From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 20:59:36 -0500
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-13 November 2001
Radio Havana Cuba-13 November 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 13 November 2001
.
*AT UN, CUBA CALLS ON USA TO STOP ITS UNILATERAL WAR AGAINST AFGANIST�N
*CUBA RECEIVES MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY HURRICANE
*REGIONAL MEETING BEGINS TO OPPOSE FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS
*FIRST SECRETARY OF VIETNAM'S COMMUNIST PARTY MEETS CUBAN OFFICIALS
*NORTHERN ALLIANCE WALKS INTO AFGHAN CAPITAL, ABANDONED BY TALIBAN
*U.S. WARPLANES BOMB OFFICES OF AL-JAZEERA TELEVISION IN KABUL
*Viewpoint: JUST RHETORIC?
.
*AT UN, CUBA CALLS ON USA TO STOP ITS UNILATERAL WAR AGAINST AFGANIST�N
New York, November 13 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez
Roque delivered an address before the 56th Session of the United
Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, strongly calling on Washington to
stop its unilateral war against Afghanistan.
Before making his statement on behalf of the Cuban government, Perez
Roque expressed condolences to the United States, the Dominican
Republic and other countries that lost citizens among the passengers
and crew in Monday's tragedy of the American Airlines flight, which
crashed on take-off from New York's John F. Kennedy International
Airport.
Cuba's foreign minister then addressed the issue of Washington's war
against Afghanistan. He stated that the Government of the United
States must acknowledge that it has made a mistake -- and must halt
its ineffective, unjustifiable bombing campaign against that people.
As to the war's results, said Felipe Perez Roque, it would seem that
the U.S. has targeted children, the civilian population and the
International Red Cross hospitals and facilities as enemies. As to its
methods, no honest voice could defend an endless slaughter -- with the
most sophisticated weaponry -- of a dispossessed, starving, helpless
people. And the Cuban foreign minister continued, as to its doubtful
purposes, this war will never be justified from the point of view of
ethics and International Law. Those responsible for that war, he
stated, will one day be judged by history.
Havana's top diplomat said that Cuba has opposed this war from the
very beginning as an absurd method to eradicate terrorism. He said
that Cuba reiterates that continued attacks against Afghanistan can
only bring more hatred and ever-increasing dangers of new terrorist
actions. And he added that no one has the right to continue murdering
children, aggravating the humanitarian crisis, visiting impoverishment
and death on millions of refugees.
During his address before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Cuba's
foreign minister said that Havana's position is not based on ill
feelings against the country that has been the island's adversary for
more than 40 years. Cuba's position is inspired by a sincere
constructive spirit and a sense of respect for and sympathy towards
the people of the United States, which suffered an unjustifiable and
atrocious terrorist attack last September 11th. The Cuban foreign
minister added that his country's position is also based on the
aspiration of peace and justice for all the peoples of the world.
Speaking to UN delegates Tuesday morning, Felipe Perez Roque took aim
at Washington's allegation that it is leading an international
coalition in a war against terrorism. The Cuban foreign minister
asked, "What international coalition are we talking about? What is its
legitimacy based on -- if it has started by stridently disregarding
the General Assembly of the United Nations?"
Perez Roque said that a truly effective and lasting alliance to fight
terrorism can only emerge in the framework of the UN Charter -- in
which all countries, big and small, take part with a full
understanding of everyone's positions. He said the U.S. has not
fostered international cooperation, but rather imposed its war on a
unilateral basis -- stating that whoever does not go along with them
is on the side of terror.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said that the world was
surprised to learn of the official announcement of the United States
to the Security Council that it reserved the right to decide whether
or not to attack other countries in the future. Cuba's top diplomat
asked what happened to the United Nations Charter and how can this
unprecedented threat is interpreted as an exercise of the right to
legitimate self-defense? He asked if such a declaration is just simply
a vulgar excuse to unleash attacks against other countries?
During his speech before the UN General Assembly, the island's foreign
minister said that Cuba continues to believe that it is still possible
to halt the escalation of a useless, brutal war that threatens to
further plunge the poor peoples of the planet into hopelessness,
insecurity and death. He said that the poor are by no means
responsible for any act of terrorism, but will be -- and already are
-- the main victims of such senseless actions.
Havana's foreign minister said that Cuba is willing to join a
coalition against poverty, famine, ignorance, diseases, the scourge of
AIDS that is currently decimating the African continent; a coalition
in favor of sustainable development, in favor of the preservation of
the environment and against the destruction of the planet.
