>Subject: Cuba press release 70,71 >Status: > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Cuba press release 70, 71 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, MONDAY 17, APRIL 14, 2000 > >MEXICO.- Cuban President Fidel Castro's denouncement of the >"world apartheid" which condemns four billion people to live in >poverty had wide repercussions in the Mexican press. When >highlighting conclusions from the South Summit meeting organized by >Group 77 (G-77) in Havana, "La Jornada" daily emphasized the dark >panorama of Third World countries as presented by the Cuban President >to the 42 Presidents and participants at the meeting. Fidel Castro >spoke of the hundreds of millions of starving people without schools >nor medical attention, who are forced to work in hard and >miserable jobs. "These are the permanent human rights reserved for >us", confirmed Fidel Castro, with irony. > >WASHINGTON.- John Podesta, White House Cabinet head confirmed that >after the Atlanta Federal Court makes its decision in Elian >Gonzalez's case, the U.S. government will reunite the minor with his >father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez. On Sunday, in a statement to CNN >television network, Podesta said "this issue must be solved, and once >the Atlanta Court makes its pronouncement, the U.S. government will >be ready to reunite Elian with his father, with whom he belongs". >Referring to the Miami based family who has retained the minor for >almost five months, but without directly mentioning them, Podesta >said "we expect reason to prevail and the right thing will be done: >apply the law and allow a peaceful solution. > >WASHINGTON.- David Abraham, University of Miami Immigration Law >expert said the only possible way to solve the case of Cuban child >Elian Gonzalez is to immediately return him to his father. "Legally, >everything has been clear since the beginning of December when U.S. >Immigration and Family Law established that the minor should be >reunited with his only surviving parent", adding "negotiations should >not be carried out with retainers". Abraham pointed out that it is >clear the U.S. government did not have a successful plan or strategy >in the case. > >QUITO.- Ecuadorian expert Omar Ospina stated that a crime, a dirty >act of politicking, is being committed with Cuban child Elian >Gonzalez, still illegally being held in the U.S. by distant relatives >who have turned him into a clown. In a "Hoy" daily article, Ospina >says if the retained child was Ecuadorian, Greek or Malayan and not >Cuban, he would already have been returned to his homeland and >father, without anybody becoming angry about it. For political >reasons, the U.S. helps a so-called Cuban exile, whilst Haitians are >persecuted, beaten and returned to their country, observed Ospina. > >BUENOS AIRES.- The Argentinean press is closely following the case >of Cuban child Elian Gonzalez, still illegally held in Miami, for >almost five months now, and highlights the increasingly negative >position of the distant relatives who are holding him. For the >"Clarin" daily, the situation has reached a point where "U.S. federal >government authority is in danger, and has only just suggested that >the boy may be being kidnapped". The newspaper evaluates the case's >development during the last week, stating that the minor's retainers >do not seem to be concerned about letters they have received from the >legal authorities. On the contrary, every time they receive an >ultimatum to handover the child, they have ignored it, according to >the newspaper. > >MANAGUA.- The case of the Cuban minor Elian Gonzalez, illegally >retained in Miami, U.S., continues being news in Nicaragua, where >newspapers are dedicating main columns to discuss the issue. The >Nuevo Diario published the statement by U.S. President Bill Clinton >that sooner or later the child's Miami relatives will have to obey >the government order to hand over the child to his father, who lives >in Cuba but is now in the U.S. waiting to receive him. "In the end, >the law must be obeyed", said Clinton, according to the Nicaraguan >daily. > >HAVANA.- Members of electoral booths throughout Cuba tried out >the mechanisms to be applied on April 23, in order receive better >results in these elections. The delegates are government >representatives, elected in the neighborhoods by secret and direct >ballot every two and a half years. With this procedure, they form >municipality councils of government administration. > >CAMAGUEY, CUBA.- A group of 18 Cuban Education Ministry (MINED) >officials left for Haiti to initiate a campaign against illiteracy in >this Caribbean country. The group is formed by national and >provincial methodologists, foreign language school principals, >teaching plan experts, teacher training school professors and >education officials from different Cuban provinces. America Quesada, >MINED representative in Haiti explained that an exploratory plan has >already been carried out, and will be now enlarged through a literacy >system using widely received national radio stations. In Haiti, 65 >percent of the population is illiterate. > >VARADERO, CUBA.- Sisavath Keobounphanh, Prime Minister of the >People's Democratic Republic of Lao, visited Cuba's most important >tourist location, Varadero, and particularly a zone where investments >in hotel construction is being developed. The Prime Minister received >detailed information on Cuban reality, and perspectives of the beach >resort, as explained by Matanzas Province Tourism Ministry delegate, >Fermin Trujillo. > >HAVANA.