From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 05:14:04 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: [CubaNews] Radio Havana Cuba-06 September 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 06 September 2001
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*CUBA STRONGLY DENIES RUMORS THAT ELI�N WILL ATTEND UN MEETING
*HONDURAN DAILY HAILS OPENING OF INTERESTS SECTION IN HAVANA
*CHINA-CUBA TRADE CONFERENCE ENDS IN BEIJING
*WORLD FORUM ON FOOD SECURITY IS WARNING TO ALL, SAYS U.S. FARMER
*VENEZUELA ENDS MILITARY COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES
*THREE MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS DIE AFTER BEING ABANDONED IN ARIZONA DESERT
*SOCCER STAR PELE SENDS MESSAGE TO WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM
*ITALIAN POLICE ADMIT THEY UNDERESTIMATED NUMBER OF PROTESTERS IN GENOA
*LATEST U.S. BOMBING ATTACKS ON IRAQ DESTROY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
*DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION BLASTS GLOBALIZATION
*Viewpoint: CUBA, WHERE CHILDREN'S DIGNITY COMES BEFORE OPPORTUNISM
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*CUBA STRONGLY DENIES RUMORS THAT ELI�N WILL ATTEND UN MEETING
Havana, September 6 (RHC)--The Cuban Foreign Ministry has issued a strong
denial of reports that Eli�n Gonzalez will go to the United Nations later
this month for a special meeting on children.
The statement is in response to a story published by Time Magazine on August
30 and subsequently picked up by numerous news agencies.
Appearing on the front page of this morning's edition of Granma, the
statement by Cuba's Foreign Ministry "categorically denies the unfounded and
irresponsible reports by Time Magazine." The Foreign Ministry note adds that
"at no time was it even being considered to send Eli�n to the upcoming event
at the United Nations."
The statement notes that after the young boy was finally able to return to
Cuba, he was never used for propaganda purposes -- completely contrary to
the circus-like atmosphere during his brutal and repugnant kidnapping in
Miami. "Our people -- who knew how to defend their child and carried out one
of the most beautiful battles of the Revolution -- is firmly committed to
his full and normal development," the statement said.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry note says that the privacy, welfare and happiness
of Eli�n Gonzalez and his entire family will be fully respected, "not only
as a fundamental human duty, but for the honor and dignity of our country."
*HONDURAN DAILY HAILS OPENING OF INTERESTS SECTION IN HAVANA
Tegucigalpa, September 6 (RHC)--The new cooperation between Honduras and
Cuba, in which Tegucigalpa is to open an interests section in Havana, is the
subject of a congratulatory editorial in the Central American nation's news
daily Tiempo Thursday. Cuba already maintains an interests section in the
Honduran capital.
The newspaper described the new rapprochement as very important for the
economic and commercial development of Honduras, especially in the fields of
education and health. It also praised the new market that Cuba can offer to
exportable goods from Tegucigalpa.
This was a necessary step in the political evolution of the continent, said
the editorial, which follows the humanitarian and technical help that Cuba
has given our country for a number of years.
Tegucigalpa broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in the 1960s when the
Organization of American States suspended Havana after Fidel Castro declared
the Revolution to be socialist in nature.
In Central America, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama maintain diplomatic
relations with Cuba while Costa Rica only has consular contacts and El
Salvador has neither. The majority of Latin American countries now have
re-established full diplomatic relations with the island, in spite of
constant pressure from Washington not to do so.
In announcing the opening of the interests section in Havana, the Honduran
foreign minister, Roberto Flores Bermudez, said that the normalization of
relations between both countries was his priority. The foreign minister
recently signed trade and investment accords with his Cuban counterpart,
Felipe Perez Roque, in Havana.
The Tiempo editorial contended that up to the present the resistance to
normalization of diplomatic relations with Cuba was a function of Honduras'
policy toward the United States, where concern over upsetting Washington has
led to irrational fears in the past. However, things have changed, said the
news daily. Honduras is extremely grateful for the help that Cuba rendered
in the wake of the death and devastation Hurricane Mitch wrought in 1998,
and the training free of charge of Honduran students at the Latin American
School of Medicine in Havana.
*CHINA-CUBA TRADE CONFERENCE ENDS IN BEIJING
Beijing, September 6 (RHC)--A Cuba/China conference on trade and investment
ended in Beijing today after three days of meetings and the participation of
some 100 Chinese firms.
The conference was hosted by the Chinese Association of Industry and
Commerce and was attended by a large number of Cuban business
representatives. A special website for those interested in doing business
with the island was introduced, at www.china-cuba.com. The site provides
explanations of investment possibilities and means, information on the
nation's banking system, exhibition of products available, as well as
history, religion, sports, culture and politics of the island nation.
*WORLD FORUM ON FOOD SECURITY IS WARNING TO ALL, SAYS U.S. FARMER
Havana, September 6 (RHC)--The World Forum on Food Security entered its
fourth day at Havana's Convention Center on Thursday, during which delegates
continued to discuss essential issues related to the production,
commercialization and distribution of agricultural products in different
countries of the world. The day focused on discussion of the role of the
World Trade Organization and attitudes toward Third World producers of
foodstuffs.
The very fact that so many nations were together to share their views is a
step in the right direction, said John Kingsman, who is president of the
Family Farm Defenders in the US. He said that there was a clear sense of
internationalism at the forum. "Until we get together as we are doing here,"
said the 76-year-old farmer, "we have no way of hearing the voices of those
in the developing nations. Our press does not cover these countries and so
we are unaware of their problems. It is important to sit down and hear this
from the people. This goes to the hearts and minds of us all when we hear
them speak in forums such as this -- not from those who pretend to speak for
them. This is the importance of this gathering, and regardless of what is
said in the final document, we have been brought much closer and now realize
that what happens to our neighbors in Central or South America or in Asia or
Africa is going to happen to us eventually, if we do not work together. This
has been a very powerful means to bring this across."
The forum ends on Friday with a series of final declarations and
commitments.
*VENEZUELA ENDS MILITARY COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES
Caracas, September 6 (RHC)--Venezuela has announced that its military
cooperation agreement with the United States has expired and that Caracas
has no plans to renew it. According to Venezuela's Minister of Defense, Jose
Vicente Rangel, the U.S. Army mission based outside of the country's capital
will soon return home.
On Wednesday, Rangel met with the U.S. Ambassador to Caracas, Donna Hrinah,
explaining Venezuela's decision to allow the military cooperation agreement
to expire. Following the meeting, he announced to the press that the
government has decided not to renew the agreement.
The Venezuelan defense minister affirmed that there were no plans to sign
another agreement, stating that Caracas believes it is totally unnecessary
to have a U.S. military mission based in the country.
*THREE MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS DIE AFTER BEING ABANDONED IN ARIZONA DESERT
Tucson, September 6 (RHC)--Three Mexican women who attempted to illegally
cross the border into the United States were left abandoned and found dead
in the desert of Arizona.
The U.S. Border Patrol reports that the three apparently crossed the border
over the weekend; their bodies were found on Wednesday. U.S. authorities
have also announced that four people have been arrested, accused of
cross-border trafficking.
The news comes at the same time that Mexican President Vicente Fox is
visiting with his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush. Immigration issues
between the two countries are among the topics on the agenda during the
Mexican president's visit to Washington.
U.S. authorities stated that the three women were part of a group of 12
illegal immigrants abandoned over the weekend by traffickers. Police said
they had paid $800 each and were promised to be taken to Phoenix, Arizona.
Since October 1 last year, 75 illegal immigrants have been found dead in the
desert of Arizona.
*SOCCER STAR PELE SENDS MESSAGE TO WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM
Durban, September 6 (RHC)--Former Brazilian soccer star Edson Arantes do
Nascimento, popularly known as "Pele," has sent a message to the World
Conference Against Racism, currently underway in Durban, South Africa.
Pele strongly denounced the existence of racism in sports, noting, "The
dream of a world free of racial conflicts continues to be a dream." In his
message addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the renowned soccer
player congratulated the United Nations for undertaking the important
conference, which is discussing issues related to racism and racial
discrimination.
Pele attached a copy of a letter he sent to the International Soccer
Federation in Buenos Aires earlier this year, in which he called attention
to racism against Black athletes. In the letter, he noted that the fact
there are Blacks in sports does not take away from the enormous difficulties
they encounter throughout their careers due to racism.
The Brazilian soccer player said that Black athletes -- even those who
become rich and famous -- are painfully aware that the majority of their
people are subjected to poverty and discrimination as a result of racism.
In Durban, delegates are still debating the wording of a final declaration
to the World Conference Against Racism, which is slated to wind up tomorrow.
*ITALIAN POLICE ADMIT THEY UNDERESTIMATED NUMBER OF PROTESTERS IN GENOA
Rome, September 6 (RHC)--Italian police have admitted that they greatly
underestimated the number of protesters during the recently held G-8 Summit
in Genoa.
According to police sources in Rome, authorities believed that only 40,000
would show up -- when the number was actually five times their estimate.
Speaking with reporters in the Italian capital, organizers of the Social
Forum that took place in July at the same time as the Summit stated that
they told police to expect more than 200,000 anti-globalization protesters,
but that their predictions were dismissed.
An Italian parliamentary commission is investigating the violent events that
took place at the G-8 Summit, during which police brutally repressed
demonstrations. Police bullets killed one protester and hundreds of others
were wounded or arrested.
*LATEST U.S. BOMBING ATTACKS ON IRAQ DESTROY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Baghdad, September 6 (RHC)--Iraq has accused the United States and Britain
of completely destroying the main water distribution system in the city of
Sawama, some 270 kilometers south of Baghdad.
According to Iraqi authorities, the bombing attacks carried out Tuesday
totally cut off the water facilities. Then, when workers were on the scene
to repair the damage, U.S. and British warplanes returned and attacked the
water distribution system again.
At least four civilians were wounded in these latest bombing attacks -- the
fourth and fifth in less than two weeks. According to the Pentagon, the
attacks are in response to so-called "hostile actions" against
reconnaissance flights by U.S. and British planes. Baghdad has refused to
recognize U.S.-imposed "no fly zones" in the north and south of the country.
*DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION BLASTS GLOBALIZATION
Rome, September 6 (RHC)--The General Director of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization, Jacques Diouf, has affirmed that protesters
demonstrating against globalization are correct.
In statements to the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera, the head of the
United Nations agency said that "a much more just and equitable system is
needed and those who peacefully protest against it are correct because they
are protesting against injustice."
Jacques Diouf said that while globalization provides opportunities, the
system is quite unfair and discriminatory. The director of the FAO said that
while neo-liberal theories allow for the free flow of capital, they do not
provide for the free movement of people, despite the fact that both capital
and workers are production factors.
The UN official also referred to the upcoming meeting of the FAO, slated for
early November. He said the meeting has been called to examine what little
progress has been made over the past five years in the battle against hunger
and malnutrition -- which affect more than 800 million people around the
world.
*Viewpoint: CUBA, WHERE CHILDREN'S DIGNITY COMES BEFORE OPPORTUNISM
Cuba's enemies obviously don't understand the philosophy and principles of
the Cuban Revolution. How could they be expected to, when the ethics
underlying Cuban society are so completely different from those that prevail
in their world, where everything is judged by mercenary values and where
propaganda and political maneuvering are the principal forces that move a
society of exclusivity.
Cuban national hero Jos� Mart�, who experienced living in the United States,
said that he had lived in the belly of the beast and urged us to defend the
full dignity of the human race across the world, stressing that children are
the real hope of our planet.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs today rejected out of hand the
inferences of the United States press that Cuban child Eli�n Gonz�lez, will
be going to New York for the 27th Extraordinary Session of the United
Nations Assembly on the Child, due to start in a few days in New York.
The enemies of the Cuban Revolution find it hard to stomach that this child
-- who was the object of a heartless and opportunistic kidnapping in the
city of Miami, wrapped in the US flag, and used as a instrument of
propaganda and politicking -- is now a happy child studying at school with
his friends in a familiar, secure atmosphere.
Cuban society respects Eli�n's privacy and that of his family. It respects
his well-being and his happiness -- not only as a human being but also for
the honor and dignity of his country.
Eli�n is one of more than 2.4 million children who started the new Cuban
school year on Monday. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child ratified
by the United Nations Assembly on November 20, 1959 proclaims that children
have a right to receive free education at primary level.
Cuba -- unlike the United States -- guarantees this right at every level of
their education all the way through university.
Also unlike the United States, Cuba has ratified every one of the United
Nations instruments that concern the rights of the child and observes a
child's right to be protected against any practices that could foment
racism, and racial and religious discrimination of any kind.
In Cuba, Eli�n Gonz�lez is not used as a war trophy to needle the anti-Cuban
right-wing terrorists in Miami. The boy will be educated in a spirit of
tolerance, understanding, and friendship among peoples, peace and universal
brother and sisterhood, fully conscious of his socialist background.
Our enemies should by now be aware that this is a very different country
from the one that existed prior to 1959. It is a country where children are
treated with love and respect, and where no child goes to bed hungry at
night. Can the media propaganda managers in the United States, who
constantly berate Cuba, honestly say the same of their own nation?
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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