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Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 07:26:05 -0500
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Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-24 January 2002
Radio Havana Cuba-24 January 2002
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 24 January 2002
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*FIDEL TOURS THE CAPITAL TO ASSESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITO
*US AGRIBUSINESS COMPANY EAGER FOR TRADE WITH CUBA
*ILLINOIS GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN ARRIVES IN HAVANA
*SAHARAWI PRESIDENT PRAISES ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION
*US UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, PROFESSORS BEGIN VISIT TO THE ISLAND
*FIRST US SOLDIERS ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES
*WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES $48 BILLION MORE FOR MILITARY
*RED CROSS: WASHINGTON IS BREAKING GENEVA CONVENTIONS
*Viewpoint: IT'S TIME TO CLIP THE WINGS OF THE HAWK
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*FIDEL TOURS THE CAPITAL TO ASSESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITO
Havana, January 24 (RHC)--"This is a war where there are no weapons, only
measures aimed at saving human lives," said Cuban President Fidel Castro
during his tour of Havana municipalities to assess the development of an
ongoing campaign against the Aedes aegypti mosquito -- carrier of dengue
fever.
The aim of the campaign, which began on January 12th, is to make sure that a
new epidemic of dengue doesn't break out on the island.
Thousands of men and women, properly trained and equipped for the purpose,
are visiting every home, work place and building to eliminate any potential
mosquito breeding ground.
During the tour, President Fidel Castro was given detailed information on
the strategy implemented in every area, which as the Cuban leader insisted,
must respond to the specific characteristics and situation of every area in
particular.
Speaking with neighbors who crowded the streets to greet him, Fidel insisted
on the need for a united effort by the people and authorities in waging what
he called "a new battle for life and against disease." The Cuban leader said
he is very satisfied with the active role the people in the capital are
playing in the hygiene efforts to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
*US AGRIBUSINESS COMPANY EAGER FOR TRADE WITH CUBA
Havana, January 24 (RHC)--Representatives of the U.S. agribusiness firm
Cargill, Inc. arrived in Havana on Thursday, accompanying a shipment of corn
purchased from the United States. The shipment -- part of a one-time trade
deal authorized by Washington following November's devastating Hurricane
Michelle -- brought 25,000 metric tons of U.S. corn to the port of Havana
early this morning.
Cargill Chairman and CEO Warren Staley told reporters that he hoped this
initial commercial transaction would lead to a further improvement in
U.S.-Cuban relations. The head of Cargill, one of the largest agribusiness
corporations in the world, noted that the United States has placed
restrictions on private financing for sales of food to Cuba and expressed
his hope that those limitations would be eased or eliminated in the near
future.
Several U.S. farmers also accompanied the shipment of corn to Havana and
spoke with media representatives. From the agricultural states of Nebraska,
Minnesota and Illinois, the farmers also expressed their hopes that they
could soon sell their produce to Cuba -- without interference from their own
government in Washington.
*ILLINOIS GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN ARRIVES IN HAVANA
Havana, January 24 (RHC)--The Governor from the U.S. State of Illinois,
George Ryan, arrived in Havana this afternoon to address an international
radiology conference and explore how his state can sell pharmaceuticals and
food products to Cuba. This is the governor's second visit to the island. He
first came in October of 1999, bringing with him a large delegation of
business executives and government leaders.
Upon his arrival in Havana, Governor Ryan spoke to reporters at Jose Marti
International Airport:
"In the two years since I first brought a delegation of Illinois government
and business leaders here, we've worked together to solve problems that face
all of us and have established strong relationships that I know will endure
for years to come. Our state's relationship with Cuba has benefited everyone
involved. For one, our trip in l999 drew renewed public attention to the
U.S. trade embargo. The embargo serves no one's best interests. The embargo
robs us in Illinois and the United States of a vast consumer market that is
11 million people strong. It is estimated that agricultural sales alone
could top one billion dollars annually -- a boon for our farmers and our
agricultural producers who are constantly looking for new markets for our
products."
Illinois Governor George Ryan said that his state is also interested in
selling medicines, farm machinery and everyday goods. He said it is time to
end the embargo and welcome Cuba fully to the international market place.
The Illinois statesman and his delegation of medical experts and food
producers will donate one million dollars worth of medicines to Cuban
hospitals during their visit to the island.
*SAHARAWI PRESIDENT PRAISES ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION
Havana, January 24 (RHC)--The President of the Saharawi Democratic Arab
Republic Mohamed Abdelaziz praised the Cuban Revolution's permanent concern
over the welfare of its people.
