> >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Cuba press release 76, 80 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro voted yesterday at polling >booth number 62, located in district 13, municipality Plaza de la >Revolucion, Havana. A live broadcast on national television showed >the Cuban leader voting, at 11.16 local time (15.16 GMT), for a >delegate candidate to the People's Power Municipality Assembly >(district). After voting, the President spoke to press about the case >of Cuban child Elian Gonzalez. He also expressed interest in the >number of people who had voted, commenting that the participation >figure was high. > >HAVANA.- "We made a short 24 hour courtesy truce with the U.S.", but >"the 41 years of normal life during which they have attacked us" >continues today, said Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana. Today >is a day of truce with the U.S., perhaps the only one since the >triumph of the Revolution in 1959, said the Cuban President during an >act on the 39th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs mercenary aggression >organized in the U.S. When I referred to a truce, I would like to say >that I was not going to strongly criticize the U.S. and its >government, because it does not seem right at this moment. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday commented on the >recent reunification of Elian Gonzalez with his father. The Cuban >leader also recognized the action of the U.S. authorities which >employed all their resources to avoid using force. When voting >yesterday morning at the partial elections, Fidel Castro said all is >now calm, and there are no further details after the end of the press >harassment which took place when the boy was illegally held in the >retainers' house. To me, the photo of the family's reunion is full of >human view point interest, "the father's face is a poem", and the >boy's face, with his little brother, looks very happy." > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday warned that Elian >Gonzalez' family might be retained in the U.S. by delaying tactics, >as an act of revenge by anti Cuban U.S. based groups. "Vengeance >would be to further detain the family, and this family should not be >punished with harassment", the Cuban President told press after >voting at the partial elections which took place in Cuba yesterday. >Fidel Castro warned of the possibility that the battle for the family >should be carried out prudentially over time, as they could be held >in the U.S., due to the kidnapper's delaying tactics. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday called any >eventual authorization of U.S. political asylum for Cuban child Elian >Gonzalez "monstrous". In the Cuban leader's opinion, this act has >little possibility of being fulfilled. "It would be monstrous to >grant the boy political asylum and remove him from his father", >Castro told reporters covering Sunday's partial elections, in Havana. >After five months of illegal retention in Miami by distant relatives, >Elian was reunited with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez on Saturday. >The father has promised to remain in the U.S. until the request for >political asylum is decided by the Atlanta Court of Appeals. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday considered the role >of U.S. public opinion favoring the end of Elian Gonzalez' retention >very important, comparing it to the U.S. population's rejection of >the Vietnam war. "There are two moments in which U.S. public opinion >has played an important role: during the Vietnam war in the '70s, and >in the case of this boy, as far as I can remember", Fidel Castro told >press in Havana covering Sunday's partial elections. According to the >Cuban President, this public opinion deserves respect and better >consideration. > >HAVANA.- Yesterday, Raul Castro, Cuban Communist Party (PCC)'s >second secretary, urged an improvement in Cuban democracy, to confirm >how fair the Cuban system is. After participating in yesterday's >partial elections, Raul Castro said that there is only one party in >Cuba and this is sufficient, as it represents everybody. He >recognized the need to improve Cuban democracy as all people's work, >and criticized those who defend the idea that democracy means the >existence of many parties, omitting its class bias. > >HAVANA.- Yesterday, Ricardo Alarcon, Cuban Parliament President, >affirmed that Elian is a symbol of a more complex battle that we must >carry out and win. Alarcon talked to press shortly after voting at >electoral booth 365, located at the corner of 21 and O, Vedado, >Plaza. We must win this battle to avoid other children like Elian, >and fathers like Juan Miguel, suffering a similar tragedy in the >future, he added. > >HAVANA.