>Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 27 May 2000 01:00 > > >*GONZALEZ FAMILY'S MOVE TO WASHINGTON AN IMPORTANT STEP >*NY TIMES CRITICIZES FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONSA AGAINST CUBA >*CUBA THANKS AFRICAN NATIONS FOR SOLIDARITY >*INFORMATICS 2000 CONVENTION WRAPS UP IN HAVANA >*JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN EUROPEAN UNION AND CUBA >*CUBA RENEGOTIATES FOREIGN DEBT WITH GERMANY >*CUBANS MARK NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY >*CUBANS IN GUATEMALA PAY HOMAGE TO JOSE MARTI >*3RD INT'L MEETING OF TOURISM WORKERS TO BE HELD IN HAVANA >*Viewpoint: IN HAVANA, FRENCH JOURNALIST LOOKS AT FREE MARKET GLOBALIZATION > > >*GONZALEZ FAMILY'S MOVE TO WASHINGTON AN IMPORTANT STEP > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- The move by Juan Miguel Gonzalez, his son Elian, >their family and friends to a new residence in Washington, DC constitutes an >important development and a new step toward freedom. According to an >article published in Friday's edition of the Cuban daily Granma, the next >step is their definitive liberation: their return to Cuba. > >Elian and his immediate family along with visiting classmates moved Thursday >evening from Wye Plantation to Washington, DC proper. In this morning's >Granma newspaper, the front-page article notes that the secluded environment >of Wye Plantation served its purpose during these past several weeks, >following Elian's rescue from his kidnappers in Miami. The wide expanse of >land was well used and played a decisive role in the rapid and surprising >recovery of the six-year-old boy -- as everyone could see in the photos of a >smiling Elian with his father and friends. > >But the area had its drawbacks, according to the Granma article. Wye >Plantation is located 70 miles from downtown Washington, outside of the >25-mile-limit placed on our diplomatic personnel from the Cuban Interests >Section. At first, there appeared to be no major problems, but then the >U.S. State Department suddenly cut off permission for the Cuban diplomats to >travel outside of their imposed limits. Personnel from the Cuban Interests >Section were responsible for logistics, supplies and communications between >Elian's family on the outskirts of Washington and their relatives on the >island. The U.S. State Department also placed obstacles in the way of those >who applied for entry visas to visit Elian, including denying visas for his >grandparents and important doctors and medical personnel. > >The article in Friday morning's edition of Granma points out that given >this situation, it was decided to move closer into the U.S. capital. With >this new residence, Elian and his family are now closer to professionals and >friends who are working for their eventual return to Cuba. > >Choosing another temporary home, where the group will await a decision by >the Atlanta court of appeals, was not easy. According to the Granma >article, the U.S. State Department stepped in and rejected several >possibilities that were being considered. Among those who worked to help >find a new residence was the former Secretary General of the National >Council of Churches, the Reverend Joan Brown Campbell -- an extraordinary >religious leader who even offered her own home, free-of-charge. > >The article published in this morning's Granma newspaper concludes that >this new move constitutes an important step toward the eventual return of >Elian and his family to Cuba. > >In related news, Elian's father -- Juan Miguel Gonzalez -- has sent a >message of thanks to those who allowed his family to stay at Wye Plantation. >According to Gregory Craig, Juan Miguel's attorney, his client expresses his >sincere appreciation for the generosity accorded to members of his family >and for allowing them to begin the process of recuperation following his >son's kidnapping. Juan Miguel said that over the past few weeks, Wye >Plantation provided Elian with peace and privacy. Juan Miguel also took the >opportunity to thank the American people for their support -- expressed in >hundreds of letters and messages -- which have been a great source of help >for his son and the entire family. > > >*NY TIMES CRITICIZES FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA > >New York, May 26 (RHC)-- An editorial in this morning's edition of The New >York Times strongly criticizes the U.S. government for using sanctions on >the sale of food and medicine as a political weapon. The editorial is >written by Republican Congressman George Nethercutt, Jr., a representative >from Washington State who has introduced a bill lifting such restrictions on >sales to Cuba and other countries currently sanctioned by Washington. > >Representative Nethercutt says that the House of Representatives agriculture >spending bill includes an amendment that would lift all food and medicine >sanctions on Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea and Sudan. He