>Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 3 July 2000 23:30 > > >*CUBA ENTERS THE NEXT STAGE IN THE BATTLE OF IDEAS >*IT'S UP TO THE UNITED STATES TO CHANGE, NOT CUBA >*SOLIDARITY BRIGADES FROM THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO ARRIVE IN CUBA > > >*CUBA ENTERS THE NEXT STAGE IN THE BATTLE OF IDEAS > >Havana, July 3 (RHC)-- The next stage in the battle of ideas will be >just as successful as the struggle to free Elian Gonzalez from his >kidnappers. According to the Second Secretary of the Cuban >Communist Party and Minister of the Armed Forces, Raul Castro, the >people are committed to fight against the Cuban Adjustment Act and >the U.S. economic blockade of the island, without taking a break or >even pausing to catch their breath. > >The Cuban leader spoke with reporters following Saturday's massive >demonstration in Manzanillo, located in the eastern province of >Granma, where more than 300,000 gathered to condemn Washington's >hostile policies toward the Revolution. > >Raul Castro said that the Cuban Adjustment Act -- passed by the U.S. >Congress in 1966 and still on the books -- encourages illegal >immigration from the island to the United States and has resulted in >the deaths of countless Cubans in the Straits of Florida. The >34-year-old law is also directly responsible for cases like that of >Elian Gonzalez. The armed forces minister asked reporters what would >happen if the United States passed legislation that would grant >permanent residency to all Latin Americans wanting to immigrate to >the U.S., or if Europe opened the door for any African who wanted to >live in Europe. And Raul Castro predicted that immigration from >Third World countries to industrialized nations will be one of the >major problems facing the world in the 21st century. > >Referring specifically to the successful conclusion of the battle to >win Elian's release from the United States and his return to the >island several days ago, the Cuban leader stated that the case >generated a great deal of interest among U.S. citizens, who >overwhelmingly agreed that the six-year-old boy belonged with his >father here in Cuba. > > >*IT'S UP TO THE UNITED STATES TO CHANGE, NOT CUBA > >Washington, July 3 (RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon >has called for an end to Washington's Cold War policies against >Havana. During an interview on the ABC television news program "This >Week," Alarcon stated that the case of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez >demonstrates that it is past time to review relations between the >United States and Cuba. > >Ricardo Alarcon reminded viewers of the ABC program on Sunday that >while Washington makes overtures to China, Vietnam and North Korea, >the economic blockade and travel restrictions against Cuba are still >in place. According to the president of the Cuban Parliament, it is >up to the United States -- and not Cuba -- to make changes if it >wants to improve relations between the two countries. > >Asked by one of the ABC reporters why Cuba does not allow its >citizens to immigrate to the United States, Ricardo Alarcon corrected >the journalist, saying that people immigrate all the time through >legal channels -- pointing out that it is the United States that >limits the number of immigrants that can enter the country. The >president of the Cuban Parliament said that the real problem revolves >around the Cuban Adjustment Act -- legislation that was passed by the >U.S. Congress in 1966 -- which encourages illegal immigration. > >Alarcon reminded the journalist that the dangerous crossings of the >Florida Straits have cost Cuban families dearly -- leading to such >tragic situations like the case of Elian Gonzalez, who lost his >mother when she drowned in an attempt to illegally reach the shores >of Florida. > > >*SOLIDARITY BRIGADES FROM THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO ARRIVE IN CUBA > >Havana, July 3 (RHC)-- Solidarity activists from the United States >and Puerto Rico have arrived here in Cuba to begin work in voluntary >brigades. > >The 31st Contingent of the Venceremos Brigade from the U.S. is >joining with the Juan Ruis Rivera Brigade from Puerto Rico. Some 60 >Americans and 70 Puerto Ricans make up their respective brigades and >will be carrying out agricultural work on the outskirts of Havana >for two weeks. > >According to Prensa Latina News Agency, based in the Cuban capital, >since its founding in 1969, the Venceremos Brigade has sent a total >of 7000 U.S. citizens to work in Cuba -- volunteering in the >sugar harvest, construction and agricultural work. The brigadistas >are here in Cuba in violation of Washington's blockade of the island, >refusing to apply for a license with the U.S. Treasury Department as >established by law. > >The Venceremos Brigade was the first internationalist work brigade >that began coming to the island to concretely express its solidarity >with the Cuban Revolution. > >Since then, numerous other brigades were formed in other parts of the >world, including the Juan Ruis Rivera Brigade from Puerto Rico, the >Nordic Brigade from Europe, as well as solidarity work brigades from >Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and even Australia. Over the >next few weeks this summer, the Nordic Brigade and the Southern Cross >Brigade from Australia will be here in Cuba to work near the town of >Caimito, some 30 kilometers west of Havana. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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