>from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cuba press release 67 68 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro said globalization >negatively influences all developing nations. In his welcome speech >to attending Presidents at the Group 77 Summit, the Cuban leader >affirmed that "globalization is an objective reality, which >demonstrates our condition as passengers who travel in the same boat >- this planet, inhabited by us all. But in this boat, passengers >travel in very unequal conditions". During his speech, Fidel Castro >demanded a trial such as the one at Nuremberg, to judge the current >economic order which rules the world, and warned that the world could >be globalized under neoliberal rule, "but it is impossible to >govern thousands of million of people, hungry for bread and justice". > > HAVANA.- Group 77 (G-77) President Olusegun Obasanjo denounced the >great differences existing amongst international relations and called >for globalization to become a process of "prosperity for all and >marginalization for none". Obasanjo considered the growing >differences between south and north nations unsustainable, and >requested that a new approach be created for international commercial >and political relations. The Nigerian President was speaking at the >South Summit inaugural session which gathers 122 representatives from >133 G-77 member countries. He also called for greater integration >amongst the South nations at subregional, regional and international >levels. > > HAVANA.- Presidents and representatives of the 122 participating >nations at the first South Summit demanded the immediate release of >Cuban child Elian Gonzalez, still being illegally held in Miami, U.S. >for almost five months. The reclaim initiative was made by Haitian >President Rene Preval as a gesture of support to the Cuban people and >Government who have shown solidarity with all the Third Worldnations, >said Preval. Before concluding the first meeting�s working day, >Preval publicized his proposal, which received unanimous applause and >a standing ovation from the participating authorities in the room. > > GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.- At the UN Human Rights Commission (HRC), Cuba >once again denounced over 122 days disgraceful retention of child >Elian Gonzalez in the U.S. Cuban Ambassador Carlos Amat detailed the >cruel and criminal maneuvers taking place since November to illegally >retain the boy in the U.S., during a speech at the UN HRC 56th Period >of Sessions. He added that the Commission cannot ignore the retention >suffered by the six year old boy, who has, up till now, been >prevented from returning to his country, his father and his close >relatives. > > HAVANA.- The open tribune of a TV round table discussion yesterday >continued with new details on the handover of child Elian Gonzalez, >retained by delaying tactics, to his father Juan Miguel Gonzalez, now >in the U.S. and awaiting the minor�s return. Ricardo Alarcon, Cuban >People�s Power National Assembly (Parliament) President analyzed the >situation, specifically emphasizing the recent formula to find a >solution to the case by family agreement. However, Alarcon observed >that according to U.S. law, the only people who have custody rights >after a father are brothers, grandparents, uncles and cousins. The >Cuban Parliament president added that those prolonging the retention >of Elian Gonzalez in the U.S. show a lack of respect for U.S. >authorities and society. > > WASHINGTON.- In the midst of the search to find a neutral place to >transfer custody of Elian Gonzalez to his father, sister Jeanne >O�Laughlin, in whose house the grandmothers met their grandson, has >reappeared on the scene. After about an hour, CNN stated that Lazaro >Gonzalez, his daughter Marisleysis and Elian visited O�Laughlin. >According to the U.S. press, Gonzalez proposed that Elian�s father, >Juan Miguel Gonzalez, should travel to Florida so the family can >decide the minor�s fate. The great uncle who is retaining Elian had >commented that the meeting place with Juan Miguel could be >O�Laughlin�s house. Later, Attorney General Janet Reno and >INS representative Doris Meissner arrived at O�Laughlin house and met >both Elian �s relatives, a meeting described by the U.S. press as >fruitless. > > HAVANA.- Marisleysis Gonzalez, cousin of the Cuban child kidnapped >in the U.S. for more than four months, is incapable of giving the >minor security as she suffers from continual emotional breakdowns, >said a well known expert. Cuban psychologists Aurora Garcia quoted a >column that appeared in the U.S. daily Miami Herald on Marisleysis� >repeated hospital internments over the last four years for stress or >emotional anxiety. Due to her psychological state, the young woman >presented as a substitute mother after the death of the child�s real >mother, is in no condition to give Elian the security and stability >he needs, said Garcia. > >WASHINGTON.- Gregory Craig, lawyer of Juan Miguel Gonzalez, father of >the Cuban child retained in Miami, has, on his client�s behalf, >requested the Justice Department to speed up the devolution process >of his son Elian Gonzalez. In front of his office in Washington, >Craig told press that his client has been in the U.S. for six days >without achieving the objective of his travel: to take charge of his >son until Atlanta�s appeal court, responsible for hearing the appeal >in the custody case presented by the Miami relatives, takes a >decision. "It is time for the Department of Justice to request Lazaro >Gonzalez (the minor�s great uncle) to respect the law and do what he >ought to: this child needs his father", said the lawyer. > > HAVANA.