From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 23:45:06 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] NY Transfer's RHC Weekend Update-03 June 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 03 June 2001
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*WASHINGTON PLANS TO ALLOW CUBANS WITH FALSE PAPERS TO ENTER U.S.
*US VISA DENIAL IS "IMPERIAL ARROGANCE" - ALARCON
*FIDEL ADDRESSES WORKSHOP ON HIGHER EDUCATION
*CUBA MUST BE "A NATION OF ECOLOGISTS"
*ELIMINATING CORRUPTION A SOLEMN DUTY - LAGE
*ARGENTINES PLAN CUBA SOLIDARITY MEETING
*RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS VISIT NEW BIO-GAS FACTORY
*VENEZEUELA UNCOVERS AN ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST CHAVEZ
*FSLN BLASTS "GROSS US INTERFERENCE" IN NICARAGUAN ELECTION
*EUROPEAN NATIONS OPPOSE DEFINING SLAVERY AS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
Viepoint:
*REICH, NEGROPONTE, STAR WARS: US ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH ITS ALLIES
.
*WASHINGTON PLANS TO ALLOW CUBANS WITH FALSE PAPERS TO ENTER U.S.
Havana, June 2 (RHC)--A well-known U.S. immigration expert warned Saturday
about plans that would freely allow Cubans to enter the United States on
false documents. Washington-based immigration lawyer Jose Pertierra told
Radio Habana Cuba that the Board of Immigration Appeals in the United States
ruled last month in favor of accepting into the U.S. any Cuban traveling
from a third country on a false passport or visa.
He said the ruling was passed within the context of the so-called Cuban
Adjustment Act -- U.S. legislation in effect since 1966. The Cuban
Adjustment Act gives Cubans arriving in the United States the right to stay
and get a residence permit one year and one day later.
Pertierra noted that according to the new ruling by the Board of Immigration
Appeals, Cubans traveling on false documents need not fool U.S. government
officials to enter the country: all they need to do, he said, is state at
the airport that they have come to stay.
"They simply need to fool the airlines, and announce at the airport before
they've entered that they are Cubans," said Pertierra. "If they do that,
they receive parole and they will be allowed to get their green cards under
the Cuban Adjustment Act a year and a day after their ATTEMPT to enter the
United States. That ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals may be
appealed to the 11th Circuit of the Federal Court in Atlanta."
Pertierra said it was up to the U.S. Attorney General to now contest the
ruling. He said that so far, there has been no action on the part of
Attorney General John Ashcroft to file an appeal, adding that the decision
to fight or not to fight the ruling will reveal the Bush administration's
official attitude towards the sensitive Cuban migration issue.
"It will be very interesting to see what the decision is," said Pertierra.
"It may give us an indication of which way the Bush Administration intends
to go on the U.S.-Cuba migration agreements."
The attorney noted that the U.S. government has for years regarded the Cuban
migration issue as a national security concern. A new round of talks on
migration matters between Cuba and the United States is due for New York in
June.
This will be the first time, Petierra noted, that these regular migration
discussions will take place under the Bush administration, and the decision
on whether or not to hold the talks will provide a further idea of the Bush
administration's position on the issue of Cuban migration.
*US VISA DENIAL IS "IMPERIAL ARROGANCE" - ALARCON
Havana, June 2 (RHC)--Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon has called
Washington's denial of a visa to visit Puerto Rico "imperial arrogance."
Alarcon deplored the U.S. government's refusal to allow him to accept a
friendly invitation from diverse Puerto Rican institutions and personalities
to participate in a commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the
establishment of Puerto Rico's Mission in Havana.
He said that at the same time, Washington announces a renewal of military
exercises in Vieques without asking permission from anyone, and ignoring the
amply expressed will of the Puerto Rican people. Alarcon called the
announcement "an offense against a people whose inalienable rights will one
day have to be respected."
Though Puerto Rico's annexationist New Progressive Party and ruling Popular
Democratic Party applauded the decision, the opposition Puerto Rican
Independence Party and New Independence Movement said the visa denial is yet
another manifestation of Puerto Rico's colonial status.
New Independence Movement leader Julio Muriente said his country has no
decision-making power concerning who visits the island.
*FIDEL ADDRESSES WORKSHOP ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Havana, June 2 (RHC)--During a Friday evening workshop in Havana on the
educational and ideological work of Cuban universities, President Fidel
Castro stated that "We are building a society that is ever more socialist,
more just and humanistic."