points out that >"the United States stands alone in prohibiting sales of the most basic >humanitarian goods to these countries," noting that U.S. farmers suffer more >than one billion dollars in lost sales. > >The congressional representative refers to the vote earlier this week on >Capitol Hill, granting permanent normal trading privileges to China, and >asks if Congress "has the courage of its convictions" to lift sanctions >against Cuba. > >In his New York Times editorial, the Washington State Republican argues >that "denying innocent civilians access to food and medicine, if only in >principle, is an abhorrent foreign policy tool." And he states that >"American farmers are the only ones punished; they are denied access to >significant international markets." > >Representative George Nethercutt writes in The New York Times that his >amendment to the House agriculture spending bill will allow currently >sanctioned states to buy food and medicine on a commercial basis -- >concluding that "if a normal trading relationship with China is a home run >for America, then lifting these sanctions [against Cuba and other nations] >is the equivalent of a grand slam." > > >*CUBA THANKS AFRICAN NATIONS FOR SOLIDARITY > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque, thanked >African governments for their firm rejection of defamatory campaigns against >Cuba at international forums, as well as their strong position against >Washington's 40-year blockade of Cuba. > >Perez Roque delivered, on Thursday, the closing speech of an activity here >in Havana to mark the 37th anniversary of the OAU --Organization of African >Unity-and Africa day. > >The top Cuban diplomat called on the International Community to redouble its >efforts in assisting African nations to solve urgent problems resulting from >centuries of colonial rule. > >The Cuban foreign minister recalled that Cuban troops fought and died >alongside their African brothers, to defend the territorial integrity and >sovereignty of Angola, and also played an active role during Namibia's >independence struggle. He added that the island also contributed to the >downfall of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. > >Cuba currently has diplomatic relations with all African nations, except >Morocco. > > >*INFORMATICS 2000 CONVENTION WRAPS UP IN HAVANA > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- The 7th International Convention on Informatics is >into its last day of sessions at Havana's Convention Center. > >Over 100 Cuban enterprises are already using new computer and automation >techniques. There are 150 computer clubs for children and adolescents >throughout Cuba. Forty-seven universities have already introduced computer >teaching in their programs as a specialty. Tele-medicine is already a >reality and its use is increasingly expanding. Soon, post-offices throughout >Cuba will have computers for those who need to send e-mail correspondence. > >The work carried out by Cuba within the Caribbean and Latin American System >for Cultural Information, new informatics technologies, challenges and >possible solutions for developing nations were among the issues that sparked >the attention of participants in the last day of the convention's sessions. > >The 14 events that took place simultaneously provided participants with more >knowledge on informatics and its relevance in terms of economy, industry and >society. Delegates exchanged their ideas and experiences in the various >fields in order to implement new strategies to cope with current >difficulties in the application of these technologies in their respective >countries. > >The organizing committee of the International Convention on Informatics has >convened its next edition for February in the year 2002. > > >*JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN EUROPEAN UNION AND CUBA > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-In related news, experts from Cuba and the European >Union have reviewed possibilities for future bilateral cooperation in the >areas of information technologies and communications, under a new joint >project called TAPLINK. > >The project was presented Thursday during a seminar, one of the 14 events >taking place as part of the 7th International Convention on Informatics, >which wrapped up on Friday at Havana's International Convention Center. > >Among issues discussed during the seminar were the virtual libraries, which >constitute a viable response in the face of today's information demands, and >the development of small and middle-sized enterprises, both in Cuba and >Europe. > >The International Convention on Informatics, held every two years and >considered among the most important events of its type in Latin America, >gathered this year more than 1300 representatives of 160 companies from 15 >nations. > > >*CUBA RENEGOTIATES FOREIGN DEBT WITH GERMANY > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Cuba and Germany have signed