>X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Unverified) > >From: John Clancy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Havana Radio news/views Dec 13-14. US 'democracy' > >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 13 December 2000 > . > >*CUBA HAS ONE OF LOWEST INFANT MORTALITY AND HIGHEST LIFE EXPECTANCY >RATES > >*RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ARRIVES IN HAVANA LATE >TONIGHT > >*CUBA WILL CONTINUE TO DENOUNCE WASHINGTON'S COMPLICITY IN TERRORISM > >*INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL "PLAZA 2000" KICKS OFF IN HAVANA > >*CUBAN ECONOMISTS DEMAND THE EXTRADITION OF INTL TERRORIST POSADA >CARRILES > >*CUBA HOSTS CHINESE DELEGATION > >*Viewpoint: DEMOCRACY ... US STYLE > . > >*CUBA HAS ONE OF LOWEST INFANT MORTALITY AND HIGHEST LIFE EXPECTANCY >RATES > >Havana, December 13 (RHC)--Cuba has been placed among the 23 >countries in the world with the highest life expectancy of 76 years, >according to Cuba's Health Minister Carlos Dotres. The Cuban Health >official made the statements during the inauguration of the first >national conference of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. > >With the participation of some 300 delegates from nine countries, >Dotres offered a master conference that outlined the universal >character of the free and accessible Cuban public health care system. > >The Cuban Health Minister also added that the island was placed among >the first 19 nations in the world with the lowest infant mortality >rate despite Washington's almost 40-year old economic blockade >against the island. Dr. Leonardo Perez, representative of the >International Health Promotion and Education Association, said that >the conference included exchanges of experience and knowledge between >doctors, nurses, technicians, teachers, journalists and other >specialists. > >Other participants to the event include the President of the >Federation of Cuban Women, the coordinator of the Committees for the >Defense of the Revolution, and Dr. Gabriel Montalvan, representative >of the World Health Organization in Cuba, among other important >figures. > > *RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ARRIVES IN HAVANA LATE >TONIGHT > >Havana, December 13 (RHC)-- The president of the Russian >Federation, Vladimir Putin, is due to arrive in the Cuban capital >late Wednesday night, leading a delegation of more than 80 business >representatives. The Russian leader is visiting Cuba at the >invitation of his Cuban counterpart, President Fidel Castro. > >Earlier this week, during an interview in Moscow, Vladimir Putin >stated that his country's relations with Havana are excellent and >will be even better with this visit to the island. The Russian >president added that he always thought the deterioration of relations >some ten years ago between Russia and Cuba was a mistake and called >for a renewal of those traditional relations. And the Russian leader >called for an immediate end to the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba. >Putin stated that Washington's blockade cannot be rationalized from >any point of view -- emphasising that U.S. sanctions are illegal >according to international law. > >The Russian president told reporters in Moscow that Cuba is his >country's principle trading partner in Latin America and that he has >intentions of reenforcing those ties during his visit to Havana. > > *CUBA WILL CONTINUE TO DENOUNCE WASHINGTON'S COMPLICITY IN TERRORISM > >Havana, December 13 (RHC)-- Cuba will continue to denounce >terrorism practiced by the United States against the island. During a >speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, Cuba's Ambassador to the >world body, Bruno Rodriguez, called on all member-nations to fight >against terrorism -- specifically pointing to U.S.-sponsored >terrorist activities against the island. > >The UN ambassador spoke in favor of a resolution against all forms >of terrorism. Cuba voted in favor of the resolution, which was passed >by an overwhelming majority. Bruno Rodriguez put the issue of >terrorism in its proper context -- condemning the terrorist >activities of Luis Posada Carriles and noting that he had received >training and assistance from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. > >Following the Cuban ambassador's comments, the U.S. delegation asked >for the floor and said that Cuba was out of order. The U.S. >representative, Robert B. Rosenstock, claimed that the Cuban >ambassador was falsely accusing Washington of sponsoring terrorism. >He said that Washington was tired of hearing what he called "the same >old diatribes" from Cuba. > >UN Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez responded with a heated response, >listing -- with facts and specific dates -- exactly when Luis Posada >Carriles and his terrorist accomplices were in the United States and >received aid and assistance from numerous U.S. administrations. >Rodriguez said that Posada Carriles had received direct support from >the Reagan, Bush and Clinton administrations. > >The United Nations moderator of the discussion interceded after >the