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Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 05:22:27 -0500
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Subject: RHC Weekend-15/16 December 2001
RHC Weekend-15/16 December 2001
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 15/16 December 2001
.
*WHITE HOUSE STEPS UP THE PRESSURE FOR OTTO REICH'S NOMINATION
*CUBA LEADS LATIN AMERICA IN PRIMARY EDUCATION
*PERMANENT COMMISSIONS OF THE CUBAN PARLIAMENT TO MEET SUNDAY AND MONDAY
*5th JARDINES DEL REY TOURISM CONVENTION CONCLUDES
*SECOND SESSION OF CUBA-HUNGARY MIXED INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ENDS
*GERRY ADAMS OF SINN FEIN ARRIVES IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY
*US DOES ISRAEL A FAVOR AND VETOES UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
*ISRAELI TROOPS RAID FOUR TOWNS IN GAZA, OCCUPIES AUTONOMOUS AREAS
*CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN MAY HAVE ALREADY PASSED 3500
*POOR AND UNEMPLOYED ARGENTINES SACK SUPERMARKETS
.
*WHITE HOUSE STEPS UP THE PRESSURE FOR OTTO REICH'S NOMINATION
Washington, December 15 (RHC)--The White House has increased its
pressure on the Senate to approve the nomination of Otto Reich, a
right-wing Cuban-American -- named by the U.S. president nine months
ago for a major post in the State Department.
According to reports from Capitol Hill, the President of the Senate
Committee on Hemispheric Affairs, Senator Christopher Dodd, has
refused to hold confirmation hearings for Otto Reich -- Bush's choice
to head the Latin American section of the State Department. Dodd and
other congressional representatives have accused Otto Reich of
carrying out illegal activities during the 1980's when he served
under the administration of then-President Ronald Reagan.
On Friday, the White House claimed that Otto Reich has enough votes
in the Senate to be confirmed to his new post in the Bush
administration -- but strongly complained that Senator Dodd is
refusing to give him a hearing. Dodd has stated that Reich's
nomination -- in his words -- "is dead."
Otto Reich is a Cuban-born, U.S. diplomat with a long history of ties
to right-wing, reactionary groups in southern Florida.
A high-ranking official from the State Department, who has asked to
remain anonymous, told reporters on Friday that Bush might take
advantage of a provision that grants him the right to confirm
nominations when the Congress is not in session. According to the
unnamed official, Bush could move to put Otto Reich in the State
Department over the Christmas holidays when lawmakers are out of
town. The presidential prerogative to fill an office without
legislative confirmation allows a designated person to hold the
position for one year.
One observer noted that such a decision would be "one hell of a
Christmas present" to a Congress already upset about recent
administration moves to limit and -- according to some congressional
representatives -- totally destroy constitutional rights in the
United States.
*CUBA LEADS LATIN AMERICA IN PRIMARY EDUCATION
Havana, December 15 (RHC)--Cuba leads Latin America in primary
education. That was the conclusion of a study conducted by a regional
task force sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The study reveals that in the areas of test scores, completion rates
and literacy levels, Cuban grade school students are at the top of a
list of their peers from across Latin America. Indeed, the
performance of Cuban third and fourth graders in math and language so
dramatically outstripped the test scores of other nations, that the
United Nations agency administering the exams returned to Cuba and
tested students again.
According to Jeff Puryear -- the co-director of the Partnership for
Educational Revitalization in the Americas, which helped organize the
task force -- UNESCO officials went back to Cuba and re-tested,
thinking that something was wrong because the test scores were so
high.
The task force highlighted the results of the first region-wide test
of primary students, which was administered in 1998 by UNESCO. The
panel said that "Cuba far and away led the region in third and
fourth-grade mathematics and language achievement," noting that even
the lowest fourth of Cuban students performed above the regional
average.
The findings are especially remarkable due to the profound economic
difficulties on the island, aggravated by the economic, financial and
trade blockade that Washington has maintained against Cuba for more
than forty years. Results clearly show, according to the report, that
"countries with low levels of national income can still establish
quality education for their children."
Test results for the rest of Latin America were grim. The study,
which was presented Friday by the president of the Inter-American
Development Bank, reveals that quality remains low in other Latin
American countries, inequality remains high and few schools are
accountable to parents and local communities.
Cuba's educational system, along with health care, has been a
priority since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959.
*PERMANENT COMMISSIONS OF THE CUBAN PARLIAMENT TO MEET SUNDAY AND MONDAY
Havana, December 15 (RHC)--Ten permanent work commissions of the
Cuban Parliament will meet tomorrow and Monday to review the island's
performance this year in their respective areas. The commissions will
also set the guidelines and establish the State budget for the year
2002.
