>X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Unverified) >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 19 December 2000 > . > >*ANALYSIS OF VLADIMIR PUTIN'S VISIT TO CUBA > >*HARRY BELAFONTE AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATE > >*PIANIST CHUCHO VALDES HONORED BY NEW ORLEANS > >*NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF SPAIN > >*BURUNDI MINISTER FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS ENDS VISIT TO CUBA > >*CUBAN PARLIAMENT GEARS UP FOR ORDINARY SESSIONS ON THURSDAY > >*Viewpoint: CUBA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE > . > >*ANALYSIS OF VLADIMIR PUTIN'S VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion, broadcast live >on Cuban radio and television Monday evening, examined the recent >visit to Cuba by Russian President Vladimir Putting. > >A panel consisting of Cuban journalists and experts on >international affairs took a look at the historic visit -- the first >by a Russian president since the disintegration of the Soviet Union >ten years ago. It was noted that Vladimir Putting took the >opportunity to invite his Cuban counterpart to visit Russia, which >was gratefully accepted by the Cuban president. > >Following the roundtable discussion, an important interview granted >by Fidel to the ITER-TASS News Agency was aired. During the >interview, the leader of the Cuban Revolution answered questions put >to him by Russian journalists and touched on issues regarding the >international situation. The Cuban leader reflected on the role that >Russia could play in helping to fight against a univocal world. He >also analyzed the importance of bilateral relations between Havana >and Moscow and the relationship between the people of both nations. > >Monday evening's roundtable discussion was broadcast live on >Cuban radio and television, as well as the international short- >wave frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. > > *HARRY BELAFONTE AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATE > >Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- Cuba's Higher Arts Institute awarded >U.S. singer Harry Belafonte, Monday in Havana the Honorary Doctorate >of Arts Degree. > >During the ceremony, Harry Belafonte said that Cuba has always been >an artistic haven for people who struggle for the liberation of >humanity. The President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Aaron and >Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto attended the ceremony in honor of >the renowned U.S. artist, who traveled to the island to participate >in the recently concluded International Film Festival of New Latin >American Cinema and The International Jazz Festival. > > *PIANIST CHUCHO VALDES HONORED BY NEW ORLEANS > >Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes was given >the Honorary Guest distinction by the New Orleans Mayor's office >during the recently concluded International Jazz Festival "Jazz Plaza >2000." In statements to journalists on Monday in Havana, the Cuban >musician expressed his satisfaction about the Jazz Festival, which >had the participation of prestigious artists from all over the world. > >This year's International Jazz Festival was dedicated to >legendary U.S. musician Louis Armstrong. > > *NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF SPAIN > >Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- Cuba's National Ballet Company, >directed by the island's prima ballerina, Alicia Alonso has returned >from a two month Spanish tour which was identified as one of the most >productive so far. > >In statements to journalists, Monday in Havana, Alicia >Alonso explained the troupe's tour and signaled the 12 performances >in Valencia, as historic. > >The Cuban National Ballet will perform at the Garcia Lorca >Theater this year. They are scheduled to perform in various countries >in the coming year. > > *BURUNDI MINISTER FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS ENDS VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- Burundi's Minister for Foreign >Relations and Cooperation, Severin Ntajomuvukyle has wound up his >visit to Cuba, which he characterized as impressive. > >Before his departure the African leader met with Cuba's >Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Marta Lomas where both >sides signed important agreements. > >Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque thanked the >Burundian official for his country's support of Cuba in different >international forums, especially its vote condemning Washington's >blockade against the island during the UN General Assembly. > > *CUBAN PARLIAMENT GEARS UP FOR ORDINARY SESSIONS ON THURSDAY > >Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- Cuban ministers and officials >from different institutions will present their annual reports to >the National Assembly before Thursday's first day of >parliamentary sessions. > >Cuba's Central Bank, the Physical Planning Institute, and the >Ministry of Computer Science and Communications will begin with their >annual report. > >During last Sunday and Monday, the ten permanent parliamentary >work commissions met and reported on their year's work and listened >to interventions from heads of governmental organizations. > >The six ordinary sessions of the National Assembly examine >and approve, among other documents, the annual report on the economy, >last year's budget and next year's economic projections. > > Viewpoint: > >*CUBA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE > >The Cuban economy will face difficulties at the beginning of the >year 2001, however the country's Gross Domestic Product will surpass >five percent by the end of this year. > >During the last year of this century, Cuba has faced severe >problems such as serious droughts and the recent rise in oil prices >but the economy continues to grow in a modest but steady way as a >result of the readjustment package implemented by the Cuban >government over the past decade. > >As a result, Cuba's production is now more efficient and >its industries are better organized while foreign investments in >sectors like tourism continue to have a positive impact on the >country's economy. > >Although the agricultural sector has made considerable advances, >it has not yet been able to meet the major demands of the >population. This has forced the island to spend funds on food imports >instead of developing investment plans in dynamic sectors. > >Added to this panorama is