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Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 03:07:01 -0500 (EST)
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Subject: [CubaNews] Radio Havana Cuba-01 November 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 01 November 2001
.
*CHISSANO: "THE CUBAN REVOLUTION MADE OUR VICTORY POSSIBLE"
*CUBA: A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT A BETTER WORLD
*CONTINENTAL AIRLINES BEGINS CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM THE U.S. TO CUBA
*PRESIDENT OF PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT
*WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THAT US GOVERNMENT SEES PUBLIC SUPPORT SLIPPING
AWAY
*US BOMBS AFGHAN HYDROELECTRIC DAM, RISKING THOUSANDS, SAYS TALIBAN
*SHARON IS CREATING A WHOLE GENERATION OF TERRORISTS: MUBARAK
*TONY BLAIR SUFFERS PUBLIC REBUFF IN SYRIA
*ANOTHER FIVE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN MEXICO RECEIVE DEATH THREATS
*ARGENTINA'S AILING ECONOMY REFUSED MORE MONEY BY IMF
*FLOODING FOLLOWS SEVERE DROUGHT, FAMINE IN HONDURAS
.
*CHISSANO: "THE CUBAN REVOLUTION MADE OUR VICTORY POSSIBLE"
Matanzas, November 1 (RHC)-- Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano,
currently on an official visit to the island, affirmed that the Cuban
Revolution greatly contributed to the victory of his people.
Speaking with reporters on the beaches of Playa Gir�n -- site of the
Bay of Pigs invasion -- the Mozambican president said the liberation
struggles of the African continent were greatly helped by Cuba's
victory against the CIA-organized forces in 1961. He noted that the
struggle against Portuguese colonialism was just beginning in
Mozambique when Cuba gained its independence, adding, "Had you not
won [the fight against the U.S.-backed invaders], our success would
have been impossible".
On Wednesday, the African leader toured areas in Matanzas province,
where the Cuban people defeated the mercenary invasion at Playa Gir�n
in April 1961. Joaquim Chissano was accompanied by Cuban Vice
President Jos� Ram�n Fern�ndez, who personally took part in the
battle to defend the island from the invaders. Fern�ndez told the
visiting Mozambican leader that the defense forces at Playa Gir�n
were always confident of victory and fought heroically with courage
and enthusiasm to protect the achievements of the Cuban Revolution.
He said that as a direct legacy of that victory 40 years ago, "today
the people are united as a single fist".
Earlier, the Mozambican president toured the Latin American School of
Medicine and the International School of Sports and Physical
Education, both located on the outskirts of Havana. He praised Cuba's
gains in health and education, noting that the Cuban Revolution has
generously offered its help in these and other areas to the rest of
the Third World.
The African leader told journalists that one of today's major
concerns in the world is poverty, but that wars and conflicts are
currently getting all the attention. Joaquim Chissano said: "In our
opinion, the fight against poverty and the search for solutions to
the most urgent problems of humanity are the only way to resolve
conflicts." And he added, "We must discover the fundamental, root
causes of these conflicts and do whatever we can to eliminate them".
The Mozambican president will continue to visit places of social and
economic interest during his stay in Cuba, which ends Saturday,
November 3rd.
*CUBA: A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT A BETTER WORLD
Havana, November 1 (RHC)-- "Cuba has become a point of reference for
those who want a better world." According to Cuban Parliament
President Ricardo Alarc�n -- speaking in Havana at the closing of an
event on Jose Marti -- the Cuban Revolution "is seen by millions as
an example of a more just society".
Ricardo Alarc�n reminded those present that "Cuba is still in the
sights of imperialism, which will do anything possible to destroy
us." And the legislative leader noted that the Cuban people have an
enormous responsibility: to defend the gains of the Revolution.
The president of Cuba's parliament referred to the long history of
U.S.-sponsored terrorism -- from direct and indirect attacks against
Cuba to the fact that Osama bin Laden himself was trained by the CIA
to fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
*CONTINENTAL AIRLINES BEGINS CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM THE U.S. TO CUBA
Havana, November 1 (RHC)-- The representative of a major U.S.
airline anticipated Thursday an increase in passenger traffic between
the United States and Cuba in coming months. In statements to
reporters at Havana's Jose Mart� International Airport, the president
of Continental Connection, Thomas Cooper, said Continental has
consolidated into one the activities of over half a dozen tour
operators who had for years been flying charters to Cuba.