an agreement that >extends the dateline for the payment of the island's foreign debt with the >European nation, for a period of 21 years. The debt amounts to 230,000,000 >marks -the equivalent to 115,000,000 dollars. > >The agreement was signed on Thursday by German Ambassador to Havana, Reinold >Huber, and the Vice President of Cuba's Central Bank, Sergio Plasencia. > >The agreement deals with various aspects of the debt, including Cuba's debt >with the former Democratic Republic of Germany. > > >*CUBANS MARK NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- More than 3,000,000 Cubans will participate this >weekend in a massive exercise, called METEORO '2000, as part of activities >to mark National Defense Day on the island. > >METEORO '2000 is aimed at preparing the Cuban people for the upcoming storm >season, from next June through November. > >This weekend's exercise includes the collection of garbage, cleaning up >streets, gutters, and sewage systems, and the pruning of trees. > > >*CUBANS IN GUATEMALA PAY HOMAGE TO JOSE MARTI > >Guatemala City, May 26 (RHC)-- Researchers from the Cuban Center on Marti >Studies and members of the Cuban medical mission in Guatemala paid homage on >Friday to Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti, on the occasion of the 105th >anniversary of his death in combat against Spanish colonialism on May 19th >1895. > >The tribute to the apostle of Cuban independence included a lecture on the >life and work of the Cuban national hero and the unveiling of a bust of >Marti in the Guatemalan department of Izabal. > > >*3RD INT'L MEETING TOURISM WORKERS TO BE HELD IN HAVANA > >Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Havana will be the venue of the 3rd International >Meeting of Hotel and Tourism Workers, to be held on October 30th. > >The event will be within the framework of the 2nd Cuban National Congress of >Hotel and Tourism Workers, scheduled for October 27th through the 30th here >in the Cuban capital. > >Participants will debate issues such as cooperation among trade unions of >the sector, the impact of neo-liberal policies on hotel and tourism workers, >as well as their rights, salaries and working conditions. > >So far, delegations from Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican >Republic have already confirmed their participation. > >For more information on the 3rd International Meeting of Hotel and Tourism >Workers, e-mail the organizing committee at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >*Viewpoint: IN HAVANA, FRENCH JOURNALIST LOOKS AT FREE MARKET GLOBALIZATION > >An article on aspects of the world situation recently published in Havana by >Ignacio Ramonet, director of the French newspaper "Le Monde Diplomatique", >placed particular emphasis on United States domination, the imposition of >free market globalization, and the International Monetary Fund programs that >have proven to be dismal failures. > >Ramonet not only wrote of social justice that is placed on the IMF >chopping-block in Third World nations, but also the effects of unbridled >economic liberalization in the richest nation in the world. > >The French journalist noted that in the United States there are 32 million >people whose life expectancy is less than 60 years, and that two thirds of >those people lack sufficient medical assistance. In addition, he asserted, >45 million US citizens live below the poverty line, while 52 million are >illiterate or semi-literate. > >He argued that the transnational corporations spearheading the concentration >of wealth in a few hands wield more economic power than dozens of countries. >Ramonet also mentioned that each of the 100 most important transnationals >based in the United States, sells more than any of the annual exports of the >planet's 120 poorest countries. > >As an example, the French journalist pointed to the yearly profits of >General Motors, which surpass Denmark's gross domestic product - also noting >that the profits of Exxon-Mobil are higher than Austria's gross domestic >product. The 100 most powerful US companies control 70 percent of the >world's trade. The personal wealth of the 15 richest Americans is more than >the gross domestic product of all of Africa, where so many people are dying >of starvation and curable deseases. > >In Latin America more than 224 million people are living in poverty and >the level of social injustice is sprialing at an alarming rate. Latin >America's foreign debt will soon reach 800 billion dollars and the >obligatory annual interest payments cut off the possibility of national >investment or obtaining loans for economic and social development. > >The article by the director of "Le Monde Diplomatique" was merely another of >an avalanche of exposes laying bare the true nature of the so-called >benefits of the market economy and economic opening. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. 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