From: "Walter Lippmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 19:35:11 -0700 To: "CubaNews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [CubaNews] Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference April 5, 2001 105th INTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE Threat of a new cold war President Fidel Castro warns in the opening ceremony of event attended by 1,300 legislators from 120 countries BY JOAQUIN ORAMAS THE 105th Interparliamentary Conference got off to an explosive start when President Fidel Castro warned of the encroaching possibility of a new cold war and the beginning of a desperate arms race. Referring to the latter topic, he said that no large nation or groups of nations with the necessary scientific and technical means, could remain unarmed in the face of a terrible, aggressive and insatiable adversary (referring to the United States). In the opening session, Najma Heptulla, president of the IPU; Kieran Prendergaest, representative of the United Nations secretary-general; and Ricardo Alarcón, president of Cuba¹s National Assembly of People¹s Power, also spoke in favor of joint peace efforts and the solution to problems that are destroying humanity. Approximately 1,300 legislators from more than 120 countries participated in the conference. After describing the approaching dangers, Fidel Castro confirmed that we all have many responsibilities and duties if we want to win the battle for the survival of our species, threatened today by previously unimaginable global risks. In his brief speech, the Cuban president said that we are witnesses to the disdain and arrogance with which the dominating superpower breaks treaties and agreements that are not only vital for the peace and security of all the nations of the world, but also for the hope of sustainable development and preservation of ecological equilibrium, natural resources and conditions, without which we all know that life on our planet would be impossible. The Cuban revolutionary leader recalled how nearly 20 years ago, on September 15, 1981, the 68th Inter-Parliamentary Conference took place in the very same room at Havana¹s International Conference Center. He stressed that a great deal has happened since then, but nothing has changed, and in terms of important humanitarian issues the situation has gotten worse. He added, among other observations, that at that time many conflicts were brewing and now there are even more. He also recalled how at that time there were two superpowers and today there is only one, more powerful than both of them put together. Continuing his reflections, comparing this conference with the last one held in Havana, he pointed out that he saw a lot of young faces and that was important. "I, on the other hand am 20 years older, I am perhaps level-headed, but at the same time more radical, because I know more about the world that we live in and the world we could live in," he said in a colloquial tone. He commented that U.S. parliamentary members did not participate in the last conference, are not participating in this one either, and have not paid their dues, a point that provoked strong applause. "Two decades have passed but we, along with this prestigious institution, have survived the terrible wave of nostalgia brought about by the absence of our dear colleagues and neighbors from the North," he added, explaining that there are sincere, intelligent and realistic legislators in that powerful country¹s Congress. Then, paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, he said that it was clear that some of them could be stupid all the time, all of them could be stupid some of the time, but not all of them could be stupid all of the time. "Perhaps, listening to parliamentary representatives from more than 120 countries, a large part of whom share our suffering, the suffering of the poor and ravaged Third World, the U.S. Congress would have had at least one opportunity to find out what others were thinking," he noted. RIGHT TO NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE MUST BE RESPECTED In his welcome speech to the legislators and guests, Alarcón referred to the situation in the Middle East, the aggression against the Palestinians and the situation of Puerto Rico, among other issues. He declared that the right to national independence is sacred and must be respected everywhere, advocating unity between the representatives of countries despite their differences. He gave the example of the World Social Forum, held recently in Porto Alegre which, he said, demonstrated that it is possible to bring together a wide range of forces in order to save life and obtain a truly humanitarian future. He also heavily criticized neoliberal globalization which is basically an attack on democratic ideals, while reinforcing the exploitation and subordination of underdeveloped countries and increasing the excluded sectors of developed countries. With this argument, he endorsed the democratization of international relations, including the United Nations and its Security Council, "where the veto power and the dominance of a single government must end." In his speech, Prendergaest, representative of the United Nations¹ secretary-general, observed that the meeting was being held at a time when the international organization was fighting to apply the resolutions drawn up in the Millennium Summit last September, and in other events. He remarked that no effort can be spared to achieve the many ambitious objectives stressing the need to listen to the voices of different nations and adopt a much more democratic attitude in international decision-making. IPU president Najma Heptulla defended nations¹ rights to organize their society according to their own convictions. She reminded the audience that the essence of international law is respect for each country¹s freedom to live the way it chooses. Her speech also urged parliamentarians¹ participation in promoting voluntary cooperation to fight for the construction of better and happier societies. She said that parliaments could identify and promote constructive community participation and announced that she was prepared to consult with every country¹s main voluntary organizations, in order to identify policies that foster this kind of cooperation. She also announced the subject to be presented, during the conference, by the United Nations executive committee for coordinating volunteers. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
