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Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 06:09:58 -0500
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Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-16 January 2002
Radio Havana Cuba-16 January 2002
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 16 January 2002
.
*PRESIDENT CASTRO SAYS CUBA WILL NEVER RENOUNCE SOCIALISM
*U.S. STUDENTS SHOW INTEREST IN CUBAN ECONOMY
*UKRAINE'S TOP LAWMAKER VISITS CHERNOBYL CHILDREN BEING TREATED IN CUBA
*CUBAN HOSTS INTERNATIONAL NEUROLOGICAL EVENT
*INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONVENTION 2002 TO BE HELD IN HAVANA
*WASHINGTON CONSIDERS EXPANDING MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO COLOMBIA
*PENTAGON CONFIRMS DEPLOYMENT OF HUNDREDS OF TROOPS TO THE PHILIPPINES
*ARGENTINA "BANKRUPT BECAUSE IT FOLLOWED NEO-LIBERAL RECIPES" - PRESIDENT
*A UNIQUE PEACE DEMONSTRATION AT UNITED NATIONS OFFICES IN IRAQ
*Viewpoint: A CHANCE FOR PEACE
.
*PRESIDENT CASTRO SAYS CUBA WILL NEVER RENOUNCE SOCIALISM
Havana, January 16 (RHC)-- Cuba will never renounce socialism, said
Cuban President Fidel Castro during a meeting Tuesday evening in
Havana with some 132 Mexican parliamentarians.
During the five and a half-hour encounter, the Cuban President
answered many questions related to life in Cuba. Questioned about the
multiparty system, Fidel explained that Cuba rejects that particular
political structure, given the calamities and political fragmentation
it has caused in Latin America.
The Cuban leader stressed that contrary to what exists in most
regional nations, the Cuban socialist model places human beings above
everything else. He went on to say that a true democracy is one that
that offers equal opportunities for all.
Speaking on behalf of the visitors, Gustavo Carvajal, Director of the
Foreign Relations Office at the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, expressed
his satisfaction with this visit as part of the activities to mark 100
years of permanent relations between Havana and Mexico City.
During their stay on the island, where they arrived last Friday at the
invitation of the Cuban Parliament, the Mexican legislators met with
other Cuban leaders and toured places of economic, scientific and
social interest including Havana's Institute of Generic Engineering
and Biotechnology and the Latin American School of Medical Sciences.
Fidel Castro thanked the visitors for the countless demonstrations of
unconditional friendship and solidarity shown by the Mexican people
with Cuba in extremely difficult situations over the past 100 years.
*U.S. STUDENTS SHOW INTEREST IN CUBAN ECONOMY
Havana, January 16 (RHC)-- For the second consecutive day, some 20
U.S. students from New York City's Queens College University met on
Tuesday with Cuban scholars and professionals at the Cuban Movement
for Peace in Havana.
On this occasion, debates focused on the island's economy, which was
the main topic of a lecture delivered by Armando Nova, from the Center
for Studies on the Cuban Economy.
Nova referred to the negative impact that the collapse of the former
European socialist bloc had on the island's economy. He pointed out
the difficult situation faced in the early 1990s when Cuba had to
completely change its trade system and markets.
The Cuban expert explained that despite economic difficulties, the
Cuban government has always put special emphasis on social programs to
improve the living conditions of the entire population.
Since their arrival on the island last Saturday, the university
students have had a busy program of visits and meetings with Cuban
students.
*UKRAINE'S TOP LAWMAKER VISITS CHERNOBYL CHILDREN BEING TREATED IN CUBA
Havana, January 16 (RHC)-- Human rights lawmaker at Ukraine's
parliament, Nina Karpachova visited the Tarara Tourist Complex in
Eastern Havana where Chernobyl children have been receiving medical
treatment since 1990.
During her tour of the Tarara complex, Karpachova was accompanied by
the Cuban Ambassador to Ukraine, Jose Peraza and by Victor Pashuk,
from the Ukrainian embassy in Havana.
The Ukrainian lawmaker told the Cuban press that her visit is aimed at
providing the Ukrainian parliament and government with information on
the medical aid and support given by Cuba to the Chernobyl children.
According to Nina Karpachova, the Ukrainian parliament approved an
4-million-dollar aid package for the Tarara Complex last December, and
added that before coming to Cuba she met with her country's Prime
Minister and Health authorities who reaffirmed their commitment to the
Cuban medical program for the Chernobyl children.
