>Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 8 June 2000 22:45 > > >*SCHOOL CHILDREN'S MARCH TO US INTERESTS SECTION FOR ELIAN'S RETURN >*US SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ACTS AGAINST ITS CONSTITUENTS >*US WHEAT GROWERS' DELEGATION WRAPS UP VISIT TO CUBA >*4th U.S.-CUBA BUSINESS SUMMIT UNDERWAY IN CANCUN >*CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER FELIPE PEREZ ROQUE BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO BELIZE >*CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TURKISH GOVERNMENT MINISTER >*ALARCON SPEAKS AT UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA ON JUDICIAL WORKER'S DAY >*US GUANTANAMO NAVAL BASE DEMAGES THE ENVIRONMENT >*CUBA'S EXHIBIT ATTRACTS ATTENTION AT GERMAN 2000 WORLD EXHIBITION >*FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON ECO-TOURISM SLATED FOR PINAR DEL RIO >*Viewpoint: A SIREN SONG OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND DEATH > > >*SCHOOL CHILDREN'S MARCH TO US INTERESTS SECTION FOR ELIAN'S RETURN > >Havana, June 8 (RHC)-- More than 150,000 Cuban school children will >march Friday morning in front of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana >to demand the immediate return of Elian Gonzalez. The Cuban government >stated that this new demonstration comes amid "the on-going >interminable, incoherent and confusing legal process" in which nothing >is clear one week after an Atlanta Appeals Court ruling. > >The march will be made up of elementary school children from the 4th, >5th and 6th grades, 7th, 8th and 9th grade junior high school >students, and high school students in the 10th grade. They will also >be joined by nearly 1000 children attending the elementary school in >Cardenas, Matanzas where Elian is enrolled in the first grade. > > >*US SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ACTS AGAINST ITS CONSTITUENTS > >Havana, June 8 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion, broadcast live on >Cuban radio and television Thursday evening, reported on the latest >news regarding the case of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez -- still being >unjustly held in the United States. > >Cuban journalists and experts in international law analyzed >information coming out of Washington -- revealing that the Senate >Judiciary Committee has requested documents from the U.S. Justice >Department relating to the rescue operation in April which freed Elian >from his kidnappers in Miami. According to reports from Capitol Hill, >the Republican-controlled Senate is also demanding that Attorney >General Janet Reno appear before the Committee to answer questions >about the rescue mission. > >Panelists on the nightly roundtable discussed attempts by right wing >forces in the U.S. Congress to prolong Elian's stay in the United >States. The experts agreed that these congressional representatives, >acting in concert with extremist elements in the Cuban-American >community, are actually acting against their constituents -- who >overwhelmingly believe that Elian, his family and friends should be >free to return to Cuba. > >Thursday's roundtable discussion was aired live on Cuban television, >the national radio network and the international shortwave frequencies >of Radio Havana Cuba. > > >*US WHEAT GROWERS' DELEGATION WRAPS UP VISIT TO CUBA > >Havana, June 8 (RHC) -- A delegation representing members of the >Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Wheat Associates, Incorporated, has >wrapped up a five-day visit to Cuba. The delegation -- the >organization's fifth visit to Cuba during the last two years -- toured >port facilities and processing mills and presented a seminar on >marketing. > >During the visit, the organization's vice president, Paul Dickerson, >stated that Cuba has to pay much more to import wheat from Europe >across the Atlantic Ocean, then it would have to pay to import wheat >from the United States through the Gulf of Mexico. > >On the occasion of the visit, the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and >Economic Council revealed that Cuba imports approximately one million >tons of grains annually, and that more than 90 percent come from >Europe. Shipping costs are, in some cases, one hundred percent above >comparable shipping costs from the U.S. to Cuba. > >The visit forms part of a series of trips to Cuba by U.S. legislators >and agro producers interested in establishing trade relations with >Cuba following an eventual lifting of Washington's blockade. > >And these visits come amid stepped up pressure on the U.S. Congress to >lift restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba as a first >step in putting an end to the blockade. Members of the U.S. Wheat >Associates delegation announced that once back home, they will >continue to work for an end to Washington's economic sanctions against >the Cuban people. > > >*4th U.S.-CUBA BUSINESS SUMMIT UNDERWAY IN CANCUN > >Cancun, June 8 (RHC)-- U.S. business executives have gathered in the >Mexican beach resort of Cancun to discuss future possibilities of >trade and economic relations between Washington and Havana. The 4th >U.S.