- Yesterday, Cuban Women Federation (FMC) president Vilma >Espin advocated for wider participation by women in government, >adding she believes in counteracting stereotypes. After voting in >this Sunday's partial elections, Espin stated that the FMC has been >working to make women conscious of their decision-making capacities. >The FMC official observed that they are trying to incorporate more >women in civil life. She explained that, in these elections, 21.5 >percent of the 31,031 local government candidates country wide are >women. > >HAVANA.- Yesterday, Juan Contino Aslam, National Committees for the >Defense of the Revolution (CDR) coordinator said that Cuba's >democratic system allows everyone to participate in elections, even >counter revolutionaries. The official pointed out that everyone has >the right to vote, to belong or not to belong to the CDR, >irrespective of their political ideas, except the mentally >handicapped and prisoners. All, he underlined, have the right >to elect or be elected, and participate in all stages of the >electoral process. > >HAVANA.- Some 7,683,451 Cubans voted at 16.00, local time - 95.34 >percent of the 7,989,170 voters registered throughout the country, >indicated Roberto Diaz Sotolongo, National electoral commission >president yesterday. In the last report of the day, Sotolongo, who is >also Minister of Justice, explained that votes registered between >16.00 and 18.00 local time, had yet to be counted, but information >will be given at a 15.00 press conference today. > >WASHINGTON.- The majority of U.S. people support the operation that >freed Cuban child Elian Gonzalez from his Miami retainers, an opinion >poll revealed yesterday. According to a Gallup poll result disclosed >by CNN, 57 percent of those interviewed supported the predawn raid >carried out on Saturday. Only 37 percent were against the measure, >the poll confirmed. > >WASHINGTON.- The U.S. government yesterday accused the Republican >opposition of trying to gain political benefits by criticizing the >operation which seized Cuba child Elian Gonzalez from his retainers. >Meanwhile, the mass media highlighted the boy's re-encounter with his >father Juan Miguel Gonzalez, his step mother Nersy Carmenate and his >little brother Hianni. "It is very disappointing to see them trying >to make politics and take political advantage of this," said White >House spokesman Joe Lockhart. > >WASHINGTON.- Influential newspaper The Washington Post read yesterday >that the U.S. government "did what was correct", by seizing Cuban >child Elian Gonzalez from his Miami kidnappers. "The government did >the right thing, cleanly and correctly, by rescuing Elian and handing >him over to his father" Juan Miguel Gonzalez, said an editorial. >Contrary to what the six-year old boy's distant relatives say, the >paper stated that "the government staged a quick raid, and for the >child's benefit. It was his (Miami-based) relatives who provoked the >police." > >HAVANA.- Cuban journalist Reinaldo Taladrid yesterday stated that the >U.S. has played an "irresponsible" role by creating nuclear powerful >countries all over the world. During a TV round table discussion, >Taladrid accused the U.S. and some of its Western allies for making >Israel the planet's sixth powerful nuclear nation. Israel - he said - >has no less than 300 nuclear weapons, missiles, combat aircraft and >bombers. The range of its weapons covers all the Middle East, >northern Africa and southern Europe. > >HAVANA.- In a round table TV discussion yesterday, prestigious Cuban >experts criticized the position of the European Union (EU), together >with the U.S., regarding economic relations with Cuba. Specialists >explained that the European policy is not designed in European >capitals, but in the U.S., adding that when the Torricelli Act was >signed, European countries were accomplices of the blockade against >the Island. > >HAVANA.- Cuban tobacco leaf production will grow by over 10% this >year, for a 5,000 ton increase, reveals the weekly Opciones, quoting >official sources. According to the journal, the country will end the >current harvest season with a final total of 45,000 tons. Pinar del >Rio, a famous province in tobacco cultivation, will contribute 70% of >overall production, thus guaranteeing optimum cigar quality. DPTO. >INFORMACION/MINREX > ************ >sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Cuba press release 80 >Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 >PRESS RELEASE NO. 80 FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, FRIDAY, APRIL , 28, 2000 R.P.M. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday denounced in >Havana maneuvers taking place in the U.S. to prevent a soluti�n in >the case of Elian Gonzalez. These maneuvers indicate complicity >"between the Miami based mafia and some people from the State >Department". Whilst speaking to press after bidding farewell to four >friends of Elian, three mothers, a father and a pediatrician who left >for Washington, the President criticized what he called "crazy, >absurd ridiculous things". He also recalled having requested visas >for 31 people, including psychiatrists, to help the shipwrecked >boy, illegally retained in the U.S. for five months. Later the list >was reduced to 23 names, said Fidel Castro. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro called shipwrecked boy Elian >Gonzalez' father a man of character and personality. The President >warned that Juan Miguel Gonzalez can neither be bought for US� 100 >nor US� 500 milli�n in the U.S. In a statement to national and >foreign journalists, Fidel Castro said those who imagined Juan Miguel >Gonzalez was a puppet or a characterless man are wrong. Juan Miguel >has personality, and very strong, firm, straight opinions of his own. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro said yesterday "we cannot >expect anything from the Atlanta Court of Appeals, which is capable >of granting the right to pol�tical asylum for boat boy Elian >Gonzalez. "According to everything that has happened up till now, the >Court may very well say that the child has the right to pol�tical >asylum", Fidel Castro told national and foreign reporters. "They have >said that any child can stay in the U.S. against the wishes of its >parents. It seems unbelievable that you need to be 18 years old to >vote, but at six you can decide to leave your parents", he stated. > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday repeated that the >Cuban fight against U.S. hostile policy will continue, even after >Elian Gonzalez' return to Cuba and his family. In a statement to >press at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport shortly after >bidding farewell to a group of nine people leaving for Washington to >be reunited with Elian, the President said Cubans are ready to >continue their demands for "another ten years". He also recalled that >on Wednesday, Inter American Foreign Affairs State Undersecretary, >Peter Romero made a strong statement when he declared that Washington >is not interested in changing its policy of the blockade on >Cuba. U.S. State Secretary Madeline Albright also made a similar >statement. > >WASHINGTON.- Four children, Cuban minor Elian's classmates, arrived >in Washington to reunite with the boy in Wye Plantation, where Elian >is with his legitimate family, according to CNN televisi�n network. >The small group will join Elian in a residence located 100 kilometers >off Washington, where the child has been living with his father, Juan >Miguel Gonzalez, his stepmother, and little brother Hianni, seven >months old. Yasmani, 10, Elian's cousin, the minor's teacher Agueda >Cecilia Fleitas plus a psychiatrist, who travelled to the U.S. to >meet the boy, illegally held by Miami based distant relatives in the >U.S. for five months, are in Washington since last night. > > WASHINGTON.- Elian Gonzalez' great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, and >cousin Marisleysis returned to Miami after trying to carry out >maneuvers to maintain the minor in the U.S. and after failed >negotiations to meet the boy. Lazaro and Marisleysis, together with >other Elian's distant relatives, carried out a campaign in Washington >to maintain the minor in the U.S., in spite of the wish of Elian's >father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez to return to Cuba with his son. House of >Representatives Judicial Committee set for Wednesday a hearing on the >acti�n by federal agents to seize the boy from Lazaro Gonzalez' home, >due to their refusal of voluntarily handover the child. > >HAVANA.- Yesterday, Cuban government strongly criticized the >obstacles put by the U.S. State Department to hinder the re >unificati�n of Elian with his school mates in the U.S.. Cuban >government's opinions, included in a press release, opened >yesterday's TV round table discussions in which a group of experts >analyzed the situati�n of the Cuban child, now with his >father, brother and step mother en Wye Plantation, 70 miles from >Washington. They are staying there since they left Maryland's air >base, the place where they were since last Saturday. > >HAVANA.