the upcoming ultra- right US >administration, which has already announced its stiffer and more >aggressive policy towards Cuba. That policy includes the adoption by >the new administration of measures strengthening Washington's >economic and financial blockade of the island. > >Although the unilateral measure has considerably affected >Cuba's social and economic development, it has reinforced the Cuban >people's will to live under difficult conditions by developing >relations with most other countries of the world. > >No new anti-Cuba measure taken by the new U.S. administration in >order to deepen the difficulties of the Cuban people could be worse >than the ones already taken thus far by Washington, unless there are >thoughts of a direct military aggression. > >Cubans are simply dedicated to continue working the way they have >done so far, maintaining national unity and political and >ideological firmness, which have allowed them to survive over the >past four decades of Revolution. > >Cuba faces the upcoming year with faith and optimism, with >full confidence in its moral strength and determined to share, as it >has always done, all its victories and triumphs with the sister >nations of the Third World. > >(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-29616 >2000-Dec-20 02:39:19 > > > *********** > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject:Havana Radio news/views Dec 20. 5%riseGNP >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 20 December 2000 > . > >*PANAMA WILL DECIDE ON EXTRADITION OF TERRORISTS NEXT MONTH > >*CUBA REMEMBERS 11th ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INVASION OF PANAMA > >*ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION EXAMINES INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM OF IMMIGRATION > >*CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH U.S. PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS > >*EUROPEAN NORDIC BRIGADE CURRENTLY VISITING THE ISLAND > >*CUBA'S YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE WINDS UP THEIR NATIONAL COMMITTEE >MEETING > >*PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETS WITH THE CUBAN >PARLIAMENT > >*Viewpoint: CUBA FINISHES THE YEAR WITH A 5% RISE IN GNP > > . > >*PANAMA WILL DECIDE ON EXTRADITION OF TERRORISTS NEXT MONTH > >Panama City, December 20 (RHC)-- The Panamanian government will issue >a decision in January on whether or not it will extradite Luis Posada >Carriles and three of his terrorist accomplices to Cuba. The four are >being held in Panama on charges of plotting the assassination of >Cuban President Fidel Castro during the recently held Ibero-American >Summit. > >Panamanian Foreign Minister José Aleman told reporters on Tuesday >that attorneys and government officials are studying the extradition >of Posada Carriles, as well as Guillermo Novo Sampoll, Gaspar Jiménez >and Pedro Crispin Ramón. He noted that another Panamanian - José >Hurtado - is also being held by authorities and charged with criminal >activities and illegal possession of explosives. Hurtado served as >Posada Carriles' driver. > >The terrorists were arrested last month after the Cuban president >personally denounced plans to kill him during the regional summit in >Panama City. It was later discovered that the commando had smuggled >C-4 explosives into the country and was preparing to blow up an >auditorium on the campus of the University of Panama, where the Cuban >leader was scheduled to speak. Sources point out that had the >explosives been detonated as planned, hundreds of students would >certainly have been killed by the blast. > >Cuba has formally requested the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles >and his accomplices from Panama. Posada Carriles has a long history >of terrorist activities against the Cuban Revolution - including the >1976 sabotage bombing of a Cubana passenger jet, killing all 73 >people aboard. > > *CUBA REMEMBERS 11th ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INVASION OF PANAMA > >Havana, December 20 (RHC)-- Today marks another anniversary of the >U.S. invasion of Panama. It was on this date 11 years ago -- in 1989 >-- that 26,000 U.S. troops brutally attacked this Central American >country. The invasion of Panama took untold thousands of lives and >left many more wounded and homeless. The exact number of those killed >remains a mystery... official sources say hundreds were killed but >eyewitnesses insist that several thousand were buried in common >graves. > >News agencies report that demonstrators in Panama City took to the >streets today to protest Washington's invasion 11 years ago -- noting >that the new U.S. president-elect is the son of George Bush... the >man who gave the order for the invasion in 1989. The protesters >agreed that everyone hopes George W. Bush will live up to his >campaign promises to be a "compassionate conservative" and not simply >follow in his father's footsteps by repeating a history of >interventionism. > >Marking yet another anniversary of the invasion, the Cuban press >recalled that Havana immediately condemned Washington's invasion as a >flagrant violation of international law and of the independence, >sovereignty and territorial integrity of Panama. It was pointed out >that Cuba called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, >although Washington adamantly disapproved taking up the issue at the >United Nations. In the end, the UN Security Council voted 10 to four >with one abstention to condemn U.S. force in its invasion of Panama. >The United States, Britain and France used their veto power to block >the resolution, while Canada also voted against the UN resolution. > > *ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION EXAMINES INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM OF IMMIGRATION > >Havana, December 20 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion, aired live on >Cuban radio and television Tuesday evening, analyzed the >international problem of immigration. > >A panel of experts on migratory affairs and top Cuban journalists >addressed the issue, noting that it is one of the most complicated >problems in today's world. According to the panelists, the flow of >immigrants from South to North has increased dramatically with the >onset of neo-liberal globalization -- which only makes the growing >gap wider between rich and poor. > >Eduardo Dimas, a radio and TV commentator here in Havana, stated that >almost all immigration is due to