The Director of the Tarara Pediatric Hospital, Julio Medina, who is
also the General Coordinator of the program, offered the visitors a
detailed explanation on the medical program for the children affected
by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Some 193 people, including 143
children are currently receiving medical attention at the Tarara
Tourist Center.
The program, led by Cuba's Health Ministry, has assisted over 19,000
victims of the Chernobyl disaster, of which 13,000 are children. The
Program General Coordinator explained that during these years, the
initiative has included 13 complex cardiovascular surgeries, six bone
marrow transplants, two kidney transplants, over 700 neurological and
orthopedic surgeries, among treatments.
Nina Karapachova brought a donation to the center, which included a
computer, clothes, toys and other items. The Ukrainian
parliamentarian, who will stay here until next Monday, is also
scheduled to visit the recently opened School of Social Workers in
Eastern Havana as well as other places of historic and social
interest.
*CUBAN HOSTS INTERNATIONAL NEUROLOGICAL EVENT
Havana, January 16 (RHC)-- The Cuban medical services will hold its
National Congress next January 28th through the 31st. Cuban Professor
Miguel Angel Buergo, Director of the National Program of cerebral and
vascular diseases, told the press in Havana that the event will be
dedicated to the 40th birthday of Cuban Neurological and Brain Surgery
Institute, founded on January 29th, 1962.
Professionals from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, the USA, Panama
and Cuba will attend the scientific gathering. The event will also be
aimed at updating Cuban family doctors on the latest developments of
neurological sciences as well as strengthening relations between the
Neurological Institute and the island's primary health care system.
The Cuban Neurologists' Congress, which will be simultaneously hosted
by different institutions in Havana and Varadero, will hold 10
symposiums on some of the latest diagnosis and treatment techniques
for neurological diseases.
Other subjects on the event's agenda include child and adult epilepsy,
physiology, and cerebral and vascular diseases.
Some 18 specialized courses will be held prior to the congress
beginning on January 23rd on subjects including intensive neurological
care, genetics and neurology, among others.
The medical congress will pay homage to outstanding Cuban Neurologist
Rafael Estrade, founder of the Cuban Neurology and Neuro-surgery
Institute, who was the director of the institution until his death in
1990.
*INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONVENTION 2002 TO BE HELD IN HAVANA
Havana, January 16 (RHC)- Over 1000 delegates from Europe and Latin
America have confirmed their participation in the 3rd International
University Convention 2002, set for February 4th through the 8th here
in Havana.
University students, professors and researchers will focus on the
challenges to higher education in the new millennium and possible
methods of dealing with them.
Parallel to the four-day meeting at Havana's International Convention
Center, the 6th Consultation Board on Postgraduate Courses in
Ibero-America and the 3rd Workshop "University, the Environment and
Sustainable Development" will also hold sessions in the Cuban capital.
*WASHINGTON CONSIDERS EXPANDING MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO COLOMBIA
Washington, January 16 (RHC)-- The United States is considering the
expansion of its military assistance to Colombia -- changing the focus
and concentrating more aid on the counterinsurgency war against rebel
forces.
According to reports from Washington, proposals under high-level
discussion include increased intelligence sharing on guerrilla
activities around the country and training of an additional battalion
of Colombian troops. The U.S. military has trained three such
battalions over the past two years, but the troops have been
supposedly restricted to counter narcotics activities.
U.S.-provided military equipment, including helicopters, is also
limited under law to anti-drug operations, although the Colombian
government is reportedly pressing for those restrictions to be lifted.
Officials in Washington were quick to emphasize that none of the
proposals include direct U.S. combat involvement in Colombia. But
observers say that expansion of U.S. assistance and training beyond
the fight against illegal drugs would represent a huge leap in a
highly sensitive area of U.S. policy.
An unidentified official in Washington said that the proposals to
change the focus of U.S. military aid is a direct result of the
September 11th terrorist attacks. The official hinted that before
then, such a redirection of assistance to Colombia would have been
unthinkable. Since massive amounts of U.S. military aid began flowing
to Colombia less than two years ago, anti-war activists have
repeatedly warned against U.S. involvement becoming a Vietnam-like
counterinsurgency war.