ten-minute limit expired, asking that Cuba's ambassador wrap up >his speech. Bruno Rodriguez requested an additional 30 seconds -- >emphasizing that Havana has much more documented evidence on >Washington's ties to terrorism against the Cuban Revolution -- but >that it would take much longer than ten minutes to list them all. > > *INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL "PLAZA 2000" KICKS OFF IN HAVANA > >Havana, December 13 (RHC)--The International Jazz Festival "Plaza >2000" kicked off Wednesday night in Havana with a concert by renowned >Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes and his Spanish counterpart Chano >Dominguez. > >The International Jazz Festival "Jazz Plaza 2000," which will run >until the 17th December will have important musicians from 15 >countries participating in concerts and workshops in different >locations around the Cuban capital. > >This year's jazz festival will be dedicated to the 100th anniversary >of the great US trumpet player and singer, Louis Armstrong. Musicians >from the blues and jazz city of New Orleans will be on hand. > > *CUBAN ECONOMISTS DEMAND THE EXTRADITION OF INTL TERRORIST POSADA >CARRILES > >Havana, December 13 (RHC)--Participants in the 5th Congress of >Cuba's Economists Association currently underway in Havana, have >demanded that Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada Carriles be extradited >to Cuba. Posada Carriles was arrested in Panama for entering the >country with false documents and planning the assassination of Cuban >President Fidel Castro during the 10th Ibero-American Summit. > >The over 400 delegates and guests to the event urged that terrorist >Luis Posada Carriles and accomplices be judged in Havana by an >international court in accordance with the serious crimes that he has >committed against the Cuban people. Posada Carriles has admitted to >his involvement of the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner with the loss >of 73 lives, and the 1997 bombing of hotel in Havana with the loss of >one life and many injured. The Congress of the Association of Cuban >Economists -- which will wind up on Thursday at Havana's >International Convention Center -- is discussing the current Cuban >economy, the international situation in the light of >global economics, the quality of life of the island's population, >internal financial controls, the fight against economic crime, public >accountability and much more. > >During the inaugural event, the President of the Economic Commission >of the Cuban Parliament, Osvaldo Martinez provided statistics and >figures indicating the negative consequences of an unfettered free >market for the majority of humanity. > > *CUBA HOSTS CHINESE DELEGATION > >Havana, December 13 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro met Tuesday >night in Havana with a Chinese delegation headed by the Minister of >Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Shi Guengsheng. > >The Chinese Minister is heading the 13th Cuba-China Joint >Economic Commission whose agreements were signed on Wednesday. The >two sides had come to agreements on bilateral issues and cooperation. > >Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage also met with the delegation, >providing information on the island's economy and referring to the >effects of oil price hikes and the reduction of the prices of sugar >in the international market. Cuba, he explained, has nonetheless been >able to economically grow in spite of the hardships and privations of >the Special Period. > > *Viewpoint: DEMOCRACY ... US STYLE > >The magnitude of the political scandal that has hit the world's >only super-power has sent reverberations around the world. The nation >that lectures the world on how to run a democracy -- including >elections -- has been shamed into admitting that its problems are >similar if not worse than those of many of the Third World countries >whose electoral systems it criticizes. Tuesday's decision by the US >Supreme Court took a full month after the nation's presidential >elections took place. It has effectively put an end to the political >battle, opening the way for the Republican candidate George W Bush to >enter the White House in January. But it also helped put an end to >any notion that the system was "Democratic." > >This is not the first time in the history of the United States that >a candidate has won the election without gaining a majority of the >popular vote. This time, however, the very credibility of US so- >called Democracy is on the line. > >Democracy that involves a national voter absentee rate of 50 percent. > >Democracy that, consequently (and given the vote that Al Gore >received), allows the man who takes over as president in January to >do so with the support of less than 25 percent of the electorate. >Democracy that refuses to allow a serious alternative contender for >the presidency to publicly debate the other two principle candidates >on national TV. > >Democracy that allows a state legislature such as Florida's to ignore >the vote of its people and decide for themselves who will or will not >be given the