- Attended by 60 presidents from the Third World, the Group >77 South Summit has begun. The summit is searching for a common >position amongst member countries on very important themes for >humanity. The statesmen will discuss the Final Declaration and Action >program drafts of the Havana meeting, which outlines perspectives to >take advantage of the benefits of globalization and face its dangers. >In the meeting, important theme for underdeveloped countries such as >the globalization of world economy, South-South cooperation, North- >South relations, and access to knowledge and technology will be >discussed. During the opening session, Olosegun Obasanjo, President >of Nigeria and of G-77, Cuban President Fidel Castro, South African >Thabo Mbeki, as Non Aligned Countries President, and U.N. >Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke. > > HAVANA.- World�s economy research center director Osvaldo Martinez >said that neoliberalism only benefits 20% of the world�s population. >In an interview with the weekly "Negocios en Cuba" (Business in >Cuba), the expert highlighted that this segment consumes 86% of all >the world�s expenses, while a similar number (1.2 billion people) do >not even know what the market is. In his opinion, this contrast is a >very clear example of the difficult social reality in the world. It >is in this context - he explained - that the South Summit is being >held in Havana, in a moment of great uncertainty and instability for >the world�s economy. > > WASHINGTON.- A second request to grant bail to former U.S. >immigration official Mariano Faget, accused of spying for Cuba, was >denied. He will remain in jail until April 24, when his trial is >scheduled to begin. Federal judge Barry Garber dismissed the request >presented by Faget�s attorneys, who based their petition on the fact >that the prosecutor�s office has not proven that Faget spied in favor >of Cuba. The same judge denied the first bail request on February 24. >"Nothing has changed in the case since bail was first requested," >said federal attorney Richard Gregorie at the hearing. > DPTO. INFORMACION/MINREX " JC > > **************** >sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject" Cuba press release 68 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Important dailies of Latin America and Spain are >highlighting Cuban President Fidel Castro's speech at the >inauguration session of the Group 77 Summit on Wednesday, attended by >representatives of over 130 countries. A report entitled "Contra las >injusticias de la globalizacion" (Against the Injustices of >Globalization) by Spanish daily El Mundo's special reporter at the >Summit says Fidel Castro encouraged "mutiny aboard the >globalization boat"... so that all passengers may travel in >conditions of solidarity, equality and justice. The Excelsior, from >Mexico, took up this image of the President's, which reflects the >catastrophic course that economic policies are following, whose only >result has been failure. > > BOGOTA.- Colombian television and radio news highlighted Cuban >President Fidel Castro's pronouncements to the Heads of State and >Government attending the first Group 77 South Summit, in Havana. RNC >and Caracol television networks emphasized the Cuban leader's >statement regarding the need for Third World unity to face the >effects of globalization and fight against poverty. > > MEXICO.- The call of Cuban President Fidel Castro to demolish >the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at Havana's Group 77 South >Summit inauguration ceremony had large repercussion in the Mexican >press. "La Jornada" highlights Fidel Castro's message to Third World >countries, aimed at uniting them to deal a blow to the helm, demolish >the "sinister" IMF, and replace it by a regulating organization of >international finance. The article carried a photo of the Cuban >President on its front page. > > HAVANA.- Underdeveloped countries gathered in Cuba, which has >suffered a blockade imposed by the U.S. for almost 40 years, will >demand the immediate elimination of extraterritorial laws and >economic sanctions which affect the civil population. The demand is >included in the Final Declaration of the South Summit, ready to be >signed today, shortly before the meeting's closing ceremony. The >details were made known to the press. The Final Declaration of the >meeting, which began on Wednesday, states that Group 77 Heads of >State and Government strongly reject the imposition of >extraterritorial laws and regulations, and any other type of >restrictive economic measures against the developing nations. > > GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.- At the UN Human Rights Commission (HRC), Cuba >demanded that the U.S. immediately repeals the so-called Cuban >Adjustment Act, which encourages illegal immigration from Cuba to the >U.S. The Cuban demand to Washington was made by the Cuban delegation >member to the UN, Jorge Ferrer Rodriguez, at the UN's HRC 56th Period >of Sessions. Ferrer Rodriguez requested international solidarity to >oblige the U.S. administration to abolish the abominable act. > > HAVANA.- During a round table discussion on national television >yesterday, Cuban experts criticized the disobedience by Elian >Gonzalez' distant relatives regarding U.S. laws. The Miami family are >refusing to handover the child to his father. Participants said that >non compliance with the orders of U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno >this is a humiliation for the U.S. government. Reno determined the >transfer of Elian's custody for Thursday, 14:00 local time, to end >the boy's retention which began on November 25, 1999. Experts also >considered the attitude of the lawyers of Elian's great-uncle, Lazaro >Gonzalez, and the rest of his Miami based distant relatives, >demonstrates fanaticisim and desperation with political ends . > > WASHINGTON.