>from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Cuba press release 96-7-8 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2000. NSA > >HAVANA.- A large but emotional act on the 105th Anniversary of the >fall of National Hero, Jose Marti was held yesterday in Havana with >the attendance of Cuban President Fidel Castro and thousands of >students and young people. During the ceremony a Jose Marti's bronze >statute was unveiled, whose author, sculptor Andres Gonzalez, was >honored and happy for having done this work, which is added to the >fight of the Cuban people for the release of Cuban child >Elian Gonzalez, firstly illegally retained and now confined in the >U.S... The monument is located in a public square inaugurated in >April, which was named Jose Marti Anti Imperialist Open Tribune, in >front of the U.S. Interests Section Office in Havana. > > WASHINGTON.- Cuban child Elian Gonzalez' Miami based distant >relatives refused to meet the three psychiatrists appointed by the >U.S. government to mediate in a possible meeting of retainers with >the minor, according to Florida Press. The Miami Herald daily cited >the U.S. Justice Department orientation that L�zaro Gonz�lez, the >child's great uncle, requesting a demand for political asylum brought >by retainers against the father's wish, should meet experts before >having access to the child. According to the paper, L�zaro Gonzalez' >representatives are trying to arrange a meeting of the child with his >retainers, who want to take the parental authority over his son Elian >away from Juan Miguel Gonzalez. > >WASHINGTON.- A few minutes' silent video was the "main evidence" >brought by the U.S. government against alleged spy Mariano Faget >during a trial in Miami, Florida, which reinforced arguments of the >defense counsel. The defense of Faget, a U.S. citizen born in Cuba >who was up to his detention an outstanding U.S. Immigration and >Naturalization Service (INS) in Washington, said the video does not >demonstrate any evidence against his client. Since Faget's arrest, >the Cuban government strongly rejected that he has never spied for >Cuba and described the case as a conspiracy aimed to retain Cuban >child Elian Gonzalez in Miami. > >HAVANA.- The poverty and precarious economic situation of Latin >America after two decades of neoliberalism centered the analysis of >Cuban economists met during a round table discussion in Havana. >Experts debated the Latin American and the Caribbean Economic >Commission (CEPAL) latest report plus results of neoliberal policies >in the region's economies, with the participation of Cuban President >Fidel Castro. They also agreed that neoliberal vision on Latin >American nations is a way of functioning that it has meant a disaster >in the social aspect after an evident success which is now falling >apart. The round table discussion was broadcast by >national television and radio. > >HAVANA.- UN Undersecretary General Maurice Strong highlighted Cuba's >position on UNO reforms and requested top Cuban representation at >the Millennium Summit, which will discuss the theme in September. >"Regarding reforms, Cuba is very important because it has a lot of >influence at the UN and at international circles and adopts very >clear positions which have been properly analyzed", said Strong. It >is very important for the UN representative that "Cuba be very well >represented at the millennium's meeting". The UN top representative >expressed his wish of working together to the UNO Development Program >(PNUD) to mobilize large amounts of resources aimed to carry out >projects in Cuba. > > HAVANA.- One of Cuban oldest Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas, up to this >moment Foreign Trade Minister, was appointed Government Minister, >says a release from the State Council. According to the release, his >place was taken by Raul de la Nuez Ramirez, who was Nickel Industry >director and Basic Industry Vice Minister for various years. In the >last five years, Nuez was executive president of the joint venture >that administers the Nickel and Cobalt processing industries in Cuba >and Canada. > > HAVANA.- U.N. Sub Secretary General Maurice Strong will talk with >Cuban top ranking officials during the second day of his work visit, >invited by Cuban government. According to the program, Strong expects >to meet Foreign Affairs first Vice Minister Jorge Bola�os, Parliament >President Ricardo Alarcon and Higher education Minister Fernando > >HAVANA.- Cuban Chamber of Commerce, Valencian Export Institute >(IVEX) S.A. and Valencian Commerce, Industry and Navigation Council >signed two collaboration agreements to increase the existing trade >links. The agreements were signed to strengthen the links between >both institutions and contribute with the increase of economic >relations between Cuban and Valencia, Spain. Both agreements were >signed by Cuban Chamber of Commerce president Hector Manuel Perez >Paez, Salvador Marti, the Valencian Council vice president, and >Carmen de Miguel, IVEX General Director. > > HAVANA.