electoral votes so essential to win this election. Thus, >for the first time in its history, a state legislative body of a >little over 100 representatives has effectively elected the US >president. > >Democracy that allows two US Supreme Court justices to vote on such >an important issue when they both have clear conflicts of interest in >doing so. Justice Thomas's wife being directly involved in the Bush >campaign, and Justice Scalia's two sons hired as attorneys for two >law firms representing the Bush campaign in its arguments to the >Supreme Court (and thus, their father) itself. > >Hardly the notion of the true democratic representational system >Washington pundits and politicians are forever lecturing the rest of >the world about. > >Most of the countries that Washington roundly criticizes for not >having "democratic" elections have a second round of voting when the >first is contested so closely -- but not the self-proclaimed champion >of Democracy. The U.S. Supreme Court is the country's highest >judicial body and an appeal against any of its rulings has little >chance of success. The electoral votes of the state of Florida have >been stolen from the people by their so-called representatives and >apportioned along strictly partisan lines in a winner-take-all system >that defies every notion of Democracy. > >A new chapter of U.S. electoral history will begin with Bush's >inauguration on January 20th 2001. It is too early to say if the >status quo that passes for US Democracy will be maintained in the >light of this election scandal, but most experts say that once the >dust settles everyone will get back to living the same routine. >However, there will be many who will nonetheless recall that the man >in charge of what he calls the "Greatest Democracy on Earth" for the >next four years, will have to come to terms with the fact that he won >the election on the political whim of the legislature of his >own brother's state without the support of the vast majority of his >people. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. >================================================================= > > NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems > Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us > 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 > http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >=================================================== >rhc-eng-22667 2000-Dec-14 07:12:28 > > ********** > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Havana Radio news/views Dec 14. TeleCom hold-ups >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 14 December 2000 > . > >*RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BEGINS VISIT TO CUBA > >*CUBA ADMITTED AS FULL MEMBER OF THE AFRICA, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC >GROUP > >*US ECONOMIC WAR AGAINST CUBA AFFECTS THE ISLAND'S ENTRY INTO GLOBAL >ECONOMY > >*CHINESE DELEGATION WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA > >*CRUISE SHIPS DOCK MORE FREQUENTLY ON THE ISLAND > >*Viewpoint: HANGING UP ON THE USA > > . > >*RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BEGINS VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, December 14 (RHC)-- The President of the Russian Federation, >Vladimir Putin, arrived in the Cuban capital late Wednesday night to >begin an official four-day visit. > >Cuban President Fidel Castro personally greeted his Russian >counterpart at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport when the IL- >96 jet arrived from Moscow at 11:20 p.m. President Vladimir Putin is >leading a large delegation of high-ranking officials and business >leaders from his country. > >Thursday morning, the Russian president was officially welcomed at >the Palacio de la Revolucion and began formal talks with Cuban >President Fidel Castro. > >During his four-day visit to the island, Vladimir Putin and his >accompanying delegation will visit economic, social and cultural >places of interest. On Sunday, the Russian leader will travel to >Canada for an official visit. > > *CUBA ADMITTED AS FULL MEMBER OF THE AFRICA, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC >GROUP > >Brussels, December 14 (RHC)-- Cuba has officially been admitted as a >member of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group, the ACP. The >Council of Ministers of the ACP approved the move during a meeting in >Brussels Thursday morning. > >The ACP is composed of 77 countries and is made up of former >European colonies throughout Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. >The group of nations are beneficiaries of the former Lome Convention >-- replaced last June by the Cotonou Accord -- which offers >preferencial trade relations between the European Community and their >former colonies. > >In May 1998, Cuba was granted observer status in the Africa, >Caribbean and Pacific Group and will now become a full member, >effective immediately. > > *US ECONOMIC WAR AGAINST CUBA AFFECTS THE ISLAND'S ENTRY INTO GLOBAL >ECONOMY > >Havana, December 14 (RHC)-- Cuban economists said on Thursday in >Havana that the US economic war against the