The Continental executive said that by the end of the year, with
passenger traffic between Cuba and the U.S. stabilizing again --
following the tragic events of September 11th -- there will be at
least 3000 travelers per week. Most of these passengers, he said,
would be Cuban-Americans.
*PRESIDENT OF PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT
Havana, November 1 (RHC)-- The President of the Principality of
Asturias, Vicente Alberto Alvarez Areces, began an official visit to
the island on Thursday.
President Alvarez Areces arrived in the Cuban capital Wednesday
evening and is accompanied by a large delegation of government
officials and business representatives from the Spanish autonomous
community.
This is the first visit of the Asturian president since taking office
in July 1999. During their stay -- which runs through Sunday,
November 4th -- the Asturian delegation will visit places of interest
and plans to meet with members of the Asturian community in Cuba.
*WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THAT US GOVERNMENT SEES PUBLIC SUPPORT SLIPPING
AWAY
Washington, November 1 (RHC) -- "The Washington Post" has reported
that the United States and Great Britain, concerned that they are
losing the war for international public opinion, have launched a
public relations effort to aggressively counter Taliban claims of
massive civilian deaths and destruction from US bombs in Afghanistan.
The two governments have reportedly established round-the-clock
information centers that operate at the White House and on Downing
Street, with a third center staffed by diplomats, military officers
and communications officials to be opened in Islamabad, Pakistan
within days.
Grumbling over media access to information on the war, however, can
still be heard in the U.S. press. An article Thursday in the "Los
Angeles Times" entitled "Media Still Waiting To Be Called Up" noted
that as U.S. military forces wage an unprecedented war on terrorism
thousands of miles from home, Americans are eager to know how the
troops are doing, but have to rely largely on the Pentagon to
evaluate its own success.
Noting that Pentagon officials have said repeatedly that the war
effort is succeeding, the news daily affirmed that congressional
critics and even some US allies question this assertion - wondering
if the campaign is stalling, perhaps even backfiring, given continued
resistance by Taliban rulers, the accidental bombing of civilian
targets and the failure to capture Osama Bin Laden. The article
quotes Clark Hoyt, Washington editor of the Knight Ridder newspaper
chain, who stated that in the long run, when all that people learn
about the war comes through official government channels and enemy
channels, it can lead to questions of government credibility.
*US BOMBS AFGHAN HYDROELECTRIC DAM, RISKING THOUSANDS, SAYS TALIBAN
Kabul, November 1 (RHC) -- The U.S. military's bombardment of a
hydroelectric dam in Afghanistan is reportedly threatening the lives
of thousands of civilians. The Taliban regime Thursday charged that
the Kajakai Dam, the largest in the country, was severely damaged
Wednesday in seven air strikes against the installation - affirming
that any further bombardment would lead to massive flooding.
The Taliban also asserted that there are no military installations
near the dam, located in the south of the country. The hydroelectric
facility was built 30 years ago with U.S. help, has a capacity of
2.7 billion cubic meters of water and supplies water to irrigation
canals for 75,000 farmers.
*SHARON IS CREATING A WHOLE GENERATION OF TERRORISTS: MUBARAK
Cairo, November 1 (RHC) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has
asserted that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is creating a new
generation of terrorists with his policy of destruction and violence
in occupied Palestinian territories. In an interview published
Thursday by the Spanish news daily "Pais", Mubarak affirmed that
Sharon should understand that his policy of bloodshed and massacres
will never contribute to Israel's security, and that there will never
be peace without a just solution to the Palestinian problem.
In related news, the United States government has again blocked a
condemnation of Israel in the UN Security Council. Washington
Wednesday opposed a resolution condemning Israel's reoccupation of
autonomous Palestinian zones, instead supporting a weaker official
communiqu� which has less weight than a resolution. In recent months,
the US has also rejected any UN involvement in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict despite coming under increasing pressure
to do more to put an end to more than a year of violence in occupied
territories.