- The 12th meeting of Austria-Cuba Joint Commission >for Economic-Industrial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation ended in >Havana with the signing of a Final Protocol and the Reciprocal >Investment Protection and Promotion. The delegations were headed by >Cuba's Economic Cooperation and Foreign Investment Vice-Minister >Rodrigo Malmierca and Austria's Labor and Economy Federal Vice- >Minister, who signed both documents. > >GABORONE.- The 6th session of the Botswana-Cuba Joint Commission >for economic and scientific cooperation ended in Gaborone, after >three days of analysis on these sectors and their perspectives. >Mutual collaboration began in 1989 with the periodical sending of >Cuban doctors and nurses for the hospitals located in the cities of >Gaborone and Francistown, as well other cooperation ways. The >delegations for the joint commission were headed by Botswana's >International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Minister, Gen. Mompati >Merafhe, and Cuba's Economic Cooperation and Foreign Investment >Vice-Minister Noemi Benitez. > > BEIJING.- Cuba's Fishing Minister Orlando Rodriguez Romay spoke >with Chinese authorities and business people about replacing the >Cuban Merchant Fleet and aspects of shrimp-culture, agua-culture and >marine-culture official sources informed here today. Rodriguez Romay >arrived in Beijing Thursday on an official visit to China that >includes a tour of Shangdong province. Rodriguez Romay exchanged >ideas with Chinese Agriculture Minister Chen Yaoban about >technologies, development and diseases and their control, among other >topics related to the raising of seafood. > >BEIJING.- China-Cuba friendship society president met local >businesspeople in Shanghai, to whom he explained the importance of >widening Chinese cooperation and investments in his country. The >Cuban leader traveled to Shanghai, coming from Shenzhen, where he was >received by Zhang Gaoli, the city's Communist Party (CP) Secretary >and CP assistance secretary in the province of Guangdong. " JC > > ************ >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Cuba press release 97 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, MONDAY, MAY 22, 2000 > >WASHINGTON.- Governor for the U.S. State of Minnesota, Jesse >Ventura strongly defended the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Cuba, >an action which he considers has "completely failed". In a statement >to CNN television network, Ventura expressed the only effect the >measure has is "to isolate our country from the rest of the world". >According to the governor, "the U.S. has tried to defeat the Cuban >government for the last forty years with this embargo, and has >completely failed". "It is obvious that the measure should be lifted >as soon as possible", he added. > >MOSCOW.- Cuban Friendship with the Peoples Institute (ICAP) President >Sergio Corrieri held talks with Cuban-Russian Friendship Association >leaders and young people from a Spanish faculty in St. Petersburg, >according to information. Diplomatic sources indicated that on >Saturday, Corrieri carried out a short visit to a tombola organized >by the city's Women's International Association, which comprises 33 >wives of consuls accredited in the city, who collect funds for >beneficial ends. The event was also attended by Cuban Consul to St. >Petersburg, Roberto Humpierre, and ICAP's Community of Independent >States Department head, Holmedo Perez, a member of the >ICAP delegation which arrived in Moscow last Monday. > >HAVANA.- A delegation from the Union of Walloons Enterprises >(UWE), Belgium, headed by one of its most important executives Pierre >Goffin, will arrive in Havana on May 27 to continue analysing >business posibilities in the Cuban mining industry. The objective of >the visit, according to a release yesterday, is to explore business >possibilities especially in nickel and cement production. Another >executive from the Belgian Union, Olivier Le Hodey, as well as >officials from 11 enterprises, plans to visit the Moa and Niquero >nickel production plants, located in the north of Cuba's >easternmost region, to analyze future prospects at the locations. > >HAVANA.- German Federal Economic Cooperation and Development >Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul visited the eastern province of Holguin to >witness the practical results of relations between both countries. >Norge Sarmiento, agriculture cooperative Camilo Cienfuegos president, >explained to the minister and her accompanying delegation the results >achieved with aid received from Germany through the anti >desertification and drought support program. > >HAVANA.