CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Friday, July 17, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN DAILY GRANMA CARRIES FRONT-PAGE EDITORIAL ON STATEMENTS BY TERRORIST LUIS POSADA CARRILES 2.- CUBA AND JAMAICA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 3.- U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SUSPENDS APPLICATION OF TITLE III OF HELMS-BURTON LAW... AGAIN 4.- SENATE PASSES APPROPRIATIONS BILL WITH AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD EXEMPT FOOD AND MEDICINE FROM U.S. SANCTIONS 5.- PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN POISED ON U.S.-MEXICO BORDER 6.- SAO PAULO FORUM ISSUES DECLARATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO 7.- UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CUBA IN BIO-TECHNOLOGY SECTOR 8.- CUBA COOPERATES IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKING 9.- 30th ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQI REVOLUTION CELEBRATED IN HAVANA CUBAN DAILY GRANMA CARRIES FRONT-PAGE EDITORIAL ON STATEMENTS BY TERRORIST LUIS POSADA CARRILES Havana, July 17(RHC)-- The Cuban daily newspaper Granma ran a front-page editorial on Friday concerning recently published statements by a well-known Cuban-American terrorist. The New York Times published two major articles earlier this week, based on interviews with Luis Posada Carriles. In a series of tape-recorded interviews for the influential U.S. daily, the CIA-trained terrorist revealed some of his darkest secrets in the war carried out against the Cuban Revolution. Posada Carriles admitted that he was the mastermind of numerous assassination and bombing attempts and that his activities were paid for by the Miami-based Cuban- American National Foundation. Posada Carriles, who was trained in demolition and guerrilla warfare by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in the 1960's, said he received an estimated $200,000 over the years from Jorge Mas Canosa, leader of the Cuban-American National Foundation. He also told The New York Times that he had received financial help from Feliciano Foyo, the group's treasurer, and Alberto Hernandez, who succeeded Mas Canosa as President of the Cuban-American National Foundation, following Mas Canosa's death in Miami last November. The Cuban-American terrorist admitted that he organized a number of bombings in Cuba last year at hotels and tourist facilities, with the hope that it would discourage visitors to the island. Showing no remorse for his actions, he acknowledged that one of the bombs he supplied to a Salvadoran mercenary killed an Italian tourist who, he said, "was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Luis Posada Carriles has a long history of terrorist actions against Cuba. Trained by the U.S. for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, he went on to take part in numerous attempts on the life of leaders of the Cuban Revolution, including Fidel Castro. In 1976, he was the mastermind of a bomb attack on a Cubana civilian airliner, which exploded in mid-air and killed all 73 people on board. Arrested and imprisoned in Venezuela, Posada Carriles escaped from prison in 1985 and resurfaced in El Salvador, where he became directly involved in the effort to supply arms to Nicaraguan contras fighting against the Sandinista Revolution. His comrades-in-arms: then U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Lt. Colonel Oliver North. He told reporters that Jorge Mas Canosa helped organize his escape from prison in 1985 and then gave him money to get settled in El Salvador. Reportedly laughing on the tape-recorded interview for The New York Times story, the Cuban-American terrorist boasted that U.S. authorities knew of his activities but left him alone. Posada Carriles acknowledged that he has at least four passports, all in different names. He regards himself as a Venezuelan citizen, but has a Salvadoran passport bearing the name Ramon Medina Rodriguez and a Guatemalan passport issued in the name of Juan Jose Rivas Lopez. The terrorist also admitted to having a U.S. passport, but refused to discuss how he had obtained it or disclose his false name on the document. The editorial in Friday morning's edition of Granma concludes by pointing out that The New York Times story has been widely reproduced by major dailies in the U.S. and around the world. In response, the Cuban-American National Foundation has strongly denied the claims by their terrorist friend and Posada Carriles himself has now tried to disavow the interviews. The New York Times, however, stands behind its story and emphasizes that it has six hours of tape-recorded interviews to prove it. CUBA AND JAMAICA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Havana, July 17(RHC)-- The Foreign Ministries of Cuba and Jamaica have endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding upon the conclusion of a four-day visit to the island by Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister Seymour Edward Mullings. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina told reporters on Thursday that the Jamaican official's visit is another step on the road to bilateral relations. Robaina stressed that Jamaica has played an important role in renewing relations between Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean and has stood up against Washington's economic blockade of Cuba. The Jamaican deputy prime minister thanked Cuban officials for their hospitality during his stay, affirming that Jamaica will continue to contribute to Cuba's full incorporation into the Caribbean family. U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SUSPENDS APPLICATION OF TITLE III OF HELMS-BURTON LAW... AGAIN Washington, July 17(RHC)-- U.S. President Bill Clinton has once again suspended the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton Law. The six-month suspension has become a routine for the U.S. president, who deferred the implementation of the section for the fifth time late Thursday. Title III of the Helms-Burton Law would allow U.S. citizens and corporations to sue third countries for investing in property on the island that was nationalized at the time of the Cuban Revolution. Due to its extraterritorial nature, it is the section of the controversial U.S. law that has drawn the most fire from Washington's allies, who would be directly affected by its implementation. The Helms-Burton Bill was signed into law in March 1996. Even before becoming law, the proposed