> >Radio Havana Cuba-12 September 2000 22:00 > >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 12 September 2000 22:00 > > >*INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS HAVE MORAL OBLIGATION TO THIRD WORLD > DEVELOPMENT--PEREZ ROQUE > >*ALARCON DEPLORES U.S. VISA RESTRICTIONS, LACK OF INTEREST IN MIGRATORY > ISSUES > >*PRESIDENT OF YEMEN ARRIVES IN CUBA FOR TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT > >*WINSTON CHURCHILL'S GRANDAUGHTER IN HAVANA FOR HOTEL NACIONAL's 70th > ANNIVERSARY > >*CUBAN MUSICIAN "PELLO EL AFROKAN" DIES AT THE AGE OF 67 > >*CUBAN PSYCHOLOGIST NOMINATED FOR INTERNATIONAL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD > >*IBERO-AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN HAVANA > >*IBERO-AMERICAN CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGY NURSES TO BEGIN IN CUBAN CAPITAL > >*CUBAN OLYMPIC DELEGATION WILL BE COMPLETE IN 24 HOURS > >*VIEWPOINT: RISING OIL PRICES - ANOTHER UNSUSTAINABLE BURDEN FOR THE THIRD > WORLD > > >*INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS HAVE MORAL OBLIGATION TO THIRD WORLD > DEVELOPMENT--PEREZ ROQUE > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- Leading up to Tuesday's opening of the United >Nations' 55th General Assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque >asserted that industrialized nations have a moral obligation to decisively >contribute to Third World development. > >In a speech before the UN Development Program, on the occasion of this >agency's 30th anniversary, Perez Roque said that almost without exception, >the development of the industrialized north was based on the resources, >sweat and blood of the countries of the South. > >The Cuban foreign minister pointed to the reduction in some rich nations of >the development aid earmarked for the Third World, taking the United States >as a prime example. He said that in 1987, the U.S. contributed 185 million >dollars to development aid and that each year that amount has been reduced >-- now standing at only 50 million -- despite the growth of the U.S. economy >and the growing needs of the Third World. > >Perez Roque also reiterated Cuba's offer to place Cuban medical personnel at >the disposition of the United Nations for health programs in Africa. > >UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today inaugurated the world body's 55th >General Assembly session, calling on those present to put into practice the >commitments made at the recently-held Millennium Summit regarding poverty, >injustice, disease and the destruction of our environment. > > >*ALARCON DEPLORES U.S. VISA RESTRICTIONS, LACK OF INTEREST IN MIGRATORY > ISSUES > >New York, September 12 (RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon >has deplored Washington's visa restrictions and the U.S. government's lack >of interest in discussing bilateral migratory issues. In statements to >reporters at the United Nations, Alarcon confirmed Washington's refusal to >allow him to travel to Washington, DC at the invitation of the Congressional >Black Caucus. > >Alarcon stated that he had also hoped to meet with members of the >Inter-American Dialogue Studies Center and with Democratic and Republican >congressional representatives. > >In New York, after participating in the United Nations Millennium Summit, >the head of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power noted that this is >the second time in two weeks that Washington has denied him a visa. The >U.S. government refused to allow him to travel to New York several weeks ago >for the UN-sponsored Inter-Parliamentary Union gathering. > >Ricardo Alarcon called on Washington to demonstrate a certain level of >political maturity regarding the Cuba-U.S. migratory accords. He said that >if Washington doesn't establish a date for the next bilateral meeting on >migratory issues, the U.S. government's recent charge that Cuba is unwilling >to hold the gathering will be seen as the bluff it was. > >Last December, Cuba suggested that the two countries gather again in >January, but Washington took six months to respond. When U.S. authorities >finally agreed to meet in June, Cuba declined -- arguing that the conflict >over Elian Gonzalez still hadn't been resolved at that time. Insisting that >the bilateral migratory accords are in danger due to Washington's systematic >violations of those agreements, Alarcon said all Washington has to do is >establish a date for the gathering. > >The president of the Cuban Parliament recalled that numerous Latin American >immigrants in the United States are demanding the same treatment given >granted to undocumented Cubans -- in reference to the Cuban Adjustment Act >which allows illegal Cuban immigrants residency and immediate work permits. > > >*PRESIDENT OF YEMEN ARRIVES IN CUBA FOR TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- The President of the Republic of Yemen, Ali >Abdullah Saleh, has arrived in Cuba for a two-day official visit at the >invitation of Cuban President Fidel Castro. During the visit, the Cuban >government will award the foreign dignitary with the island's highest >distinction -- the Jose Marti Order. > >A career soldier since 1958, following the reunification of Yemen in 1990, >Ali Abdullah Saleh was designated President of the Presidential Council and >re-elected to that post in 1993 and 1997. During the first direct >presidential elections held in October 1999, he was elected President of the >Republic with more than 96 percent of the vote. > > >*WINSTON CHURCHILL'S GRANDAUGHTER IN HAVANA FOR HOTEL NACIONAL's 70th > ANNIVERSARY > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- Celia Sandys, granddaughter of the late British >Prime Minister Winston Churchill, toured Havana on Monday after her arrival >to participate in celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Hotel >Nacional, which will run until December. > >Local sources recalled that Churchill was among the most famous clients >hosted by the luxurious Havana hotel, together with U.S. boxer Mohammed Ali, >model Naomi Campbell, singer Nat King Cole, Canadian Prime Minister Jean >Chretian, and many others. > >Hotel Nacional Executive Manager Carmen Casals told reporters that Winston >Churchill represents a legend and recalled that the British Prime Minister >visited the island for the first time in 1895 and paid Havana a second visit >in 1946, when he stayed at the Hotel Nacional. > > >*CUBAN MUSICIAN "PELLO EL AFROKAN" DIES AT THE AGE OF 67 > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- Cuban