Castro rains on UN parade, says wealthy run it Updated 7:11 PM ET September 6, 2000 By Evelyn Leopold UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro said Wednesday the new global economic order was offering up more of the same -- a world controlled by a dozen wealthy countries who also run the United Nations. Addressing the U.N. Millennium Summit, Castro's speech was harsher and more critical of globalization and rich nations than nearly any other head of state or government. Although he never referred to the United States by name, he said the principle of sovereignty could not be sacrificed "to an abusive and unfair order that a hegemonic superpower" uses "to try to decide everything by itself." And he joined others in calling for a "radical" reform of the 15-member Security Council, where the five World War II victors are permanent members with veto power. "There is chaos in our world, both within the countries' borders and beyond. Blind laws are offered like divine norms that would bring peace, order, well-being and the security our planet so badly needs," Castro mockingly told the gathering of kings, presidents and prime ministers. "That's what they would have us believe," he added. In reality, however, three dozen wealthy nations "have joined us in this gathering to offer more of the same recipes that have only served to make us poorer, more exploited and more dependent," Castro said. And as he did five years ago, when he last addressed the world body, the aging Caribbean revolutionary, known for his lengthy speeches, stuck to the five-minute rule. He was dressed in a dapper blue suit and tie and received warm applause from the delegates. "There is nothing in the existing economic and political order that can serve the interests of humankind," Castro said. "Thus, it is unsustainable and it must be changed." Castro said that wealthy countries kept investing enormous amounts of money in military and luxury items, speculated on exchange rates and stocks and frittered away billions of dollars every day. On the other hand most of the world lived in poverty, nature was being devastated and drinking water was scarce or contaminated. "The dream of having truly fair and sensible rules to guide human destiny seems impossible to many. However, we are convinced that the struggle for the impossible should be the motto of this institution that brings us together today." he said. Castro, traveling in New York under heavy security, held a brief meeting with Malaysian officials shortly after he settled in at the Cuban Mission after his arrival on Tuesday. He then met for 30 minutes with China's President Jiang Zemin at the nearby Chinese Mission. Among his entourage, is Ricardo Alarcon, a former Cuban foreign minister and U.N. ambassador, who is now parliamentary president. The United States refused to give Alarcon a visa last week for an unofficial event at the United Nations. But U.S. sources said Cuba had been offered 100 visas to attend the summit. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