The Economic Affairs Commission, as well as National Defense, Health,
Sports and the Environment, Production and the legislative Commission
on Judicial and Constitutional Affairs are the work groups that will
analyze the year's achievements.
It was announced that the Cuban Parliament -- also known as the
National Assembly of People's Power -- will meet in a plenary session
on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 18th and 19th, to examine annual
reports submitted by authorities at the Ministries of Education,
Sugar and Foreign Trade.
*5th JARDINES DEL REY TOURISM CONVENTION CONCLUDES
Havana, December 15 (RHC)--The excellence of Cuba's tourist resort
Jardines del Rey was once again confirmed during its 5th Convention
that concluded on Saturday. Jardines del Rey is located on the
northern coast of central Ciego de Avila province.
Tour operators, travel agents, business executives and accredited
members of the foreign press attended the official inauguration of
the tourist destination, which already has 10 hotels, a villa on the
beach front and more than 3200 hotel-rooms.
The El Sanador tourism complex, a joint venture of Cuba's Cubanacan
S.A. and the Canadian firm TMS, was the site of the 5th Jardines del
Rey Convention, which also marked the beginning of the high tourist
season in the area.
Cuabanacan S.A. officials in Ciego de Avila announced the
inauguration on Monday of a new flight, linking Havana with Jardines
del Rey. The new air connection will be added to the existing four
weekly flights between the keys on the northern coast of Ciego de
Avila and Trinidad, located in central Sancti Spiritus province.
The 5th Jardines del Rey Tourism Convention was dedicated to Canada,
the main promoter of foreign tourists to the central region of Cuba.
*SECOND SESSION OF CUBA-HUNGARY MIXED INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ENDS
Havana, December 15 (RHC)--The 2nd Meeting of the Cuba-Hungary
Mixed Intergovernmental Commission concluded in Havana on Friday with
the commitment to work toward expanding bilateral trade relations and
reviving economic links.
Hungarian Assistant Secretary of State for the Economy, Gilyan
Giorgy, told reporters that in 2001 alone, Hungary's exports to Cuba
were in the range of 1,500,000 dollars worth of goods -- mainly
medicine and foodstuffs.
Agreements signed at the end of the meeting provide for more
strengthened bilateral links in traditional areas of cooperation, as
well as expanding cooperation to other areas, such as health,
particularly the export of raw materials for the production of
medicine in Cuba. It was also agreed that Budapest provide spare
parts for Ikarus busses and other vehicles produced in Hungary that
are still running down the streets of Cuba.
*GERRY ADAMS OF SINN FEIN ARRIVES IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY
Havana, December 15 (RHC)--Gerry Adams, President of the Sinn Fein
Party of Ireland, will arrive in Cuba on Sunday for an official visit
at the invitation of the Cuban Communist Party's Central Committee.
During his stay on the island, Gerry Adams and an accompanying
delegation -- comprised of other high-ranking leaders of his party --
will have a packed agenda of interviews and meetings with Cuban
officials and also visit places of historic, social and cultural
interest in Havana.
Gerry Adams is a prestigious political figure who, in addition to his
responsibility as the president of the Sinn Fein Party, is also a
member of the Northern Ireland's Legislative Assembly and of the
United Kingdom's Parliament. He has also been very instrumental in
ongoing peace negotiations in Northern Ireland.
*US DOES ISRAEL A FAVOR AND VETOES UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
New York, December 15 (RHC)--The United States used its veto power
on the UN Security Council early this morning to block an
Arab-sponsored resolution demanding an "immediate cessation of all
acts of violence, provocation and destruction." The resolution also
noted the essential role of the Palestinian Authority in any Mideast
peace negotiations.
The final vote on the Council was 12 in favor, including France and
Ireland and two abstentions -- Britain and Norway. Washington cast
the only no vote.
The Palestinians and other Arab states had asked for an emergency
meeting of the Security Council after Israel announced on Thursday
that Tel Aviv was severing relations with Yasser Arafat and the
Palestinian Authority. In his opening address at the meeting, Nasser
al-Kidwa, the Palestinian representative at the United Nations, said
that cutting contacts with Arafat effectively undermines all existing
peace arrangements and torpedoes further negotiations. This, he
declared, represented an "immense danger" that could "plunge the
whole region into war."
The Palestinian representative also strongly condemned recent suicide
attacks against Israeli civilians, emphasizing that such acts must be
condemned by the international community. Anticipating Washington's
veto, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations asked
whether the Security Council is being used by some only when it's in
their interests.
One observer noted that just minutes later, Washington answered that
question by casting the only negative vote on the 15-member UN body.