musician Pedro Izquierdo, popularly known >as "Pello El Afrokan, has died in Havana at the age of 67. > >The popular musician became famous in the 1960's. Among some of his most >successful international performances was the Olympia Theater in Paris, >France. He will be remembered as the inventor of a popular dance - "The >Mozambique" -- which was the rage in Cuba in the 1960's. > >The renowned Cuban band leader and singer created his own group and received >numerous awards, among them the National Culture Medal given by the island's >Ministry of Culture. > > >*CUBAN PSYCHOLOGIST NOMINATED FOR INTERNATIONAL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- The International Biographical Center in >Cambridge, England, has nominated Cuban psychologist Alberto Cobian Mena for >the International Man of the Year 2000 Prize -- awarded for his contribution >to training health professionals. > >The nomination for the prestigious award came from the Editorial and >Advisory Council of the International Biographical Center, which is made up >of personalities from the international scientific community. > >The biographies of 10,000 prominent people were studied and a small group of >semi-finalists chosen, from which the winner will be selected. > >The Cuban scientist is a Doctor of Medical Sciences and heads the Psychology >Department of the Medical Sciences Higher Institute, located in eastern >Santiago de Cuba. > >In addition, Dr. Alberto Cobian Mena is the president of a branch of the >Caribbean Hypnosis Association and of the Cuban Psychology Society in >Santiago de Cuba. He is also a member of the Academic Committee of Primary >Care and Traditional Medicine. > >Dr. Cobian Mena is the author of a book entitled "I Believe in Hypnosis," a >thesis on medicinal plants and has written various articles. > > >*IBERO-AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN HAVANA > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- The Ibero-American Song Festival got underway >Monday in Havana with the participation of singers and songwriters from ten >countries. > >During a news conference at Havana's Casa de las Americas, the event's >organizers announced that concerts will be held in a number of theaters >throughout Havana. There will also be conferences, workshops and debates on >various aspects of Ibero-American songs. > >The Ibero-American Song Festival is sponsored by Casa de las Americas >cultural institution and will run through Saturday, the 16th. > > >*IBERO-AMERICAN CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGY NURSES TO BEGIN IN CUBAN CAPITAL > >Havana, September 12 (RHC)-- The Third Ibero-American Congress on Nurses >Specialized in Neurology will be held from the 19th to the 21st of this >month in Havana. > >The forum, which will be held at the International Convention Center, will >gather neuro-scientists to examine research, prevention and the treatment of >neurological diseases, which are the third most common cause of death >worldwide. > > >*CUBAN OLYMPIC DELEGATION WILL BE COMPLETE IN 24 HOURS > >Sydney, September 12 (RHC)-- With the arrival of jumpers Ivan Pedroso, world >champ in men's long jump, and Javier Sotomayor, world champ in men's high >jump, along with runner Anier Garcia, the Cuban delegation to the Sydney >games will be complete in 24 hours. > >The number of Cuban athletes is 239. Pedroso, Sotomayor and Garcia are >coming from Japan where they attended a competition over the weekend. The >Cuban news daily Granma reports today that Sotomayor landed in third place >at the Yokohama track and field competition with a 2.28 meter jump. > >According to the news daily, although it is not the best result, Sotomayor's >most powerful weapon is his decision to compete and give it his best. >Sotomayor, after jumping over the 2.28 meters, declined the 2.31 meters, but >then failed the 2.33. Charles Austin from the U.S. was second with 2.31. >Viashelav Voronin was in first place with 2.33 meters. > >This competition corroborates what many specialists are predicting about >men's high jump competitions in Sydney. They believe it is going to be a >very tough competition, taking into consideration the latest results in >which Russia's Voronin has the best jump of the season with 2.40 meters, but >Austin and Sotomayor are closely following. > >The Cuban high jumper is back on the sports circuit after a one year >suspension, and his lack of international training this year is what may be >a hindrance for him. > > >*VIEWPOINT: > >RISING OIL PRICES - ANOTHER UNSUSTAINABLE BURDEN FOR THE THIRD WORLD > >The current skyrocketing oil prices have hit 35 dollars per barrel on the >international market, compared to less than 10 dollars just a few years ago. >Fuel demand is high in developed nations, where it is essential to the >functioning of big industry. However, those countries have the resources to >face the costs. Wealthy nations have become a privileged elite among the >world's nearly 200 countries. The juicy dividends that they receive from >the interest payments on the Third World's foreign debt alone is enough to >alleviate the undesirable burden of higher oil prices. > >Regarding the underdeveloped world, a new, unsustainable burden has now been >hoisted upon its already exhausted shoulders. Home to the vast majority of >the world's population, Third World nations are now forced to earmark most >of their scarce resources, not just to service the annual payments on their >never-ending foreign debt, but also to pay for the fuel they need to put >their faltering industries to work. > >The problem has caused consternation, particularly in Asia, where there is a >growing concern that the rise in oil prices will bring about galloping >inflation, leading to another economic crisis. > >A substantial, acceptable reduction of prices to benefit both large and >small consumers is unlikely. What is certain however, is that the vast >majority of the world's population will be the most affected by this new >dilemma, which has now been added to their already innumerable economic >problems. The possibility of surviving in today's globalized world is ever >more difficult for the Third World -- watching helplessly as the free market >takes hold even of the power to determine a country's destiny. > >If the international community is to prevent a social cataclysm of >unpredictable global proportions, quick action must be taken to put the >world economy back on course. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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