>From: John Clancy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Radio Havana Cuba-14 April 2000 > Sat, 15 Apr 2000 00:11:39 -0400 > > >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 14 April 2000 > > >-US JUSTICE DEPT SEEKS COURT ORDER AGAINST KIDNAPPERS OF ELIAN >GONZALEZ >-SOUTH SUMMIT CLOSES WITH STRONG CONDEMNATION OF NEOLIBERAL "FREE" >MARKET >-HAVANA'S PARTAGAS CIGAR FACTORY INCREASES SALES >-CUBAN MINISTER OF BASIC INDUSTRY VISITS SCOTLAND >-INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSIC EVENT UNDERWAY IN PINAR DEL RIO >-KAMAHAITI 2000 COMES TO A CLOSE IN CAMAGUEY >-Viewpoint: THIRD WORLD MUST CLOSE RANKS... OR FACE CERTAIN DEATH > > >US JUSTICE DEPT SEEKS COURT ORDER AGAINST KIDNAPPERS OF ELIAN >GONZALEZ > >Washington, April 14 (RHC)-- The U.S. Justice Department has >officially petitioned the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to >issue an order to the kidnappers of Elian Gonzalez to surrender the >child to his father. The Federal agency has also requested that the >court reject a petition submitted by the attorneys of the kidnappers, >prohibiting Elian's father from taking his son back to Cuba until the >appeals process has run its course. > >The move came shortly after Immigration and Naturalization >Service Commissioner Doris Meissner announced that action will be >taken in the case. In statements to the NBC TV network's "Today" >program, Meissner said the time has come to enforce the law and that >those holding Elian in Miami are breaking the law. She declined, >however, to say when U.S. authorities would act. > >The U.S. news daily The Washington Post quoted an anonymous >government official to the effect that President Bill Clinton hopes >to see Elian with his father in a day or two, although according to >other sources from the Justice Department, the process could take >another three or four days. > >In Cuba, meanwhile, indignation is running high following >Attorney General Janet Reno's refusal to act when Elian's great- >uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, openly and defiantly challenged Federal >authorities following the passing of another deadline for the child's >surrender to his father. Cubans, and many in the United States >itself, were also insulted by the TV video of Elian stating that he >did not want to return to Cuba -- in what has not only been called an >obvious manipulation, but also criminal, emotional and psychological >abuse of the child. > > SOUTH SUMMIT CLOSES WITH STRONG CONDEMNATION OF NEOLIBERAL "FREE" >MARKET > >Havana, April 14 (RHC)-- The Group of 77 South Summit in Havana >is expected to wind up this evening with a strident condemnation of >what it is calling "the inhumane neo-liberal free market order." The >heads of state or government participating in the event will sign >what has been called an ambitious plan of action, aimed primarily >at eradicating poverty, increasing south-south cooperation and >fomenting an increasing participation of Third World countries in >technological development. > >The eradication of illiteracy, greater cooperation in the areas >of health, family planning and education programs, stimulating south- >south investment through the establishment of a voluntary fund to >promote technological expertise among Third World nations, are >just some of the aspects of plan of action. > >On another level, the G-77 will call for the strengthening of >the United Nations' role in the promotion of international >cooperation, deep-seated reforms in the World Trade Organization and >a greater Third World participation in the international financial >system. Created in 1964, the G-77 is now comprised of 133 nations in >Africa, the Americas and Asia. The Havana Summit has been >characterized by a shower of attacks against economic globalization, >which Third World leaders charge has only benefited the >industrialized world. Cuban President Fidel Castro, and G-77 leader, >Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, will deliver the closing >speeches this evening. > > HAVANA'S PARTAGAS CIGAR FACTORY INCREASES SALES > >Havana, April 14 (RHC)-- Havana's Partagas cigar factory reaffirmed >on Thursday its position as the world's largest seller of >Habanos. Partagas, of the House of the Habano, ended 1999 with >profits of 3.7 million dollars. Partagas' main markets are France, >Italy, Canada and the United States, where customers can choose from >among the company's 32 cigar brands. > > CUBAN MINISTER OF BASIC INDUSTRY VISITS SCOTLAND > >Edinburgh, April 14 (RHC)-- Responding to an invitation from >the government of Great Britain, Cuba's Minister of Basic Industry, >Marcos Portal, visited Scotland to inform local authorities of >the opportunities offered by Cuba for offshore oil exploration in >its territorial waters. > >The British Minister for Scotland, Brian Wilson, welcomed Portal >at Edinburgh Palace. Wilson expressed his country's interest >in developing relations with Havana. > >The Cuban Minister of Basic Industry also visited the Scottish >cities of Glasgow and Aberdeen, where he met with representatives >from more than 40 oil companies. > >INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSIC EVENT UNDERWAY IN PINAR DEL RIO > >Pinar del Rio, April 14 (RHC)-- An international music event >for children called "The Blue Planet" got underway on Friday in the >Pedro Zaiden Theater in Western Pinar del Rio province. > >More than 70 songs were presented in competition for the event, >which is being sponsored by the Cuban Ministries of Education and >Culture and the Jose Marti Pioneers Children's Organization. For the >final competition, the jury chose 19, among them two by renowned >Spanish composer, Ricardo Lafuente Aguado. > >Along with the musical event, competitions in literature, dancing >and painting are also taking place. > > KAMAHAITI 2000 COMES TO A CLOSE IN CAMAGUEY > >Camaguey, April 14 (RHC)-- The first event of cultural >exchange between Haiti and the eastern Cuban province of Camaguey, >Kamahaiti 2000, concludes on Friday after five days of workshops, >conferences and artistic galas. > >Among other activities, the final day of the event included >the signing of an agreement for bilateral cultural exchange and >meetings between Cuban and Haitian authorities in the cultural sector >to explore future trade agreements. > > Viewpoint: > >THIRD WORLD MUST CLOSE RANKS AND ACT AS ONE... OR FACE CERTAIN DEATH > >Faithful to the legacy of Jose Marti, Cuba has once again >championed the cause of unity