From: "Walter Lippmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [CubaNews] CubaNews summary 10-31-2001 CubaNews summary October 31, 2001 ============================== Cuba welcomes first U.S. exhibit at trade fair HAVANA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro's government on Tuesday welcomed the first-ever U.S. exhibitor at Cuba's most important annual trade fair despite four-decade-old U.S. economic sanctions against the Caribbean island. "As far as we're concerned, welcome!" Foreign Investment Minister Marta Lomas told business people at the 19th Havana Trade Fair, when asked about the unprecedented presence of an American group, the USA Rice Federation. "We receive them with open arms. If they want to do business, and it's good business, within our policies and priorities, we will do it," the minister added. "But there is only one problem -- the blockade. We didn't impose it, it's them (the U.S. government) who imposed it." The USA Rice Federation delegation, headed by the director of its Latin American program, Marvin Lehrer, obtained licenses from the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Department to travel to Cuba with about 350 pounds (136 kg) of rice and promotional materials from nine U.S. companies. The United States says says communist-ruled Cuba could legitimately buy foodstuffs and medicine from U.S. companies under recent modifications of embargo regulations, but that Castro is holding out for political motives. The Cuban government says the embargo maintains such a morass of bureaucracy and restrictions on financing that it is impossible in practice to buy a grain of rice or a single aspirin from the United States. Havana demands a total lifting of the sanctions. Lomas said she hoped the U.S. participants would take a good look at the hundreds of Cuban and foreign companies also exhibiting at the fair. "They can see what they could also be doing in Cuba if they weren't prohibited," she said. ================================= HAVANA TRADE FAIR ATTENDANCE UP ATTENDANCE at the recent Havana Trade Fair (FIHAV) demonstrates the prestige this event has gained, year after year, as a result of the advantages afforded to its participants, said Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade Ra�l de la Nuez. More that 1,660 businessmen from 60 countries attend FIHAV, among them first-time visitors from the United States, Croatia, Mongolia and New Zealand. De La Nuez also noted that the participation confirms the willingness on the immense majority of countries to establish and develop their economic and commercial relations with Cuba, regardless of the U.S. blockade. DETAILS: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/octu5/44fihav-i.html ================================== LAGE: RECESSION AFFECTS EVERYONE: GRANMA October 30, 2001 The recession affects everyone THE critical international situation also affects Cuba, said Vice President Carlos Lage in an exchange with journalists at the inauguration of the 19th Havana Trade Fair. The fact that the world's largest economies are in a recession has consequences in the other countries, he said, adding that the events of September 11 have had repercussions on tourism and airlines around the world, which has affected Cuba. "Nevertheless, we are confident and calm, because the country is more organized and stronger, economically and politically." As for the effects that the global economy will inevitably have on the national economy, he affirmed, "We will have to confront them, in an orderly and efficient manner." Vice President Lage recalled that in the last four years the country has had greater stability, but in the last few weeks a higher interest rate has resulted from diminishing tourism. It's likely that this will continue for the rest of the month, although it depends on international events. He considers the effects of these circumstances transitory and affirmed that the country has other conditions and mechanisms that will make it possible to overcome these difficulties. ===================================== U.S. "DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED" BY CHAVEZ (The truth really hurts when you disagree with it.) CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it was "surprised and deeply disappointed" by comments from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez condemning civilian casualties caused by the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan. In statements released by the State Department in Washington and its embassy in Caracas, the U.S. government rebutted Chavez's suggestion that military operations to destroy Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network were like fighting "terror with more terror." "We reject this representation of the coalition's actions in Afghanistan," read the embassy statement. "It is false to present the U.S. response to the al Qaeda attack as if it were an act of terrorism." In his televised speech late on Monday, former paratrooper Chavez condemned the Sept. 11 suicide attacks but made an impassioned plea for an end to "the killing of innocents" in Afghanistan. The U.S. government has admitted that civilians have been killed by stray bombs and missiles in its daily air strikes against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. It blames the Taliban for hiding Saudi-born militant bin Laden, whom it holds responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. Chavez said on Monday there could be "no justification of any kind" for civilian casualties, even those killed by mistake. In response, the State Department said: "We are not targeting the people of Afghanistan and have made every effort to avoid any civilian casualties. We deeply regret any such casualties." http://news.lycos.com/news/story.asp?section=World&storyId=272728&topic=Cuba On Monday, Chavez held up what were purportedly photographs of dead children in Afghanistan and condemned the deaths of civilians as a result of the U.S.