- The obstacles put to Elian Gonzalez' supporting group at >its arrival at the U.S. were denounced in a press release sent from >Cuba's Interests Secti�n in Washington, and read during a TV press >round discussi�n in Havana. The text reads that a stock of medicines >was taken away from Caridad Ponce, doctor member of the group. The >medicines were antibiotics and relievers, only the necessary >medicines for adults were allowed. The release explains that the girl >Mariem�rodriguez was told she can not continue in U.S. territory >without her father, even though when they know he had to travel in a >commercial flight via Mexico due to the limited capacity of the jet >plain. > >WASHINGTON.- Yesterday, the Atlanta Court of Appeals dismissed child >Elian Gonzalez's Miami distant relatives, who demanded to be allowed >to visit the child and that a special tutor must be appointed to >watch over the child's legal interests. The court denied to Lazaro >Gonzalez and his daughter Marisleysis a meeting with Elian, their >lawyers and pediatricians of confidence. Both made the demand through >their lawyers. However, the court did accept the U.S. government's >offer to present periodical medical reports on the child's mental >health showing he is well. > >WASHINGTON.- The real occupati�n of Donato Dalrymple, the alleged >fisherman who help to rescue Elian at sea, is to clean private houses >and he is pushing for fortune and fame, said The Washington Post. In >a extend article, the Post tells the story of who is now signing >autographs and showing his own photo taken while INS agents are >breaking into Elian's Miami relatives' home to rescue him. "In fact, >he is not a fisherman. He used to clean houses to make his living. >Thanks giving day was the first time The Cleaning man jumped into a >boat,� published the daily. > >HAVANA.- Cubans are ready to celebrate May Day with massive >activities all over the country, whose cities will host open tribunes >to continue claiming Cuban child Elian Gonzalez' return to the >Island. Elian is currently retained in the U.S. Havana's centrally >located Revoluti�n Square is expected to host a massive "open >tribune", different from the traditional marches drawing hundreds of >thousands of people every year. > >HAVANA.- Over a third of the exhibitors at the International >Constructi�n Fair (FECONS 2000) are foreign firms aiming to explore >the Cuban market and discover areas to invest, organizers highlighted >yesterday. Described as one of the most important constructi�n fairs >held in Latin America, the 3rd FECONS, opened Tuesday at Pabexpo >center, Havana, is attended by 590 companies 22 countries. Organizers >added that a great number of the firms attending the event are not >based in Cuba, and sent experts to explore the potential of the Cuban >market. > >HAVANA.- Some 70 European Uni�n (EU) small� and middle sized firms >will hold a meeting with Cuban trade officials next week, aiming to >boost bilateral relations, organizers informed yesterday. Sponsored >by the EU and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Investment and Econ�mic >Cooperation's Investment Promoti�n Center, Cuban and European >businesspeople will meet at Havana's Hotel Melia Cohiba May 2-5. > >HAVANA.- Cuban Minister of Finance and Prices Manuel Millares praised >the progress of the Cuban economy in 2000, despite its difficulties >to obtain favorable international credits. "In the first four months >of the year, internal finances are progressing very well, incomes >have been exceeded and a fiscal discipline has been maintained.� >Particularly, incomes to the national budget and its efficient >management, according to decisions taken by the government and the >People's Power National Assembly (Parliament), are procedures that >have been functioning in this period, said the minister. > >HAVANA.- The year 2000 Cuban sugar cane harvest� entered its final >stage as five provinces fulfilled their producti�n plan. Ciego de >Avila and Las Tunas are expected to join these territories soon, it >was confirmed yesterday. The announcement that the sugar cane >industries are fulfilling their plans will be constantly publicized >by the national press. The latest� province to achieve its goal was >Pinar del Rio, with the manufacture of 120,748 metric tons, for an >industrial performance of 11.63%, the best� result since 1967. Cost >per ton decreased by over 22 pesos (equal amount in US >dollars according to the official money exchange rate). > >HAVANA.- "We are well informed on doping and ready to show the >cleanliness of Cuban sports to the world", Cuban Institute of Sports >(INDER) president Humberto Rodriguez remarked yesterday in Havana. >Rodriguez suggested optimum documentati�n and total awareness of the >process, in order to avoid any intentional manipulations in the >upcoming Olympic Games, as it happened in the Winnipeg '99 Pan >American Games, where four Cuban sportspeople were accused of taking >drugs and prohibited substances. >DPTO INFORMATION/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] ___________________________________