- We are sure that relations between the region of Tuscany and >Cuba, and especially with Havana, will be strengthened by this visit, >said Claudio Martinetti, recently elected president of this important >Italian region, on receiving a delegation from People's Power >Provincial Assembly, headed by president Conrado Martinez Corona, on >a working visit to Italy. The Cuban official explained the importance >of the tour throughout the provinces and municipalities of Tuscany, >the characteristics of the Habana-Ecopolis joint venture, and its new >concept due to the multiterritorial and pluracy of its projects, >which include both state owned and private companies. > >HAVANA.- Cuban Sport Institute (INDER) President Humberto Rodriguez >assured that Cuban sport is constantly improving, less than four >months before the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. During the second day of >sessions at the "Bobby Salamanca" Second International Meeting of >Sport Annoucers and Commentators, taking place in Havana, Rodriguez >emphasised that Cuba occupies a dignified place in Australia, >confronting the challenge of neoliberal globalization and the current >high cost of sports. " Participation sports means the essence of >Cuban sports development at the beginning of the new millenium. Cuban >sport is situated among the first 10 countries in the world", >the INDER Minister observed. DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX " JC > ************ >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: Cuba press release 98 > FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS >HAVANA, TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2000 > >HAVANA.- Cuban President Fidel Castro congratulated the builders of >a strategic path which will encourage tourist development in the >central northern part of Cuba, in a letter published by all Cuban >dailies. On Sunday, Union of Cuban Workers Secretary Pedro Ross Leal >read the message to hundreds of workers who built the country's >longest causeway (48 kilometers and 46 bridges) which joins Villa >Clara province, 270 kilometers from Havana, with a key area located >to the northeast. This work demonstrates what socialism is capable >of, states the message of Fidel Castro, who called it an act of >prowess for having being achieved during the "special period" of >crisis, as it is called by Cubans. > >HAVANA.- The 7th INFORMATICA 2000 Convention, an event analysing the >most recent aspects of cybernetics and information technologies, was >inaugurated in Havana with the attendance of various Ministers and >numerous Cuban government figures. According to participants, >attendance is a clear demonstration of the importance given by the >Cuban government to the country's spread of information technology, >as recently demonstrated by the creation of the Ministry for >Information Technology and Communications. During the 7th Informatic >2000 inaugural ceremony, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage Davila >denounced the inequality which the unjust international economic >order has created in this subject. > >HAVANA.- Ricardo Alarcon, Cuban Parliament President said he >considered that approval by the U.S. House of Representative of a >draftbill aimed at lifting the U.S. blockade on food and medicine for >Cuba is possible. Alarcon spoke on the theme during the 3rd U.S. and >Cuban Twin Cities Association Meeting, taking place in Havana until >today, with the participation of hundreds of U.S. citizens and >representatives from Cuban local governments. > >HAVANA.- Saint Augustine City, Mayor Len Weeks expressed his >interest in establishing relations with Cuban town Baracoa, during >the 1st meeting in Havana of the Cuba-U.S. Twin Cities Association >bilateral Meeting. Weeks, who is the first Florida City Mayor to >visit Cuba since 1959, stated his office is very interested in mutual >possibilities of exchange in sectors such as education, health and >culture, due to the historical similarities which unite both cities. >"Saint Augustine and Baracoa have a lot in common. Both are founding >cities, share the same colonial origins and have similar geography", >said the Mayor. > >HAVANA.- The unusual fact that law violators have managed to accuse >the U.S. Attorney General was highlighted by Ricardo Alarcon, Cuban >Parliament President during a meeting with U.S. citizens. The former >Minister and expert on Cuban-U.S. themes stated that this is a very >dangerous action, since those who are accusing Janet Reno are the >real authors of the retention, in accordance with Florida's own laws. > >HAVANA.