Some 450 delegates, representing Cuban university professors and students,
attended the event. During the event, Fidel reflected on the battle of ideas
being waged to counteract the anti-Cuba campaign launched by the United
States in an attempt to justify its 40-year blockade against the island. The
Cuban leader emphasized the decisive role played by the new generations of
Cubans in that battle, which began with the struggle for the return of
six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, and pointed to the results obtained so far:
"We have thus far fully demonstrated our ability to resist, which is the the
guarantee that nothing can destroy us," said Fidel. "We are now confident
that we will continue ahead with our march, even as the world is turned
upside down and in crisis. That is the main difference between today and the
time when many outside Cuba thought that the days of the Revolution were
numbered."
Also on hand during the workshop was Cuban Minister of Higher Education
Fernando Vecino Alegret. Alegret explained there are 16 projects currently
underway to improve the educational work in the universities, according to
the battle of ideas being waged by the Cuban people. As an example, he
pointed to the extension of a prioritized program to train social workers
first implemented last year here in Havana. Graduates from this program
already represent a significant contribution to solving social problems at
the neighborhood level. Registration for the next school year is estimated
at nearly 7,200 new students here in Havana, the official said, and similar
schools have been created to train social workers in other provinces,
including Villa Clara, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.
*CUBA MUST BE "A NATION OF ECOLOGISTS"
Havana, June 2 (RHC)--Speaking before a hearing of the Cuban parliament
examinining the island's environmental situation, Parliament President
Ricardo Alarcon stressed that the strength of Cuba resides in the sympathy
of those with goodwill who understand the need to fight for a far more just
and equitable world.
Alarcon said that the environmental issue has no parallel -- noting that it
requires efforts by rich and poor nations alike to save our planet and,
consequently, the very survival of the human race. Pointing to a report on
the main challenges for the 21st century by the U.S. Central Intelligence
Agency, he said that by the year 2015, water shortages will be one of the
main problems that humanity will be forced to face, which could even lead to
war.
Alarcon noted that unlike most countries around the world, in Cuba,
protection of the environment has been a governmental priority since the
triumph of the Revolution in 1959.
During the hearing, Cuban legislators reviewed work over the last four years
by the parliamentary environmental commission At the end of the meeting,
Parliament President Alarcon summarized the policy of the Revolution
regarding the environment, explaining that "We have to be a nation of
ecologists, a nation and a people who are conscientious and active; that is
the humanistic essence of our society. It comes along with the socialist
ideal that we are now working to improve. That ideal is based on solidarity
among human beings and that solidarity is also the legacy for our children
and grandchildren -- to leave them a better, healthier world to live in."
*ELIMINATING CORRUPTION A SOLEMN DUTY - LAGE
Havana, June 2 (RHC)--During a ceremony Friday evening to introduce the
recently created Ministry for Auditing and Control, Vice President Carlos
Lage stated that Cuba has "the unquestionable duty to eliminate corruption
in all of its manifestations."
Lage, who is the Secretary of the Cuban Council of Ministers' Executive
Committee, also called for firm actions against anything that goes against
the morality and the prestige of the Revolution.
Lage explained that the role of the new Ministry for Auditing and Control is
to preserve management discipline and promote the integrity of management,
its leaders and officials. He stressed that the objective of the new
institution is not to detect, but to prevent corruption-related crimes and
violations. The vice president said that corruption feeds and nourishes the
capitalist system -- but is totally opposed to the ideal of socialism.
Last Wednesday, the head of the new ministry, Lina Pedraza, issued a call to
prevent the world from becoming ungovernable due to the predominance of
corruption. Pedraza participated in an international conference on rights
and challenges in the face of prevailing corruption in today's world. During
the event, which gathered 150 delegates from 16 nations, the Cuban minister
stressed that Cuba is largely free of the problem, which continues to expand
like a plague throughout the world.
*ARGENTINES PLAN CUBA SOLIDARITY MEETING
Buenos Aires, June 2 (RHC)--Nearly 300 delegates from 16 provinces in
Argentina have confirmed their participation in a national encounter in
solidarity with Cuba, scheduled for next weekend in the city of Cordoba.
