed that
Cuba -- in exchange for the U.S. lifting of the blockade -- would
never be willing to make concessions that would impinge on its
principles. Instead, the government of the United States must
unilaterally lift its blockade -- which was unilaterally imposed
against the island -- and end the economic war against Cuba.
Felipe Perez Roque said Washington's blockade against Cuba is illegal,
violating the Charter of the United Nations and violating norms of
international trade and the freedom of navigation. The economic
blockade of the island, he said, imposes sanctions on businesspeople
from third countries, which constitutes blatantly extraterritorial
conduct.
The Cuban foreign minister noted that the blockade has caused economic
damages to the island of over 70 billion dollars, in addition to even
higher sums resulting from the human injuries and economic damages
inflicted on the Cuban people throughout more than 40 years of armed
aggression, sabotage and terrorism.
And finally, Felipe Perez Roque pointed out that Washington's blockade
has been overwhelmingly rejected by the international community for
the past nine consecutive years. Last year -- the same as this year --
the vote in the General Assembly calling for the lifting of the
blockade was 167 votes in favor of Cuba's resolution.
*CUBAN YOUTH DELEGATION CONTINUES ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO
Veracruz, November 27 (RHC)-- A Cuban youth delegation in Mexico to
follow the route of the Granma Yacht expedition, on its 45th
anniversary, continues to participate in a packed agenda of
activities. The Granma Yacht is the vessel that carried now-President
Fidel Castro and his followers to Cuba from Mexico in l956 to begin
the armed struggle against the Batista dictatorship.
On Wednesday, the Cuban youths visited the University of Veracruz,
where they were received by professors and students. They later met
with members of the solidarity with Cuba movement in the city of
Xalapa.
Upon their arrival in Veracruz, the 25 young people were welcomed by
local officials and a crowd of residents, chanting slogans in favor of
Cuba and against the U.S. blockade against the island. They were also
declared Distinguished Visitors.
On December 2, 1956, Fidel Castro and another 81 revolutionaries,
arrived on the Granma yacht, landing in the eastern region. A battle
with Batista forces ensued and all but 12 men were killed. The
survivors escaped into the towering Sierra Maestra mountains where
they established a guerrilla base. From there, these and thousands of
other rebels who later joined the group in the mountains and in
cities, launched what is known as the last phase of the Cuban people's
struggle against the U.S.-supported Batista dictatorship, winning
national independence in l959.
The expedition had departed from Mexico, where Fidel Castro and his
comrades, among them Argentinean-Cuban Ernesto Che Guevara, were in
exile. The group had spent nearly a year there organizing the
expedition to return to Cuba and continue the war of independence.
Every year, a delegation of young people from the island follows the
same route as the Granma yacht to mark a new anniversary of the
important event in the history of the Cuban Revolution.
*DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF LAOS VISITS THE ISLAND
Havana, November 27 (RHC)-- The Deputy Foreign Minister of the
Republic of Laos, Phonqsavath Boupha, met in Havana with his Cuban
counterpart José Antonio Guerra Menchero on Tuesday in the
continuation of an official visit to the island.
During his stay, the distinguished visitor will sign an agreement to
enhance bilateral cooperation ties between the foreign ministries of
Laos and Cuba.
The Laotian diplomat is also scheduled to meet with other high-ranking
officials and visit places of social and economic interest.
Cuba and Laos established diplomatic relations in 1974.
*FIRST CONGRESS OF CUBAN ORTHOPEDICS SOCIETY BEGINS IN HAVANA
Havana, November 27 (RHC)-- The 1st Congress of the Cuban Society of
Orthopedics and the American Fracture Association began sessions on
Tuesday at Havana's Frank País orthopedics complex. The event is being
attended by more than 800 delegates and guests, representing 15
nations, as well as prestigious international organizations.
During the congress, Cuba will exhibit its advances in areas such as
hip surgery, external fixation and its bone and tissue bank, regarded
as a reference site in Latin America.
*TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET FROM U.S. TOUR
Havana, November 27 (RHC)-- Cuba's National Ballet Company was
enthusiastically welcomed home last night after a critically acclaimed
two-month tour of the United States. The troupe's director,
world-renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso, spoke with members of the
press who were crowded into the waiting area at Havana's Jose Marti
Airport. She said that she preferred to have her dancers express their
own feelings about the trip and about the series of successful
performance with standing room-only audiences yelling "Bravo" and
"Viva Cuba."
Alicia Alonso stressed the significance of the excellent critical
reviews from coast to coast that greeted each performance naming the
Cuban National Ballet as among the world's best classical companies.
She said the critics praised both the troupe's choreographies and
dancers, wondering how such a small country could produce so many and
such good performers. The comment, said the legendary dancer, prompted
her to tell them: "And we have so many more."
Finally, the tired but happy director of Cuba's National Ballet
Company told the press in Havana that many critics have expressed a
desire to visit Cuba to watch the troupe dance its traditional
December Gala and year-end "Nutcracker." During its tour of the United
States, the company performed the classics, "Coppelia," and "Giselle,"
among other ballets.
*IRAQ REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH U.S. DEMAND TO ADMIT WEAPONS INSPECTORS
Baghdad, November 27 (RHC)-- Iraq says it will not comply with a U.S.
demand that weapons inspectors be allowed to enter the country until
U.N. sanctions have been lifted.
International weapons inspectors, who went into Iraq after the Gulf
War to check for evidence of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons,
left Baghdad in 1998 -- accused of spying for Western intelligence
agencies.
U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday that Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein must allow inspectors back into his country to check for
so-called "weapons of mass destruction." Asked what would happen if
the Iraqi leader did not comply, Bush said: "He'll find out."
