From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001 21:48:47 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] NY Transfer's RHC Weekend Update-25 Aug 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 25 August 2001
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*CUBA, EUROPEAN UNION EAGER TO RESUME POLITICAL DIALOGUE
*CUBAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER
*RAUL CASTRO PRESIDES OVER MASS RALLY IN VILLA CLARA
*CUBA'S NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY US TOUR WON'T INCLUDE MIAMI
*LATIN AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENTS BACK IN CUBA FOR NEW SEMESTER
*BENNY MORE STATUE UNVEILED IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO
*TEXAS RANCHER GETS 6 MONTHS FOR MURDERING MEXICAN IMMIGRANT
*MACEDONIA SKEPTICAL OF NATO'S ABILITY TO DISARM ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS
*PALESTINIAN LEADERS ACCUSE BUSH OF GIVING GREEN LIGHT TO ISAELI VIOLENCE
*Viewpoint: CUBA AND THE EU - TO DIALOGUE OR NOT TO DIALOGUE?
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*CUBA, EUROPEAN UNION EAGER TO RESUME POLITICAL DIALOGUE
Havana, August 25 (RHC)--Cuba and the European Union have agreed to renew
their political dialogue without pre-conditions. The announcement came in a
joint press conference with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and
visiting Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, currently presiding over the
European Union's Council of Ministers.
Perez Roque stated that both parties have expressed interest in creating the
conditions for a political dialogue based on mutual respect, without
pre-conditions and without excluding any issues. The Belgian Foreign
Minister, wrapping up his official visit Friday evening, said that in his
talks with Cuban government leaders he was able to identify issues in which
their was mutual agreement and others in which there wasn't.
Michel said his encounters with Cuban authorities took place in what he
called a conducive climate of immense frankness and confidence. He said he
will transmit to his European colleagues Cuba's willingness to participate
in the Cotonou Accord -- granting 70 African, Caribbean and Pacific nations
low-tariff entry of their products into the EU -- without any specific
conditions.
Perez Roque said Cuba hopes to see the European Union play an increasingly
greater role in the construction of a multipolar world, expressing the
island's support of the EU's position in favor of the Kyoto Protocol on
global warming.The Cuban Foreign Minister also expressed support of the
rejection of the majority of EU nations of Washington's Star Wars program.
*CUBAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Habana, August 25 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro received visiting
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Luis Alfonso Davila late on Friday. The Cuban
leader held private talks with the visiting dignitary after Davila had
gathered with several high-ranking members of the Cuban government,
including Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.
During his talks with Cuban authorities, Davila has reiterated his country's
appreciation of Cuba's solidarity in the fields of health, education,
agriculture and sports. Perez Roque took the opportunity to express Cuba's
appreciation of Venezuela's support of the Cuban peoples' struggle against
Washington's blockade of the island.
Davila said that in the search for what he called a balanced international
playing field, Venezuela is in agreement with the ideas and concepts
promoted by Cuba worldwide. In reference to Fidel Castro's recent visit to
Venezuela, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister said that his country always
receives the Cuban leader with a great deal of pride.
*RAUL CASTRO PRESIDES OVER MASS RALLY IN VILLA CLARA
Villa Clara, August 25 (RHC)--Cuban Defense Minister Raul Castro Ruz
presided over a mass rally in central Villa Clara province to protest
Washington's anti-Cuba policy.
More than 25,000 Villa Clara residents, representing the entire Cuban
people, demanded the release and return to Cuba of the five patriots
wrongfully convicted of spying against the US government.
During the rally Cubans from diverse walks of life also demanded an end to
the US blockade against Cuba and the elimination of all of Washington's
anti-Cuba laws, including the Helms-Burton and Torricceli laws, as well as
the so-called Cuban Adjustment Act.
The people of Villa Clara also reaffirmed their support for the Revolution
and socialism, as well as their determination to defend Cuba's sovereignty
at any cost.
