From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 05:52:20 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] NY Transfer's RHC News Update-23 August 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 23 August 2001
.
*CUBA WELCOMES 26 MORE US STUDENTS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA
*BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALONE INVITED TO CUBA, NOT AN EU DELEGATION
*JESSE HELMS' RETIREMENT WON'T CHANGE WASHINGTON'S POLICIES
*CHAVEZ SAYS FIDEL CASTRO AN OUTSTANDING WORLD LEADER
*CUBA REITERATES SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE
*CUBAN WOMEN'S FEDERATIONS CELEBRATES 41st ANNIVERSARY
*NATIONAL FINE ARTS MUSEUM REPORTS 30,000 VISITORS
*BRAZIL IGNORES PHARMACEUTICAL GIANT'S PATENT CLAIMS TO AIDS MEDICATION
*UN URGED TO INCLUDE RACISM IN THE DRUG WAR ON THE TABLE IN DURBAN
*PERU: TOLEDO PAYS COMPENSATIONS TO FUJIMORI'S HUMAN RIGHTS VICTIMS
Viewpoint:
*HELMS: A SIGH OF RELIEF FOR A PASSING ENEMY
*GLOBALIZATION AND REVOLUTION, CUBAN STYLE
.
*CUBA WELCOMES 26 MORE US STUDENTS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--Cuba has welcomed another 26 US citizens who
arrived in Havana late Wednesday to study free of charge at the Latin
American School of Medicine. The 26 youths - joining another 12 Americans
who arrived last April to study at the Cuban institution -- are from 8 US
states from California to New York.
Pastors for Peace leader and renowned solidarity activist, the Reverend
Lucius Walker, was at the head of the delegation. Upon their arrival, Walker
told media outlets that the Americans were not only here to study medicine,
but also to learn about Cuba.
He said they hope to bring as many as 100 American students by next January.
Selection of candidates is in the hands of a commission comprised of members
of the US's Congressional Black Caucus and Hispanic Caucus, as well as
diverse religious institutions.
The commission's primary consideration is the financial impossibility of the
candidates to study at the university level in the United States. The idea
of building the Latin American School of Medicine followed the devastation
in Central America of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The institution has enrolled
close to 5 thousand students from 24 countries - 19 of which are Latin
American.
*BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALONE INVITED TO CUBA, NOT AN EU DELEGATION
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--In light of the erroneous international media
coverage of Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel's visit to Cuba, the Cuban
Foreign Ministry has published an official clarification. Read Wednesday
evening on national TV news and published today in newspapers, the Cuban
Foreign Ministry note termed as inaccurate international media reports
speaking of a visit to Cuba of leaders of the European Union.
Only the Belgian Foreign Minister was officially invited to Cuba by Cuban
Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque. Though Foreign Minister Michel also
currently presides over the EU's Council of Ministers, the Cuban Foreign
Ministry said the European Union representatives accompanying him have not
been invited to Cuba.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry clarified that those members of European Union
institutions accompanying the delegation were invited to do so by the
Belgian Foreign Minister himself. The note of clarification comes amid
copious media speculation concerning a possible reactivation of a political
dialogue between Cuba and the European Union, broken off due to
discrepancies in the interpretation of issues like human rights and
multi-party elections.
*JESSE HELMS' RETIREMENT WON'T CHANGE WASHINGTON'S POLICIES
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--Cuban media outlets are asserting that
ultra-conservative US Senator Jesse Helms' departure from the political
scenario will change nothing in Washington's hostile anti-Cuba policies.
Cuban news commentator Eduardo Dimas noted that Helms is merely one of many
who helped design Washington's reactionary Cuba policies.
The Cuban news daily "Juventud Rebelde" today published a brief profile of
the legislator who amassed an immense amount of power during his 30 years on
capital hill, recalling his opposition to the Panama Canal treaties, his
support of Nicaraguan contras and Salvadoran paramilitaries and his
admiration of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Helms announced
Wednesday that he will not seek re-election next year, and that he will
retire when his mandate concludes in 2003. The Cuban government has not
deemed necessary any official statement.
