Cuba's National Assembly discusses proposed economic changes (morning roundup)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/top-news-in-other-news-a-cold-front-in-recent-days-has-led-to-31-record-low-temperatures-in-different-zones-throughout.html>
[image: Cuba-Raul-Castro-National-Assembl]<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b26169e20147e0c28eff970b-pi> *Top News*: Cuba's National Assembly began a two-day meeting<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gq6-NMBn3EnMsn-HawkZ2ZVtuOzQ?docId=d144830fa22d4f95bd5b454348eae7a6>on Wednesday -- its second and last session of the year -- to discuss proposed economic reforms and the national budget. The Castro government is organizing an overhaul of the Cuban economy and this will be the first time that the National Assembly discusses the proposed changes. Cuban authorities have outlined the goals of possible reforms in a document called "Guidelines for Economic and Social Policy,"<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/11/cuban-government-says-it-must-change-laws-to-modernize-economy-morning-roundup.html>which will be discussed at the Communist Party congress in April. The Guidelines are slated for discussion today. Foreign reporters were not invited to attend, according to The Associated Press, and Cuban television does not plan<http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2010-12-16/diputados-debaten-desde-hoy-los-lineamientos-de-la-politica-economica-y-social-del-partido-y-la-revolucion/>to broadcast the meeting. However, Cuban state media published a lengthy transcript<http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2010/12/16/crecio-la-economia-en-un-ano-muy-dificil-evaluan-diputados/>of some of the statements made at Wednesday's meeting. Raúl Castro addressed the National Assembly yesterday<http://www.granma.co.cu/2010/12/15/nacional/artic11.html>, according to Communist party daily Granma. *In Other News*: - A cold front<http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2010/12/15/854198/cuba-registra-31-records-de-temperaturas.html>in recent days has led to 31 record-low temperatures in different zones throughout Cuba (link in Spanish). - The U.S. Senate will reportedly consider a bill on Thursday that would block civilian trials of "war on terror" suspects<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gLFzzL0d-bBArJCxzIdfwSQZgSGA?docId=CNG.937a29e74a6fa43f33a85ed42e22fb84.9b1>, as well as the closure of the U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay, according to The Associated Press. *According to WikiLeaks Cables*: - When Fidel Castro got sick in 2006, it was from diverticulitis of the colon and an intestinal perforation, and he refused a colostomy to treat the problem<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-gives-insight-on-fidels-health-crisis.html>. - If Fidel Castro dies, the U.S. Interests Section in Havana does not expect violence or a mass exodus<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-no-violence-no-exodus-if-fidel-dies.html>. - Cuban officials are frustrated<http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/15/1974767/cable-cubans-say-jamaica-lax-on.html>with Jamaican counter-drug efforts. - Raúl Castro was upset<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/ra%C3%BAl-doleful-over-fidels-illness-and-wifes-death-could-lose-his-bearings-cable-said.html>when his wife died. *In Cuban State Media*: - Cuba and Mercosur concluded<http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2010/12/15/mercosur-y-cuba-firman-pacto-comercial-con-paises-en-desarrollo/>negotations for a trade deal with six developing nations on Wednesday, according to CubaDebate (link in Spanish). - A new treatment for lung cancer developed in Cuba<http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2010/12/16/nacional/artic01.html>will be extended from clinical trials to general use, Granma reports. *In the Blogosphere*: - Phil Peters at The Cuban Triangle criticizes the federal government's policy of extending the refugee assistance<http://cubantriangle.blogspot.com/2010/12/federal-benefits-are-safe-and.html>benefits to Cuban migrants who arrive through the family reunification program. - Arch Ritter at The Cuban Economy wonders whether the development of small enterprise in Cuba<http://thecubaneconomy.com/articles/2010/12/cuba%E2%80%99s-12-to-20-chair-reform-can-the-small-enterprise-sector-save-the-cuban-economy/>will be successful enough to create the 500,000 jobs lost in the state sector by April. - Gorki Águila of Cuban punk band Porno Para Ricardo returned<http://cafefuerte.com/2010/12/15/gorki-aguila-en-estados-unidos-para-homenaje-a-walesa/>to the United States to participate in an homage to Lech Walesa in Los Angeles, Café Fuerte reports. *What did we miss? Send us links to relevant stories in the comments.* *-- Roque Planas * Posted by Roque Planas at 9:10 AM in Politics<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/politics/>, Raul Castro <http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/raul_castro/> | Permalink<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/top-news-in-other-news-a-cold-front-in-recent-days-has-led-to-31-record-low-temperatures-in-different-zones-throughout.html> | Comments (0)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/top-news-in-other-news-a-cold-front-in-recent-days-has-led-to-31-record-low-temperatures-in-different-zones-throughout.html#comments> | TrackBack (0)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/top-news-in-other-news-a-cold-front-in-recent-days-has-led-to-31-record-low-temperatures-in-different-zones-throughout.html#trackback> Cable: No violence, no exodus if Fidel dies<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-no-violence-no-exodus-if-fidel-dies.html> USINT chief anticipated no major upheaval in 2009 Taking note of several indications that suggested *Fidel Castro's *health had "taken a turn for the worse," U.S. Interests Section chief Jonathan Farrar wrote a message to the State Department on Jan. 15, 2009, describing the view from Havana. The message<http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cable/nuevas/especulaciones/efectos/sociales/enfermedad/Castro/elpepuint/20101215elpepuint_16/Tes>, titled *"The speculation on Fidel's health," *was released by WikiLeaks and appeared Wednesday in the Spanish [image: (foto6)]<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b26169e20147e0c07f30970b-pi>newspaper El País. "Fidel has not written a 'Reflection' piece since December 15," Farrar wrote, noting that "this is unusual. [...] It also appears true that Fidel