>Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 21:59:37 -0500 >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Radio Havana Cuba-31 October 2000 > >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 31 October 2000 > > . > >*FIDEL CASTRO RETURNS HOME FROM HISTORIC VISIT TO VENEZUELA > >*SO-CALLED "REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY" HAS FAILED IN LATIN AMERICA > >*MAYOR OF ST. PETERSBURG SAYS THAT RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE SOLID > >*HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR ATTRACTS IMPORTANT FOREIGN INVESTORS > >*CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT TOURS PAVILIONS AT HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR > >*CUBA CONTINUES DEVELOPING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY > >*CUBA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES UPWARD TREND > > . > >*FIDEL CASTRO RETURNS HOME FROM HISTORIC VISIT TO VENEZUELA > >Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro arrived at Jose >Marti International Airport during the early morning hours of Tuesday from >what national media outlets are calling an historic visit to the Bolivariano >Republic of Venezuela. > >In this morning's edition of the Cuban news daily Granma, further details of >the extensive cooperation accord, signed by the two countries, were >published. The accord will be valid for five years, with the possibility of >extending it another five years. It contains a long list of goods and >services, to be redefined each year, that Cuba will provide to support >Venezuela's ample economic and social development program. Venezuela will >pay for those goods and services with oil and its derivates, valued >equivalent to world market prices. In the agro-industrial sector, Cuba will >provide Venezuela with animal feed, organic fertilizers and will participate >in the construction of three sugar mills in that South American nation. Cuba >will also provide Venezuela with vaccines for its cattle-raising industry -- >among numerous other areas of cooperation. > >The agreement in the education sector includes Cuba's commitment to train >teachers at every level, while the island will also provide Venezuela with >educational video programs recorded in Cuba. In the health sector, Cuba will >train Venezuelan doctors and other health personnel-- including providing >post-graduate studies in a number of medical specialties. > >Cuba will also provide treatment for neurological restoration, retinosis >pigmentosa, traumatology and transplants of the medulla, heart, liver, >kidney and cornea. The accord also foresees extensive cooperation in the >sports and cultural arenas, with Venezuela providing Cuba with up to 53,000 >barrels of crude daily -- at preferential prices and a low interest rate. > > >*SO-CALLED "REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY" HAS FAILED IN LATIN AMERICA > >Caracas, October 31 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, speaking at a >joint news conference with his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro -- just before >the Cuban leader left for Havana -- stated that so-called representative >democracy has failed in Latin America. The Venezuelan leader emphasized that >his country is now involved in a revolutionary process to establish justice >and true democracy. > >Hugo Chavez noted that during the 1980's, Venezuela was held up by the >United States as the ideal model of democracy -- while, in reality, the >country slipped into an abyss of violence and poverty. The Venezuelan >president stated that 80 percent of his people live in poverty, with more >than half of that figure representing total or abject poverty. > >Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez held a >joint news conference Monday afternoon, which was transmitted live by >satellite -- with a special, interactive video conference hook-up. >Responding to questions from journalists in Argentina, Spain, Colombia and >the United States, the two leaders covered a wide range of subjects. > >The leader of the Cuban Revolution, answering a question presented to him by >a reporter from the Venezuelan newspaper "El Nacional," stated that Cuba's >history is full of examples of true democracy. Fidel Castro affirmed that >Havana does not 'export' its revolution to Latin America -- noting that it >is Washington that has tried to export - or rather impose - its political >model on the rest of the hemisphere. The Cuban leader stated that the United >States has pushed its political and economic agenda on other countries >around the world - while Cuba has a clean record... with no death squads, no >disappeared or tortured political prisoners. The special joint news >conference, which lasted for more than four hours, was carried live on Cuban >radio and television, as well as transmitted on the international shortwave >frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. > > >*MAYOR OF ST. PETERSBURG SAYS THAT RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE SOLID > >Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- The mayor of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, >Vladimir Yakovlev has affirmed that relations between Russia and Cuba are >solid. In statements to the press after winding up his visit to Cuba, the >Russian official expressed confidence in strengthening economic ties between >companies both from St. Petersburg and Havana. > >Before leaving for Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, the mayor of >St. Petersburg met with Cuba's First Vice President and Defense Minister >Raul Castro, and discussed bilateral interests. > >Cuba's defense minister said that the visit of Russian President Vladimir >Putin, scheduled for later this year, will be of vital importance for >bilateral relations. > >During his official