- Elian's Miami based distant relatives are >encouraging confrontation between the Miami Cuban community and >federal forces after last night's challenge to the U.S. government >for ordering the minor's return, says CNN. The television network >indicated that the boy's great uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, with complete >disrespect for U.S. laws and officials, publicly challenged U.S. >Attorney General Janet Reno's decision to take Elian to Opa Locka >Airport yesterday afternoon at 14:00 local time, for his transfer to >Washington. > > MEXICO.- The fiasco of the Cuban Miami based exiles in their >attempts to retain shipwrecked boy Elian Gonzalez in Miami has >worsened their image in the U.S., and exposed a failed U.S. policy on >Cuba, it was claimed in Mexico. In an article entitled "Las lecciones >de Elian" (Elian's Lessons), the "Reforma" daily assures that U.S. >public opinion has reacted with indignation at seeing the Cuban exile >old guard trying to manipulate the minor's future with a vociferous >ideological jealousy. "This group of exiles, who left Cuba between >1960 and 1962, continue thinking they can do whatever they want, and >that the rest of the country is obliged to understand and agree with >them. Will this be the last big laugh of the "cumbancha"? Perhaps". > > WASHINGTON.- The U.S. Justice Department has accepted a >temporary postponement in the handover order for Elian Gonzalez, >still being held in Miami, to his father Juan Miguel Gonzalez, who is >in Washington to exercise his right of parental authority. Yesterday, >the Atlanta Appeal Court requested a stop on the U.S. government >measure to remove the minor from his retainers' house. According to >information, the Court will today analyze a request by lawyers of >Elian's great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, who is retaining the boy and >requesting prevention of the Justice Department from handing over the >child to his father. The minor's distant relatives asked the >Appeal Court to prohibit the legal power of the U.S. from removing >their temporary custody of Elian, until the case is resolved. > > HAVANA - Washington press Secretary said in this capital that the >situation in Miami continues to be tense as the deadline for >returning Elian Gonzalez to his father approaches. During a telephone >conversation, the Cuban official said the case should have concluded >yesterday at 14:00 local time with the minor's distant relatives >returning him voluntarily to the Immigration and Naturalization >Service (INS) which was to assume custody of the minor at Opa Locka >airport, 16 kilometers from Miami. > > WASHINGTON.- Elian Gonzalez' father Juan Miguel Gonzalez urged the >U.S. government to follow the law and immediately handover his son to >him. In an statement read by his attorney Gregory Craig, the father >demanded that the kidnappers and the U.S. media stop exploiting the >boy. "The Attorney General should comply with the law. Juan Miguel >has been in the U.S. for the last eight days and has not been able to >meet his son," Craig told press. > > ELIAN'S FATHER MEETS TRANSAFRICA LEADER IN CUBAN INTERESTS >SECTION WASHINGTON.- Juan Miguel Gonzalez, Elian's father, received >the support of Randall Robinson, head of the organization >Transafrica. at the Cuban Interests Section (CIS) office in >Washington. Accompanied by his wife, Mercy Carmenate, and their >seven-month old son, Juan Miguel left the residence of Fernando >Remirez de Estenoz, head of the CIS, in Washington, to exchange ideas >with Randall regarding the latest events in his son's life. > > WASHINGTON.- Miami Minors Court state judge Jennifer Bailey ignored >a demand presented by the distant relatives of the Cuban child Elian >Gonzalez, retained in the U.S. against the U.S. Immigration and >Naturalization Service (INS). The claim, presented earlier this week, >requested her intervention to prevent the INS from assuming custody >of the boy. Judge Jennifer Bailey said yesterday that she has no >jurisdiction in the case. > > QUITO.- Deputies and Cuban solidarity and human rights organizations >urged the Ecuadoran government to recuperate a lost dignity, prior to >vote on Cuba in the session of the UN Human Rights Commission >(UNHRC), being held in Geneva. The vote Cuba deserves in UNHRC is one >in honor of truth and justice, not one sold to foreign interests, it >was stated at the Ecuadoran Congress. > >HAVANA.- Cuban Central Bank Minister Francisco Soberon praised the >Cuban economy's latest improvement, despite a difficult international >context with low sugar cane prices, high oil prices and financial >limitations. In a conference held to mark the South Summit, Soberon >congratulated the national economic success in controlling the excess >of cash circulating outside banks, the lowering of inflation, and the >Island's employment increase. > > HAVANA.- The Caribbean Medical Association will hold its fifth >congress from Monday, April 17, with the attendance of some 6,000 >participants from 30 countries. The event will discuss neoliberal >globalization, workers' health and stress, and primary care, among >other issues. DPTO. INFORMACION/MINREX " JC > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >10% Off FogDog.com, Disney.com, eCost.com and many more. >You get paid as you shop with the Pointclick network. >http://click.egroups.com/1/3417/0/_/30563/_/955770837/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Cuba SI: http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi/ > >Imperialism NO! 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