*CHAVEZ SAYS FIDEL CASTRO AN OUTSTANDING WORLD LEADER
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez described his
Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro as one of the most outstanding leaders not
just in the Caribbean area, but the world.
Speaking on Venezuela's national radio and television in Caracas, the
capital, upon his return from Chile, Chavez said that Cuba plays a
significant role in today's geopolitical world. He stressed that over the
past several years the island has fully demonstrated that there can be
economic development outside the neo-liberal free market model presented by
international lending institutions as the only alternative to economic
growth.
The Venezuelan leader pointed to the already excellent and ever-growing
friendship and cooperation relations between Caracas and Havana in the
economic, social and political fields.
The Venezuelan president said that the recent visit to Venezuela of his
friend, Cuban President Fidel Castro, was within a framework of a mutual
effort toward regional integration of Latin American and Caribbean nations.
President Chavez also pointed to an agreement signed with the Cuban leader
and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization -FAO- to produce food staples
under the umbrella of south-south cooperation. Under the accord, Cuba will
send a team of some 70 agriculture experts to work with their Venezuelan
counterparts in the implementation phase in a selected area in the
Venezuelan state of Cojedes. FAO for its part will assist in drawing up the
final version of the project to be implemented.
*CUBA REITERATES SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--Cuba will submit a declaration of support of the
cause of the Palestinian people during the upcoming International Conference
against Racism, set for later this month in South Africa.
The announcement was made by Juan Carretero, General Secretary of the
Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin
America -OSPAAAL- on the occasion of the visit to the Cuban NGO of the
President of the Palestinian National Authority's Legislative Council, Ahmed
Qurei.
Carretero said that since the beginning of the uprising of the Palestinian
people against the Israeli aggressor -- known as the intifada -- the defense
of the Palestinian people's right to an independent state has been a main
aspect of his organization's work.
The OSPAAAL secretary general said that his organization is preparing to
participate in a forum of NGOs during the conference against racism in South
Africa. He added that Cuba will bring up the issue of the Palestinian
people's struggle during the South Africa meeting. He said that during the
meeting Cuba will seek an international resolution that condemns Zionism as
a form of racism.
The president of the Legislative Council of the Palestinian National
Authority for his part thanked Cuba for its help in such a difficult moment
in the history of the Palestinian people. He went on to denounce Israel for
using heavy artillery to massacre the practically unarmed Palestinian
population and kill their leaders.
Finally, the Palestinian legislator reiterated his thanks to Cuba and his
support for Cuba and against the U.S. blockade.
*CUBAN WOMEN'S FEDERATIONS CELEBRATES 41st ANNIVERSARY
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--Vilma Espin, President of the Federation of Cuban
Women (the FMC) sent a message to Cuban women congratulating them on the
occasion of the 41st anniversary of the organization.
The message was read by Yolanda Ferrer, FMC's General Secretary during the
main rally to mark the date held in the central province of Sancti Spiritus.
Ferrer, who is also a member of the Cuban Communist Party's Central
Committee, stressed that since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, Cuban
women have played a key role in defending our nation's sovereignty and
independence, as well as advancing socialism.
The FMC currently has 3 million 700 thousand members, representing 82
percent of all Cuban women over 14 years of age.
Since its foundation on August 23rd, 1960, the Federation of Cuban Women has
contributed to the full integration of women into society.
*NATIONAL FINE ARTS MUSEUM REPORTS 30,000 VISITORS
Havana, August 23 (RHC)--A total of 30 thousand 400 people visited Cuba's
National Museum of Fine Arts in the first 20 days since its re-opening to
the public past August 1st.