On hand will be representatives of trade union and human rights
organizations, including the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo Association. Among
personalities who have also confirmed their participation in the solidarity
with Cuba activity are Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel and
renowned Argentine writer Osvaldo Bayer, as well as the First Deputy
President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)
Rolando Gonzalez, Cuba's Ambassador to Argentina Alejandro Gonzalez and
other members of the island's diplomatic mission in the South American
nation.
During the two-day solidarity event, delegates will gather in work
commissions to debate and reach agreements on subjects such as solidarity
work, the arrival of volunteer work brigades on the island and the granting
of Cuban university scholarships to young Argentines. Delegates will also
discuss ways to confront the U.S. blockade and the slander campaign against
Cuba in the mainstream media, as well as actions to be carried out by the
solidarity movement in Argentina to protest their government's vote against
Cuba at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The event in solidarity with Cuba will take place at a very difficult time
in bilateral relations between Cuba and Argentina, following that country's
position against Cuba in Geneva and the decision to withdraw the Argentine
ambassador from Buenos Aires to Havana, as well as the cancellation of a
business delegation's trip to the Caribbean island.
*RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS VISIT NEW BIO-GAS FACTORY
Matanzas, June 2 (RHC)--Representatives of the Cuban Council of Churches,
now celegbrating its 60th anniversary, and members of the German-based
organization Bread for the World traveled to the municipality of Jaguay
Grande, located in central Matanzas province, to observe the installation of
a bio-gas plant.
The facility is a joint contribution of both organizations to the Cuban
people. The plant, which will soon be operating at the Australia sugar mill,
will provide some 600 households with gas for domestic use. By processing
the sugar cane's solid and liquid waste, the gas plant will also produce
efficient organic fertilizers for agriculture that will also protect the
local environment.
Warner Rhostan, Director of the Latin American division of Bread for the
World, told Radio Havana Cuba that this is one of their most important
projects on the island. The German organization, whose work focuses on Third
World nations, has developed several agriculture-related projects in Cuba
over the past 20 years. Rhostan said that another two bio-gas plants were
set up on the island some ten years ago and that his organization will
continue to develop other agricultural projects over the coming years in
cooperation with the Cuban Council of Churches.
*VENEZEUELA UNCOVERS AN ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST CHAVEZ
Caracas, June 2 (RHC)--The president of Venezuela's National Assembly has
confirmed media reports on the discovery of an assassination plot against
President Hugo Chavez. The head of the legislature, William Lara, stated
that a small group had been identified which hoped to eliminate Chavez.
On Friday, the evening edition of the newspaper "El Mundo" asserted that at
least four police officers were arrested Thursday under suspicion of having
placed a bomb at the airport where Chavez was scheduled to arrive today,
following a tour of Asian and European nations. On Saturday, the news daily
"El Nacional" also published the story, reporting that a member of
Venezuela's political police and several airport police officers were
arrested while attempting to sabotage x-ray luggage inspection equipment in
order to pass dynamite into the passenger boarding area.
The revelation comes at a moment of heightened tensions between authorities
and a small but vociferous reactionary opposition. On several occasions
during the past two weeks, Venezuelan authorities have accused
ultra-rightwing sectors in Miami of being behind efforts to get rid of
Chavez.
At a recent opposition protest in front of the Cuban embassy in Caracas --
which was overwhelmed by a counter-protest in favor of Cuba's relations with
Venezuela -- the Cuban ambassador pointed to what he called the
"Miami-ization" of the Venezuelan opposition. The charge was in response to
those denouncing what they call the "Cubanization" of Venezuela.
*FSLN BLASTS "GROSS US INTERFERENCE" IN NICARAGUAN ELECTION
Managua, June 2 (RHC)-- The Sandinista leadership in Nicaragua has
criticized gross interference by a U.S. State Department official in the
country's upcoming elections. Under-secretary of State for Western
Hemispheric Affairs Lino Gutierrez traveled to Managua on Friday in an
effort to persuade right-wing forces to unite behind one candidate in
November's presidential race.
Speaking before Nicaraguan political and business leaders and at a press
conference later in the day, Gutierrez lashed out at the Sandinistas'
admiration of Cuban President Fidel Castro and at Sandinista leader Daniel
Ortega's recent visit to Libya. The Cuban-born State Department official
asserted that Marxism is in "the garbage bin of history" and that the
Sandinistas are not democrats because they haven't returned all the
properties nationalized -- including some U.S. properties -- following the
overthrow of dictator Anastasio Somoza.