-led bombing campaign. ``This has no justification, just like the attacks in New York didn't either,'' Chavez said. He reiterated his country's support for the fight against terrorism, but said, ``The killing in Afghanistan must stop.'' Charles Barclay, spokesman for the State Department's Western Hemisphere Affairs bureau, said the United States was ``surprised and deeply disappointed'' by Chavez's remarks. Chavez is a left-leaning populist whose close ties with communist Cuba have made for a sometimes uneasy relationship with the United States. However, he promised to maintain a steady oil supply to the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks, and his government has shared intelligence as part of the anti-terror effort. http://news.lycos.com/news/story.asp?section=World&storyId=272652&topic=Cuba =================================== COMPAY SUGUNDO TURNS PLAYWRIGHT 94-year-old Cuban singing sensation turns to drama Reuters October 30, 2001, 3:31 PM EST HAVANA - Cuba's 94-year-old singing sensation, Compay Segundo, who shot to fame several years ago with the ``Buena Vista Social Club'' album, is branching out into a new career as a playwright. Segundo, whose real name is Francisco Repilado, announced at a news conference Tuesday his debut play, ``The Little Stream Dried Up,'' inspired by a folk song he wrote decades ago. Despite worries about his health in recent months, Segundo looked hale and hearty, joking and laughing with journalists. He was dressed in an elegant suit and hat and puffed at his trademark Havana cigar. ``I've written a hundred or so songs, and this one, 'The Little Stream Dried Up,' is a peasant song which I've decided to follow up on,'' he said. ``It deals with the social problem of the family. The father wants his daughter to marry a worker, and the mother aspires to someone with money. ... At the end, the mother's materialism prevails, but the family of the rich pretender do not want her in their house.'' Those wanting to know how the play ends should see its opening performance on Nov. 16 in Havana, Segundo said. He does not act in the play, although his music figures prominently. ``I have great faculties and a great memory,'' he said, referring to the concerns about his health. ``A month ago in Mexico they carried out a mental test on me, and I told them that I can remember the First World War.'' After its debut in Havana, Segundo's play will be produced in other Latin American countries. The play is set in Siboney, a sleepy village on the Caribbean coast in eastern Cuba, where Segundo was born. ``It's a complicated story ... and I can tell it because I am 94,'' said Segundo, whose mastery of the traditional ``son'' rhythm has popularized Cuban music around the world. ``I hope this play is successful. If so, I'll probably stay enthused and become a writer.'' Copyright � 2001, South Florida Sun-Sentinel TWO NICE PHOTOS OF COMPAY SEGUNDO: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20011030/wl/1004467086cuba_compay_segundo_ hav101.html http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20011030/wl/1004466789cuba_compay_segundo_ hav102.html ==================================== LATIN GRAMMY FOR "La Rumba Soy Yo" WHILE the producers of La Rumba Soy Yo (I am the Rumba), musician Joaqu�n Betancourt and musicologist Cary D�ez were in Los Angeles receiving the Latin Grammy award for Best Folkloric Album, Bis Music in Havana was celebrating the double triumph of having confidence in the project, and for being the first Cuban music company to achieve this recognition. As known, the announcement and awarding of the Latin Grammies was to take place on September 11, a fateful day for the United States, as it previously was for Chile, with the 1973 Pinochet-led coup. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/octu5/44rumba-i.html AUGUSTIN GURZA IN THE L.A. TIMES: The second annual Latin Grammy Awards, an event that was relocated from Miami because of anti-Cuban protests and then put on hold in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, were finally announced Tuesday at a low-key news conference at the Conga Room in Los Angeles. Ironically, the Cuban artists who had been the focus of the original controversy were mostly shut out in the balloting. Only one Grammy went to artists from the island, and that in a minor category: best folk album, to Cuban producer Caridad Diez and arranger Joaquin Betancourt for their powerful, multi-artist compilation of authentic rumba called "La Rumba Soy Yo." Cuban singer Issac Delgado came up empty-handed Tuesday despite two nominations for his progressive, highly acclaimed album "La Formula." Grammy voters played it safe in the salsa categories with awards going to established veterans, such as Celia Cruz, who won for best traditional tropical album for "Siempre Vivir�," featuring her version of the disco tune "I Will Survive." This year's awards seemed jinxed from the start. The show hit