From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [CubaNews] RHC Weekend-22 September 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 22 September 2001
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*CUBA IS AGAINST TERRORISM AND IRRATIONAL WAR: FIDEL CASTRO
*CUBA WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH BELIZE, SAYS RICARDO ALARCON
*CUBA AND VIETNAM SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
*CUBAN PIONEER CHILDREN MARK 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CDRs
*WAR OF VENGEANCE MAKES US NO BETTER THAN TERRORISTS, SAYS NOBEL LAUREATE
*VENEZUELA OPPOSES ANTI-TERRORIST METHODS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO TERRORISM
*INFLUENTIAL BRAZILIAN DAILY BLASTS BUSH'S BELLIGERENT, UNILATERAL RHETORIC
*THE ONLY WAR WE NEED IS ONE AGAINST POVERTY: ARGENTINA LABOR LEADER
*WRITER UMBERTO ECO CALLS BUSH'S CRUSADE AGAINST TERRORISM DEMENTED
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*CUBA IS AGAINST TERRORISM AND IRRATIONAL WAR: FIDEL CASTRO
Havana, September 22 (RHC)--In response to US President George Bush's
"with-us-or-against-us" speech, Cuban President Fidel Castro has
affirmed that Cuba is against terrorism but does not side with
Washington's irrational war. Speaking before tens of thousands of
Cubans at a political rally on the outskirts of Havana, the Cuban
leader said no one can deny that terrorism is today a dangerous and
ethically indefensible phenomenon that should be eradicated,
regardless of its deep origins and the economic and political factors
that brought it and those responsible for it to life.
He said that the unanimous irritation caused by the human and
psychological damage brought on the American people by the unexpected
and shocking death of thousands of innocent people, whose images have
shocked the world, is perfectly understandable. But, added the Cuban
President, only the extreme right has profited -- the backward
forces, in favor of crushing a growing world rebellion and sweeping
away everything progressive that still remains on this planet.
He said this tragedy, however, should not be used to recklessly start
a war that could unleash an endless carnage of innocent people in the
name of justice -- a war, he added, that was thought out well in
advance and that was just waiting for its chance to materialize. The
Cuban leader said that in the aftershock of the atrocious and insane
terrorist attack against the American people, the extremist
ideologists and belligerent hawks in positions of power have taken
control of a country with an enormous military and technological
capacity to kill, but with a minimal inclination towards equanimity,
serenity, thoughtfulness and restraint.
Fidel Castro said the first victims of whatever military actions are
undertaken will be the billions of people living in the poor and
underdeveloped world, with their unbelievable economic and social
problems, their unpayable debts, the ruinous prices of their basic
commodities, their growing natural and ecological catastrophes, their
hunger and misery, the massive undernourishment of their children,
teenagers and adults, their terrible AIDS epidemic, their malaria,
their tuberculosis and their infectious diseases, which threaten
entire nations with extermination.
The Cuban leader asked whether there can be any hope after George
Bush's speech. Making reference to statements from the White House on
the use of "every necessary weapon of war" and a "lengthy campaign
unlike any other," President Castro said that particularly worrisome
is Bush's affirmation that "the course of this conflict is not known,
yet its outcome is certain and we know that God is not neutral." He
said that when he thinks about the real or imagined parties involved
in the bizarre holy war that is about to begin, he finds it difficult
to distinguish where fanaticism is stronger.
Noting that Bush ordered everyone to ally either with the United
States government or with terrorism, Fidel Castro said Cuba -- the
country that has suffered the most and the longest from terrorist
actions -- claims with a high morale that it is opposed to terrorism
and opposed to war. Although the possibilities are now remote, he
said, Cuba reaffirms the need to avert a war of unpredictable
consequences whose very authors have admitted to not having the least
idea how events will unfold.
President Castro said Cuba will never declare itself the enemy of the
American people and its territory will never be used for terrorist
actions against the American people, but that Cuba will defend its
independence, its principles and its social achievement with honor,
and to the last drop of blood if Cuba is attacked.
*CUBA WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH BELIZE, SAYS RICARDO ALARCON
Havana, September 22 (RHC)--Cuban Parliament President Ricardo
Alarcon reaffirmed the island's determination to continue cooperating
with Belize, where there are currently some 180 Cuban specialists
offering their services, primarily in the field of health.
Alarcon is in Belize, heading the Cuban delegation to festivities on
the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Belize's independence from
British rule.
Cuba's top legislator stressed that cooperation between the two
nations is mutually beneficial, pointing to the valuable contribution
of the only English-speaking nation in Central America to programs to
improve teaching of the English language here on the island.
The President of the Cuban Parliament stated that the bilateral
cooperation between Cuba and Belize is a perfect example of
South-South cooperation, involving two developing nations whose
tremendous wealth can be found not in their scarce capital, but in
their vast human resources.
For his part, Belize's Prime Minister Said Musa thanked Cuba for its
support of his country's independence twenty years ago, as well as
the island's cooperation with the Central American nation ever since.
*CUBA AND VIETNAM SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Havana, September 22 (RHC)--Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy
Nien and his Cuban counterpart Felipe Perez Roque have signed a
cooperation agreement ratifying the governments' willingness to
further strengthen the already excellent relations that exist between
the two nations at all levels.
The two dignitaries held official talks on Friday, during which they
discussed issues of common interest, as well as the extremely
difficult international situation, marked by the imminent threat
posed by an impending U.S.-led military attack against Afghanistan in
retaliation for the terrorist attacks of September 11 against public
and federal installations in the United States.
Also on Friday, the top Vietnamese diplomat awarded Cuban Defense
Minister Raul Castro Ruz and Heroine Melba Hernandez with the Golden
Star and the Ho Chi Minh Orders, respectively, for their decisive
contribution in strengthening the bonds of friendship and solidarity
between Havana and Hanoi.
