From: NY Transfer News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [CubaNews] RHC Weekend-26/27 January 2002
Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit
Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 26/27 January 2002
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*US STUDENTS MEET WITH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO
*VISITING ILLINOIS GOVERNOR CLOSES INTERNATIONAL RADIOLOGY CONGRESS
*CUBA AND SPAIN STRENGTHEN BILATERAL COOPERATION
*FRENCH NAVAL VESSEL ARRVES IN HAVANA ON PORT VISIT
*"EARTHQUAKE IN THE MIDEAST" PREDICTED IF US CUTS TIES WITH ARAFAT
*KOFI ANNAN CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO RESTART MIDEAST TALKS
*VOICE OF PALESTINE BACK ON THE AIR
*PROTESTS IN ARGENTINA LEAVE DOZENS INJURED AND ARRESTED
.
*US STUDENTS MEET WITH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO
Havana, January 26 (RHC)--Over 700 students and professors of the
Semester at Sea program of the University of Pittsburgh met Friday
evening with Cuban President Fidel Castro in an open and frank
dialogue that took place at Havana's International Convention Center.
Dr. Max Brandt, who is heading the delegation from the University of
Pittsburgh, described as exceptional the dialogue and exchange
between young people from the U.S. and Cuba, "particularly at times
when bilateral relations between our two countries have not been
easy."
The Cuban leader, for his part, praised the Semester at Sea program,
saying it helps U.S. students get to know the rest of the world. He
also referred to the Cuban people's admiration for the people of the
United States and went on to say that Cuba is probably the country
where Americans are best treated.
Regarding the presence of Taliban prisoners at the U.S. Naval Base in
Guantánamo, Fidel said that Cuba did not place any obstacles in the
way of the operation, but offered medical cooperation to the U.S.
government and even allowed them to use Cuban air space to facilitate
the landing of U.S. aircraft at the base. He added that although
there are differences in the ways and means to combat international
terrorism, Cuba and the United States agree that it has to be
eliminated.
Among other topics, Fidel Castro spoke of the increasing rejection of
the U.S. blockade against Cuba, particularly inside the United
States. He said this is evident by the large number of U.S. citizens
who have been visiting the island, including scientists,
intellectuals, business people, politicians and congressional
representatives.
The students of the Semester at Sea program arrived in Havana on
Thursday morning on board the cruise ship Universe Explorer. This is
their sixth visit to Cuba since 1999, when they first included the
island on their itinerary.
While sailing on the Universe Explorer, students enrolled in the
educational program take normal semester classes, which are combined
with other activities relevant to the countries they visit.
*VISITING ILLINOIS GOVERNOR CLOSES INTERNATIONAL RADIOLOGY CONGRESS
Matanzas, January 26 (RHC)--Illinois Governor George Ryan closed
Friday an International Radiology Congress that took place at the
world famous Varadero beach resort.
The event was sponsored Cuba's Radiology Society and the Medical
Schools of New Jersey and San Francisco, California, and was attended
by renowned experts from Cuba, the United States, Canada and other
countries.
The President of Cuba's Radiology Society, Orlando Vals, told
reporters that the visitors acknowledged the work of their Cuban
counterparts as well as significant advances achieved on the island
in the field of radiology.
During his closing speech, Governor Ryan assessed as positive the
exchange of scientific information between Cuba and the United
States, adding that it was important to put human interests first.
Finally, Ryan expressed his admiration for the Cuban people's working
spirit after the island was hit by devastating Hurricane Michelle. He
pointed out that the blockade must be lifted, saying that Americans -
now more than ever - know how much people in need appreciate a
friendly hand.
Ryan arrived in Cuba on Thursday for a two-day visit, heading a
delegation made up of business executives from various U.S.
pharmaceutical companies who have long promoted bilateral talks with
their Cuban counterparts to identify future business opportunities.
*CUBA AND SPAIN STRENGTHEN BILATERAL COOPERATION
Havana, January 26 (RHC)--The 7th Meeting of the Cuban-Spanish
Joint Commission concluded Friday in Havana with the signing of an
agreement that will strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The document was signed by Juan Lopez Doriga, of the Spanish
International Cooperation Agency, and by Dagmar Gonzalez, director of
the Developed Countries Department at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign
Investment and Economic Cooperation. Lopez Doriga said that both
sides are willing to work more in order to achieve important goals in
the social, cultural and productive fields.
*FRENCH NAVAL VESSEL ARRVES IN HAVANA ON PORT VISIT
Havana, January 26 (RHC)--A vessel of the French Navy, the
Rhin A621, arrived Saturday in Havana, where it will dock until
January 31st.
The crew of this mobile support vessel has an extensive program of
activities in Cuba, which includes visits to the Granma Naval Academy
and other places of historic and cultural interest in Havana.
*"EARTHQUAKE IN THE MIDEAST" PREDICTED IF US CUTS TIES WITH ARAFAT
Ramallah, January 26 (RHC)--A decision by the United States to cut
ties with the Palestinian National Authority would "cause an
earthquake'' in the Middle East that no one will be able to stop,
according to an adviser to Yasser Arafat. The comment by Nabil Abu
Rdeneh came after the Bush administration said on Friday it was
reviewing its ties to the Palestinian leader.