-Cuba Business Summit got underway Wednesday in Cancun, with >meetings between American business representatives and Cuban officials >running through Thursday. Some 70 representatives from more than 40 >companies in the United States are taking part in the event, which >continues Friday and Saturday here in the Cuban capital. > >The Cuban delegation is being headed by Marta Lomas Morales, the Cuban >Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration, and is >also made up of Ileana Rey, the Deputy Minister of Economy and >Planning, and Orlando Hernandez from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. >Other officials are taking part in the meeting, including authorities >from the Central Bank of Cuba. > >Among the U.S. businesses represented at the 4th U.S.-Cuba Business >Summit are: Pepsi Cola, United Airlines, Caterpillar, Shandwick >International, Darden Restaurants and the Lexington Institute. >According to one of the U.S. participants, Roland J. Regan, the >President of the Cuban Charitable Basketball Classic, his organization >will propose a series of games between U.S. and Cuban university >basketball teams. Regan told reporters in Cancun that the proceeds >from the games could go to charitable organizations that help children >and senior citizens. > >Another business executive attending the summit in Cancun affirmed >that Washington's economic blockade of Cuba is "totally illogical" -- >preventing U.S. companies from doing business with a market that is >right next door. Kirby Jones, the President of Alamar Associates, a >business consulting firm, said that increasing numbers of U.S. >companies are ready to do business with Cuba -- just as soon as the >U.S. government wakes up and lifts its ridiculous restrictions against >trade with the island. > > >*CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER FELIPE PEREZ ROQUE BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO BELIZE > >Havana, June 8 (RHC) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque >today began an official two-day visit to Belize. In this first visit >to Belize of a Cuban foreign minister, Perez Roque and Belician Prime >Minister Said Musa will reportedly broaden the first bilateral >cooperation accords signed between the two nations last year in the >areas of education, sports, tourism and housing construction. > >Among his activities, Cuba's chief diplomat will visit the capital's >Ladyville Hospital, where Cuban health professionals are providing >assistance. There are currently nearly 100 Belician youths studying in >Cuban universities. > > >*CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TURKISH GOVERNMENT MINISTER > >Havana, June 8 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage met on >Wednesday in Havana with Turkish Government Minister Rustu Kazim >Yucelen. The two leaders discussed current and future commercial >relations between the two countries. > >During the encounter, the Turkish official thanked the Cuban >government and people for the island's support after last year's >earthquake, which left thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless. >The Turkish government minister and his accompanying delegation met on >Wednesday with the Cuban Minister of Agriculture, Alfredo Jordan, and >the Minister of Fishing, Orlando Rodriguez, as well as the President >of the National Bank, Francisco Soberon. > >The Turkish visitors plan to meet with other government officials and >will tour the industrial zone of Wajay. > > >*ALARCON SPEAKS AT UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA ON JUDICIAL WORKER'S DAY > >Havana, June 8 (RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon has >affirmed that the legal process in the United States in which >six-year-old Elian Gonzalez is involved is "unsure and corrupt, >prolonging the child's illegal detention." > >Alarcon spoke at the University of Havana on the occasion of Cuban >Judicial Worker's Day on Wednesday. > >During the event, Cuban Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo >outlined the role of Cuban judicial experts in the battle of ideas to >speed the return of Elian to the island. > >Havana's judicial specialists also signed the Code of Ethics, in which >they promise to continue their work in defense of justice and truth. > > >*US GUANTANAMO NAVAL BASE DEMAGES THE ENVIRONMENT > >Guantanamo, June 8 (RHC)-- The presence of a U.S. naval base in >eastern Guantanamo is inflicting severe damage to the area's flora and >fauna, according to a report published by the daily Juventud Rebelde. >According to experts, laboratory tests show that the number of fish >species that die in the waters surrounding the Guantanamo Naval Base >continue to increase due to the presence of various chemicals. > >It is also reported that there are constant explosions that affect >those living in the area near the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo. > > >*CUBA'S EXHIBIT ATTRACTS ATTENTION AT GERMAN 2000 WORLD EXHIBITION > >Hanover, June 8 (RHC)-- Some 30,000 people have