*CUBA'S NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY US TOUR WON'T INCLUDE MIAMI
Havana, August 25 (RHC)--The Florida Concerts Association has cancelled
previously scheduled performances Cuba's National Ballet Company in Miami
over security concerns, given the violent, hostile attitude of Miami-based
anti-Cuba groups toward artists living on the island.
The presentations of the The Miami performances Cuban ballet company were
part of a US tour including Washington D.C., Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle
and other cities from October 10th through November 25th.
Sources from the Florida Concerts Association said they had considered the
possibility of the Cuban ballet company performing at the local Jackie
Gleason theatre, located in the Miami Beach area. The same source said that
that possibility was abandoned due to what they called an "unfavorable
atmosphere."
Last week, organizers of the Latin Grammy music awards moved the show out of
Miami to Los Angeles over similar concerns about planned protests by
extremist Cuban-American groups against artists from the island.
*LATIN AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENTS BACK IN CUBA FOR NEW SEMESTER
Camaguey, August 25 (RHC)--More than 280 students from 10 Latin American
nations have begun to return to Cuba to continue their university studies on
scholarships granted by the Cuban government.
The foreign students, who had returned to their countries to spend summer
vacations with their families, will begin the third year of their medical
studies at the Carlos J. Finlay Institute of Medical Sciences, named after
the renowned Cuban practitioner who discovered the aedes aegypti mosquito
which carries yellow fever.
The scholarships are part of a Cuban cooperation program to help create
integral health care systems in other Third World nations in Latin America,
the Caribbean and Africa.
The 280 medical students are from Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Panama,
Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Belize and Paraguay.
The total enrollment at the Finlay Institute for the next school year totals
3,179 thousand 179 students, among them 470 foreigners from 42 nations.
Since its opening in 1980 as a faculty of the University of Camaguey, the
Carlos J. Finlay Medical Institute has graduated 8,464 health professionals.
*BENNY MORE STATUE UNVEILED IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO
Mexico, August 25 (RHC)--A life-size statue of the legendary Cuban musician
Benny More was unveiled on Friday in Veracruz, Mexico, venue of the 6th
International Festival of Son Montuno -- Cuba's most famous genre of
peasant, or country, music.
Benny More, also known by his nickname "Barbaro del Ritmo" (Master of
Rhythm), is considered to be among the best exponents of Cuban popular
music. Attending the ceremony to pay homage to the renowned Cuban artist on
the 82nd anniversary of his birth were Vice President of the Cuban Council
of Ministers, Juan Almeida, and Veracruz Governor Miguel Aleman.
Born on August 24th, 1919, in Santa Isabel de las Lajas in central
Cienfuegos province, el Benny -- as the Cuban people like to call him -- was
the son of a poor family. His parents could not afford to pay for music or
even school classes, but el Benny was a self-taught musician and the author
of most of the songs he ever sang throughout his life. He won standing
ovations everywhere he performed, particularly for the unique, elegant way
he directed his orchestra while dancing on the stage.
*TEXAS RANCHER GETS 6 MONTHS FOR MURDERING MEXICAN IMMIGRANT
Houston, August 25 (RHC)--In the USA, a Texas rancher who shot an
undocumented Mexican immigrant has received a mere 180-day prison sentence
for the murder, sparking indignation among Mexican authorities.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry said the sentence handed out to 74-year-old Samuel
Blackwood by a court in Kinney, Texas is "inexplicable and unacceptable."
Blackwood opened fire in May of last year against Eusebio de Haro and
another immigrant after they crossed the border illegally and stopped at his
ranch to ask for water.
De Haro bled to death from his wound. Blackwood has also given the option of
two years on parole, which means that he will not spend one day in jail.
Mexican authorities termed such a light sentence for someone convicted of
having taken the life of another person by shooting him in the back
"outrageous."
Blackwood's lawyer insisted that his client shot in self defense, though
eyewitness testimony -- including that of survivor Javier Sanchez --
revealed that the Texas rancher pursued the two Mexican immigrants in a
vehicle, from which he shot at them on two occasions.
*MACEDONIA SKEPTICAL OF NATO'S ABILITY TO DISARM ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS
Skopje, August 25 (RHC)--The government of Macedonia has called
"ridiculous" NATO's report on the number of weapons in the hands of
separatist Albanian guerrillas operating in the country.
Some 2,500 NATO soldiers were preparing for deployment in Macedonia on
Saturday, following seven months of armed confrontations between the
guerrillas and Macedonian authorities. NATO and the guerrillas reached an
agreement by which the Albanian separatists would hand over 3,000 weapons.
But the government of Macedonia said the irregular forces possess at least
60,000 to 70,000 weapons.
The Macedonian Prime Minister said NATO has not been able to disarm the
Albanian terrorists in Kosovo, and he doubted that the western military
alliance could disarm them in Macedonia. After having originally supported
the 1999 NATO bombardments of Serbia, the government of Macedonia is now
critical of that operation, charging that the excessive support western
nations gave to the Albanians has gone to their heads and has led to
increasing destabilization in the Balkans region.
*PALESTINIAN LEADERS ACCUSE BUSH OF GIVING GREEN LIGHT TO ISAELI VIOLENCE
West Bank, August 25 (RHC)--Palestinian leaders are blaming US President
George Bush for the continuation of the violence in Israeli-occupied
territories.
On Friday, Bush again demanded that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat put an
end to the violence, while calling on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to
show "moderation." But Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo
asserted that Bush's call for an end to the violence is ignoring Israel's
policy of fascist occupation.
Palestinian International Cooperation Minister Nabil Chaat said Washington
in reality is giving the Israelis a green light to murder Palestinians with
weapons made in the USA.
*Viewpoint: CUBA AND THE EU - TO DIALOGUE OR NOT TO DIALOGUE?
Cuba has frankly put forth its views concerning the island's relations with
the European Union, and was listened to not only with respect and without
arrogance by visiting Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel. Cuba's major
media commented on the constructive attitude maintained by the also
President of the EU's Council of Ministers.
The bilateral talks developed in an appropriate atmosphere, notwithstanding
well-known differences stemming from the prevailing criteria in several
European countries that no political dialogue can be held with Cuba if the
island continues to differ with the Old Continent concerning concepts like
human rights, democracy and multi-party elections.
Cuba has never refused to engage in a political dialogue with the EU as long
as there are no unacceptable preconditions which go against the sovereignty,
independence and dignity of the Cuban people and their chosen social,
economic and political systems. European support for Washington's anti-Cuba
maneuvers at the UN Human Rights Commission did not contribute
constructively to relations between Cuba and the EU.
Over the past few years, the 15 European nations have periodically adopted
what they call a "common position" on Cuba, accompanied by prerequisites for
the beginning of a debate, when there was no need for this selective and
discriminatory treatment. The "common position" runs contrary to efforts by
several European nations, including Belgium, that favor the strengthening of
ties with Cuba, which in turn also facilitates cooperation with third
countries in need, particularly in Africa.
Undoubtedly, Cuba and the European Union have much to talk about,
particularly given the growing trade between the island and the European
block, and the increasing numbers of European tourists traveling to the
Caribbean nation. Europe represents 45% of all the island's commercial
transactions, while nearly half the total number of tourists coming to Cuba
are from Europe.
Michel's efforts to remove obstacles to the frank bilateral dialogue desired
by Cuba could open a window to discuss pending issues on Havana's
participation in the Cotonou accord, which establishes preferential trade
relations between Europe and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group.
The next few weeks will reveal whether or not European countries are willing
to pursue the path opened by Michel, or if they will continue to run away
from serious dialogue, while at the same time rushing to invest in Cuba.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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