*TONY BLAIR SUFFERS PUBLIC REBUFF IN SYRIA
Damascus, November 1 (RHC) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair's
drive to strengthen the anti-terrorist coalition and the Middle East
peace process Wednesday suffered what's being called a very public
rebuff at the hands of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While
visiting Damascus, Blair had to stand and listen to the Syrian
President condemning the bombing of Afghan civilians and what he
called the double-standard policies of western nations in the Middle
East conflict.
The diplomatic rebuff came at a joint press conference during which
the British Prime Minister reportedly looked distinctly uneasy as
applause broke out in the audience during al-Assad's condemnation of
the bombing of Afghanistan. In reference to a definition of the word
terrorism, the Syrian President said Israel is practicing state
terrorism every day. Blair later flew to Saudi Arabia, where the
Prime Minister's spokesman admitted that he had won no direct support
for the bombing campaign.
*ANOTHER FIVE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN MEXICO RECEIVE DEATH THREATS
Mexico City, November 1 (RHC) -- In the aftermath of the
assassination in Mexico of a prominent attorney and human rights
activist, another five have received death threats. An anonymous
threat was sent to the Mexican news daily "Reforma" against Miguel
Sarre, of the Committee to Humanize Incriminatory Practices, Sergio
Aguayo, of the Mexican Human Rights Academy, Edgar Cortez, of the
Miguel Agustin Human Rights Center, Juan Antonio Vega, of the group
All Rights for All, and Fernando Ruiz, of the Council on Law and
Human Rights. The authors of the note claimed responsibility for the
October 19 assassination of Digna Ochoa, an attorney who defended,
among others, imprisoned Zapatista rebels.
Mexican authorities, under fire at home and abroad for Ochoa's
murder, announced special measures to protect the activists. The
announcement coincided with the establishment of a permanent
governmental working commission that will hold regular talks with
Mexican human rights leaders on the Ochoa crime and the country's
general human rights situation.
The activists are demanding a thorough investigation and results in
the assassination of Ochoa, who for more than five years received
threats and suffered intimidation. She had been kidnapped and
tortured twice and once was forced to flee the country. Two years ago
the Interamerican Human Rights Court ordered the Mexican government
to provide her with special protection.
*ARGENTINA'S AILING ECONOMY REFUSED MORE MONEY BY IMF
Buenos Aires, November 1 (RHC) -- Argentina's investment risk factor
broke another record Thursday following the International Monetary
Fund's announcement that there will be no more money for that
nation's ailing economy. The IMF said Argentina will first have to
comply with the measures adopted last July in its 7th economic shock
program, which includes zero-government spending.
The announcement coincides with another government postponement in
the revelation of an 8th economic package due precisely to rebellious
provincial governors who say zero-spending will leave their coffers
empty. President Fernando de la Rua has been desperately attempting
to garner the support of provincial governors, even those from his
own political party.
After a series of postponements in revealing his new economic
program, the de la Rua administration had promised to do so on
Wednesday, but again balked. The Argentinean President received
further bad news today with the withdrawal from the ruling Alliance
of the majority of House Deputies belonging to the left-center
coalition FREPASO. That leaves the opposition Justicialista Party,
winner of last month's legislative elections, with 99 House Deputies
compared to the Alliance's 87.
*FLOODING FOLLOWS SEVERE DROUGHT, FAMINE IN HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa, November 1 (RHC) -- The afflicted Central American
nation of Honduras has gone from drought and famine to flooding.
Following a severe drought that destroyed 240 thousand acres of
crops, leaving more than 300,000 people without sufficient food,
flooding has now left 6 people killed, 14 disappeared and 25,000
homeless.
The flooding caused by a tropical depression threatening to become a
hurricane comes almost exactly three years after Hurricane Mitch, the
country's worse natural disaster ever. The hurricane left more than
5,600 people killed, 8,000 disappeared and material losses to the
tune of more than five billion dollars.
And in some zones the rain that began 6 days ago is already
surpassing the amount that Mitch dropped over the country, according
to Honduras' National Meteorological Service. On the border with
Nicaragua, thousands of members of the Misquita ethnic group are
reportedly isolated.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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