economic reasons. He pointed out >that immigrants travel -- legally or illegally -- from Third to First >World countries. Dimas stated that African and Asian immigrants >usually travel to European countries, whereas Latin American >immigrants travel North -- primarily to the United States. > >Another panelist on Tuesday evening's roundtable, Reynaldo Taladrid >-- a journalist with Cuban television -- said that trafficking in >human beings is a growing industry... with profits into the billions >of dollars. Taladrid told the radio and TV audience that contraband >in humans has become a huge business controlled by the mafia. > >Video clips were broadcast as part of the program -- showing border- >crossings from Mexico into the United States. It was noted that >U.S. Border Patrol officers have frequently used violence against >undocumented immigrants trying to reach the United States to improve >their economic situation. > >Tuesday evening's roundtable discussion was aired live on Cuban radio >and television, as well as the international shortwave frequencies of >Radio Havana Cuba. > > *CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH U.S. PROFESSORS AND >STUDENTS > >Havana, December 20 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro says that he >trusts the capacity of humanity to have the energy and necessary >intelligence to carry out the ideals of equality and fraternity as >promoted by the French Revolution. > >The Cuban leader addressed a meeting of more than 700 U.S. professors >and students at the University of Havana. The group arrived in the >Cuban capital on Sunday on board the ship "Universe Explorer," a >cruise organized by the University of Pittsburgh. > >The Cuban president said that more than any other young people, >U.S. students need to learn most about the world because Washington's >economic, technological, cultural and political power determine the >destiny of the planet. > > *EUROPEAN NORDIC BRIGADE CURRENTLY VISITING THE ISLAND > >Havana, December 20 (RHC)--The European Nordic Brigade, currently >visiting the island, has begun their voluntary work on the outskirts >of Havana. > >The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) >officially welcomed the nearly 150 members of the Brigade coming from >eight European countries. > >During the welcoming ceremony, ICAP's vice president, Ricardo >Rodriguez, thanked the brigadistas for their solidarity over these >past 30 years. > >As well as voluntary work in a citrus area located in Caimito in >Havana province, the members of the Nordic Brigade will meet >representatives of grassroots organizations and tour places of >interest in the provinces of Havana and central Villa Clara. > > *CUBA'S YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE WINDS UP THEIR NATIONAL COMMITTEE >MEETING > >Havana, December 20 (RHC)-The National Committee of Cuba's Young >Communist League (UJC) wound up their plenary meeting on Tuesday in >Havana, where they discussed the group's work over the past year. > >The National Committee of the UJC evaluated the organization's growth >and praised the work and participation of the UJC in the televised >round tables, open tribunes as well as other activities demanding an >end to Washington's aggressions against the island. > > *PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETS WITH THE CUBAN >PARLIAMENT > >Havana, December 20 (RHC)-- The president of the Cuban Chamber of >Commerce, Antonio Luis Carricarte says that the institution's main >objectives next year are to increase the number of exports and >promote the country's products abroad. > >During the Second Business Forum of Cuba's Chamber of Commerce, which >is currently being held at Varadero Beach Resort, Carricarte added >that the organization will also improve the electronic trade and the >application of bar-codes, used for international identification of >its products. > >A short documentary about Matanzas province's export products was >shown during the event, and copies were sent to Canada, the United >States, Spain, Italy and several European countries. > > *Viewpoint: CUBA FINISHES THE YEAR WITH A 5% RISE IN GNP > >The Cuban economy will face some difficulties at the beginning of the >year 2001, however the country's Gross Domestic Product will surpass >five percent by the end of this year. > >During this last year, Cuba has faced serious droughts and the recent >rise in oil prices, but the Cuban economy continues to grow in a >modest but steady way as a result of the economic package implemented >by the Cuban government over the past decade. > >As a result, Cuba's production is now more efficient and its >industries are better organized while foreign investments in sectors >like tourism continue to have a positive impact on the country's >economy. > >Although the agricultural sector has made considerable advances, it >has not yet been able to meet the major demands of the population. >This has forced the island to spend funds on food imports instead of >increasing investment in the development of some of the more dynamic >economic sectors. > >Added to this panorama is the incoming ultra-right U.S. >administration, which has already announced its even stiffer and more >aggressive policy towards Cuba. That policy includes the adoption by >the new administration of measures strengthening Washington's nearly >40-year economic and financial blockade of the island. > >Although the unilateral measure has considerably affected Cuba's >social and economic development, it has reinforced the Cuban people's >will to live under difficult conditions by developing relations with >most other countries of the world. > >No new anti-Cuba measure taken by the incoming US administration >could be worse than the ones already taken thus far by Washington, >unless there are thoughts of a new military aggression. > >Cubans are simply dedicated to continue working the way they have >done so far, by maintaining national unity and political and >ideological firmness, which have allowed them to survive over the >past four decades of Revolution. > >Cuba faces the coming year with faith and optimism, with full >confidence in its moral strength and determined to share, as it has >always done, all its victories and triumphs with its sister nations >of the Third World. > >(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-11007 2000-Dec-20 23:06:28 " 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. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