- The sudden silence of U.S. Vice President, Albert Gore over >the case of Cuban child Elian Gonzalez is due to popular pressure, >according to Lisa Valanti from the Cuba-U.S. Twin Cities Association, >in Havana. "My organization is one of the many which, together with >the population jammed telephones lines to let the U.S. Vice President >know our annoyance over his position on Elian", explained the >President of the Association. This is the 3rd meeting of the >association since its foundation in 1998, and the first one in >Havana. > >HAVANA.- Cuban journalist Lazaro Barredo described the accusations >of alleged political indoctrination of Cuban child Elian Gonzalez >because he is wearing a Cuban school uniform as a wicked maneuver. In >a round table discussion to update the situation of the six year old >child, held in the U.S. since November 25, first by his Miami >relatives and now confined in Wye Plantation, he added that there is >no justification for the scandal that this has provoked in the U.S. > >HAVANA.- A New York university professor described as "terrible" the >long separation of child Elian Gonzalez from his father, and favored >the boy's return to his family in Cuba as soon as possible. Peter >Roman, Political Science professor from Hostos College, New York, >strongly denounced the actions against the minor carried out by his >great uncle Lazaro Gonzalez, who had retained him in Miami from >November 25 until his April 22 rescue by the Immigration Service. In >a telephone conversation with members of the TV round table >discussion transmitted yesterday by Cuban television, the professor >added that Elian's TV appearance was a farce, and that the >great uncle hopes to make a lot of money with a possible film about >the child's tragedy. > >HAVANA.- A Cuban expert commented that structural changes in the >Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) reveal that with the case >of Cuban child Elian Gonzalez, it received a political blow from >which it will never recover. Reinaldo Taladrid, Cuban Television >commentator, considered that the appointment of Joe Garcia, 36, as >new CANF executive director is an attempt to clean up the image of >the organization. The analysis took place during a round table >discussion transmitted by national television and radio stations. > >HAVANA.- Former Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas was paid tribute by >the Cuban Friendship with Peoples Institute (ICAP) and the Mexican >embassy in Cuba, on the 105th anniversary of his birth. Cardenas, >born May 21, 1895, in Jiquilpan, Michoacan, was Mexico's president >from 1934 to 1940. ICAP vice president Ricardo Rodriguez, Mexican >charge d'affairs Marco Antonio Loustaunau, and Cuban Agriculture >Ministry advisor Ramon Castro placed a wreath in the park dedicated >to Cardenas, located in the municipality of Playa, Havana. > >HAVANA.- German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and >Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul stated in this capital that her >government hopes to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with >Cuba. The official, first member of the german federal cabinet that >visit the island in 40 years, remarked in a press conference that her >country considers very important that the cooperation with other >nations, including Cuba, be done inside UNO organizations. This is a >very positive aspect. > >SANCTI SPIRITUS, CUBA.- Intellectuals from Venezuela, Argentina and >Cuba will participate in the 11th Children's Literature Critics and >Research Meeting, to be held in Sancti Spiritus on May 24 and 25. >Writers, researchers, editors, illustrators and critics will meet in >the Island's central region to share opinions regarding the influence >of children's books on future generations, said Julio Llanes, a >member of the National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC). > >HAVANA.- Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) President Jose Ramon >Fernandez criticized mercenary acts in sports. He made the statement >before leaving for Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, to participate in the 12th >World Assembly of National Olympic Committees (ACNO). Fernandez >warned that a menace exists in the Olympic Games as, according to >him, some European trainers and athletes are willing to compete under >the flags of countries from the American continent to win, in >exchange for a great amount of money. The COC president added that >there are some understandable humanitarian reasons for going to live >in other country, perhaps to create a home, "but what is >not acceptable, for instance, is that in 4 years, an athlete can >represent 3 different countries. DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX "JC > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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