Communist Web Sunday 16th April 2000 9.30pm gmt Summit opposes worldwide apartheid "WHILE before we spoke of apartheid in Africa, today we can speak of apartheid in a world where four billion people are deprived of the most elemental human rights: to life, health care, education, safe drinking water, housing, employment, and hope for their own and their children's future," emphasized President Fidel Castro during the closing session of the South Summit. "We are struggling for the poor countries' most sacred rights, but also for the salvation of the First World, which is incapable of guaranteeing the existence of the human species, of governing itself amidst its contradictions and selfish interests. Only through our struggle can we keep the boat which is this world from crashing into an iceberg and drowning us all," he insisted. Speaking to the heads of state and government and delegations attending the first summit of the Group of 77, Fidel reiterated the Third World nations' proposals and aspirations in their struggle for achieving development in a globalized world with an unequal and unjust economic order. At the start of his speech, which lasted barely 20 minutes, Fidel expressed his admiration for the unity of criteria he observed among the Third World leaders. He noted that the Summit's discussions revealed the talent of the leaders of this community of nations, and their ability to bring together ideas and experiences. At the same time, the discussions confirmed the depth of the crisis facing these nations and the difficulties and calamities their peoples suffer. Fidel noted the unanimous opinion that globalization benefits only 20% of the world population, barely aiding the other 80%, and that the gap between rich and poor countries is growing larger. There is also unanimity, he noted, around the idea that the United Nations and the international financial system should be transformed. He denounced the trade system which is unequal and unjust for the countries of the South, the failure to provide promised government development aid, difficulties in gaining access to... http://www.billkath.demon.co.uk/cw/summitop/summitop.html