legislation was criticized by Washington's major trading partners -- among them: Canada, Mexico and the European Union -- who have diplomatic and commercial relations with Cuba. While attempting to placate right-wing ultra conservatives in Congress, the U.S. president drew the ire of Washington's allies around the world. Now, like clockwork, Clinton postpones the implementation of the law's most insulting section every six months. SENATE PASSES APPROPRIATIONS BILL WITH AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD EXEMPT FOOD AND MEDICINE FROM U.S. SANCTIONS Washington, July 17(RHC)-- In the U.S. Congress, Senator Christopher Dodd introduced an amendment to the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Bill which would exempt food and medicine from U.S. unilateral sanctions. The legislation passed with the addition of another amendment introduced by Senator Robert Torricelli which would allow sanctions to continue against countries that are "state sponsors of terrorism." According to reports from Capital Hill, the Agricultural Appropriations Conference Committee will now discuss the House and Senate version of the legislation. The House bill does not contain the language and the conference committee will determine whether to remove or retain the language in the final draft. Observers say that if the conference report retains the language and is passed by both the House and Senate, the President would have the ability to remove food and medicine from the U.S. blockade of Cuba by simply removing Cuba from the list of so-called "terrorist states." PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN POISED ON U.S.-MEXICO BORDER Havana, July 17(RHC)-- Cuba solidarity activists from the United States, Canada, Europe and Mexico will be arriving in Cuba next week as part of the 8th U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan. Activists have already begun arriving on the border at McAllen, Texas -- having collected some 500 tons of humanitarian aid. The 8th U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment caravan, dedicated this time to Cuban children and the elderly, includes five mobile libraries, computers and raw materials for the manufacture of antibiotics in Cuba. During a news conference Friday at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center in Havana, Reverend Raul Suarez, Director of the Center, praised the efforts by Pastors for Peace. Rev. Suarez said the group helps to create an awareness of the inhumanity of Washington's blockade against Cuba which, in his words, "primarily affects the sick, the elderly and children." Also on hand at the news conference, Jose Estevez from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples -- ICAP -- spoke about the U.S. ruling circles' rejection of the efforts spearheaded by Pastors for Peace. He reiterated the Cuban people's appreciation for the work done by the Friendshipment Caravans have brought some 2000 tons of humanitarian aid to the island since 1992, in open defiance of the economic blockade against Cuba. Some 160 participants of the 8th U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan are expected to cross the U.S. border into Mexico on Monday, the 20th, and arrive in Cuba on Thursday, the 23rd. SAO PAULO FORUM ISSUES DECLARATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO Havana, July 17(RHC)-- The Regional Under Secretary of the Sao Paulo Forum has issued a declaration in Havana, calling on all democratic and progressive organizations to join in solidarity with the cause of the Puerto Rican people. The declaration recalls that at this moment, the Puerto Rican people are fighting to stop the privatization of the country's telephone company as part of the neo-liberal plans of Governor Pedro Rosello. The declaration points out that after one hundred years of U.S. domination, popular unrest in Puerto Rico is proof that the Caribbean island continues to fight for its independence and national sovereignty. UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CUBA IN BIO-TECHNOLOGY SECTOR Havana, July 17(RHC)-- An agreement in support of Cuba's bio- technology has been signed between the island's authorities and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The document was signed by Cuba's Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration Minister Raul Taladrid and the Regional Representative of the United Nations Development Program, Ariel Francais. The UNDP assistance includes the creation of a high-speed computer network that will allow access of up-to-date scientific and commercial information and revitalizing the national capacity to carry out, with its own resources, the certification of processes and products according to international norms. The support will be provided over the next two years and includes 300,000 U.S. dollars from the UNDP and 866,000 Cuban pesos from the island's authorities. CUBA COOPERATES IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKING Havana, July 17(RHC)-- Cuba continues to cooperate in the fight against drug-trafficking. According to the Secretary of the National Drug Commission, Jose Luis Galvan, the island has tough laws that severely punish any activity linked to drugs. He added that the island maintains close ties with other countries in the region, joining in efforts to struggle against drug-trafficking. Galvan pointed out that there have been trafficking operations close to Cuban waters, given the island's proximity to the world's main drug consumer: the United States. He stressed, however, that Cuban authorities have strict control of the island's jurisdictional waters. 30th ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQI REVOLUTION CELEBRATED IN HAVANA Havana, July 17(RHC)-- Iraq's Ambassador in Cuba, Jujair Mohammed Al Omar, said Baghdad's relations with Cuba continue to grow in every sector. The Iraqi official pointed out that during the last year, bilateral ties increased even further. During an event held in Havana to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Iraqi Revolution, Iraq's ambassador condemned Washington's blockade against Cuba, Libya and Iraq and U.S. aggressions against the Arab nation. Following the activity, the President of the Arab Union in Cuba, Alfredo Deriche, expressed Cuba's solidarity with the Iraqi people. In addition, he expressed solidarity with the people of Libya, who are also victims of Washington's criminal policies. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org