And the island's top diplomat said that a coalition is needed to come
together to seek justice against terrorism -- but to do so without
war. He said we must come together to save from death the hundreds of
thousands of poor women who every year die at childbirth; to save 12
million children who die of preventable diseases every year in the
Third World before the age of five; to get medications against AIDS to
the 25 million Africans who are hopelessly awaiting death; come
together to invest in development at least a portion of the billions
already spent to carpet-bomb a country where almost nothing has been
left standing.
Finally, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque reiterated Havana's
outright condemnation of the terrorist actions committed last
September 11th in New York and Washington. He said that Cuba
reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and will never allow its territory to be used for
terrorist actions against the people of the United States or of any
other country.
*CUBA RECEIVES MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY HURRICANE
Havana, November 13 (RHC)-- Cuba continues to receive messages of
solidarity and support from organizations and countries around the
world. On Monday, the Latin American Parliament expressed its
solidarity with the Cuban people and its willingness to offer
cooperation to assist the island in recovery efforts.
The Nicaraguan Committees in Solidarity with Cuba expressed support
for the island by sending medicines and food to help deal with the
damages caused in the wake of Hurricane Michelle's sweep across the
island.
A communiqu� issued by various Cuba Friendship Groups, extended deep
feeling of solidarity to the Cuban people and government over the
severe losses and damages caused by the hurricane and pledged to send
medicine and milk for Cuban children.
*REGIONAL MEETING BEGINS TO OPPOSE FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS
Havana, November 13 (RHC)-- Havana is the site beginning Tuesday of a
regional meeting to oppose the U.S.-proposed Free Trade Area of the
America's -- which is seen by many as Washington's latest attempt to
annex Latin America and the Caribbean.
Some 400 delegates from over 30 nations are attending the event,
representing regional NGOs, trade unions, farmers, women and
intellectuals, students, religious and other social organizations, as
well as parliamentary bodies. In addition to the Latin American and
Caribbean delegates, large numbers of anti-globalization activists
from the United States and Canada are also participating.
The event's organizers say that the broad representation at the
meeting of the most varied sectors of society is due to the fact that
if implemented, the FTAA would affect all Latin American and Caribbean
peoples.
Among issues being discussed by the delegates are: "The FTAA and the
Economic Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean," "Trade and
Investment within the FTAA," "Intellectual Property, Work Relations
and the Environment."
The Havana meeting is a follow up to the Summit of the Peoples, held
earlier this year in Quebec, Canada, parallel to the 3rd Summit of the
Americas, in which 34 regional governments, acting without the consent
of their constituents, agreed that the FTAA should be fully
implemented by the year 2005.
The aim of the Havana and other follow up meetings is to create public
awareness about the FTAA and the danger it poses to the peoples of the
region.
*FIRST SECRETARY OF VIETNAM'S COMMUNIST PARTY MEETS CUBAN OFFICIALS
Havana, November 13 (RHC)-- The close links of friendship between Cuba
and Viet Nam were once again underscored after a meeting held on
Monday in Havana between Cuban Communist Party official, Ramon
Balaguer, who heads the Party's Foreign Affairs Department, and Nguyen
Phu trong, First Secretary of the Viet Nam Communist Party of Hanoi.
Balaguer gave his Vietnamese counterpart a detailed explanation of the
damages caused by Hurricane Michelle to the island. The dialogue
marked the end of the first day of Phu Throng's activities. The
Vietnamese Communist Party official is visiting Cuba at the invitation
of Cuban president, Fidel Castro.
Phu Trong is accompanied by a delegation made up by the Vice-president
of Viet Nam government, Do Hoang An, members of the Hanoi Communist
Party, Nguyen Manh Kiem and Nguyen Chi My, as well as trade union,
educational and commercial leaders.
The Vietnamese visitor and his delegation paid homage to the monument
of the Cuban National Hero, Jose Marti, located in the Square of the
Revolution where he was given an explanation of Marti's life, who Phu
Trong called the founder of solidarity between Cuba and Viet Nam.
The first secretary of the Hanoi's Communist Party told reporters in
the Cuban capital that revolutionary and anti-imperialist ideas as
well as the defense of national independence and integration make up
the ideological thought of the Cuban people.
Phu Trong praised the achievements of the Cuban people and expressed
confidence that, under the leadership of President Fidel Castro, the
island will overcome the difficulties and achieve new projects.
*NORTHERN ALLIANCE WALKS INTO AFGHAN CAPITAL, ABANDONED BY TALIBAN
Kabul, November 13 (RHC)-- Troops from the Northern Alliance literally
walked into the Afghan capital of Kabul Tuesday morning, after Taliban
forces had abandoned the city.