an early snag when Miami city officials allowed anti-Castro demonstrators to move their planned protest site close to the entrance of AmericanAirlines Arena, where the ceremony was originally to be held. The Cuban exiles wanted to protest against the show's inclusion of artists from Cuba, whom they consider shills for Fidel Castro. The Latin Grammy organizers wanted them in a more distant location for security reasons. Miami's most powerful politicians and entertainment figures tried to mediate a compromise but failed. On Aug. 20, just three weeks before the planned show, Latin Recording Academy chief C. Michael Greene announced he was pulling out of Miami for the safety of nominees and guests. The sudden move shocked the Miami economy and put a damper on the traditional festivities, since labels had little time to plan new parties or local showcases for their artists on the opposite coast. With Greene saying he felt betrayed by some Miami leaders, the show was moved to the Forum. Then, Miami-based producer Emilio Estefan Jr., one of the biggest proponents of holding the event in Miami, announced he would not attend in L.A. The show was barely emerging from the shadow of controversy when the terrorist disaster occurred, and it never recovered. Altogether, the move and cancellation cost the recording academy an estimated $4 million to $5 million, Greene has said. FULL STORY: http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Music-X!ArticleDetail-45982 ,00.html NEWS RELEASE FROM LATIN GRAMMYS: http://www.latingrammys.com/news/latin/011030winners.html DISINTERESTED MIAMI HERALD COVERAGE: Controversy over the possible presence of Cuban artists led the Latin Grammys to abandon Miami for Los Angeles in August, but of the seven Cuban artists nominated only El All-Stars de la Rumba Cubana earned an award, winning for Best Folk Album. http://www.miami.com/herald/content/features/arts/digdocs/084540.htm ==================================== BRIT KILLED IN COLOMBIA WAS NOT A REBEL Now it seems he wasn't a revolutionary who had gone to Cuba, just a young tourist who was there at the wrong place at the wrong time. (It would be interesting to know if his father, Reg Parks, is the famous Reg Parks, a South African bodybuilder famous in the 50s and 60s who was inspired and trained Arnold Schwarzenegger...) A prosecutor from Colombia blames his killing on the ELN, the smaller of the two revolutionary left armies of that country. However, she provides no proof to back up her statement: ``He was kidnapped by the National Liberation Army,'' said Carolina Sanchez, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office. ``It appears he was just an adventurer.'' A British Embassy spokesman said there was no reason to believe Parks was involved with the guerrillas - a possibility Colombia's military said it was investigating. ``We do not yet know the actual details of his death and we may never know because he was traveling alone at the time,'' said Parks's father, Reg Parks, who was preparing to fly to Bogota Wednesday to take his son's body home. The army initially reported that his corpse was clad in a rebel uniform, but authorities on Tuesday said he had been wearing civilian clothes when he was killed. http://news.lycos.com/news/story.asp?section=World&storyId=272656&topic=Cuba ==================================== CUBA TO GRANT GUYANA 350 SCHOLARSHIPS Posted at 7:03 a.m. EST Tuesday, October 30, 2001 Guyana to receive 350 scholarships from Cuba GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- (AP) -- Cuba will give 350 scholarships to Guyanese students over the next five years, Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo says. Jagdeo had just returned from a three-day state trip to Havana. Guyana has had diplomatic ties with Cuba since 1972, but Jagdeo is the first leader from the South American country to visit Cuba in 15 years. Cuban President Fidel Castro committed to providing 100 scholarships next year and the remaining 250 over the remainder of the five years, Jagdeo said Monday. ``Human resources development is key for our country and I am hoping that we can get some students from all the hinterland areas to go on these scholarships so that they can come and go back to their communities,'' Jagdeo said. Details of the scholarship program will be worked out when the Guyana-Cuba Joint Commission meets in Havana next month, he said. ======================================= HIS OWN STATUE NOW IN HAVANA, CUBA Jos� Villa Sober�n, who designed the statue of John Lennon unveiled in Havana last year has now unveiled his statue of The Gentleman of Paris (el Caballero de Paris). GRANMA explains: Juan Manuel L�pez Lled�n, an enchanting character born in 1890 in the village of Fonsagrada in the Galician province of Lugo, emigrated to Havana in his youth where, still in his right mind, he was an employee in Tel�grafo, Sevilla and Manhattan hotels. He was tried and imprisoned in the '20s for the theft of jewels from the house where he worked (his innocence was later proven). He went mad in prison and when his sentence was over he left to wander the streets as a vagabond with his vast imagination and his characteristic old-fashioned aspect: a cape and his long unkempt hair and beard. Dozens of legends have been woven around this character, who received frequent coverage in the 20th century Cuban press and provided inspiration for artists, writers, cineastes and even his doctor, Dr. Luis Calzadilla, assistant director at the Havana Psychiatric Hospital, where he was admitted in 1977 and remained until his death on July 12, 1985. Calzadilla recently launched a biography about the Caballero, after extensive research into his hazy past. Buried in an unmarked grave, his remains were exhumed by city historian Eusebio Leal, who had them transferred to the San Francisco de Asisi Convent (now a museum and concert hall), where they rest today. Again, it was Eusebio Leal's idea to place the statue outside the convent, walking along the sidewalk like just another passerby. "Looking closely at the Caballero de Paris, he inspired a great deal of tenderness and I tried to conserve that expression," said sculptor Villa. