>from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: EU lacks independence. Congress. Philosophy. Kofi Annan > [MORE THAN A WEEKLY] > [BIENVENIDOS A GRANMA INTERNACIONAL] May 3, 2000 > > LETTER FROM MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS TO THE > FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE GROUP OF 71 COUNTRIES OF > AFRICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC (ACP) > > European Union lacks political independence with regard to Cuba > > * The island withdraws its application for entrance into the new >treaty of association between Europe and the ACP countries > > Havana, April 26, 2000, > Your Excellency: > > I am writing to tell you that Cuba has decided to withdraw its >request for entry into the new treaty of association between the >countries of the ACP and the EU. > > As you know, Cuba has been participating in the negotiations for > >this new accord in the capacity of observer for almost two years. >From the outset, we saw the potential entrance of Cuba into the Lom* > >Convention as a route to strengthening our relations and integration > >with the 71 member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific >Group and we have always clearly stated that our entry into the new > >convention would not affect, even minimally, the preferences and >interests of the ACP countries. > > From the beginning, the group of ACP countries has firmly and >enthusiastically supported Cuba�s application. During that time we >have received the solidarity and support of our sister countries in > >the Third World, demonstrating their wish that Cuba become a new >member of the ACP family. Irrefutable proof of this was the >unanimous support for our position as observer, the Declaration of >the Heads of State and Government of the ACP countries in Santo >Domingo and the Resolution of the Council of Ministers which took >place in Brussels last February 1st. > > Cuba and the ACP countries worked together actively with a view to > >the completing a text that takes into account the interests and >claims of our countries and finally, on March 10, we confirmed our >interest in subscribing to the new convention together with the >other 71 ACP countries. > > Since that time, we have seen arrogance, smugness and the tendency > >on the part of various European countries to impose conditions on >Cuba. Such spirits are evident in the unanimous way in which the >European Union countries supported the United States' conspiracy >against Cuba at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The United >States once again used the puppet government of the Czech Republic, > >seconded by the governments, no less puppets themselves, of Poland, > >Romania and Latvia. These countries were formerly part of the >socialist bloc, but today are either members or aspirants to >membership in NATO, an aggressive and interventionist bloc that, >with its "new strategic concept," threatens the sovereignty of all >Third World countries. > > According to the rules of the European Union, any one of the 15 >member countries can veto Cuba's application. Some have already >shown themselves to be particularly hostile to our country joining >the new ACP-EU Convention, due to their growing dislike of Cuba for > >its vital struggle in defense of Third World people's interests. To > >persist with the request for entry would only serve to allow >ourselves to become victims of the unacceptable demands of the >European Union. > > The European Union recently asked its triumvirate to visit Cuba, in > >order to restart the dialogue that has been halted in 1996 due to a > >unilateral decision on their part. During the preparations for this > >visit, we were able to verify that the European Union would >effectively try to attach conditions on the incorporation of Cuba >within the convention of association between the ACP and the EU. >These conditions concerned the implementation of political, economic > >and social changes within Cuba, which our country rejects in a >sovereign manner, since they constitute outright meddling in our >internal affairs and an unacceptable attempt to pressure Cuba, >something it has resisted for more than 40 years as a result of the > >ferocious blockade imposed by the most powerful nation in history. > > From the outset, Cuba has expressed in a plain and transparent >manner that it would not accept selective and discriminatory >conditions imposed by any nation of the European Union as a >requirement for our entry into the new convention. We have always >explained that our position is exclusively limited to the duties and > >rights that are established by the new text created by all of the >future signatories. Consequently, the European position remains >unacceptable to Cuba because of its interventionist and >discriminatory nature. It is proof that the European Union is still > >unable to articulate an independent political policy towards Cuba, >as a result of pressure exerted by the United States. An example of > >the double standard and weakness of European politics is the >unprincipled and unethical �understanding� that has been reached >with the United States over the extraterritorial nature of the >Helms-Burton Act. > > Taking into account all of these elements and in view of our >conviction that the visit of the EU triumvirate would be a pointless > >exercise, aimed only at giving them a pretext to brandish their >reasons for their opposition to Cuba�s entry into the new ACP-EU >Convention, we have decided to cancel this proposed visit to our >country. > > It is for these reasons, Your Excellency, that we have decided to > >relinquish our application for incorporation within the new ACP-EU >convention of association. We see ourselves as having been blocked in >our desire to sign the accord as we wished, so that we could respond >to your interests and solidarity. > >Despite our