From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 06:51:55 -0500
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Subject: RHC Weekend-24/25 November 2001
RHC Weekend-24/25 November 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 24/25 November 2001
.
*FIDEL SAYS WASHINGTON'S OFFER OF AID A "GOOD GESTURE"
*CARLOS LAGE REMINDS SUMMIT OF CUBA'S STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
*CUBA'S MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT BEGINS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO RUSSIA
*GUYANA'S FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER DUE IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY
*MEXICO CITY LEGISLATORS DONATE EQUIVALENT OF A DAY'S SALARY TO CUBA
*CUBA'S BALLET COMPANY PACKS THE KENNEDY CENTER'S OPERA HOUSE ONCE AGAIN
*ISRAEL CONDEMNED AFTER ANOTHER PALESTINIAN LEADER ASSASSINATED
*ARAB LEAGUE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED "CRIMINAL ISRAELI AGGRESSION"
*TALIBAN PREPARE TO DEFEND KANDAHAR AS KUNDUZ ABOUT TO FALL
*EX-KING ZAHIR SHAH SENDS A MESSAGE TO AFGHAN WOMEN
*BRAZIL RESPONDS WITH ANGER TO US DIPLOMAT'S "TERROR NETWORK" ACCUSATIONS
*NEW CONTACTS WITH REBELS RENEW HOPES FOR COLOMBIAN PEACE
.
*FIDEL SAYS WASHINGTON'S OFFER OF AID A "GOOD GESTURE"
Havana, November 24 (RHC)--Cuban president Fidel Castro Saturday
qualified as "a good gesture" humanitarian aid offered by the United
States in the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Michele.
If the aid package comes through it will be the first time in four
decades that a commercial operation has taken place between both
nations. The United states maintains a 40 year old economic blockade
against the island.
According to statements made by Vice President Carlos Lage who is
attending the 11th Iberoamerican Summit in Lima, Peru, the Cuban
leader chose not to attend the Summit for the first time since its
inception due to the pressing needs of the population in areas
devastated by the hurricane.
Speaking in the south-western town of Artemisa which was badly hit by
Michele, Fidel Castro also announced an increase in retirement
benefits paid to Cuban senior citizens. He added that at the current
rate of recovery almost all the houses destroyed by the hurricane
would be rebuilt within a year. "No cyclone can derail this
Revolution or the spirit of its people," said the President.
*CARLOS LAGE REMINDS SUMMIT OF CUBA'S STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Lima, November 24 (RHC)--On the second day of the 11th
Iberoamerican Summit as 20 Latin American leaders along with those of
Spain and Portugal debated their opposition to terrorism wherever it
occurs, Cuban vice-president Carlos Lage reminded those present that
his country had been very vocal on this point at the previous summit
in Panama City last year.
"We would remind you all of the debate that ensued when the proposal
to condemn terrorism against Spain was presented as a resolution,"
said Lage. Cuba at that time disagreed with the resolution because it
singled out only Spain for consideration when Cuba was suffering acts
of terrorism perpetrated against it over the past forty years. Havana
at that time proposed a blanket condemnation of any form of terrorism
regardless of source but was overruled in a heated discussion in
which Cuban president Fidel Castro reacted to a condemnation of Cuba
by Salvadorean President Francisco Flores by reminding him of his
government's support of terrorism against Cuba over many years.
In later declarations to the press, Carlos Lage deplored the
conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the rich
nations of the West upon the Third World. He said that a full ten
years after the application of free market economic principles across
the globe, underdeveloped countries - especially those in Latin
America - were reeling from the full force of the social destruction
wrought.
Also present at the Summit is Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez
Roque who in an interview on Peruvian radio Saturday, said that Cuba
is far from being isolated. Alluding to the United States he added
that the one country that perpetrates the blockade is that which
finds itself increasingly isolated on the world's political stage.
Cuba has diplomatic relations with 171 countries, added the Foreign
Minister, with nearly 2 million tourists visiting Cuba this year.
*CUBA'S MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT BEGINS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO RUSSIA
Havana, November 24 (RHC)--Cuban Minister of Government, Ricardo
Cabrisas, Saturday begun a four-day official visit to Russia.
According to Moscow's diplomatic sources, the aim of the visit is to
analyze issues related to bilateral economic cooperation between both
nations.
The Cuban minister of government will meet with his Russian
counterpart, Serguei Shoigu, on Monday as well as with other Russian
representatives of important ministries including economic
development, trade and health.
*GUYANA'S FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER DUE IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY
Havana, November 24 (RHC)--Guyana's foreign trade minister,
Clement J. Roe, will arrive in Cuba on Sunday afternoon to
participate in a joint inter-governmental commission which is
scheduled to begin on Monday.
The work agenda of the Guyanese minister includes a meeting on
Tuesday with his Cuban counterpart, Raul de la Nuez, and with the
president of the Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Carricarte, among other
activities.