visited the Cuban >exhibit over the past week during the Hanover 2000 World Exhibition in >Germany. > >Cuba's Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, Raul Becerra, said >that his country's exhibit at the Hanover 2000 World Exhibition in >Germany as been a major attraction. > >Becerra said that visitors can take a look at the results of the >island's achievements during the last 40 years in the fields of >culture, science, health and tourism, as well as enjoy Cuban cigars >and traditional music. > >Cuba will celebrate its July 26th holiday at the exhibition with an >official event at the Cuban Pavilion. And on July 29th, the >Germany-Cuba Si Solidarity group is scheduled to organize a solidarity >party in a Berlin park. > > >*FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON ECO-TOURISM SLATED FOR PINAR DEL RIO > >Pinar del Rio, June 8 (RHC)-- The First International Meeting on >Eco-Tourism will be held in Vinales, Pinar del Rio, on November 6th >with the participation of representatives from the Caribbean and Latin >America. > >The Tourism Ministry delegate to Vueltabajo said that eco-tourism is a >potential in the territory located on the western part of the island >and is a recreational option for neighboring Havana, Cayo Largo to the >south and the Varadero Beach Resort in Matanzas. > >A scientific meeting is scheduled to be held during the event, where >experts will show the natural beauties of the western province of >Pinar del Rio -- known on the island as the Natural Cathedral of Cuba. > >*Viewpoint: >THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT--A SIREN SONG OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND DEATH > >The return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez will not solve the >current migratory problems between the United States and Cuba. As you >surely know by now, Elian survived a shipwreck in the Florida Straits >last November, in which his mother and nine others died while >attempting to illegally migrate to the United States. As Cuban >authorities have repeatedly stated, it is of utmost importance to >eliminate the cause of this and other similar tragedies. > >Crossing the Florida Straits on improvised rafts or precarious boats >has long been considered a totally irrational act. However, some >irresponsible Cubans risk their lives and those of their children -- >encouraged by the Cuban Adjustment Act, which promotes illegal >departures from the Caribbean island by granting special treatment to >Cuban immigrants. This U.S. legislation provides for the automatic >granting of permanent residence in the United States to any Cuban >reaching U.S. soil. The Cuban Adjustment Act, passed in 1966, sends >the message to Cubans that if they manage to reach U.S. soil without >first dying at sea, they're "home free" -- immediately receiving a >work permit; permanent residency is granted one year and one day after >they arrive in the U.S. > >Since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, Washington has tried hard >to paint Cuba in the worst imaginable light, trying to sell the idea >of growing popular discontent on the island. This is one of the >excuses they use to try to justify Washington's constant anti-Cuba >maneuvers over the past 40 years. > >Cuba is not by any means the Latin American nation with the most >migrants to the United States, as Washington is trying to portray. >Other Central and South American nations, like Mexico for example, >have many more. However, those immigrants -- who like most Cubans are >seeking better economic opportunities in the wealthy nation to the >north -- are not greeted with flowers. Instead, they are chased down, >arrested -- often violently -- and jailed until their deportation. As >another example, the treatment given to immigrants from Haiti -- the >poorest nation in the hemisphere -- is not a pretty picture. > >The United States and Cuba signed a bilateral migration agreement in >1995, aimed at normalizing immigration relations between the two >nations. Under the agreement, any Cuban migrant intercepted at sea by >the U.S. Coast Guard is to be returned to the island immediately. >Cuba, for its part, promises not to file criminal charges against >those deported back from the United States and to facilitate the >return to their homes. > >Cuba, for its part, has fully complied with the agreement. Despite >repeated failures to comply, the United States has resumed granting >some 20,000 visas a year to Cubans who wish to migrate legally to the >United States. However, the U.S. Cuban Adjustment Act continues to >promote illegal immigration from the island, giving rise to the >unsavory business of smuggling undocumented immigrants through the >dangerous, shark-invested Florida Straits. Smugglers of human beings >demand a high price for their dangerous services, while the United >States warmly welcomes such people as "heroes." Certainly, as long as >such a criminal law remains on the books, this human tragedy will >continue. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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