among the world's poor. > >With his customary political valor and powerful command of >language, Cuban President Fidel Castro stressed that the Third World >must close ranks and act as one -- if it is to successfully navigate >the turbulent waters of globalization. > >A constant defender of the integrationist ideas of Cuba's >National Hero, Fidel Castro warned of the problems threatening >the underdeveloped countries as they prepare to confront >growing globalization of the economy. > >"Never before has humanity had such a formidable scientific >and technical potential, a capacity generated from extraordinary >wealth and well-being -- and never before has the world been so >divided with so much inequality," stated the Cuban president in the >inaugural session of the Group of 77 South Summit. > >After comparing the world to a ship which, like the Titanic is >sailing unchecked toward self-destruction, Fidel noted that it is >evident that the vessel is carrying too much injustice to stay >afloat, yet it continues on its irrational and absurd course insuring >that it will be unable to reach safe port. > >Not only did the Cuban leader paint a clear picture of the >situation, he also proposed a solution: Dismantle the current >anachronistic and unjust economic order. "It is time that the Third >World energetically demand the demolition of organizations like the >International Monetary Fund, which do not provide economic security." > >There must be a financial, regulatory organization that >functions democratically and without veto powers for any member; an >organization that is not exclusively defending the rich, that doesn't >impose conditions that interfere in the sovereignty of other nations; >an agency that would halt uncontrolled speculation. > >According to Fidel Castro, a tax of at least one percent should >be imposed on international speculative transactions, which would >create a fund of more than a billion dollars a year for >sustainable development in the Third World. > >Fidel Castro reiterated that the Third World debt is unpayable >and uncollectable and is one of today's principal obstacles to >development and a time bomb ready to explode. > >Taking into account the importance of oil for progress, the leader >of the Cuban Revolution proposed the regulation of oil prices. >"Rich consumer nations can pay more than 30 dollars a barrel without >being seriously affected." > >However, in the Third World, no country can pay more than >20. Finally, Fidel Castro concluded by stating that another Nuremberg >is needed in order to judge the economic order that has been imposed >on us. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. 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] >================================================================= > >nytcari-04.15.00-00:11:29-7544" JC > > ************* >Items from South Summit which dealt with Elian and UN Nobel Peace >Prize winners. > >Elian Gonzales: > >CUBANS IRRITATED BY DELAY IN REUNITING ELIAN AND HIS FATHER > >HAVANA, Apr 14 (PL) Cuban irritation was obvious here yesterday with >the new maneuvers of those impeding the meeting between the child >Elian Gonzalez, kidnapped in the US for more than four months, and >his father. > >Many people took for granted that Juan Miguel and Elian would meet >yesterday afternoon, but contempt for US laws and government proved >stronger, as has been usual in this case since November 25. > >Lazaro Gonzalez, great-uncle of the boat boy, openly refused to hand >over the minor, failing to comply with US Justice Secretary Janet >Reno's order. > >The relatives who retain the child, survivor of a shipwreck in which >his mother died, ignored the Department of Justice ultimatum to >transfer the child to Washington where his father has been waiting >more than a week. > >While the Miami-based relatives, supported by anti Cuban groups, >manipulate the child's image and defy the US government, Reno with a >patience Cubans consider tolerance refuses to use force to end the >kidnapping. > >"How long?" this is the question that thousands of people in this >country have been asking since December 5 forgetting political or >religious differences to demand Elian's return. > >Lawyers for Elian's distant Florida relatives presented an "in >extremis" demand to the Atlanta Court of Appeals to temporarily >hinder the child's return to Cuba. > >The great-uncle (Lazaro) is disobeying and humiliating US law, said >Cuban journalists and lawyers in an informative panel Thursday. > >Juan Miguel Gonzalez, recognized by US authorities as the only person >with rights over the child, traveled to Washington with his wife and >baby son to recover custody of Elian. > >US attorney Gregory Craig demanded on behalf of his client, Juan >Miguel Gonzalez, that the law be enforced, ending the exploitation of >the six-year-old child and called for his immediate devolution. > >After 8 days of waiting, the embrace between father and son is >threatened with new maneuvers before an astonished international >public opinion that are following these events. RRC/CCS > > NOBEL WINNERS MENCHU AND ESQUIVEL ASK CLINTON TO RETURN ELIAN > >HAVANA, Apr 14 (PL) Nobel Peace Prizewinners Rigoberta Menchu, >Guatemala, and Adolfo Esquivel, Argentina asked US President William >Clinton that Elian Gonzalez be returned to his father. > >In a press statement at South Summit Press Center, the two figures >defended every child's right to live with his parents. > >Elian Gonzalez' case touches everyone's conscience, said the signers >of the letter that urgently asks that the small child be returned to >his family in Cuba and "in that way prevent his political >manipulation and retention in Miami". > >Both laureates emphasized the child's separation from his father >is inadmissible from a legal standpoint and obliges him to submit to >moral and psychological pressures, which affect and damage him. > >Clinton's letter from Menchu and Esquivel demand the US president >act rapidly to guarantee Elian's security and his immediate reunion >with his father. > >Elian Gonzalez survived a shipwreck in November 1999, in which his >mother and eleven other persons died. The child has been retained >illegally by some distant Miami relatives for five months. > >The Miami distant relatives refused to return the child to his >father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, who has been in Washington for a week >trying to meet his child again. IFF/CCS " JC > > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