Both the Clinton administration's Plan Colombia -- a 1.3 billion
dollar aid package passed by Congress in 2000 -- and the Bush
administration's 625 million dollar Andean Regional Initiative,
approved in December, came with congressional restrictions on how the
aid could be used. U.S.-trained troops and military equipment, and
most intelligence information, are restricted to the fight against
narcotics trafficking in Colombia.
Under the proposals being discussed in Washington, intelligence
cooperation with Bogotá would be expanded to officially include
information on rebel activities outside the bounds of anti-drug
operations. Many critics of U.S. policies insist that such
intelligence sharing is already taking place secretly and that the new
changes would simply make it above-board.
*PENTAGON CONFIRMS DEPLOYMENT OF HUNDREDS OF TROOPS TO THE PHILIPPINES
Washington, January 16 (RHC)-- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
has confirmed that hundreds of U.S. troops will be sent to the
Philippines -- to take part in what are being called "military
maneuvers." According to independent reports from the U.S. capital,
the American troops will join local Philippine soldiers in operations
against a small group of Muslim militants.
The troop deployment is the first of its kind since the so-called "war
on terrorism" began with a U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan.
President George W. Bush had pledged to help friendly governments
combat terrorists as part of a global war.
Rumsfeld told reporters in Washington that some U.S. military trainers
would be with Filipino forces at various locations, including the
islands of Basilan and Jolo in the southern Philippines. He said that
other troops would be deployed in what he called "a support role."
Noting that Washington has good relations with Manila, the Pentagon
chief said the United States was pleased to provide military
assistance and training.
Up to 690 U.S. soldiers from units based in Hawaii, Okinawa and the
U.S. are to begin arriving next week in the Philippines, according to
officials in Manila. U.S. troops will join in the military operations
as "observers," but officials said they would be armed and allowed to
return fire if attacked.
Military officials added that nearly 200 U.S. military advisers would
be deployed in Basilan, backed by some 500-support troops. Brigadier
General Emmanuel Teodosio, the training director for more than 1000
Filipino troops taking part in military operations, told journalists
in Manila that the Americans will be in the Philippines to train,
advise and assist local troops. He added that the Philippine military
does not want to subject U.S. soldiers to unnecessary risks, but -- in
his words -- "they will be in the battlefront."
Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has come under fire for
the planned deployment of U.S. troops. On Wednesday, senators demanded
an intelligence briefing and an opposition leader warned that both
governments were retracing the circumstances that led to U.S. military
involvement in the Vietnam War.
Other politicians opposed to Washington's plan pointed out that the
1987 constitution bans the permanent stationing of foreign troops in
the country. They urged an investigation into the political and legal
implications of American ground troops in the Philippines.
*ARGENTINA "BANKRUPT BECAUSE IT FOLLOWED NEO-LIBERAL RECIPES" - PRESIDENT
Buenos Aires, January 16 (RHC)-- Argentine President Eduardo Duhalde
says that his nation is on the brink of anarchy because it was
following neo-liberal economic recipes too closely. Speaking with
reporters Tuesday evening, the Argentine president warned that the
country is -- in his words -- "a time bomb which will explode if we
don't carefully dismantle it."
Duhalde warned that Argentina, with an unemployment rate of more than
20 percent and rising, is facing even more problems in the future.
While he spoke with foreign correspondents in Buenos Aires, police
barricaded nearby streets as thousands of Argentines marched to
demand work and government food programs.
At the same time, in Casilda, located in the province of Santa Fé,
police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators who trashed
banks and other businesses. Protesters are angry over a five-week
freeze on bank accounts and the government's inability to pay state
workers and pensioners.
In another provincial capital, San Salvador de Jujuy, demonstrators
broke windows in branch offices of BankBoston and Citibank, ripping
out computers and throwing furniture into the street.
The Argentine president made it clear that he blames the free-market
economic model for most of his country's financial woes. And while he
said that getting along with the United States and Europe is important
for Argentina, but his priority will be to strengthen ties with
regional neighbors in MERCOSUR -- Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Duhalde said he supports the idea of a regional currency, similar to
the new Euro in European countries.