Clement Roe will also meet with the Cuban vice-minister of foreign
affairs, Fernando Ramirez de Estenoz on Wednesday, a day in which the
sessions of the inter-governmental commission will be suspended.
*MEXICO CITY LEGISLATORS DONATE EQUIVALENT OF A DAY'S SALARY TO CUBA
Mexico City, November 24 (RHC)--Mexico legislators have donated a
day's salary to Cuba -- equivalent to some 200 dollars per person -- to
contribute to alleviate the devastating consequences of Hurricane
Michelle.
The Mexican legislators said that such a contribution is also a new
way to protest the U.S. economic blockade imposed on the island for
over 40 years.
In addition, the Mexican Senate and the Chamber of Deputies expressed
their intention to help Cuba in its process of recovery in the wake
of the hurricane as well as their support and solidarity in demanding
the U.S. blockade be finally lifted.
Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party also urged its country's
authorities to assist Cuba and thus maintain the Mexican people's
tradition of solidarity with nations with most needs.
So far, social organizations, governmental authorities and Mexican
citizens have spontaneously donated 42 tons of food and medicine to
the Cuban people affected by the path of Hurricane Michelle.
*CUBA'S BALLET COMPANY PACKS THE KENNEDY CENTER'S OPERA HOUSE ONCE AGAIN
Washington, November 24 (RHC)--During their second night in
Washington, Cuba's Ballet Company packed the Kennedy Center's Opera
House once again, with their acclaimed presentation of "Coppelia."
Applauding the Cuban dancers, and especially the stars of the night,
Viengsay Valdes and Victor Gili (interpreting Swanilda and Franz),
the public rewarded their brilliant performance with standing
ovations and loud exclamations of "Bravo!" at the end of the ballet.
A solid coherence between acting and dance was the most outstanding
element of this first "Coppelia" after 22 years of absence from the
stages of the US capital. Accompanied by an orchestra directed by
Ivan del Prado, the Cuban Ballet Company left a memorable night to
both critics and public, a night abundant in talent but, above all,
in art.
*ISRAEL CONDEMNED AFTER ANOTHER PALESTINIAN LEADER ASSASSINATED
Havana, November 24 (RHC)--In the aftermath of another targeted
assassination of a Palestinian leader by the Israeli security forces,
some 50,000 people participated in the West Bank funeral of Mahmud
Abu Hanud, Saturday.
Abu Hanud, who was killed along with two bodyguards by
helicopter-fired missiles, was one of the most senior leaders of the
Islamic resistance organization, Hamas. His death has created fear in
Israel that it will be avenged in the cycle of killing for killing
that has engulfed the Middle East. The government of Israeli prime
minister Ariel Sharon said that the selective assassination had been
justified because Hanud had been preparing what they termed "new
massacres." No proof of the charge was presented.
Israel has been internationally condemned for its open policy of
targeting Palestinian leaders and activists for assassination.
Palestinian National Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina, said
that Tel Aviv was solely responsible for what may occur in the wake
of the assassination.
In related news, the Israeli army has admitted planting the explosive
that killed five Palestinian children as they crossed a sand dune on
the way to school earlier this week. The children were all related
and were aged between six and 14 years. Calling the deaths of the
children a "grave operational mishap," a senior security official
told Ma'ariv newspaper that a special army unit had invaded the
neighborhood in the Gaza Strip and placed the explosive device aimed
at Palestinian militants he said were operating in the area.
Israeli politicians reacted with condemnation and horror demanding to
know what the army was doing placing bombs in residential districts.
Even allies of Ariel Sharon responded with disgust with one of his
supporters in the Knesset, Dan Meridor, calling the deaths "appalling
and horrible." Sharon's defense minister promised that an
investigation would be carried out.
However, in the protests that followed the funeral of the children,
Israeli security forces made matters worse by opening fire and
killing another 15 year old Palestinian child.
*ARAB LEAGUE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED "CRIMINAL ISRAELI AGGRESSION"
Cairo, November 24 (RHC)--The leader of the Arab League, Amir Mussa
has termed as "criminal" continued Israeli aggression against
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank over the last few
days.
Mussa told the press in Cairo that the Israeli policy is a challenge
to the United States and a rejection of statements made by Secretary
of State, Colin Powell.
The Arab League leader stated that he did not believe it would be
possible for U.S. Middle East envoys, Anthony Zinni and William Burns
to fulfill their mission as long as the Israelis continue destroying
and killing in the occupied territories. Mussa wondered whether
Washington would now oppose Tel Aviv's policy of assassinations in
order to save the peace process.
On Novemeber 20th U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a speech
on the Mid East which the Arab league had considered to be a new,
more positive position on the crisis
*TALIBAN PREPARE TO DEFEND KANDAHAR AS KUNDUZ ABOUT TO FALL
Islamabad, November 24 (RHC)--In Afghanistan, the southern Taliban
stronghold of Kandahar is preparing to defend the city reportedly to
the death, says a former Taliban commander who escaped from the city
Friday night.
