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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 04:01:44 -0500 (EST)
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Subject: [CubaNews] RHC Weekend-27 October 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 27 October 2001
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*CUBA REJECTS MOSCOW'S STATEMENTS; REAFFIRMS POSITION ON DEBT WITH RUSSIA
*CUBA RE-ELECTED TO UNESCO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
*PRESIDENT OF GUYANA VISITS CUBA
*IBERO-AMERICAN HEALTH MINISTERS WANT JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
*PRESIDENT OF MOZAMBIQUE STARTS OFFICIAL VISIT SUNDAY
*COUNCIL OF FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
*PAKISTAN WARNS THAT MORE THAN TWO MILLION REFUGEES COULD ENTER THEIR
COUNTRY
*ISRAEL STOPS PROMISED WITHDRAWAL FROM BETHLEHEM
*5000 PAKISTANIS HEAD TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN TALIBAN ARMY
*LOCKHEED WINS $200 BILLON WAR CONTRACT
.
*CUBA REJECTS MOSCOW'S STATEMENTS; REAFFIRMS POSITION ON DEBT WITH RUSSIA
Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- Cuba has denounced as slanderous
statements made in Moscow this week in the framework of the Russian
decision to close the Lourdes Electronic Radar Station, west of
Havana.
In its Saturday editorial on the issue-the third carried by the Cuban
official daily Granma in 8 days-the paper rejected the allegation
that Cuba turned down Russian offers of business deals with the West
worth millions of dollars. It also provided elements on Cuba's
position regarding its debt with Russia.
The editorial called the emergence of the October 1962 missile crisis
a product of mediocrity and said it's handling by one of the sides
was clumsy. Cuba, noted the editorial, would have been truly happy if
after the missile crisis, the US naval base in Guantanamo, the
Russian military brigade stationed on the island and the Lourdes
electronic radar Center would have left Cuba.
Turning to the subject of Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to
Cuba in December of last year, Granma newspaper said while political
issues went well during the visit, in the economic field it was a
disaster, although Putin was not to be personally blamed. The
combined impact of ten years of hardships and deprivation in Cuba and
the chaos that had prevailed in Russia during that time had changed
everything, reflected the editorial, adding that little or nothing
was advanced in the three major areas of Cuba-Russia cooperation
after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991: nuclear power,
nickel, and oil refining industries.
On the issue of Russia's inherited Cuban debt, the Granma editorial
said the Russian side had estimated it at some 20.8 billion
transferable Rubbles, and was trying to collect that amount from Cuba
at a time when the Soviet collapse had left the island without
markets, food, fuel, raw materials, and other vital supplies.
The Cuban position, said Granma, was one of not merely considering
the figures but also the terrible damages caused to Cuba by the
abrupt and total default on all agreements that the Soviet Union had
signed with the island, noting that when a nation inherits rights it
also inherits duties. The editorial noted that Cuba estimated the
cost of those damages in some 36.3 billion transferable Rubbles, at
1990 prices, a figure that, asserted Cuba, does not include the moral
damages it also suffered.
*CUBA RE-ELECTED TO UNESCO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs
announced on Saturday that Cuba has been re-elected to the executive
Council of the United Nation's Organization for Science and Culture,
UNESCO. Cuba was re-elected during a session of the UNESCO General
Conference in Paris yesterday, attended by 185 countries.
According to the announcement, four Latin American countries competed
for two places on the Latin American sub-group. Brazil and Cuba were
successful and took their places on the executive Council, which is
the political organ of UNESCO.
Cuba's successful election is seen as recognition on the part of the
international community for its efforts in education, science and
culture to the benefit of its people, and for the international
solidarity that Cuba has constantly displayed in these matters.
*PRESIDENT OF GUYANA VISITS CUBA
Havana, October 27 (RHC)--On his third official visit to Cuba, the
President of Guyana, Barrat Yagdeo, was to meet in Havana on Saturday
with Cuban Ministers of Public Health and Government to discuss the
expansion of bilateral links between the two countries.
Narrat Yagdeo will also pay tribute to Cuba's National Hero, Jose
Marti, he will visit the International Sports School and the Havana
Training School for Primary School teachers. In statements to the
press in the Cuban capital, the Guyanese President said he was
pleased with what he called " constructive talks" that he has had
with Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Among other topics, the two presidents discussed the development of
human resources and the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean
in relation to the rest of the world. Late Saturday the President of
Guyana will attend an official reception in his honor.
*IBERO-AMERICAN HEALTH MINISTERS WANT JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
Havana, 27th October 2001-The final declaration of the 3rd meeting
of Ibero-American Health Ministers calls for equal health services
for all the regions' population.
The Meeting, which was held in Havana's Convention Center, concluded
yesterday with a call to governments to ensure that efforts will be
made to reduce poverty, increase access to medical services for all
the population and to work towards efficiency and effectiveness in
the use of available resources.
Among the topics discussed at the meeting was the bilateral
cooperation between Cuba, Chile and Peru in relation to medicines,
vaccines and medical assistance.
A proposal from Spain was approved to create a system of health
information for the Latin American community using a thematic
television channel and Internet.
The delegates also expressed their rejection of terrorism in all its
forms, regardless of its origin.
At the closing of the conference, Peruvian Health minister and
President of the meeting, Doctor Luis Solari de la Fuente, expressed
his appreciation of the Cuban Health Service, which is
internationally recognized as being one of the best. He also thanked
the Cuban government for the privilege of holding the meeting in
Havana.
The 3rd Meeting of Ibero-American Health Ministers was one in a
series of preparatory meetings for the 11th Ibero-American Summit of
Heads of State and Governments to be held in Peru next month.