decision and on behalf of our government, I reiterate to > >you that the ACP countries will always have Cuba's firm support for > >the achievement of the objectives for which we have jointly striven > >so hard. The recently concluded South Summit demonstrates that this > >is possible. In the framework of the UN, the World Trade >Organization, the United Nations Commission for Trade and >Development (UNCTAD) and other forums, we will always raise our >voice alongside our brothers and sisters of the Third World. > >I reiterate to you, dear colleague, our thanks for your brave stance > >and the solidarity that your country has shown in supporting Cuba's > >entry into the new convention. I assure you that we feel proud to >have been able to participate with you in this process which has >made our indestructible mutual friendship even stronger. > > I take this opportunity to reiterate to you my highest and most >distinguished considerations. > > Felipe Perez Roque > > ************ >sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [MORE THAN A WEEKLY] > [BIENVENIDOS A GRANMA INTERNACIONAL] June 20, 2000 > U.S. Congress, before and after the Elian case > > * Around 100 professors and students representing 30 U.S. >universities in 15 states, along with representatives from Canada and >Mexico, take part in the 12th Cuban and North American Philosophy and >Social Science Conference > > BY RAISA PAGES (Granma International staff writer) > > THE political ramifications inside the U.S. Congress as a result of >the case of Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban child illegally held in the >United States for about seven months, still remain to be seen. >However, the upshot could be a lessening in the politics of force >previously used against Cuba, said Cliff Durand, a member of the >leadership committee of the U.S. Radical Philosophers Association, >during a roundtable discussion about the Cuban Adjustment Act at the >University of Havana. > >The United States is trying to steal Cuba's future, that is what >Elian's case represents. The demonstrations and marches undertaken by >the Cuban people have reinforced the nation's heroic spirit and the >unity of its society, added Durand. He was the coordinator of the >U.S. delegation to Havana, comprising 72 academics representing 30 >more universities in 15 states, which took part along with Canadian >and Mexican representatives at the 12th Cuban and North American >Philosophy and Social Science Conference held in Havana. > > Durand, who is a professor at Morgan State University in Maryland, >added that U.S. public opinion has been transformed and that the >fanaticism of the Miami mafia and their efforts to separate Cuba and >the United States have been revealed. > > Ideological symbolism is different in Miami. They wanted to give >Elian the so-called American Dream, as represented by a huge quantity >of toys and gifts. It's a surprising position for them to take. >Cubans place a lot of value on the concept of the family, and by >insisting that he remain with distant relatives they have revealed >the extent of their loss of identity. > > Collin Shaft, a professor at the University of California, stated >that after the Elian case, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization >Service (INS) and the Justice Department will have to review their >immigration policies in relation to Cuba. He said that he didn't >believe that the Cuban Adjustment Act would immediately be amended, >since U.S. laws are sometimes clarified but rarely questioned. > > However, he said that he could foresee more rapid changes to some >facets of the blockade against the island, as a result of pressure >exerted by U.S. farmers keen to get access to the Cuban market. >Despite the bonanza in the U.S. macro-economy, problems persist in >the agricultural sector, where prices have fallen considerably due to >lack of markets. > > Many agricultural leaders have spoken in Congress in favor of >repealing measures that block the sale of food to Cuba, said Shaft. > >His colleague from the University of Colorado, Jualynne Dodson, said >that the Cuban Adjustment Act is virulent, but she didn't think it >would be changed quickly because the U.S. government will instead >content itself with making small changes in its immigration >policies. They're not readily going to admit to their errors. > > Dodson, who has been a regular visitor to the island, said that the >Cuban project could be an alternative to capitalism and that the >rest of the world needs Cuba to go on fighting and demonstrating a >viable alternative to the globalization of the capitalist system. > > She added that they are fighting in the United States for Cuba and >that Cubans, in turn, are fighting on their behalf, above all to >eradicate racism. There are very few nations that are fighting to >eliminate capitalism and racism, she said. > > In relation to the Elian case, Dodson said that the U.S. government >had delayed a long time before taking the correct position and that >it had vacillated and shown a lack of political will. > > During the conference's opening meeting, held in the Aula Magna of >the University of Havana, Ruben Zardoya, dean of the School of >Philosophy and History, said that these bilateral meetings had >developed into a much needed space which aided the search for >scientific truth. They feature cultured debates between cultured >peoples and he said he was pleased that students, who represent >continuity and the future, were present for the third time. > > The gradual processes of the lobby against the economic blockade, >even though it doesn't represent a coherent movement, does help in >making people aware of economic policy towards Cuba, said Esteban >Morales, a professor at the University of Havana. > > The new tools being used in U.S. actions against Cuba are directed >at the concepts of U.S.