*ISRAELI TROOPS RAID FOUR TOWNS IN GAZA, OCCUPIES AUTONOMOUS AREAS
Gaza City, December 15 (RHC)--Israeli tanks and troops stormed into
Palestinian areas at the northern and southern ends of the Gaza Strip
before dawn Saturday. Five Palestinians were killed, dozens were
injured and several were arrested, according to Palestinian sources.
The Israeli actions were similar to wide-ranging sweeps carried out
Friday in the West Bank and Gaza, in which eight Palestinians were
killed and about 50 were arrested. Saturday's raid began when more
than a dozen Israeli tanks, accompanied by armored personnel carriers
and jeeps, entered the Palestinian town of Beit Hanoun at the
northern tip of Gaza. Eyewitnesses said that four Palestinians were
killed by Israeli gunfire in Beit Hanoun, including a 12-year-old
boy. The dead also included a Palestinian police officer whose car
was hit by gunfire.
The renewed violence may have put an end to the current round of
cease-fire negotiations by U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni. Zinni, who tried
and failed to negotiate a truce deal over the past three weeks, left
Friday for Jordan and Egypt, and may go back to Washington.
*CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN MAY HAVE ALREADY PASSED 3500
New York, December 15 (RHC)--A new report released by a University
of New Hampshire professor in the United States says that civilian
casualties in the war against Afghanistan may have already passed
3500.
Professor Marc W. Herold has been keeping tabs on casualty reports
since the bombs began falling on October 7th. Speaking with reporters
in New York, the university professor said he has been meticulously
tabulating daily reports of civilian casualties to be found in the
world press. Herold said he was concerned that there would be
significant loss of life caused by the bombings and wanted to make as
accurate a calculation as possible. He said most of the numbers have
come from the foreign press, given that he was unable to find
casualty figures in the U.S. press.
According to an article published this weekend by Worker's World, the
corporate media in the United States are reporting little or nothing
about the effects of Washington's war on the Afghan people. The
article says that "the planned and deliberate brutality of the
Pentagon war in Afghanistan is a closely guarded secret,"
emphasizing that there have been massive civilian casualties that
U.S. authorities are trying hard to hide.
In his recently released report, the University of New Hampshire
professor lists the date, number of casualties, location, type of
weapons used and sources of information for each incident. Adding
them all up, so far, he has found the total to exceed 3500 civilians.
The Worker's World article, published today in New York, notes that
the Pentagon constantly denies civilian casualties in its press
briefings -- while the corporate media in the United States accept
whatever the military says. But reporters from other countries are
sending back vivid accounts of the death and destruction as a result
of Washington's war against Afghanistan.
One of the most direct rebuttals to the Pentagon came from Richard
Lloyd Parry, who went to the village of Kama Ado in eastern
Afghanistan shortly after U.S. B-52s bombed the area. In a scathing,
ironic piece in the Independent of London, called "A Village Is
Destroyed and America Says Nothing Happened," Parry described the
devastation: 115 villagers killed in the bombing, huge craters in the
earth where homes once stood. The British writer said, simply put,
Kama Ado had ceased to exist.
But the U.S. Defense Department said it didn't happen. Questioned
about reports of civilian casualties in eastern Afghanistan, a
Pentagon spokesman explained that they were not true, that "nothing
happened."
The British journalist wrote that the only fear he felt while
visiting the village was on seeing U.S. warplanes fly over. He said
he was afraid that "nothing" might happen to him, too.
*POOR AND UNEMPLOYED ARGENTINES SACK SUPERMARKETS
Buenos Aires, December 15 (RHC)--Groups of desperate, unemployed
Argentines sacked nearly twelve supermarkets in the cities of
Mendoza and Rosario on Friday -- in actions that have not been seen
in that country for more than ten years.
According to local police, at least 20 people were arrested coming
out of the stores, charged with illegal trespassing and stealing
food. Eye-witnesses told reporters that those involved in the actions
-- protesting ever worsening economic conditions in Argentina --
concentrated on taking meat and vegetables from the supermarkets, as
shocked store owners looked on.
The attacks on supermarkets took place just 24 hours after workers
paralyzed Argentina on Thursday with a massive strike to protest the
government's economic policies. According to reports from Rosario,
unemployment has risen to an all-time record of 22.9 percent. Rosario
was the scene of violent protests in 1989, when supermarkets were the
targets of poor and desperate unemployed workers.
Friday's protest actions in Rosario and Mendoza prompted several
social organizations to begin emergency food distributions to
alleviate the needs of the poor. While some of the protesters
returned to their homes, police were seen arresting dozens of others
as they came out of the supermarkets carrying bags full of food.
(c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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