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/octu5/44cabal-i.html ======================================= BRUSSELS, BEAUTIFUL BRUSSELS - PROFILE BRUSSELS, the capital of Belgium, is a city charged with a history dating back to its creation in the year 979. Located in the heart of Europe, it is a melting pot of cultures and languages. Walking around certain parts of Brussels, you can hear more languages than in the United Nations. READ THE FULL PROFILE: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/octu5/44brusel-i.html ====================================== MORE GIFTS OF POVERTY FOR ARGENTINA With little less than two months left before the year's end, the 37 million Argentines will receive a large holiday package free of prosperity or peace and full of economic adjustments and shortages. On top of the economic deterioration is the governmental crisis for which the resignation of the Minister of Development Juan Pablo Cafiero exposed the President Fernando de la R�a's objectives of cutting the budget and resources for social projects. The cut should range between 75 and 90% of the social development funds, which had been estimated at about $300 million USD. A survey conducted last week by Gallup Argentina, published by the daily La Naci�n, demonstrates that the population is well aware that the country is headed down a dead-end street if its rulers continue applying neoliberal measures. The dollarization of the national economy was worrisome for 63% of the population, who criticized the previous administration headed by Carlos Menem, precursor to the so-called "magic formula" so fashionable among some Latin American strategists. FULL STORY: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/octu5/44argent-i.html ===================================== MEXICAN EDUCATION BUDGET INCREASED Allocating 8% of the gross domestic product (GDP) to the Mexican educational system should improve present and future conditions in the sector, a constant source of concern and debate within the country. Under the initiative of President Vicente Fox, Mexico is facing the challenge of turning itself into a competitive and successful nation. To achieve this, it needs to create a scientific and technological culture equally accessible to all. Among the fundamental demands for the reform of Mexican education is the improvement of teachers' and professors' salaries and working conditions, since their payment is not directly proportional to the value of their labor. For many teachers, education is no longer exciting, and as the House of Representatives has noted, a passion for learning must be the fundamental premise of any educational revolution. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/octu5/44mexico-i.html ====================================== MORE U.S.-CUBA FLIGHTS BEGIN NOV. 1 ELPAIS.ES Mi�rcoles, 31 de octubre de 2001 Cuba y EE UU permiten los vuelos regulares entre Miami y La Habana MAURICIO VICENT | La Habana Cuba y Estados Unidos han llegado a un acuerdo para que tres importantes compa��as a�reas norteamericanas -American Airlines, United Airlines y Continental Airlines- realicen vuelos directos a la isla con frecuencias diarias a partir de ma�ana, 1 de noviembre. La compa��a cubana Havanatur anunci� ayer que 'despu�s de un largo proceso de negociaci�n entre Continental Airlines, los operadores de vuelos ch�rter norteamericanos y Havanatur', se logr� un convenio por el cual un avi�n Boeing 737 de 124 pasajeros de esa compa��a volar� diariamente a La Habana a partir del jueves, y realizar� tambi�n viajes a Cienfuegos y Camag�ey. Los vuelos saldr�n desde el aeropuerto de Miami y desde el John F. Kennedy de Nueva York.Aunque la l�nea Miami-La Habana opera desde hace 24 a�os, hasta ahora los vuelos eran realizados por compa��as ch�rter, en su mayor parte propiedad de ciudadanos cubanoamericanos con residencia en EE UU que ten�an buenas relaciones con las autoridades de la isla. D�az inform� que la aerol�nea Continental efectuar� viajes diarios a Miami y uno semanal a Nueva York desde La Habana, mientras que United har� tres salidas semanales hacia Miami y American Airlines realizar� un vuelo semanal con ese mismo destino. Washington mantiene vigente una ley que proh�be a sus ciudadanos gastar dinero en Cuba, pero admite los viajes de acad�micos, periodistas, deportistas, artistas y cubanos que hayan obtenido una visa de ingreso o salida de su territorio, potenciales clientes de estos vuelos. Este a�o unas 120.000 personas, la mayor�a cubano-norteamericanos, han volado desde Miami a La Habana. � DIARIO EL PA�S, S.L. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Universal Inkjet Refill Kit $29.95 Refill any ink cartridge for less! 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