-style democracy, the multiparty system and >the market economy, as though they were equivalent. That's the >strategy being used by the United States and its allies to try to >subvert the Cuban Revolution, Morales pointed out. > > > ********** >sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [MORE THAN A WEEKLY] > [BIENVENIDOS A GRANMA INTERNACIONAL] April 19, 2000 > > A poor country does not have to leave its population defenseless > > * Affirms UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the opening of the 1st >South Summit > BY ALDO MADRUGA (Granma International staff writer) > > SPEAKING at the opening session of the 1st South Summit in Havana, > >UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that Cuba has demonstrated >that a poor country does not have to leave its population >defenseless against life's greatest hardships, and that is one of >the reasons he was happy to be in Cuba. > > He noted that the United Nations human development index, which >measures education, life expectancy and per capital income, always >puts Cuba above other countries with higher per capita gross >domestic products. > >Its efforts in the field of public health are especially impressive, > >he noted, citing the recognition given by The Economist, a magazine > >that could hardly be called communist, of the high level of health >care maintained in Cuba and scarcely seen in most poor countries. >According to Annan, what is even more unusual is that Cuba maintains > >the same levels in the rural areas as in the cities. He added that >in this sphere the Cubans had provided an example that others could > >learn from. > >Annan stated that the organizers of the Summit could not have chosen > >a better moment to hold it, because within five months the Millennium >Summit will take place, providing a singular opportunity for >mobilizing the world's energy in a common program. > > THE VOICE OF THE SOUTH, LOUD AND CLEAR > > He stated that the meeting would hear the voice of the South loud > >and clear, and that even more importantly, the Summit ought to >result in real improvements in the lives of people, especially poor > >people. This means, he went on, that the voice of the South not only > >must be strong, but also clear, coherent and constructive. > >The UN secretary-general spoke of the efforts being made so that the > >Millennium Summit could concentrate on issues which are priorities >that unite everyone around a common action. He called on the >representatives of the South nations to study proposals for a >positive and practical program. > > He also discussed the need to halt the spread of AIDS, noting that > >this was a worldwide health crisis threatening to wipe out several >years of human development. He stated that his fellow Africans are >aware of the magnitude of the epidemic, since on that continent, >specifically below the Sahara, is where most of the AIDS victims >live. > > As for the alternatives facing the poor countries today, he >commented that leaders need to work together to make change, because > >they will not accomplish what they want on their own. He called for > >the participation of everyone who has something to contribute, and >the inclusion of the creative energy of the common man and woman. > >History will judge us, he said, for what we do now and in the coming > >years, to free up the energies of the persons who live in developing > >countries, so that they can board the train of a world economy that > >is moving faster and faster. > >Among the factors he enumerated for a successful national economy is > >good management of public affairs, along with the rule of law, >efficient state institutions, government accountability, respect for > >human rights and the participation of all citizens in the decisions > >that affect their lives. > > A MORE EQUITABLE WORLD ECONOMY > > Annan recognized that in order for the poor countries to benefit > >from the new world economy, the latter must be more equitable and >based on norms that cover social objectives and common institutions > >in which the South is equally represented and its interests are >protected. The most important of those institutions should be a >renewed and strengthened UN, because it is the only world forum in >which all countries are represented. > > He remarked that the wealthiest countries are interested in >establishing a more prosperous and stable world than the current >one, but he said that in order for that to happen they must make an > >indispensable contribution. He urged them to provide free access to > >their markets from products from less developed countries, and to >erase from their books the official debts of the poorest and heavily > >indebted countries. > > He also urged the richest countries to be more generous in the >development aid they provide, particularly those countries which are > >devoting resources to the reduction of poverty. > > > ABOUT GRANMA INTERNATIONAL ONLINE >Spanish | French | Portuguese | German | Italian | Javier Sotomayor | >Magazines � Copyright. 1996-1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. GRANMA >INTERNATIONAL/ ONLINE EDITION." JC > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Law.com is the preeminent online destination for legal professionals. >Visit Law.com for exclusive content from American Lawyer Media, online >CLE Seminars, Practice Centers and Career Listings. >http://click.egroups.com/1/5803/0/_/30563/_/962134075/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Cuba SI - Imperialism NO! >Information and discussion about Cuba. >Socialism or death! Patria o muerte! Venceremos! >http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi > >Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Change Delivery Options: http://www.egroups.com/mygroups > > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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