During his stay on the island, which runs through Sunday, the
Vietnamese foreign minister is scheduled to meet with other leaders
of the Cuban Communist Party and tour places of scientific, cultural,
socioeconomic and historical interest.
*CUBAN PIONEER CHILDREN MARK 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CDRs
Havana, September 22 (RHC)--The youngest generation of Cubans paid
homage to the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the CDRs,
this Friday, with the mass night guard organized by the Jose Marti
Pioneer Children's Organization in every neighborhood island wide.
The traditional pioneer children's guard is part of activities to
mark the 41st anniversary of the CDRs on September 28th. Dressed in
their school uniforms, the young Cubans patrolled the streets
accompanied by members of the National Revolutionary Police, the PNR,
to make a contribution to the primary task of the CDRs: To provide
security for the citizenry and protect all socioeconomic sites.
The activity was also an occasion to congratulate CDR members for
their outstanding performance in other important tasks developed by
the CDRs, such as blood donations and the collection of raw
materials.
*WAR OF VENGEANCE MAKES US NO BETTER THAN TERRORISTS, SAYS NOBEL LAUREATE
Managua, September 22 (RHC)--While most governments are expressing
support for George Bush's "with-us-or-against-us" speech, numerous
voices are deploring its warlike and vengeful tone. Jody Williams,
1997 US Nobel Peace laureate, stated that a war of vengeance would
make Washington no better than the terrorists.
Speaking in Nicaragua, where she is attending a conference on the
elimination of landmines together with delegates from 72 countries
and 100 international agencies, Williams acknowledged that many
Americans want vengeance in the emotion of the moment but, she added,
it's the US government's duty to calm that emotion and to evaluate
what has occurred and what are the long-term consequences.
She characterized telling the world that you are either with
Washington or with the terrorists as simplistic. While terming the
attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon horrible, the
founder of the International Campaign to Prohibit Land Mines recalled
that many nations, including Arab nations, have suffered and continue
to suffer from the actions of circles of power in her country.
Williams said those circles of power are now exacerbating passions to
garner support to as to do whatever they want. She said she believes
that Washington's intentions go far beyond a struggle against
terrorism, and that the government is also targeting those who think
differently.
*VENEZUELA OPPOSES ANTI-TERRORIST METHODS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO TERRORISM
Caracas, September 22 (RHC)--The government of Venezuela has stated
that it is not in favor of anti-terrorist methods that are equivalent
to terrorism. While reaffirming his government's condemnation of
international terrorism, Venezuelan Defense Minister Jose Vicente
Rangel said his country will not participate in any irrational and
thoughtless action.
In response to George Bush's Thursday evening speech, Rangel said
that to put forth the idea of being in favor of or against the United
States is to put forth a false dichotomy. He said it's not a question
of being with or against Washington, but of being with or against
terrorism.
Stating that Venezuela will not aquiesce to measures that could
affect innocent persons and get out of control, the Venezuelan
Defense Minister said his country's position is to respect
international mechanisms that regulate the type of actions Washington
is promoting -- mechanisms, he added, that have in the past been
ignored in the use of force and violence.
*INFLUENTIAL BRAZILIAN DAILY BLASTS BUSH'S BELLIGERENT, UNILATERAL RHETORIC
Sao Paulo, September 22 (RHC)--The influential Brazilian news daily
"O Estado de Sao Paulo" has regretted that President George Bush
subordinated politics and diplomacy to belligerent and unilateral
rhetoric during his Thursday speech before Congress.
An editorial in the news daily noted that Bush used the word "war" 12
times during his speech, while not referring even once to the
participation of the United Nations in the struggle against
terrorism, to the need to seek peace between Israelis and
Palestinians or to the need to attack the primary cause of
fundamentalist atrocities which, it said, is the abject living
conditions of Islamic populations.
The editorial noted that hardliners in the Bush administration are
using the term "war" literally, instead of as a metaphor for
struggle, commitment and perseverance.
*THE ONLY WAR WE NEED IS ONE AGAINST POVERTY: ARGENTINA LABOR LEADER
Buenos Aires, September 22 (RHC)--Argentinean labor leader Victor De
Genaro has asserted that the only war in which social activists in
his country are willing to participate is the war against poverty,
hunger and unemployment.
De Genaro spoke on Friday in Buenos Aires before nearly 20,000 people
culminating a protest march of 23,500 kilometers that passed through
82 Argentinean cities. The leader of the militant Argentine Workers
Central criticized the government's desire to incorporate the nation
into Washington's "war on terrorism" when in his country 100 newborns
die every day, 2.5 million people are jobless and 14 million of
Argentina's 37 million people live below the poverty line.
The "march against poverty" began the same day as the terrorist
attacks in New York and Washington and ended 11 days later.
*WRITER UMBERTO ECO CALLS BUSH'S CRUSADE AGAINST TERRORISM DEMENTED
Rome, September 22 (RHC)--Renowned Italian writer and philosopher
Umberto Eco has characterized as "demented" the crusade against
terrorism announced by the US President. He said such a crusade would
lead to a permanent situation of war and without territorial limits.
The author of the best-seller "The Name of the Rose" said that it's a
mistake to confuse fundamentalism and terrorism with the Islamic
faith.
Eco said that generally in a war, the enemy can be intimidated with
threats to kill, but that now we are witnesses to individuals willing
to kill themselves. "What then," he asked, "is to be done?" He said
the lack of a visible enemy and a defined territory has not only
changed the definition of war, but also the definition of what is an
army -- definitions, he added, that even army generals have not come
up with.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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