visit, the mayor of the Russian city signed cooperation >agreements in the fields of education, health, economy, tourism and culture. >He also met with Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage, Minister without >Portfolio, Ricardo Cabrisas and the President of the Cuban Parliament, >Ricardo Alarcon. > > >*HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR ATTRACTS IMPORTANT FOREIGN INVESTORS > >Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- The President of CARICOM's Trade and Economic >Development Council, Ralph Fonseca, said on Tuesday in Havana that the >objective of his visit to Cuba is to learn from the island's experience in >the field of economy and to exchange ideas on relations between Belize, Cuba >and the Caribbean. > >At the end of his visit to the island, the Belician official added that his >country is participating in Havana's International Trade Fair with a number >of representatives from the private sector who want to contact Cuban >business executives and other nations. > >The CARICOM official met with Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage and Minister >without Portfolio Ricardo Cabrisas to discuss issues of bilateral interest. > > >*CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT TOURS PAVILIONS AT HAVANA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR > >Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage toured on >Tuesday the pavilions of China and Germany during the 8th Havana >International Trade Fair which got underway on Sunday in Havana's PABEXPO >Pavilion Halls. > >Tuesday's commercial activities are dedicated to Italy, Canada and the >Basque country. Monday's sessions were dedicated to Britain and France, >gathering almost one hundred firms. During the inauguration of the British >pavilion, Scotland's Minister without Portfolio and Parliament member, Brian >Wilson, pointed out that the pavilion will broaden commercial contacts and >cooperation with Cuba, especially in the fields of natural gas and oil. > > >*CUBA CONTINUES DEVELOPING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY > >Havana, October 31 (RHC)-- The President of Panama's Federation of Trade and >Hotel Management, Norma Cano, pointed out on Tuesday that despite >Washington's blockade against Cuba, the island has shown its sovereignty in >the development of advanced technology. > >Cano expressed the solidarity of the Panamanian people towards the Cuban >people and praised the advances of the island's tourism industry, which has >doubled the work force on the island in the last five years. > >The Presidency of Panama's Federation of Trade and Hotel Management, which >is participating in the 3rd International Hotel and Tourism Trade Union >Meeting, has expressed in its support for the Cuban people and outlines >strategies that defends the national identity of each country. > > >Viewpoint: > >CUBA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES UPWARD TREND > >In Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, Cuba has signed an agreement of >economic, social and cultural cooperation which will guide relations between >these two Latin American countries from now on. This is an historical >document which has continued to be erroneously interpreted by the >international press. Some have hailed this accord as the salvation of Cuba >and others have clamed that it is a crude barter between Cuba and Venezuela >for oil and medical services. However, immediately after the Caracas >agreement had been signed, the text was explained in full in order to do >away with any mistaken or dishonest interpretation. It is essential that the >public completely understand Cuba's internationalist policies which are >based on solidarity and respect for humanity. The thousands of medical >personnel and other professionals working in Latin American nations and >other Third World countries do so for altruistic motives and not for >personal gain. > >The economic situation in Cuba is not developed because the country >continues to be criminally blockaded against the trade potential of its >neighbors. Recently, a pitiful attempt to change this policy of exclusion >from the blockade of the sale of medicines and food to Cuba was frustrated >by the machinations of Cuba's enemies in the U.S. Congress. However, the >economic policies adopted by the Cuban government has guided the island >through five years of the worst conditions possible, created by the >disappearance of the European socialist community. > >At the opening of the 18th International Havana Trade Fair, Cuban Vice >President Carlos Lage told reporters that the upward trend in Cuba's economy >continues this year with a 13 percent increase in the Gross National >Product. This year, oil production will reach 3 million 600 tons of crude. >Four million tons are projected for next year, which is approximately half >of the amount of fuel needed nationally. > >Tourism is maintaining its momentum and nickel exports have already >surpassed 70 million tons, placing Cuba among the principal world producers >of this strategic mineral. With this trend in the economy predicted to >continue, Cuba is becoming stronger and will continue to resist Washington's >economic blockade and other aggressions from its neighbor to the North. > >(c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. > >================================================================= > NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems > Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us > 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 > http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >================================================================= > >nytcari-10.31.00-21:59:15-15257 > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. 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