Taliban troops reportedly moved south and allowed the Northern
Alliance to enter Kabul, despite calls by the United States and
Britain on anti-Taliban forces not to occupy the capital until a
coalition government is formed.
According to news reports from the Afghan capital, troops of the
Northern Alliance are executing prisoners and looting abandoned
Taliban positions -- causing many in Washington and London to have
doubts about the future of its allies.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the Northern Alliance has
chosen to celebrate its apparent victory with summary executions. The
influential news daily said that in one instance, Alliance soldiers
dragged a wounded Taliban soldier out of a ditch, pulled him to his
feet, searched him and emptied his pockets -- then fired bullets into
the terrified man as he begged for his life. The New York Times
reports that another soldier beat the lifeless body with his rifle
butt while a third repeatedly smashed a rocket-propelled-grenade
launcher into the man's head.
Other news agencies reported Tuesday that the Northern Alliance forces
are running wild through the streets of Kabul, attacking empty
bunkers, stealing shoes, bags of sugar, flashlights and anything else
that they can find.
A number of observers in Washington are saying that the looting and
executions have U.S. government officials worried. Others insist that
while the Afghan capital appears to be in the hands of the Northern
Alliance, the war is far from over. Taliban positions in the south,
where the majority of the country's inhabitants are of the same ethnic
group, have now been re-enforced and are lying in wait for advancing
troops allied with the U.S. and Britain.
*U.S. WARPLANES BOMB OFFICES OF AL-JAZEERA TELEVISION IN KABUL
Doha, November 13 (RHC)-- Qatar's al-Jazeera television said on
Tuesday that U.S. warplanes bombed its offices in Kabul just hours
before Northern Alliance forces entered the Afghan capital.
The satellite television station, which has often angered officials in
Washington by broadcasting a different slant on the U.S. war against
Afghanistan, said no one was injured in the bombing. But the TV
station said it had lost contact with its correspondent in the city,
Tayseer Allouni, and other staff members following the attack.
Al-Jazeera television has been harshly criticized by Washington for
transmitting images of U.S. bombing victims in Afghanistan, including
women and children.
Many analysts believe the existence of the Qatar-based satellite TV
station threatens the U.S. propaganda war and Washington's claims that
civilians are not being targeted, but are instead victims of bombing
"errors."
*Viewpoint: JUST RHETORIC?
Though far from the political unity so necessary in these times, Latin
America managed to express a coherent message in the 56th Session of
the United Nations General Assembly.
Various region leaders agreed that the struggle against terrorism is
sure to fail if the causes that engender it are not eradicated.
"The road to the future, stated Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique
Cardoso, requires that the forces of globalization are employed in the
search for a lasting peace, sustained not by fear, but rather by the
voluntary acceptance of a fair international order."
Colombia's president, Andr�s Pastrana, added, "globalization is an
asymmetric reality which has brought with it discontent and conflict."
The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, told the United Nations
General Assembly that "the struggle against terrorism must become a
war against war, in order to achieve peace."
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos recalled, "What makes our citizens
vulnerable today, in addition to terrorism, is ignorance, hunger, drug
trafficking, climatic change and uncontrolled migration."
Vicente Fox, the president of Mexico, spoke in similar terms noting
that the new threats to peace and security arise from internal
conflicts that affect entire regions. Among those problems Fox listed
the massive movements of displaced persons, violations of human
rights, and the exacerbation of nationalism and religious fanaticism.
For Peru's leader, Alejandro Toledo, an urgent reduction is needed in
military spending in Latin America and worldwide in order to use those
funds to help end poverty, which along with corruption and drug
trafficking, make democracy impossible.
Meanwhile, the president of Argentina, Fernando de la Rua, said that
the focus on terrorism would be incomplete without recognizing the
existence of factors that perpetrate it. The Argentine leader listed
as among the causes of terrorism " the unequal distribution of wealth,
which sparks frustration and despair in wide sectors of the population
and generates the conditions which breed conflicts and
fundamentalism."
Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo stated that the fight against
violence is the "struggle against inequality in international economic
relations."
Clearly, all these points of view reflect the comprehension that
economic and social inequalities sow the seeds of terrorism.
But this step forward must go far beyond the boundaries of rhetoric.
The more than 225 million Latin Americas, who are the victims of this
economic and social silent terrorism, are depending on it.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
=================================================================
NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems
Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=================================================================
_________________________________________________
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]
__________________________________________________