Observers note that the threatening tone from the White House comes at
the same time that analysts believe other countries -- including Iraq
-- make up a hit-list of future targets after Afghanistan. Monday's
edition of The New York Times reported that Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and
Yemen head the list of military objectives.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters on Monday that
Hussein should take Bush's demand as a "very sober, chilling message."
On Tuesday, Iraq's U.N. Ambassador Mohammad al-Douri said that as long
as sanctions remained, Baghdad will not permit weapons inspectors. In
his words: "We have nothing to inspect."
The current U.N. Oil-for-Food Program, which contains the sanctions
regulations, expires Friday. The U.N. Security Council is expected to
extend the program, without eliminating the sanctions. Under the
program, Iraq is allowed to sell oil on the condition that the
proceeds are spent on food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.
The plan was not voted on at the U.N. earlier in the year after Russia
said it would veto the proposal. Moscow says any overhaul must address
the lifting of sanctions, which many say are responsible for untold
suffering in Iraq.
Observers believe that Baghdad is not concerned about recent threats
from Washington, given that Iraq has been expecting new attacks for
some time. Iraq is apparently counting on what it sees as a crucial
lack of support for any U.S.-led war among its Arab allies and Russia.
*UN-SPONSORED TALKS BEGIN TODAY IN GERMANY BETWEEN RIVAL AFGHAN FACTIONS
Bonn, November 27 (RHC)-- Talks began today between rival factions of
anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan -- in what is being described as an
attempt to reach an agreement on "a broad-based interim government."
The conference, which is being held in Bonn, Germany, is taking place
at a secluded hilltop hotel that once served as a retreat for Adolph
Hitler.
Sponsored by the United Nations, the talks are expected to last
several days and perhaps weeks.
The Northern Alliance, which in recent days has taken large areas of
Afghanistan with the help of nearly two months of constant bombardment
by U.S and British warplanes, has pledged to cooperate with rival
exiled leaders during the talks in Germany.
Observers say that many Afghans are suspicious of the Northern
Alliance's motives, noting that the group monopolized power the last
time it ruled Kabul, the Afghan capital, between 1992 and 1996.
The delegations include members of a loose alliance of anti-Taliban
forces dominated by the Northern Alliance. Others attending have been
organized under the name "the Rome Group," which includes members of
the so-called Peshawar Group, a Pakistani-backed assembly of exiled
leaders of the Pashtuns. The ethnic group, which comprises about 40
percent of Afghanistan's population, is the largest and most dominant
group in the country.
Also attending are members of "the Cyprus Group," whose interests are
reportedly backed by Iran. The former Afghan king, Zahir Shah, will
also take part in the talks in Bonn.
Viewpoint:
*A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND PROTEST FOR CUBANS
The following is taken from an editorial printed on the front page of
Tuesday's Granma newspaper here in Cuba. It condemns the loss of life
that results from the U.S. Cuban Adjustment Act, which actively
entices Cubans to take serious risks by seeking to enter the U.S.
illegally across the dangerous currents and unpredictable waters of
the Florida Straits. Any Cuban citizen that sets foot on U.S. soil is
automatically granted residency and other benefits, unlike any other
nationality anywhere in the world whose citizens are forcibly deported
if discovered by U.S. authorities:
On the 19th and 20th of November, U.S. television and international
press agencies reported that in the early hours of November 17th, a
speedboat carrying some 30 people -- among which were 13 children --
had capsized while trafficking Cuban citizens to Florida.
The events surrounding the overturned boat -- which was found with no
sign of survivors or bodies -- were discussed last Friday in a round
table televised presentation. The program elicited profound
indignation on the part of the Cuban population as this new tragedy is
yet another of so many involving loss of life or serious injury.
As of the 11th of September, the right wing anti-Cuba terrorists in
Miami, conscious of their participation and responsibility in numerous
and repugnant terrorist assaults against the people of Cuba and wary
of the grim situation in New York, maintained a low profile and were
relatively quiet. However, recently they have become more active in
their plans and campaigns and conspiracies against the Cuban
Revolution. Thus, there has been a progressive rise in the smuggling
of Cuban citizens to the United States.
This time, a 30-foot long speedboat, which can normally barely hold
10-12 people, was callously overfilled with at least 30 human beings.
The weather was bad, with strong winds and waves rising to two meters,
and the boat apparently capsized many miles from the U.S. coastline. A
horrific act that happened as a result of allowing such trips to take
place with impunity and seems to have cost the lives of numerous Cuban
children who were in their first semester at school.
On the night of Saturday the 24th and all day Sunday the 25th, a cruel
and disgusting wave of disinformation and deception emanated from
Miami that maintained that the Cubans had actually been saved at sea
by a Panamanian vessel and were alive in Panama. Various countries
were consulted, whose authorities would be in a position to determine
the veracity of such news, but all responded that they knew of no such
an occurrence.
Today, November 27th at 5 p.m., a huge protest demonstration took
place in Havana. Some 300,000 citizens condemned the murderous U.S.
Cuban Adjustment Act that has cost the lives of so many of our people,
including these children whose lives were cut so short.
A total of 50,000 university students and other youth marched from the
university campus down to a monument in remembrance of eight medical
students who were executed by the Spanish 130 years ago today. After a
traditional ceremony of remembrance, they then marched down the
Malecón seafront to Havana's Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Tribune to
join the 300,000 already present.
Today, we remember not only those brave and innocent students
assassinated by the Spanish Crown in 1871, but also, over decades, the
terrible U.S. law that is responsible for the systematic destruction
of the lives of so many Cuban children.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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