Instead of punishing the Palestinians, Abu Rdeneh said Bush should
take measures against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and refuse
to receive him at the White House. Sharon is scheduled to meet with
the U.S. president in Washington on February 7th.
Meanwhile, inside Israel itself, voices of reason are sounding the
alarm. The head of Israel's opposition party, as well as two leading
peace activists, appealed to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell not
to cut ties with Arafat. An open letter to Powell from opposition
leader Yossi Sarid, former Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and Tzali
Reshef, head of the group Peace Now, states: "We are deeply concerned
that delegitimizing or boycotting the Palestinian Authority, or even
the Palestinian Authority's collapse, will lead to a further
deterioration and escalation of violence and be a disaster for our
region."
Also Friday, King Mohammed VI of Morocco criticized Israel's travel
ban on Arafat, saying Israel is "pushing the entire region toward the
unknown." The Moroccan monarch accused Sharon of "torpedoing" peace
initiatives and "undermining the very foundations of dialogue and
negotiation."
*KOFI ANNAN CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO RESTART MIDEAST TALKS
Tehran, January 26 (RHC)--United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan has made an urgent appeal to the international community for
collective action to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
During a working-visit to Tehran, the UN secretary general called the
situation in Palestine "tragic." Kofi Annan said that he and other
world leaders were deeply concerned and urged international action to
bring the parties back to the table.
Asked about accusations that the Bush administration is offering
one-sided support for Israel in the conflict, the UN leader said that
he wasn't sure that Washington was only supporting Tel Aviv. Many
observers have said that the United States pretends to be neutral --
in order to secure a seat at the peace table and influence the
outcome -- while actually fully supporting Israel's repressive
policies against the Palestinians.
The White House is reportedly considering cutting Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat out of the picture entirely -- a move that
has shocked the international community and led to speculation that
the region is on the verge of a bloodbath.
*VOICE OF PALESTINE BACK ON THE AIR
Ramallah, January 26 (RHC)--The official Voice of Palestine is
broadcasting live from a small downtown apartment after its main
studios in Ramallah were destroyed by Israeli tanks last weekend.
Israel claimed that the radio station, not far from Arafat's
headquarters, had broadcast messages inciting Palestinians to
violence. Last week, Israeli tanks surrounded the five-story building
housing the Voice of Palestine station and Israeli soldiers ordered
everyone out. Two hours later, huge explosions rocked the building
and flames shot from the windows. Palestinians said soldiers
prevented firefighters from putting out the blaze.
But, within hours, the station -- operated by the Palestine National
Authority led by Arafat -- had returned to the airwaves. Private
radio stations donated facilities and transmitters. And now, the
radio station has moved to a small apartment.
Nidal Arar, a broadcast engineer at the Voice of Palestine, said it
was difficult to get employees to report to the new location because
of safety concerns. He said, after all, the radio station has become
a target for Israeli tanks.
The attack on the station drew stiff international criticism. The
International Press Institute, a global network of journalists based
in Vienna, wrote an open letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon condemning the operation.
Radwan Abu Ayyash, who has headed the Palestine Broadcasting
Corporation since it was established in 1994, said the Israeli aim
was clear: to eliminate the voice of the Palestinian people.
The station, now broadcasting from an apartment in a 13-story
building in the center of Ramallah, is using relatively weak
transmitters. Abu Ayyash said the transmissions cover only 70 percent
of the Palestinian territories.
Maha Awwad, who hosts a discussion program called "Good Morning,
Palestine," said that the workers at the radio station have the same
commitment and determination as when the station began broadcasting."
For Imad Ghonaiem, who lives near the gutted building, Saturday was a
night of mixed feelings. He said the sight of the burned building
saddened him as he got into his car and, by reflex, switched on the
radio. He was surprised and moved to hear the Voice of Palestine on
the air despite the destruction. He said: "I heard the announcer say,
This is the Voice of Palestine, and I felt my whole body shaking, my
foot on the brake was also shaking, and tears filled my eyes."
*PROTESTS IN ARGENTINA LEAVE DOZENS INJURED AND ARRESTED
Buenos Aires, January 26 (RHC)--New protests broke out last night
and stretched into Saturday morning in the streets of Buenos Aires,
as demonstrators expressed their anger over the government's
financial policies. Organizers of the protests said that as many as
10,000 demonstrators were in the streets of the Argentinean capital,
banging pots and pans.
Many said they were protesting a government banking freeze, tightened
by President Eduardo Duhalde after he said that drastic measures were
needed to keep the financial system afloat. The government has set
limits on how much money can be withdrawn from bank accounts, causing
widespread fear that the economy will totally collapse, together with
the entire banking system -- with people's life savings locked up.
Riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of
peaceful demonstrators at a rally late Friday night. Clashes were
also reported outside the government palace, known as the Casa
Rosada, beginning around midnight.
Ten police officers and at least 45 demonstrators were reported
injured, including one man who collapsed with rubber bullet wounds to
his back. Eyewitnesses said that the Argentinean police fired volley
after volley of tear gas in the downtown Plaza de Mayo, as scores of
riot police moved to clear peaceful demonstrators from the square.
One reporter from the Associated Press said he witnessed police
unleashing a barrage of rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators
sitting on the steps of the downtown Catholic cathedral.
Protesters also took to the streets in other major cities of the
country, including Mar del Plata, Cordoba, Mendoza, Rosario and
Salta.
(c) 2002 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved.
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