Of that total, 3 142 were foreign visitors, while the exhibitions most
visited were the collections of Cuban arts, particular contemporary art,
among them works by renowned painters Wilfredo Lam, Amelia Pelaez, Carlos
Enrique, Servando Cabrera Moreno and Fidelio Ponce de Leon.
The growing numbers of foreign visitors reflects the growth of interest in
Cuban art, exhibited in four major installations: the first with art pieces
from the colonial era, the second with pieces from 1894 to 1927 representing
the passage from the 19th to the 20th century, and another two representing
the modern and the contemporary tendencies in the Cuban arts.
The museum also includes collections from the seven traditional European
arts schools: Italy, German, Holland, Spain, Flanders, France and Britain,
going from the 16th to the 19th centuries. For the first time, the museum
also exhibits art collections from Asia, North America and Latin America.
As part of the promotional work, the museum also hosts musical concerts on
Saturday evenings and on Sunday mornings it offers a program of cultural
activities dedicated to children.
The museum opens Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and
Sundays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
*BRAZIL IGNORES PHARMACEUTICAL GIANT'S PATENT CLAIMS TO AIDS MEDICATION
Rio de Janeiro, August 23 (RHC)--Brazil has become the first country in
the world to disregard the patent rights of an AIDS medication produced by a
pharmaceutical transnational. Brazilian Public Health Minister Jose Serra
announced late Wednesday his country's decision to suspend the patent right
of the Swiss firm Roche on the medication Nelfinavir, authorizing its
production by a local state pharmaceutical laboratory.
Brazil's Farmanguinhos laboratory can produce the drug at a price 40 percent
lower than offered on the international market. Serra accused Roche of
economic abuse, insisting that his government's decision is based on the
country's emergency situation - that Brazil is not going to leave its AIDS
patients without a vital medication because a pharmaceutical giant doesn't
want to lower its prices.
Several months ago Roche offered to reduce the price of Nelfinavir by 13
percent, a proposal rejected by Brazil. Last March the US pharmaceutical
transnational Merck gave in to pressure, reducing the prices of two AIDS
drugs by 65 and 59 percent. Brazil produces 8 of the 12 drugs used in the
AIDS cocktail, but until now the country did not have to violate
international patent rights.
Brazil is the Latin American nation with the largest number of HIV-positive
cases, but the country has registered considerable advances in controlling
the disease thanks to its aggressive and free-of-charge distribution of AIDS
medication. Earlier this year, the Brazilian government's threat to violate
patent rights led the United States to issue a formal complaint before the
World Trade Organization. But due to international pressure and the
remarkable achievements of Brazil's anti-AIDS program, last June Washington
withdrew the complaint.
*UN URGED TO INCLUDE RACISM IN THE DRUG WAR ON THE TABLE IN DURBAN
New York, August 23 (RHC)--A group of concerned US citizens has called on
the United Nations to include racism in the drug war on the agenda of the
International Conference Against Racism to begin next week in Durban, South
Africa. New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, former New York Mayor David
Dinkins and African-American actor Danny Glover are among the more than 100
signatories of a document accusing the US government of disproportionately
focusing its drug war on Blacks and Hispanics.
Noting that per capita drug consumption among ethnic minorities and the
white population is similar, the document charged that the number of
African-Americans incarcerated for drug abuse is triple that of whites,
while the number of Hispanics is double. According to government statistics,
57 percent of those accused of drug trafficking, possession or consumption
are Black, while 22 percent are Hispanic.
*PERU: TOLEDO PAYS COMPENSATIONS TO FUJIMORI'S HUMAN RIGHTS VICTIMS
Lima, August 23 (RHC)--The government of Peru has paid a 3 million dollar
compensation to family members of the victims of a 1991 massacre committed
by a paramilitary commando under the orders of former national intelligence
chief and now imprisoned Vladimiro Montesinos.