island affects the >country from inserting itself into the global economy. > >During the 5th Congress of Cuban Economists, the participants >discussed issues such as regional integration, as well as increasing >and diversifying products and services for exportation. > >On domestic issues the Cuban economists discussed the development of >food production, with mecanisms that would stimulate production. > >The commission dedicated to the level and quality of life in the >population discussed the relationship between salary incentives, >education/employment and economic assistance for people with low >wages. > > *CHINESE DELEGATION WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, December 14 (RHC)-- China's Minister for Foreign Trade and >Economic Cooperation, Shi Guangsheng wound up on Wednesday a working >visit to Cuba where he signed important agreements during this >session of the China-Cuba Joint Economic Cooperation Commission. > >During his visit to Havana, the Chinese official met with Cuban >President Fidel Castro who praised China's stable economic growth. > >Shi Guangsheng analized alongside Cuban authorities ways of >stengthening economic cooperation and trade between the two >countries. > >The China-Cuba Joint Economic Cooperation Commission ended with the >signing of an economic cooperation agreement destined for the >island's education system. > >China and Cuba maintain trade relations in the fields of >tourism, agriculture, electronics and pharmaceutical products. > >The Chinese delegation will go on to Colombia as part of a tour >through Latin America. > > *CRUISE SHIPS DOCK MORE FREQUENTLY ON THE ISLAND > >Havana, December 14 (RHC)--After five years of success, the cruise >terminal in Havana is a clear example that this is another tourism >option for the island to visitors who seek a first hand look at Cuba. >The island has received 250 cruise ships with 76,000 vacationers so >far this year. > >During the celebration of the 5th anniversary of Havana's Cruise >Terminal, Cuba's Transportation Minister, Alvaro Perez Morales >pointed out that despite Washington's blockade against the island and >the anti Cuban Helms Burton law, cruise ships docking at the island >continues to increase. > >He added that 330 cruise ships are expected to visit the island next >year which will require the country's transportation authorities to >increase the current capacity of port instalations. > > *Viewpoint: HANGING UP ON THE USA > >Direct telephone communication between Cuba and the United States >will be interrupted on Friday, December 15th, following US telephone >companies not complying with their contracts with their Cuban >counterpart. > >A few months ago, as part of its continuing aggressive and hostile >policy against Havana, Washington authorized the use of Cuban frozen >funds in the United States to compensate the relatives of members of >a terrorist organization killed in the course of violating Cuban >airspace. > >As a result, the Cuban Council of State decided to establish a >10% additional tax on every phone call from and to the United States >and Cuba in order to make up the losses resulting from the use of the >Cuban frozen funds. The measure will remain in effect until the total >amount owed -- which is several million dollars -- is recovered. It >was also announced that the income resulting from this tax would be >used to buy medicines and medical equipment for the island's public >health system, which is suffering the effects of Washington's four >decade blockade against the Cuban people. > >The US companies which have contracts with Cuba to facilitate >direct telephone communication between the two countries -- >particularly between Cuban emigrants in the United States and their >families on the island -- have not received permission from the US >government to pay the tax to ETECSA - the Cuban telephone company. > >It is not in the Cuban government's interest to damage direct >communications between the two countries -- particularly in light of >the fact that the main beneficiaries of open communication are Cubans >with relatives in the United States. > >However, what would have happened if it was the other way around? >What would have happened if Cuba had taken possession of funds of US >companies in the same manner? > >There is little doubt that the Cuban people would then have to face >further economic limitations and privations. It goes without saying >that those who have imposed the economic blockade on the Cuban people >for four decades wouldn't stop to consider any alternatives. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. > >================================================================= > NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems > Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us > 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 > http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >=================================================== >rhc-eng-7677 2000-Dec-15 01:07:33 " JC > > > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for geopolitics. 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