Upon concluding a visit to a training school for social workers, the
Saharawi president told reporters that unlike most countries around the
world, the Cuban government is on the frontline, looking for solutions to
current social problems.
The African dignitary recalled that in his first visit to the island in
1982, he was very impressed with the advances the Revolution had made then.
And he stressed that on this second visit, he is far more impressed because
he has found a completely renewed Revolution that has made new conquests and
achievements for the benefit of its people.
Accompanying the Saharawi leader was Otto Rivero, First Secretary of the
Young Communist League, who offered the visitor detailed information on the
advanced programs put in place by the Cuban authorities to train social
workers, primary teachers, nurses, arts professors, etc., in the framework
of a national campaign to upgrade the educational level of the entire
people.
The first secretary of the UJC explained to the president of the Saharawi
Democratic Arab Republic that once graduated, social workers are very
instrumental in the search for solutions to problems in the communities on a
case by case basis.
*US UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, PROFESSORS BEGIN VISIT TO THE ISLAND
Havana, January 24 (RHC)--The Universe Explorer docked at the Havana Bay's
cruise ship terminal on Wednesday, bringing over 700 university students and
professors who are traveling to different nations as part of an educational
program called "Semester at Sea" of the University of Pittsburgh.
This is the sixth time since 1999 that students enrolled in this program
visit Cuba.
Hassan Perez, President of the Federation of University Students, welcomed
the visitors. Hassan thanked the program's organizers for including the port
of Havana in the cruise ship's itinerary, which he explained gives young
people from the U.S. a unique opportunity to come and see for themselves and
learn first-hand about life in Cuba.
Also on Wednesday, the U.S. visitors toured the University of Havana, where
they met with their Cuban counterparts.
During their stay on the island, which runs through Saturday, the members of
the Semester at Sea program will have a packed agenda that includes
encounters with Cuban youths and visits to centers of interest linked to
their educational program.
*FIRST US SOLDIERS ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Manila, January 24 (RHC)--U.S. soldiers dressed in camouflage gear and
armed with assault rifles have begun arriving in the Philippines, where they
will train local troops and quite possibly take part in combat missions.
According to U.S. Army Colonel Steve Woods, a spokesman for upcoming
military exercises involving the troops, the U.S. personnel are "logistics
soldiers." But many -- both in the Philippines and back in the U.S. -- are
questioning their role.
Officially, the U.S. troops are beginning a special mission to train
Filipino soldiers to fight the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim rebel group that the
government describes as a terrorist organization. Although some of the more
than 600 U.S. troops that will eventually be deployed to take part in the
mission are to visit combat zones, the Philippine Constitution bars foreign
soldiers from fighting on sovereign soil. They are allowed to carry weapons
and can return fire if attacked.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has come under heavy fire for allowing
U.S. troops into the country. In Manila, Arroyo's aides faced a grilling by
senators, as the Philippine Senate began televised hearings Thursday on the
constitutionality of the maneuvers. The hearings will debate the troops
issue, which observers describe as an extension of U.S.-led "war on
terrorism" that began in Afghanistan.
One of the speakers at yesterdays session, former senator and opposition
leader Juan Ponce Enrile, charged that the government was carrying out a
"grand deception" to allow U.S. troops into the country to carry out the
actual fighting of Muslim rebels.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, a former military chief of staff, said that for the
first time, the training would be conducted in an area of conflict and that
both trainers and trainees will be issued live ammunition. He said that
"instead of a theoretical enemy, here you have a live, moving enemy that can
shoot back."
*WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES $48 BILLION MORE FOR MILITARY
Washington, January 24 (RHC)--U.S. President George W. Bush announced
Wednesday that he would seek 48 billion dollars in additional spending on
the military next year -- the largest in more than 20 years.
According to reports from Capitol Hill, the budget request, which the White
House will send to Congress in February, is bigger than even some Pentagon
officials had expected.
The president's announcement came as senators and representatives began
their annual budget debate with a report from the Congressional Budget
Office -- showing that the projected surplus for the next decade had
dwindled to $1.6 trillion from $5.6 trillion one year ago. The report
renewed the debate regarding a tax cut of about 1.3 trillion over the next
10 years, which Bush pushed through Congress last year. He did so over
opposition from many Democrats, who argued that it will leave the nation
short of money to address both its current needs and the long-run costs of
paying Social Security and Medicare benefits to a rapidly aging population.