The financial compensation is the result of a February agreement between the
former provisional government of Valentin Paniagua and the Inter-American
Human Rights Court. In Lima's outlying neighbourhood Barrios Altos, the
paramilitaries gunned down 12 men and 3 women suspected of belonging to the
Shining Path guerrilla organization.
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said that part of the money recuperated
from foreign bank accounts opened by Montesinos and his criminal empire will
be used to pay compensation to other victims of human rights violations.
.
Viewpoint:
*HELMS: A SIGH OF RELIEF FOR A PASSING ENEMY
The internationally acclaimed musicians of Cuba have, over the
ages,composed many songs of adieu, but it is not with love and longing that
Cuba this week says goodbye to someone who has figured very prominently in
its history.
The departure from the political scene of U.S. Senator Jesse Helms has been
greeted with a sigh of relief not only by Cuba but also by the peoples of
the Third World in general. For, as the Chair of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, Helms did them much harm. However, his one great goal -
the destruction of the Cuban Revolution - never came to flower in spite of
30 years of causing constant misery and death to the island's people.
Jesse Helms was a great ally of the rabidly right wing organization, the
Miami based Cuban American National Foundation. His electoral campaign fund
was constantly being topped up with large contributions from overt
international terrorists running the Foundation or supporting its work.
Helms represents North Carolina not Florida, so the interest was always
clearly with his anti-Cuba position. His infamous Helms-Burton Act seeks to
penalize even foreign companies doing business with Cuba, and his veiled
threats against the life of Fidel Castro are legendary.
He was a dinosaur who represented the most sordid aspects of
U.S.congressional politics, rubbing shoulders with the most reactionary
elements of government. The words liberty and democracy were constantly on
his lips but he simply proved Simon Bolivar's prediction that "the United
States is destined by Providence to render misery to the peoples of the
Americas in the name of Liberty."
Cuba regrets the health reasons for his departure but no-one here will be
missing the presence of Senator Jesse Helms on Capitol Hill, and no Cuban
troubadours will lament his final disappearance from the scene come the
November U.S. elections.
*GLOBALIZATION AND REVOLUTION, CUBAN STYLE
The arrival a few hours ago of the second U.S. group of young people ready
to take on six years of medical study in Cuba, should be seen for what it is
-- the globalization of health care.
We constantly hear about the negative effects of globalization with First
World corporations draining the resources of Third World nations at a far
faster rate than ever before, but when Cuba attempts it's own type of
globalization, it is accused of exporting revolution and brain-washing the
youth of the world.
The island currently provides a physician's education for free to more than
5,000 underprivileged youth from around the world who would never have
received such training had they attempted to study at home. The main reason
for this is economics. Higher education in many countries is prohibitively
expensive -- the United States being perhaps the worst example.
To become a doctor in the U.S. costs at least $200,000. Those who take out
enormous student loans to cover this education are in hock to the government
for years after they graduate and are thus obliged to find high paying jobs
to cover their payments on their loans. These high paying jobs invariably
involve catering to high paying patients -- in other words, not those who
live in poverty or without health insurance. For, in the U.S., if you cannot
afford health insurance you are condemned to the very basic health care
possible. Low-income women who are pregnant in the United States rarely get
to see a gynecologist more than twice prior to giving birth. The average
pre-natal visits in Cuba are twenty. And there are plenty of horror stories
of seriously injured people being turned away from U.S. hospitals run as
businesses because they lack insurance.
No political ideology classes are given to the students that attend Cuba's
Latin American School of Medicine. They simply follow a normal course given
to medical students the world over -- the difference being that it is
totally
free of charge. The only thing that Cuba asks of these young people in
return is to go back home and serve their low-income and marginalized
communities by practicing affordable or free medicine there for a number of
years after they graduate as doctors.
If this is exporting revolution, Cuba is proud of it. It stresses
preventative rather than the money-making curative medicine of the First
World. This is a revolution in globalization that develops and improves the
lives of the planet's poor instead of sucking their labor and resources and
leaving them by the roadside to die.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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