*PRESIDENT OF MOZAMBIQUE STARTS OFFICIAL VISIT SUNDAY
Havana 27 October (RHC)--On the invitation of Cuban President Fidel
Castro, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto
Chissano will begin an official visit to Cuba on Sunday. He will be
in Cuba until the 3rd of November. The distinguished visitor,
accompanied by a high-level delegation, will take part in a full
program of activities including a meeting with his Cuba counterpart,
Fidel Castro, and other Cuban officials.
Cuba and Mozambique established diplomatic relations in 1975, when
the Chissano was minister for Foreign Affairs. As Minister, he
visited Cuba on several occasions. In 1988, during his first official
visit as President of his country, he received the Order of Jose
Marti, the highest decoration awarded by the Cuban Counsel of State.
*COUNCIL OF FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
Pinar del Rio 27th October (RHC)--The annual conference of the
National Council of the Cuban Federation of University Students
(FEU), is taking place this weekend in Pinar del Rio, Cuba's most
western province. The Council is made up of the 101 presidents of the
different branches of the organization in all the Cuban universities.
In a press interview, the President of the Student National Council,
Hassan Perez, explained that the annual conference is one of the
Federation's most important events as the role of the organization in
the coming academic year is discussed and ratified by the delegates.
One of the functions of the meeting is to confirm the insertion of
the principals of the Cuban revolution into their work in the
universities.
Hassan noted that the Council's ideology is based on a document
entitled "The FEU Continues the Fight" and he said that part of the
organization's work is to continue the struggle to free the five
Cuban patriots unjustly imprisoned in the United States.
*PAKISTAN WARNS THAT MORE THAN TWO MILLION REFUGEES COULD ENTER THEIR
COUNTRY
Islamabad, October 27, (RHC)--Pakistan's president, Pervez
Musharraf, has warned that if his nation opens its borders between
the two countries at least two million Afghan refugees could pour in.
The Pakistani leader told a press conference in Islamabad that such
an influx would cause the country serious social and economic
problems.
The High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that 1.5 million
refugees could be expected to flee to Pakistan to escape the war with
bombings carried out practically everyday by U.S. and British
bombers.
More than 60,000 Afghan refugees, many with serious wounds including
loss of limbs, have crossed over into neighboring Pakistan since the
September 11th terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC.
Pakistani authorities say that there are already some three million
Afghans who have sought refuge in Pakistan escaping from other armed
conflicts and from persistent drought.
*ISRAEL STOPS PROMISED WITHDRAWAL FROM BETHLEHEM
Bethlehem, October 27 (RHC)--Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on
Saturday stopped the withdrawal of his troops from Bethlehem. The
ultra rightwing leader blamed continuing Palestinian gunfire. Four
Palestinians died today in a firefight in the West Bank City.
Local Israeli and Palestinian security commanders had met early on
Saturday morning in Bethlehem to coordinate plans for the withdrawal
of Israel from that West Bank city and nearby Beit Jala. Washington
had exerted intense pressure on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end
the nine-day-old incursion that took Israeli troops into Bethlehem
and five other West Bank towns under Palestinian control.
The move was seen as necessary for the United States to enlist the
support of Arab nations in its co-called; "anti-terrorist" campaign
against Afghanistan.
President of the Palestinian National Authority, Yasser Arafat, who
pledged on Friday to implement the cease-fire agreed to on September
26, said early Saturday that Palestinians would wait to see if the
Israelis fulfilled their part of the agreement.
Some 50 Palestinians died in the nine-day Israeli incursions which
began on October 18. The areas had been placed under Palestinian
control as part of the l993 Oslo peace agreement.
Meanwhile, in the Best Bank city of Jenin, Israeli bulldozers dug
deep trenches to keep Palestinians from entering Israel.
*5000 PAKISTANIS HEAD TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN TALIBAN ARMY
Temergarah, Pakistan, October 27 (RHC)--More than 5,000 people left
on Saturday from Temergarah, a town in northeast Pakistan, to join
what they called, a "holy" war against the United States. Young and
old men crowded into busses and trucks that had gathered in the town
on Friday night carrying attack rifles, machine guns and rocket
launchers. Some of the volunteers carried axes and pitchforks.
Organizers said the men's mission was to enter Afghanistan and help
the Taliban government defend the country against the incursion of
North American troops. They noted that other such mobilizations were
occurring in other parts of Pakistan. The groups plan to meet at the
border village of Bajur.
*LOCKHEED WINS $200 BILLON WAR CONTRACT
New York, October 27 (RHC)--As the U.S. economy plunges sending tens
of thousands of Americans to unemployment lines and affecting other
economies around the world, the U.S. war industry is looking up. CNN
reported on Friday that the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded
the Lockheed-Martin Corporation a contract that could be worth
upwards of 200 billion dollars to build a new super sophisticated
fighter jet. Lockheed, the United States number one defense
contractor, won the bid to will construct the radar-evading Joint
Strike Fighter. U.S. officials made the announcement at the Pentagon.
CNNMONEY reported that the announcement gave a hefty boost to
Lockheed stocks in after-hours trading.
The Joint Strike Fighter, a high-performance, "stealth" aircraft
designed to evade radar, is intended to replace the nation's aging
fleet of fighter aircraft including the A-1 and the FA-16.
Another U.S. military contractor, Pratt & Whitney, was awarded a more
than $4 billion contract to develop the fighter's F135 engine.
According to CNN, the United States and Britain plan to buy a
combined total of 3,002 planes. In addition, as many as 3,000 more
might be sold to other allies, adding another 200 billion dollars to
the contract's worth during the next 30 years.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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