Although the administration linked its Pentagon spending increase to the
so-called "war on terrorism," the additional 48 billion dollars would not go
so much to the direct operating costs of the military campaign in
Afghanistan and other places around the world. Bush said that the increased
spending would pay for salary increases, precision weapons, unmanned
aircraft and high-tech battlefield communications equipment, among other
needs. Pentagon officials added that billions would be spent on warships,
tanks and fighter jets.
If the White House gets its request for more money -- and observers on
Capitol Hill believe there will be little or no opposition -- the annual
U.S. military budget would reach a record 379 billion dollars.
*RED CROSS: WASHINGTON IS BREAKING GENEVA CONVENTIONS
Washington, January 24 (RHC)--The International Committee of the Red Cross
has accused Washington of violating the Geneva Conventions by releasing
photographs of Taliban prisoners held at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo.
Red Cross inspection teams have been given access to the makeshift jail
facilities and are currently interviewing prisoners at the base. They affirm
that the conventions forbid exposing prisoners of war to "public curiosity,"
referring to recent photographs released of the men -- shown shackled and
wearing masks and goggles.
According to an article published in The Independent of London, the European
Union's security chief, Javier Solana, has stated that the detainees should
be treated as prisoners of war and not "unlawful combatants," as the United
States calls them.
International concern continues to mount over the treatment of suspected
Taliban members held prisoner at the U.S. naval base. France and Germany
urged Washington to ensure the 158 prisoners transferred from Afghanistan to
Guantánamo were treated according to the Geneva Conventions. German Foreign
Minister Joschka Fischer said his government was talking to Washington on
the need to deal with the detainees as prisoners of war. French foreign
ministry spokesman Bernard Valero, speaking as a delegation from Paris
prepared to travel to Cuba this week, echoed the same concern.
Washington has officially shrugged off the international calls for humane
treatment of its prisoners, saying that it is "guided for the most part" by
the Geneva Conventions. However, a federal judge in Los Angeles heard a
petition filed by former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark and other civil
rights lawyers, who claim the detention of prisoners who have not been
charged is illegal.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday that it has temporarily
suspended flights of Afghan war prisoners to the U.S. Naval Base at
Guantánamo -- supposedly to expand jail facilities in order to allow more
prisoners to be housed there.
*Viewpoint: IT'S TIME TO CLIP THE WINGS OF THE HAWK
Tensions in the Middle East shot up after the most recent anti-Palestinian
actions by Israeli troops. This occurred even though Colin Powell, secretary
of state of the United States, which has assumed the role of "mediator"
called Yasser Arafat to ask him to refrain from speaking out against the
attacks.
The Israeli incursion into the city of Naplusa, Monday's occupation of
Tulkarem and the destruction in Ramallah last week of the Palestinian radio
and television stations, demonstrate that prime minister Ariel Sharon is
intent on tearing down National Palestine Authority structures. Taking back
the autonomy of a city like Tulkarem sets an intolerable precedent. The
attack against Palestinian media outlets can only be taken as a deliberate
attempt on Sharon's part to silence the voices of the National Palestine
Authority.
It's no coincidence that the Israeli Prime Minister ordered his tanks to
surround Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Tel Aviv is attempting to undermine Arafat's leadership among the
Palestinian people and his condition as valid spokesman which has been
respected by the international community.
For some countries interested in maintaining a semblance of a balance of
power in the Mid East scenario, the brutality with which Sharon's forces
deal with Palestinian resistance every day has become extremely
uncomfortable.
The "butcher of Sabra and Chatilla," is flaunting his arrogance and lack of
shame or scruples, confident in the votes he received in Israel's last
elections, when in the desperation of a never-ending conflict, the ultra
right wing Licud party took control of the government.
In the past several weeks Sharon has set off a spiral of hatred and violence
in the autonomous Palestinian territories. He has even exacerbated racism in
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by prohibiting access to airports based on
race.
According to reputable European political analysts, Sharon has several times
crossed over the line that separates civilization from barbarity. And
Europeans are finally beginning to realize the extent of the violence
employed by the Israeli government.
An especially sensitive example was when Tel Aviv forces destroyed the
Palestinian airport in Gaza, an installation valued at almost ten million
dollars, which had been provided by the European Union.
Incredibly, Sharon ordered the destruction of a project built with the money
of the member countries of an organization that represents Israel's
principal trading partners.
Flying in the face of international public opinion, the violent Israeli
government has done everything possible to destroy the embattled peace
negotiations and now threatens to bring other countries into a never-ending
web of destruction. The only way to save peace in the region is to clip the
wings of the deadly Israeli hawk.
(c) 2002 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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