>Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 02:32:04 -0500 >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: International Support Helped Cuba Survive the '90s-Fidel > >International Support Helped Cuba Survive the '90s-Fidel > >Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit > >Wednesday November 15 1:22 AM ET (vis Yahoo) > >Castro: Support Helped Cuba Survive > >By ANITA SNOW, Associated Press Writer > >HAVANA (AP) - Cuban President Fidel Castro told thousands of enthusiastic >sympathizers from around the globe that their support helped >his country survive the decade following the collapse of socialism in Europe >and breakup of the Soviet Union. > >`More than friends, you are brothers and sisters in solidarity,'' Castro >told more than 4,000 foreign supporters of the Cuban Revolution as >they wrapped up a five-day gathering late Tuesday. > >`Sure, it is easy to die,'' Castro said, referring to predictions that his >socialist regime would not survive the loss of its former East Bloc >trading partners. It is much harder `not only to a launch a battle, but to >win it,'' he said. > >`We have been launching and winning the battle,'' Castro said during a >late-night speech at the Karl Marx theater that was punctuated by >shouts of `Fidel! Fidel!'' > >Throughout the 1990s, Cuba struggled financially to become independent after >losing about 40 percent of its aid and trade almost >overnight. > >The country of more than 11 million people lived through blackouts of up to >16 hours a day to save on energy. Food shortages were >common. Oxen replaced petroleum-powered tractors in the fields. Bicycles >replaced cars as transportation. > >`In those dark moments, you were with us,'' the 74-year-old Castro said. > >The foreigners from about 120 countries gathered in Havana for the World >Encounter of Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba. They joined >Castro outside the U.S. Interests Section earlier Tuesday to protest the >40-year-old American trade sanctions against the communist island. > >The sanctions were a constant theme during the meeting. > >`If solidarity brought down apartheid, it can bring down the blockade!'' >Rosamary Janches of South Africa declared Tuesday morning to the >cheers of other Cuba sympathizers. Americans at the gathering carried a sign >that read: `End to the U.S. Blockade on Cuba - Now.'' > >Flags from Brazil, the African National Congress, New Zealand and other >countries and organizations fluttered amid a sea of Cuban flags >during the protest outside the American mission. > >With loudspeakers blaring Cuba's folk song `Guantanamera'' and a popular ode >to revolutionary icon Ernesto `Che'' Guevara, the event at >times seemed more like a giant block party than a protest. Daniel Ortega, >the former Nicaraguan guerrilla leader and president, was among >the best-known protesters. > >During his address to the group late in the evening, Castro launched into a >criticism of the world economy. He blamed financial speculation, >privatization, foreign debt and financial requirements imposed by lending >institutions such as the International Monetary Fund for the >economic woes of many other Latin American nations. > >While Venezuela earlier privatized many of its state enterprises, Castro >said he was sure that the nation's rich petroleum reserves will >remain under government control during the administration of President Hugo >Chavez. > >Castro counts Chavez as a personal friend and political ally. The Cuban >leader recently returned from Venezuela, where Chavez agreed to >sell oil with preferential financial conditions to 10 Central American and >Caribbean countries, including Cuba. > >`As long as there are men like President Chavez and the movement he leads, >no one can dream that the riches of this country will be >surrendered,'' Castro said to a burst of applause. > > >================================================================= > 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-11.15.00-02:31:42-28093 > _______________________________________________________ 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. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
