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From: NY Transfer News
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 4:57 AM
Subject: RHC Weekend-12/13 January 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 12/13 January 2002 CUBAN POSITION SEEKS TO REDUCE TENSIONS NEAR US BASE AT
GUANT�NAMO
Havana, January 12 (RHC)-- The Cuban government has announced its official position on the transfer of Afghan prisoners of war to the U.S. Naval Base at Guant�namo -- expressing its willingness to preserve the atmosphere of d�tente and mutual respect that has prevailed in that area over the past several years. Emphasizing the illegal nature of the area's occupation by the United States since 1903, the statement released late Friday night notes that following the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the naval base was "the source of numerous frictions between Cuba and the United States." The official declaration of the Cuban government points out that the U.S. Naval Base at Guant�namo "is the exact place where American and Cuban soldiers stand face to face," therefore it is the place where serenity and a sense of responsibility are most required. The statement goes on to say that while the Cuban people have always been willing to fight and die in defense of the island's sovereignty, "the most sacred duty of our people and their leaders has been to preserve the nation from avoidable, unnecessary and bloody wars." Cuba's official statement notes that the U.S. base at Guant�namo is also the place where it would be easy for those wanting to provoke conflicts between the two countries to undertake plans aimed at encouraging aggressive actions against the Cuban people. "In the past, shots were often fired from that facility into Cuban territory, and several Cuban soldiers died as a result. Counterrevolutionaries found safe haven and support there." The official declaration also points out that "following unilateral decisions by leaders of the U.S. government throughout the revolutionary period in Cuba, tens of thousands of immigrants -- Haitians and Cubans who tried to make it to the United States by their own means -- were taken to that military base. Throughout more than four decades, the naval base at Guant�namo has been put to multiple uses, none of them justifying its presence on the island. But Cuba could do absolutely nothing to prevent it." The Cuban government's position regarding the transfer of Afghan prisoners of war to the U.S. Naval Base at Guant�namo notes that "conditions have never existed for a calm, legal and diplomatic analysis aimed at the only logical and fair solution" to the illegal occupation of the Base: the return to Cuba of that portion of its national territory. The statement emphasizes that a basic principle of Cuba's policy regarding this bizarre and potentially dangerous problem between Havana and Washington has been to not make the claim a major issue, not even a specially important issue. Cuba "has been particularly thoughtful about applying a cautious and equable policy" in relation to the U.S. naval base. Specifically regarding Washington's decision to take Afghan prisoners of war to Guant�namo, the official statement notes that, as in the past, Havana was not consulted -- but there was a gesture in providing ample and detailed information on the steps that would be taken to accommodate the prisoners and ensure that the security of the Cuban people would not in anyway be jeopardized. The Cuban government reiterates that despite the fact that the two countries hold different positions as to the most efficient way to eradicate terrorism, the difference between Cuba and the United States lies in the method and not in the need to put an end to terrorism. And, while the transfer of foreign war prisoners by the U.S. government to one of its military facilities - located in an area of Cuba over which Havana has no control - does not abide by the provisions that regulated is inception, the Cuban government will not place any obstacles in the way of the operation. "Cuba will make every effort to preserve the atmosphere of d�tente and mutual respect that has prevailed in that area over the past several years." (c) 2002 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] ================================================================= ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://TOPICA.COM/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ |
