From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [CubaNews] NY Transfer's RHC News Update-21 Sept 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 21 September 2001
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*CUBA AGREES WITH IBERO-AMERICAN CONDEMNATION OF TERRORISM, BUT NOTES
SOME IBERO-AMERICAN NATIONS REFUSE TO CONDEMN TERRORISM AGAINST CUBA
*CUBAN EXPERTS WARN OF IMPENDING MILITARY ATTACKS BY WASHINGTON
*PRIME MINISTER OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT
*VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL
*CUBAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON IN BELIZE
*FOUR KILLED IN PAKISTAN DURING ANTI-U.S. DEMONSTRATIONS
*US VOICES OF PEACE AND RESTRAINT STRIVE TO BE HEARD
OVER GROWING DRUMBEAT OF WAR
*BROAD-BASED U.S. COALITION ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FROM ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES
*RETIRED BRITISH SOLDIER JOINS SOVIET VETERANS WARNING U.S.
ABOUT CONFLICT IN AFGHANISTAN
.
*CUBA AGREES WITH IBERO-AMERICAN CONDEMNATION OF TERRORISM, BUT NOTES
SOME IBERO-AMERICAN NATIONS REFUSE TO CONDEMN TERRORISM AGAINST CUBA
Havana, September 21 (RHC)--The government of Cuba has expressed its
agreement with the Iberoamerican Community's condemnation of the
terrorist attacks against the United States, while noting that some
members of that community have refused to support condemnations of
terrorism against Cuba. An official statement read Thursday evening
on national TV explained that this is the reason Havana preferred to
issue its own condemnation of the attacks and not endorse the
Iberoamerican statement.
In recent days the U.S. State Department took public note of Cuba's
decision to decline to sign the Iberoamerican condemnation, but the
government of Cuba has recalled that on the same day of the attacks
the island did not hesitate to issue a statement of solidarity with
the American people in the face of what Havana called the brutal and
unjustifiable crime that claimed innocent lives.
Cuba told the Ibero-American community that it would excuse itself
from signing their document, since to do so together with nations
that have refused to condemn 40 years of terrorism against Cuba would
not be an honorable or principled stance.
*CUBAN EXPERTS WARN OF IMPENDING MILITARY ATTACKS BY WASHINGTON
Havana, September 21 (RHC)--Cuban journalists and experts in
international affairs agree that Washington's race toward military
action will have incalculable negative consequences.
During Thursday evening's roundtable discussion -- broadcast live on
Cuban radio and television -- panelists examined the international
situation and warned of imminent military actions by the United
States.
Randy Alonso, moderator of the nightly news program, noted that U.S.
President George W. Bush and other high-ranking government officials
have all referred to the impending "war against terrorism" that
Washington seems determined to carry out.
Panelists on the roundtable discussion aired by Cuban radio and
television Thursday evening analyzed the build-up of forces in the
Persian Gulf region. The Pentagon is reportedly dispatching tens of
thousands of troops to the area, including more than 2200 Marines
trained in special operations.
Journalists participating in the special program emphasized that
military actions will not definitively put an end to terrorism,
pointing out that war is merely institutionalized terrorism.
They noted that the island has been the direct and indirect victim of
terrorist attacks for more than 40 years, reiterating that Cuba has
offered its condolences to the victims of last week's tragic events
and its willingness to help in an internationally-coordinated effort
to eradicate terrorism and its root causes: poverty and injustice.
*PRIME MINISTER OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT
Havana, September 21 (RHC)--The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, wrapped up his official four-day visit
to the island on Thursday. Speaking with reporters before his
departure from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, the
Caribbean leader strongly condemned Washington's blockade against
Cuba and said that no one can offer a rational explanation of its
existence.
Calling for an end to the U.S. blockade of the island, the prime
minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines said that this was not
only his personal opinion, but also that of other Caribbean
countries, the vast majority of the American people and even Pope
John Paul II.
Ralph Gonsalves expressed his satisfaction with his visit to Cuba,
during which important bilateral accords were signed. The prime
minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines added that he was
especially pleased to have had "the privilege of speaking with
President Fidel Castro for several hours" -- describing him as "an
extraordinary leader."
*VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL
Havana, September 21 (RHC)--Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy
Nien arrived in Havana Thursday night to begin a three-day official
visit to the island.
Invited by his Cuban counterpart, Felipe Perez Roque, Vietnam's top
diplomat met with high-ranking officials on Friday. During his visit
to the Cuban Foreign Ministry this morning, the Vietnamese official
also signed bilateral agreements to promote and further strengthen
the bonds of friendship and solidarity between Havana and Hanoi.
Before leaving the Cuban capital on Sunday, the Vietnamese foreign
minister will tour places of social and political interest.
*CUBAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON IN BELIZE
Belmopan, September 21 (RHC)--Cuban Parliament President Ricardo
Alarc�n has arrived in Belize. Alarc�n is leading a Cuban delegation
to the Central American country, which is celebrating the 20th
anniversary of its independence from British rule.
During his stay in Belize, the Cuban legislative leader and his
accompanying delegation will take part in the official ceremonies and
meet with Prime Minister Said Musa. Ricardo Alarc�n also plans to
gather with nearly 200 Cuban volunteers who are working in Belize in
the areas of health care, education, construction and sports.
According to Prensa Latina News Agency, 130 young people from Belize
are currently studying in Cuba.
The only English-speaking country in Central America, Belize is a
member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). With only 250,000
inhabitants, the country was first under Spanish rule and then a
British colony, known as British Honduras. Belize achieved
independence from London on September 21, 1981.
*FOUR KILLED IN PAKISTAN DURING ANTI-U.S. DEMONSTRATIONS
Islamabad, September 21 (RHC)--At least four people were killed
Friday in the Pakistani city of Karachi during protests against the
United States and against the government's decision to cooperate with
Washington in a war against Afghanistan. Three of the fatal victims
were killed in an exchange of gunfire with police, while the third
was a shop owner beat to death by protesters for defying the
nationwide strike called by the Afghanistan Defense Council -
grouping more than 30 Pakistani Islamic groups.
Eighty to ninety percent of business establishments in the country's
principle cities did not open. Pakistani police used tear gas and
clubs against demonstrators throwing up barricades with burning tires
and throwing rocks. Some 100 demonstrators were arrested. Clashes
were also reported in the capital, Islamabad, and in Peshawar and
Quetta -- on the border with Afghanistan.
During Friday prayers the clergy in Muslim Mosques throughout the
country called for resistance against the United States - saying that
every attack against Afghanistan will be an attack against the entire
Islamic community.
*US VOICES OF PEACE AND RESTRAINT STRIVE TO BE HEARD
OVER GROWING DRUMBEAT OF WAR
Miami, September 21 (RHC)--Some U.S. media outlets continue reporting
that the voices of peace and restraint are beginning to emerge on US
campuses, straining to be heard over the growing drumbeat of war.
Students at more than 140 universities from Harvard in Cambridge,
Massachusetts to the University of California in Berkeley held peace
rallies at noon Thursday calling for a diplomatic and peaceful
response to terrorism.
The "Miami Herald" reported that a diverse nationwide coalition of
religious leaders, social activists and business leaders have issued
a message that echoes what's being said by some on college campuses:
Those responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon should be brought to justice, but indiscriminate military
retaliation would incite more violence, not end it.
Also on Thursday, nearly 1.500 religious leaders endorsed a statement
by the National Council of Churches of Christ USA calling for "sober
restraint," not military retribution. The religious leaders signed a
statement entitled "Deny Them Victory: A Religious Response to
Terrorism," sending it to President Bush as he was about to address
the nation with a decidedly war-prone attitude.
The National Council of Churches plans to send the statement to some
140,000 protestant and orthodox congregations next week, and to have
it published in news dailies. Surveys in the United States indicate
that the majority of the American people are decidedly in favor of a
military response, but some liberal organizations are reporting
having received phone calls from people feeling intimidated about
expressing their opposition to the country's war rhetoric.
*BROAD-BASED U.S. COALITION ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FROM ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES
Washington, September 21 (RHC)--A broad range of U.S. groups cutting
across ideological and religious lines Thursday announced a campaign
to block some of the Bush administration's anti-terrorism measures
that would expand police powers, according to the Friday edition of
the "Miami Herald." Some 150 groups, from the American Civil
Liberties Union to the Gun Owners of America, have formed a coalition
called In Defense of Freedom.
Veteran ACLU member Morton Halperin, a senior fellow at the Council
on Foreign Relations, said the groups agree on very little, but do
agree on the need to protect constitutional rights. Among some of
Attorney General John Ashcroft's counter-terrorism proposals, the FBI
and other police agencies could seize billing information such as
credit numbers from Internet service providers without a court order,
police would also have easier access to unopened e-mail and voicemail
messages and immigration officials would have much greater latitude
in holding immigrants indefinitely and deporting them with little
judicial review.
Wade Henderson, director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
-- grouping 180 organizations -- stated that history has shown that
in times of national calamity, rights and civil liberties, along with
the victims, are the first casualties.
*RETIRED BRITISH SOLDIER JOINS SOVIET VETERANS WARNING U.S.
ABOUT CONFLICT IN AFGHANISTAN
Rome, September 21 (RHC)--A retired British soldier has joined his
Soviet counterparts in warning the United States about getting
involved in a conflict in Afghanistan. Tom Carew, former member of
the British Commando unit known as the SAS, told today's edition of
the Italian news daily "La Stampa" that no western soldiers are in a
condition to defeat Afghan guerrillas in their own territory.
Carew, who trained mujahedeen guerrillas who fought against the
Soviet army, said the mountains in Afghanistan are natural fortresses
that can easily become traps for any US or other western military
contingents. He said the lack of roads and highways and the wild
terrain considerably limit the use of armoured vehicles.
The retired British military officer said Afghan guerrillas are
highly organized, move from one village to another to obtain food and
provisions, sleep in mountain crevices and gorges instead of using
tents and - unlike western soldiers who carry heavy equipment - move
around with little weight on their backs. Carew said they know the
mountains like the palms of their hands and use sandals, while the
boots of western solders are easily identifiable and make them easy
targets.
He said that during the Soviet military presence, the guerrillas
allowed Russian convoys to advance to later attack them in their
center, warning that vast extensions of Afghan territory still
contain small land mines the size of tennis balls and difficult to
identify. Carew invited the west to meditate on the defeat of Soviet
troops in Afghanistan. Russian veterans who fought in Afghanistan
have warned that an air campaign in that country would only result in
the bombardment of mountains and rocks, while a land operation would
require hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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