From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 01:15:37 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] NY Transfer's RHC News Update-18 June 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 18 June 2001
.
*CONVENTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY IN HAVANA
*CUBA'S FOREIGN TRADE EXPANDING
*CUBA AND VIETNAM STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIP TIES
*INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR EXPOCARIBE OPENS
*COLOMBIA: GOVT-FARC PRISONER EXCHANGE A MAJOR PEACE MOVE
*MEXICO TO BEEF UP SECURITY ALONG ITS SOUTHERN BORDER
*BOB GELDORF CALLS FOR CANCELLATION OF POOR NATIONS DEBT
*TRANSITION FROM SOCIALISM MEANS SUFFERING FOR CHILDREN - UNICEF
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*CONVENTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY IN HAVANA
Havana, June 18 (RHC)--The 3rd International Convention on the Environment
and Development got underway Monday in Havana with the participation of
nearly 600 delegates from 25 countries.
The convention, which runs through Friday, includes seven congresses on
environmental education and sustainable development; management, policy and
rights; the economy, biological diversity and protected areas; energy and
health risks. The event's agenda also includes roundtable discussions on
issues such as globalization and the environment, Jose Marti and nature, and
the financing of sustainable development.
Parallel to the event, the 3rd International Exhibition Fair runs through
the end of the week at the Havana convention center with exhibitions of
products and services offered by Cuban and foreign firms participating in
the 3rd International Convention on Development and the Environment.
*CUBA'S FOREIGN TRADE EXPANDING
Havana, June 18 (RHC)--Cuba's foreign trade maintains its upward trend
following the completion of negotiations with over 3000 firms and
enterprises from 173 nations, according to Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Raul
de la Nuez.
The minister told reporters in eastern Santiago de Cuba province that at the
end of last year, Cuba's main trade partners were Venezuela, Spain, Canada,
China and the Netherlands. De la Nuez added that 45 percent of all Cuba's
foreign trade is with Europe, 40 percent with the Americas and the remaining
15 percent with nations in Asia and Africa.
*CUBA AND VIETNAM STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIP TIES
Havana, June 18 (RHC)- Cuba's Institute of Friendship with the Peoples
(ICAP) and the Association of Friendship Organizations in Vietnam (VUFO)
have signed an agreement aimed at strengthening the friendship ties between
the two countries.
ICAP's Vice President Eva Scoane and VUFO's General Secretary Tran Trong
Khan co-signed the accord in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital.
Following the signing ceremony, the two dignitaries expressed their
respective governments' interest in taking further initiatives that will
strengthen the already proven friendship and solidarity that exist between
the governments and the peoples of Vietnam and Cuba.
*INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR EXPOCARIBE OPENS
Santiago de Cuba, June 18 (RHC)--Eastern Santiago de Cuba province proudly
inaugurated the 10th International Trade Fair 'Expocaribe' on Sunday.
Cuba's second most important province, which is the birthplace of the
legendary Cuban independence leader Antonio Maceo y Grajales, is hosting
this important gathering of Caribbean and international enterprises and
business people, giving them the opportunity to meet and exchange
experiences with their Cuban business partners.
Over 485 firms are participating in this year's event, representing 34
countries. Juan Carlos Robinson, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist
Party in Santiago de Cuba, emphasized in his opening address that Cuba and
the Caribbean nations have many shared interests and common goals.
*COLOMBIA: GOVT-FARC PRISONER EXCHANGE A MAJOR PEACE MOVE
Bogot�, 18th June (RHC)--The Colombian government and the nation's largest
guerrilla group exchanged more prisoners today in what has been called an
historic move in the efforts to bring a permanent peace to a nation ravaged
by 37 years of civil war.
Presidential peace envoy Camilo Gomez flew to the northern department of
Cesar to receive four released government police officers bring the total
released by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) since Saturday
to 51.
In spite of negative reaction from elements in the military and paramilitary
groups, the exchange clears the way for further agreements between both
sides in a conflict that is responsible for the loss of some 3,000 lives a
year. The Colombian population has placed enormous political pressure on
Bogot� to end the fighting, which is supported by military aid from
Washington.
Under an accord reached earlier in the month, the FARC has agreed not to use
the released rebels for further fighting. The Red Cross and officials and
diplomats from Britain, Itlay, Cuba, Spain, Sweden and Mexico were present
over the weekend to ensure the exchanges went smoothly. In a unilateral
move, the FARC has promised to release a total of 100 government prisoners
as a humanitarian gesture. It is not clear if the administration of
President Andres Pastrana will release any more than the 11 FARC prisoners
it released on Saturday.
*MEXICO TO BEEF UP SECURITY ALONG ITS SOUTHERN BORDER
Havana, June 18, (RHC)--The Mexican government is considering beefing up
security on its borders to reduce the flow of immigration from Central
America. The Washington Post on Monday quoted Interior Minister Santiago
Creel's remarks that the "Southern Region" plan, the details of which have
not yet been revealed, is part of the challenge to "modernize" Mexico.
Creel explained that the idea is to increase the number of soldiers, police,
marine patrols and immigration personnel in the southern part of the country
which borders on Guatemala and Belize. Ten million dollars have already been
earmarked for Mexico's immigration department in order to modernize entry
points.
The plan is also meant to fight corruption and guard against human rights
violations and to stem illegal immigration and drug and arms trafficking.
The Mexican project has already received the support of Washington through
the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Last year Mexico deported
150,000 foreign immigrants, most of whom were on their way to the United
States.
*BOB GELDORF CALLS FOR CANCELLATION OF POOR NATIONS DEBT
London, 18th June (RHC)--British rock star Bob Geldorf has called on the
governments of industrialized countries to forgive the foreign debts of the
world's poorest nations.
This topic is on the agenda of the upcoming summit of the world's most
industrialized seven nations plus Russia, the G-8, which will be held in
Rome next month.
Geldorf, who is participating in the "Drop the Debt" international campaign,
directed his petition to Italy's conservative new Italian prime minister,
Silvio Berlusconi, the nation's richest inhabitant.
Italy has been a pioneer in deciding unilaterally to cancel the debts of the
poorest nations said the musician, as he urged Berlusconi to continue the
policy begun by the prime minister's predecessor.
*TRANSITION FROM SOCIALISM MEANS SUFFERING FOR CHILDREN - UNICEF
Stockholm, 18th June (RHC)--Crushing poverty, the rapid spread of AIDS and
overwhelming unemployment that reaches over 50% in some regions has affected
some 150 million children and youth in 27 countries in transition across
Eastern and Central Europe, reports the United Nations Childrens Fund.
In a conference entitled "A Generation in Peril" organized in Stockholm to
address the issue, UNICEF reported that 60 million children live in poverty,
18 million young people are without employment, 1.5 million children are
housed in public institutions, and 700,000 suffer from HIV/AIDS. Of this
last group, a full 50% contracted the virus before the the age of 25.
Millions of children are displaced by conflicts occurring in their regions
and are thus especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation, extreme violence,
crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. The radical reforms that have
come in the wake of major transitions since the fall of the Berlin Wall in
1989 have had a major negative impact on those living beneath the poverty
line across the former Eastern block and Baltic countries.
One of the greatest problems has been the inequality of schooling based on
ethnic origin, class and gender. After more than a decade of transition it
has become clear, says UNICEF, that many of these nations are simply unable
or unwilling to care for the millions who fall through the cracks in their
weakened social systems.
The UNICEF conference is designed as a precursor to the special UN session
in September that will address the objectives set forth in the World
Children's Summit ten years ago.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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