Mullah Bismillah told reporters on the ground that moral was strong
in the Taliban ranks and that they had hundreds of tanks ready to
fight. He added that Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader, was
present in Kandahar and was exhorting his soldiers not to surrender
under any circumstances.
In the northern town of Kunduz where thousands of Taliban troops are
surrounded, there are fears of a coming bloodbath as Northern
Alliance muhajedeen warlords prepare to claim the city for
themselves. Knowing that they will not be offered quarter by the
muhajedeen, Arab, Chechen and Pakistani fighters have reportedly
killed hundreds of Afghan Taliban militia as they attempted to
surrender.
US and British military experts -- who have placed the war in the
hands of bombers from the air and the rough coalition of Northern
Alliance muhajedeen forces on the ground -- were reportedly attempting
to avoid a massacre reminding Alliance leaders that "the eyes of the
world were upon them."
In Kandahar, the bombing is so intense that most ministries and
offices have been destroyed according to al-Jazeera TV reporter
Yousef al-Shouly. In statements to the English daily, The Guardian,
al-Shouly said that some half of the city's 800,000 population have
fled and that he himself had had to help dig a trench in the grounds
of his office as shelter.
In London, the defense department was taking further steps to
backtrack from previous commitments to send in British troops. Only
about 100 Royal Marines are currently serving in Afghanistan although
Prime Minister Tony Blair has placed another 6,000 military personnel
on stand-by. British public opposition to the war how grown far
faster than in the United States and politicians are now treading
carefully before committing any more troops, although the
government's development minister, Clare Short, has used the
protection of humanitarian aid as an excuse to support sending in
more soldiers.
*EX-KING ZAHIR SHAH SENDS A MESSAGE TO AFGHAN WOMEN
Rome, November 24 (RHC)--Afghanistan's former king, Zahir Shah, has
sent a message of support to the women of Afghanistan. In what some
experts see as a move to gain the backing of the women of the
war-torn nation, the statement was released in Rome during a world
day of fasting and non-violence convened by the Afghan Radical
Transnational Party aimed at securing representation for women in the
provisional government.
The message, which was read by the former king's son Nirwais, says
that a society which denies women the right to be seen and to barely
see themselves is itself blind and recognizes that in recent years
Afghan women have been denied the right of expression and have been
forced to cover themselves to keep from being seen.
The statement mentions that not long ago the experience and knowledge
of the women of Afghanistan was indispensable to the development of
the nation and it pledges that the former monarch and his supporters
will do everything possible to ensure women's participation in the
reconstruction and future of the country.
*BRAZIL RESPONDS WITH ANGER TO US DIPLOMAT'S "TERROR NETWORK" ACCUSATIONS
Rio de Janeiro, November 24 (RHC)--Brazil's foreign ministry has
demanded an explanation over unfounded claims by the U.S. embassy's
commercial attach� of the existence of a terrorist network in the
southern city of Foz de Iguazu.
In a brief note, the "O Globo" newspaper made a sharp reference
statements made by the U.S. diplomat, who publicly doubted words by
the Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso that there is
absolutely no evidence of the existence of Al Queda terrorist cells
or financing in Foz de Iguazu.
The Brazilian leader made the statement in a parliamentary conference
in which he urged participants to make sure that the struggle against
terrorism does not eclipse the fight against poverty and social
inequality, which is his opinion, are Latin America's most serious
problems.
The next day the U.S. diplomat, in the same conference, reiterated
Washington's claims that business representatives of Arab origin
operating on the Brazilian, Argentine, Paraguayan border, were
financing terrorism.
Brazil's president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso noted that neither the
CIA, nor Brazilian intelligence has detected the existence of
terrorist cells along the triple border.
*NEW CONTACTS WITH REBELS RENEW HOPES FOR COLOMBIAN PEACE
Bogota, November 24 (RHC)--Hopes for peace in Colombia were given
new life on Saturday after negotiations were unblocked with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces, FARC and new contacts were planned with
the National Liberation Army.
According to the high commissioner for peace, Camilo Gomez, there now
exists a "highly favorable" atmosphere to overcome obstacles that
have kept the peace process with the FARC stalled since October. The
official said that good news can be expected in the next few days.
On Friday Gomez met with two rebel representatives in Colombia's
southern neutral zone in an attempt to restart the dialogue, which
was frozen by the guerillas who oppose military inspections of the
area.
According to Gomez, the successful meeting has opened the way towards
re-establishing talks between rebels and the government. The high
commissioner for peace will now meet with representatives of the
other major insurgent group, the National Liberation Army, ELN.
The FARC has demanded and end to military flights over the neutral
area and a statement by the government on whether they consider the
rebel group to be terrorist, as a condition for returning to the
negotiating table.
The United States has placed the FARC on a list of organizations it
considers to be terrorist organizations.
Participating in the new round of contacts are countries friendly to
negotiations with the ELN including, Switzerland, France, Spain, Cuba
and Norway.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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