*A UNIQUE PEACE DEMONSTRATION AT UNITED NATIONS OFFICES IN IRAQ
Baghdad, January 16 (RHC)-- A group of U.S. peace activists and Iraqi
street children held a unique demonstration in front of the United
Nations offices in Baghdad, offering UN workers milk and cookies, as
well as free hugs and counseling. Organizers from Voices in the
Wilderness, a U.S.-based campaign to end sanctions against Iraq, said
the UN was like "a battered woman in need of help," calling Washington
"her abuser."
Carrying signs and plates of cookies, the children and activists
approached UN workers as they left the building at the end of the day
on Monday, offering them cookies and hugs. UN personnel were
encouraged to "stand up to their attacker" and "just say no" to
Washington. A small booth was set up for UN personnel who wanted to
talk about their feelings regarding U.S. violence against the UN and
Iraq.
Kathy Kelly, the director of Voices in the Wilderness, told reporters
in Baghdad that "the UN's relationship to the U.S. is that of a
battered woman to an abusive partner, desperately going to great
lengths to provide cover for her abuser." Kelly asked if any of the UN
workers "who provide detailed documentation that Iraq isn't building
bombs out of spare parts for water treatment plants, for example,
really believe that the U.S. cares about their work?"
According to Voices in the Wilderness, the UN's own reports prove that
the U.S.-led international embargo against Iraq has contributed to
hundreds of thousands of deaths among Iraqi civilians since the
sanctions were first imposed in 1990. The activists say that this
constitutes a "violation of the UN's own Charter."
The demonstrators in front of the UN offices in Baghdad said that by
offering free cookies to workers, they hoped the UN staff would be
empowered to stand up to Washington and prevent further attacks
against the Iraqi people.
The unique and creative action took place on the first day of a visit
by Benon Sevan -- the highest ranking UN official responsible for
Iraq.
*Viewpoint: A CHANCE FOR PEACE
The relief, with which wide sectors Colombians greeted the news that
the dialogue between the government and the guerrillas will continue,
underscores the growing sentiment for an end to war and social
injustice in that South American nation.
An end to the talks between the government of president Andres
Pastrana and the Colombian Revolutionary Forces, FARC, would have
worsened the internal armed conflict and meant even more pain and
suffering for the people.
In addition to the timely intervention by the United Nations and
representatives of the ten peace facilitating countries, including
Cuba, a last-minute agreement was reached because both sides are aware
that Colombians want peace.
Danger of a definitive break off of the talks has been constantly
present during the three years of intermittent meetings, but was never
more tangible than at the end of the year 2001.
Many factors were responsible for the increase in frictions, among
them the fact that the United States took sides in Colombia's internal
problems and pressured, especially the armed forces, to impose violent
counter-insurgency measures.
It wasn't accidental that Washington beefed up Colombia's armed forces
over the past three years, to the point where the army is now 110
thousand strong, boasting a fleet of dozens of modern helicopters and
huge amounts of new weapons, all thanks to Uncle Sam.
The United States provided most of the equipment in the context of its
"Plan Colombia," supposedly conceived to struggle against drug
trafficking and to increase development, but the military component
has always been Washington's focus.
Nor does the rarefied international climate, a result of the
so-called, anti-terrorist offensive, favor negotiations in Colombia.
Even less so when we recall that Washington insists on terming the
Colombian rebels as "terrorists." Worse yet, the White House and
Pentagon continue equating the rebels with the country's extreme
rightwing paramilitary groups, which constitute a virtual parallel
army in Colombia.
The United States cares little that the Autodefenses Unidas
paramilitary group, described by experts as an appendage of the armed
forces, is responsible for thousands of murders and for sowing terror
in the countryside.
The average number of killings in Colombia last year was twenty
people, fifteen directly tied to the actions of paramilitary groups.
All those factors will be dealt with beginning on Wednesday in the
negotiations being held in the demilitarized zone that is set to end
on Sunday.
This area will lose its neutrality unless the two sides can establish
a new calendar and exact pledges to examine critical topics. Among
those crucial themes is taking effective actions against paramilitary
groups, which was agreed to in the so-called, San Francisco de la
Sombra document issued last October 5th.
Also critical to continued talks is the necessity to create the
conditions for social and economic reforms meant to reduce poverty and
offer more opportunities to Colombians. Though this week the dialogue
experienced its worse crisis in three years, apart from those few
extremists who want war, everyone is hoping to avoid a total rupture.
And there is one thing that everyone agrees on: time is running out.
(c) 2002 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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