Gutierrez openly expressed his and the Bush administration's disgust
concerning the solid electoral preference that opinion polls are giving to
the Sandinistas, citing his hope that "the Nicaraguan people don't want to
return to the past."
Agustin Jarquin, vice presidential candidate on the Sandinista ticket, said
that Nicaragua's destiny is of sole concern to Nicaraguans, and not to other
governments, recalling that Daniel Ortega has promised to respect a market
economy, but one with a human face to confront poverty. Earlier this week,
Ortega said that his political party demands respectful relations between
Nicaragua and the United States.
*EUROPEAN NATIONS OPPOSE DEFINING SLAVERY AS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
Geneva, June 2 (RHC)-- European nations strongly opposed efforts to define
slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity at the just-concluded
preparatory gathering in Geneva for the upcoming International Conference
Against Racism, scheduled to be held in Durban, South Africa next August
31st to September 7th.
Countries like the United States, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal are also
putting up resistance to an eventual agreement on reparations for African
nations that suffered slavery and colonialism. The disagreement is
threatening to abort the Durban Conference. United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, said advances in the discussions are moving
at a disturbingly slow pace.
The Geneva gathering of the preparatory committee wound up Friday after two
weeks of deliberations. Member nations of the committee have decided to
extend talks in a smaller gathering from June 5th to June 15th, and then
hold another full committee meeting July 30th to August 10th.
Another obstacle for concluding a rough draft of the Durban Conference's
final declaration is the demand by Arab nations to pluralize the word
"holocaust" -- insisting that there has been not only a Nazi holocaust
against Jews, but also a Jewish holocaust with Israel's expulsion and
colonization of the Palestinian people. Leading the chorus of Western
nations on this issue, Switzerland said that the "two holocausts" proposal
is unacceptable.
Non-governmental organizations have also complained of the scant
participation in the talks granted to them by the preparatory committee.
.
Viepoint:
*REICH, NEGROPONTE, STAR WARS: US ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH ITS ALLIES
With Washington's failure to convince its allies in NATO to go along with
the so-called Star Wars project, other contentious aspects of U.S. foreign
policy decisions are coming to light. The arrogant and oftentimes imperial
policies of U.S. administrations are, of course, nothing new -- but many are
beginning to question the future course of the relatively new administration
in the White House.
An example -- and only one of many: The Bush administration has nominated a
gentleman by the name of John Negroponte to be Washington's next ambassador
to the United Nations. Negroponte became a household name during the Reagan
administration of the 1980's when he was the top U.S. representative in
Honduras. As Washington's ambassador, John Negroponte helped engineer and
oversee the U.S. contra war against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua -- directed
from the White House.
But that's not all. Responsible for carrying out the orders given to him by
his bosses in Washington, Negroponte was a good soldier. He earned the
dubious honor of being accused by the Honduran Human Rights Commission of
violating the rights of Honduran citizens while serving as U.S. ambassador
to that country. According to a U.S. religious worker in Tegucigalpa,
Laetitia Bordes, among the crimes that took place on Negroponte's watch was
the murder of at least 32 women -- including the secretary of Archbishop
Oscar Arnulfo Romero, brutally assassinated by paramilitary death squads.
During the Reagan administration, death squads in Honduras killed a number
of students and others who were accused of collaborating with guerrilla
forces in El Salvador. At least 180 people were forcibly disappeared in
Honduras -- many of them murdered by what was called Battalion 3-16, created
by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Another nominee for an important post in the new Bush administration is Otto
Reich, designated to be the next Assistant Secretary of State for
Hemispheric Affairs. Otto Reich -- a good German name -- is actually a
Cuban-born supporter of reactionary policies and terrorist actions against
the Cuban Revolution.
We'll have to wait and see if the new Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate
will have any real effect on the Bush appointments. Some observers on
Capitol Hill believe the Democratic leadership will make it difficult for
Bush to push through his entire list of nominations. Democratic Senator
Joseph Biden, who will replace ultra-rightwing Senator Jesse Helms as head
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, may make it a bit harder for Bush
to get his wish list passed.
And, as demonstrated by NATO's rejection of Secretary of State Colin
Powell's pitch for Star Wars, it is becoming increasingly clear that the
White House may be on a collision course with its own allies on many key
foreign policy issues. Stay tuned!
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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