- The growing fishing industry is expected to contribute US$ >120 million to the Cuban economy. Thus efforts are being made to >intensify cultivation with better quality species, said Fishing >Minister Orlando Rodriguez. In an statement to the weekly Opciones, >the minister explained that the industry is working to produce more >efficient fish breeding. After a visit to Pinar del Rio, Cuba's >westernmost province, he highlighted that these efforts will allow >for an increase in the number of aquiculture products to be exported. >Currently, Cuba exports over 15,000 tons of aquiculture products, >added Rodriguez, who pointed out that the future of the Island's >fishing industry cannot depend only on lobsters and shrimps. > >URUGUAY.- With two and a half stages of the 57th Uruguay's Cycling >Tour completed, Cuban Pedro Pablo Perez is only two seconds away >from the race leaders. Perez finished third in the first half of the >third stage, which covered 134km between the province of Maldonado >and the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) headquarters in the >capital, Montevideo. The winner was Carlos Quiroga (Club Fenix) >with an official time of 2:55.06 hours. Perez is now two seconds >behind leaders Gustavo Figueredo and Gregorio Bares, both from >Uruguay. DPTO. INFORMACION/MINREX > > *************** >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cuba press release 71 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, TUESDAY 18, APRIL 14, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro and the People's Democratic >Republic of Korea's Supreme Assembly Permanent Committee President, >Kim Yong Nam, held official talks at the Palacio de la Revolution >(Revoluti�n Square). The North Korean leader had been received >shortly before by the Cuban President at the Plaza de la Bandera, >where the official welcoming ceremony and greetings to the diplomatic >corps took place. Afterwards, the visiting delegati�n and their hosts >arrived at State Council headquarters, where they exchanged opinions >on themes of both nations' day to day realities, and >most importantly, results from the South Summit, recently concluded >in Havana. > >HAVANA.- A Cuban delegati�n headed by President Fidel Castro and a >Laos one headed by Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh held official >talks at the Palacio de la Revoluci�n (Revoluti�n Palace). The talks >were also attended by Laos and Cuban officials, including Cuban Vice >President Carlos Lage and Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Perez >Roque. Shortly before, Keobounphanh was received with honors by the >Cuban President at the Plaza de la Bandera, where he received the >greeting of the diplomatic corps accredited in Cuba. The Laos leader >was at the head of his country's delegati�n to the recently concluded >South Summit, which took place on April 10-14 with the participati�n >of 122 delegations. > >MONTEVIDEO.- The repercussi�n of Cuban President Fidel Castro's >speech during the Group 77 South Summit, recently concluded in >Havana, continues in Uruguay. Radio stations and televisi�n networks >have continued commenting on Fidel Castro's speech and his call for a >uni�n of poor countries to face the policy of the International >Monetary Fund (IMF). The Cuban President's speech -transmitted by >Prensa Latina News Agency- was published in full on Sunday by "La >Republica� daily, which called attenti�n to it on the front page. > >HAVANA.- The use of Holy Week as another delaying tactic in Elian >Gonzalez' return to his father was considered by Reverend Jose Reyes >Caballero, South Miami Baptist Church Pastor, as unbelievable. During >a phone interview for a TV round table discussi�n held in Havana, the >religious man who teaches at the Miami-Dade county public school, >rejected the idea that some Protestant pastors have aligned >themselves with the Miami based mafia, in order to maintain the >child, and have even violated U.S. laws. > >HAVANA.- Cuban lawyer Julio Fernandez Bulte denounced the >relationship between new maneuvers to delay the meeting of Elian >Gonzalez with his father, and campaigns in Geneva aimed at accusing >Cuba of human rights violations. During a televisi�n appearance, the >expert recounted the legal recourses and violations committed in the >case of the minor, who has been held for almost five months. He >observed that there was no legal argument to oppose the U.S. >Immigrati�n and Naturalizati�n Service's January 5 decisi�n that >custody of the minor belongs to the father. > >WASHINGTON.- Yesterday, another delay took place in the fate of Cuban >child Elian Gonzalez, kidnapped in Miami by his distant relatives who >are refusing to hand him over to his father. The Miami based >relatives are being protected by the ambiguity of the U.S. >immigrati�n authorities. On Monday, the U.S. press stated that their >government could at least theoretically try to hand over the child to >his father, in case the Atlanta Appeals Court rules in his favor. >Unconfirmed rumors spread by dailies such as The Washington Post, The >New York Times and various TV networks, say that the >Washington government "plans to rescue the child. Meanwhile, a legal >source revealed that President Bill Clinton wants to "exhaust all >possibilities� before taking a definitive decision. > >WASHINGTON.