was not seen by the latest in a continuing stream of international visitors. [...] Fidel was last photographed with Chinese President *Hu Jintao *in November. In the picture he appeared alert but thin and weak." "While the level of speculation in the international press has increased, the local rumor mill is not producing much more than usual. [...] We have noticed no notable change in the local security posture in Havana, e.g., no additional police on the street or obvious military movements." The USINT's conclusion? "We do not believe the announcement of Fidel's death will spark either violent demonstrations or a quick surge in migration. The Continue reading "Cable: No violence, no exodus if Fidel dies" »<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-no-violence-no-exodus-if-fidel-dies.html#more> Posted by Renato Perez at 12:45 AM in Fidel Castro<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/fidel_castro/>, Security <http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/security/>, U.S.-Cuba relations <http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/washington_dc/> | Permalink<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-no-violence-no-exodus-if-fidel-dies.html> | Comments (0)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-no-violence-no-exodus-if-fidel-dies.html#comments> | TrackBack (0)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/cable-no-violence-no-exodus-if-fidel-dies.html#trackback> December 15, 2010 Raúl wanted to set up a secret channel of communication to Obama, Moratinos said <http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/ra%C3%BAl-wanted-to-set-up-a-secret-channel-of-communication-to-obama-moratinos-said-.html> *U.S. release of 5 Cuban spies would enable Cuba to free ALL political prisoners, the Cuban leader said* *Excerpt from a cable sent from the State Department <http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cable/dice/Moratinos/afirma/Raul/Castro/quiere/crear/canal/comunicacion/Washigton/elpepuint/20101215elpepuint_26/Tes>to several U.S. diplomatic stations worldwide. Dated Dec. 18, 2009, it is among several Cuba-related cables purloined by WikiLeaks and published Wednesday in the Spanish newspaper El País. It tells about a meeting on Dec. 14, 2009, between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos.* "The Secretary pressed for continuation of the E.U. Common Position on Cuba as the most effective way to maintain pressure [image: (foto5)]<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b26169e20147e0c04518970b-pi>on the Cuban government on human rights conditions. "Moratinos took note of U.S. serious concern but said that Spain believes a bilateral agreement is a more effective way to keep up pressure on human rights. However, he noted this would not be his 'main priority' during Spain's presidency [of the European Union]. "During Moratinos' October trip to Cuba, he said, Raúl Castro confessed his desire to establish a 'secret channel of communication' to the White House. "Moratinos suggested that President Obama and [Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez] Zapatero might discuss details of such a channel at their next meeting. While he understood U.S. domestic political difficulties, Moratinos believed Castro's comment that U.S. release of the five Cuban spies would enable Cuba to release all [repeat] all of its political prisoners." Posted by Renato Perez at 11:53 PM | Permalink<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/ra%C3%BAl-wanted-to-set-up-a-secret-channel-of-communication-to-obama-moratinos-said-.html> | Comments (0)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/ra%C3%BAl-wanted-to-set-up-a-secret-channel-of-communication-to-obama-moratinos-said-.html#comments> | TrackBack (0)<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/ra%C3%BAl-wanted-to-set-up-a-secret-channel-of-communication-to-obama-moratinos-said-.html#trackback> E.U. official's efforts to bolster Pérez Roque may have contributed to minister's ouster<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/eu-officials-efforts-to-bolster-p%C3%A9rez-roque-may-have-contributed-to-ministers-ouster.html> Other Cubans' views seemed 'frozen and delusional' The rapport established between *Louis Michel*, the European Union's Commissioner for Development, and Cuban Foreign Minister *Felipe Pérez Roque *may have led to the Cuban functionary's dismissal in March 2009, a cable filched by WikiLeaks says. The cable was sent <http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cable/comisionado/europeo/Louis/Michel/afirma/hay/reforzar/Perez/Roque/mejorar/relaciones/elpepuint/20101215elpepuint_18/Tes>to the State Department on April 18, 2005, by Rockwell Schnabel, U.S. Representative to the European Union. It was published Wednesday by the Spanish daily El País. [image: (foto1)]<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b26169e20148c6ca0186970c-pi>The document tells about a visit by Michel to Havana in March of that year and is based on the recollections of that trip by an unidentified source, a close aide to Michel. The source "repeated often that Pérez Roque was the only Cuban official Michel met with whom it was possible to have a give-and-take discussion. Pérez Roque appeared to be looking ahead to a post-Castro era, and thinking pragmatically about how to pursue Cuba's present and future interests. "He listened with interest to Michel's suggestion that Cuba [...] establish a comprehensive basis for closer political, trade and development-assistance relations with the EU." The source thought that Pérez Roque was a shrewd negotiator and said his "style could be described as 'I'll tell you the time if you give me your watch.'" The source "said Michel was quite aware that trying to buttress Pérez Roque was a risk. No one could be sure whether he was acting in good faith in his contacts with the E.U., or simply [was] 'the smartest' member of a completely intransigent regime. "Nonetheless, Michel felt that Pérez Roque represented the E.U.'s only hope of influencing Cuba toward reform and respect for human rights. [The source] said Michel's effusive public optimism about E.U.-Cuba relations after the visit was meant to bolster Pérez Roque. Continue reading "E.U. official's efforts to bolster Pérez Roque may have contributed to minister's ouster" »<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2010/12/eu-officials-efforts-to-bolster-p%C3%A9rez-roque-may-have-contributed-to-ministers-ouster.html#more> Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/#ixzz18Iuj4bW5 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