- Yesterday, the U.S. TV network CBS said that Cuban child >Elian Gonzalez is being psychologically maltreated by his Miami >distant relatives. The statement made by the TV network is based on >what Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, temporarily in Washington >waiting to recover his son, said on Sunday night. The six year old >boy's father called the video tape recorded at the house where Elian >is being retained, in which the boy says he wants to remain in the >U.S., an abuse and mistreatment. > >WASHINGTON.- Influential U.S. daily "The New York Times said >organizations working in Miami against the Cuban revoluti�n are about >to be defeated in the case of Elian, just as they were at Playa >Giron. "Miami and two of its most important pol�ticians are about to >have their own Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron)", said the newspaper. The >daily named the pol�ticians as Alex Penelas, from the Democrat party >and Miami-Dade county mayor, and Joe Carollo, Miami city's Republican >mayor. > >HAVANA.- Over 100,000 people will demonstrate today in front of the >Czech Embassy in Havana in protest� at the European country's >complicity in the U.S. desire to condemn Cuba at the UN Human Rights >Commissi�n in Geneva. The announcement was made at the conclusi�n of >a TV round table discussi�n which analyzed the latest� events in the >illegal retenti�n of child Elian Gonzalez in Miami. The program's >host, Carmen Rosa Baez, said the demonstrati�n will take place at >10:00 local time, no matter the result of today's vote, 10:00 Geneva >time, on a resoluti�n to condemn Cuba for alleged human >rights violations. Informati�n was also given that on Wednesday >afternoon, a TV round table discussi�n to denounce the complicity of >the Czech authorties with Washington will be held. On Thursday, a >mass demonstrati�n in front of the U.S. Interests Secti�n in Havana >will take place. The act will be held at the huge Jose Marti Open >Tribune area, inaugurated on April 3. > >GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.- Cuba accused the U.S. of intensifying the >already strong pressures it is applying in Geneva on member countries >of the U.N. Human Rights Commissi�n (HRC) to impose a new resolution >against the Island. At a press conference, Cuban ambassador Carlos >Amat stated that the Washington delegation, formed by 47 >representatives (the largest), are continuously harassing the >commission's member countries to pass a resoluti�n against Cuba for >alleged human rights violations. The resolution, presented by the >Czech Republic on Washington's orders, should be voted on today. > >GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.- The U.S. has once more chosen not to listen to >new calls by the international community not to apply measures >against other states, as is happening with the blockade imposed on >Cuba more than 40 years ago. Washington's traditional behavior was >once more in evidence at the 56th sessi�n of the UN Human Rights >Commissi�n (UNHRC) held in Geneva, in which a resoluti�n was adopted >to encourage all governments to abstain from applying restrictive >extraterritorial measures against other nations. Out of the 53 UNHRC >member states, 36 voted in favor of the call. > >MEXICO CITY.- Cuban Minister of Economy and Planning Jose Luis >Rodriguez reiterated that his country's GNP will grow by 4.5% this >year, highlighted a local newspaper. In an interview with the daily >"El Financiero", Rodriguez remarked that Cuba has already entered the >stage of full recuperation, despite the blockade imposed by >Washington almost 40 years ago, which has caused losses to the Island >valued at over US� 67 billion. Cuba already has signed 370 >cooperati�n agreements, its investment flow reaches nearly US$ 4 >billi�n annually, and has established trade exchanges with >3,000 companies, he indicated. > >HAVANA.- Training to prevent AIDS was the main issue in >cooperation requested to Cuba by Botswana's Public Health Minister, >Dr. Joy Phumaphi. Received by her Cuban counterpart, Dr. Carlos >Dotres at the Cuban Public Health Ministy headquarters, Phumaphi >stated that because of the high AIDS rate in her country - some 1,300 >affected people - Botswana needs this type of cooperation. With a >population of little over a milli�n inhabitants, Botswana is one of >the most AIDS-affected African countries. > >SAN JOSE, URUGUAY.- Cuban Pedro Pablo Perez finished third in the 4th >stage of the 57th Uruguay's Cycling Tour, which covered 138.4 >kilometers between the capital, Montevideo, and San Jose. The race >was won by local Gregorio Bares, with an average of 44.91 km/h, >followed by fellow fellow citizen Jose Luis Maneiro. Yesterday's >stage was very difficult due to the previous night's rain which made >the asphalt very slippery. > >HAVANA.- The Haitian, Trinidadian and Cuban teams moved to the third >stage of the Caribbean qualifying matches in the lead up to the 17th >World Soccer Cup, to be held in Japan and South Korea in 2002. Haiti >and Trinidad beat the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, >respectively, while the Cubans, with a 0-0 tie against Surinam, have >passed through to the next stage. DPTO. INFORMACION/MINREX " 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] ___________________________________
