Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit 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 Tuesday, January 19, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- NEO-LIBERAL GLOBALIZATION IS UNSUSTAINABLE, SAYS CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AT INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF ECONOMISTS 2.- RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER PROCLAIMS NEW ERA OF CLOSER RELATIONS WITH CUBA 3.- CUBAN PEACE MOVEMENT CONDEMNS NEW U.S. MEASURES 4.- CUBA ASSUMES SECRETARY PRO TEM OF 9th IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT 5.- CANADIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN CUBA 6.- DISCOVERER OF AIDS VIRUS, LUC MONTANIER, IN HAVANA 7.- FLYING EYE HOSPITAL IN EASTERN CITY OF CIEGO DE AVILA NEO-LIBERAL GLOBALIZATION IS UNSUSTAINABLE, SAYS CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AT INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF ECONOMISTS Havana, January 19(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has again asserted that neo-liberal globalization is unsustainable, in statements during the international gathering of economists in Havana. Reiterating concepts that the Cuban leader has defended in recent times, Fidel Castro blasted the sharp increase of speculative capital, comparing it to "a new weapon that could have catastrophic effects for humanity." Fidel Castro expressed agreement with statements at the gathering issued by an Argentinean economist, who called speculative capital "a financial time-bomb." He said rigid norms should be adopted concerning the so-called high-risk funds involved in reckless stock market operations and speculating with the national currencies of numerous countries. The Cuban leader said he didn't oppose globalization, but DID oppose the type of brutal globalization occurring today. In other interventions at the international gathering, former French First Lady Daniel Mitterand came out in favor of "prioritizing human beings within the context of the current economic order." The president of the humanitarian organization France Liberte called for economic growth "that does away with the excesses of consumer societies, the current financial dictatorship and speculation." Argentinean expert Jorge Beinsten pointed to the financial and geographic concentration of recent years. He said that in the 1960s, the 200 most important global firms owned 17 percent of the world's gross national product, which rose to 33 percent in the 1990s and threatens to reach 35 percent by the year 2000. The Argentinean economist warned of the weakening of the State with respect to big business. Several hundred experts from close to 50 countries are participating in Havana's International Gathering on Globalization and Development, slated to run through Friday. RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER PROCLAIMS NEW ERA OF CLOSER RELATIONS WITH CUBA Moscow, January 19(RHC)-- Russian Prime Minister Yevgueni Primakov has declared a new era of closer relations with Cuba, during a gathering with visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina. Primakov expressed satisfaction with respect to Cuba's securing of more space within the international community, asserting that the island's isolation is coming to an end. The Russian prime minister also recognized the internal recuperation of the Cuban economy. The Cuban foreign minister, on his second trip to Russia in less than a year, gave Primakov a personal message from President Fidel Castro in which the Cuban leader expressed his desire and confidence that Moscow will find solutions to the country's problems. President Castro said the international community needs a strong and united Russia that raises its voice in the United Nations Security Council. Previously, Robaina and his Russian counterpart, Igor Ivanov, had signed a joint declaration implicitly condemning Washington and London for its unilateral actions against Iraq, without Security Council consent. Primakov also stated that Cuba is Russia's priority in Moscow's Latin America foreign policy. This is Robaina's fourth visit to Russia -- two in 1995 and a third in March 1998. CUBAN PEACE MOVEMENT CONDEMNS NEW U.S. MEASURES Havana, January 19(RHC)-- Cuban grassroots and non-governmental organizations continue condemning recent U.S. measures, which Washington claims softens its policy of blockading the island. Cuba's Peace and Sovereignty for the Peoples Movement issued a statement on Tuesday, noting that "after launching all types of aggressions against Cuba, the United States now is trying to make the world believe that its economic war against Cuba and its effects on the people are being softened as a result of international rejection of the blockade." The note stresses that the Cuban people "will not sell their principles for demagogic words because the brutal blockade against the island cannot be disguised in the eyes of people of goodwill." At the same time, the Cuban Peace Movement urged the world's peace movements and all friends of Cuba to take a careful look at this latest trick and to "raise their voices against those who fail to respect the decorum and dignity of human life." Also responding to the U.S. measures, which were announced by Washington on January 5th, was the island's Council of Churches, in a statement that accuses the United States of encouraging Cuba's churches to play a part in its dirty war against the island. In a declaration published in Tuesday's edition of Granma newspaper, representatives of the protestant Cuban Council of Churches charge that when the U.S. government says that the island's churches will be the means by which supposed aid will reach the people of Cuba, "they are attempting to manipulate genuine and legitimate relations between the Church and the Cuban people." The Cuban Council of Churches declaration further notes that Cuban churches have received humanitarian aid from U.S. churches and individuals collected in solidarity with the island. The document says that Cuban churches will continue accepting aid from U.S. organizations and individuals, but they will never allow themselves to "become instruments in the service of those who claim they are trying to end pain and suffering by imposing pain and suffering." And Cuban scientists expressed their rejection of the recently announced U.S. measures and reiterated their loyalty to the Cuban Revolution. "The only just measure," stresses a statement by Cuban scientists, "would be an end to the U.S. blockade against the island." CUBA ASSUMES SECRETARY PRO TEM OF 9th IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT Havana, January 19(RHC)-- Cuba has officially assumed the position of Secretary Pro Tem of the 9th Iberoamerican Summit, which will be held next November in Havana. In a simple ceremony held in Cuba's Foreign Ministry, Portugal -- the site of last year's meeting -- passed the position to Cuba. It was announced that during the Havana summit, the Iberoamerican heads of state and government will focus on the dangers of world globalization. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Bolanos noted that the topic was chosen with the input of the Iberoamerican leaders. The Cuban official stressed that the 9th Iberoamerican Summit should consecrate regional solidarity. With the passing of the official title of Secretary Pro Tem to Cuba, preparations for the November summit can now get underway. CANADIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN CUBA Havana, January 19(RHC)-- Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the New Brunswick Natural Resources and Energy Department, Doug Tyler, is leading a business delegation in Cuba. The group met in Havana this week with Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, who said that the food sector -- including services and trade -- is the principal focus of exchange between Cuba and Canada. The visiting Canadian business delegation represents broad sectors of Canadian commerce including forestry, fishing and agriculture. Among possible future projects discussed by the delegation for business between Cuba and Canada was the remodeling of fisheries and the restoration of Cuban fishing vessels. In related news, a delegation of Canadian farmers is also visiting Cuba. The delegation is led by the head of agriculture in the province of British Colombia, Russell Josh. The Canadian farmers are on the island to meet with their Cuban counterparts and to see for themselves the results of sustainable agriculture, the use of various types of technology and to explore the possibilities of creating mixed enterprises. The British Colombia Agricultural Council is interested in carrying out joint projects in Cuba in the area of sustainable agriculture. According to the organizer of the ten-day trip, Wendy Holm, bilateral exchange is possible despite economic differences. It was announced that next August, Cuban agronomists will tour farms in the Canadian province. DISCOVERER OF AIDS VIRUS, LUC MONTANIER, IN HAVANA Havana, January 19(RHC)-- The scientist who discovered the AIDS virus, Doctor Luc Montanier, gave a conference to scientists in Havana on the origin and development of the disease. Montanier also explained his therapy and the vaccination under development. Cuban experts gathered at Havana's Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Center, said that the French scientist's ideas concerning the development of a vaccine against AIDS was very interesting. According to Montanier, the only protection so far against the AIDS virus is education, beginning sexual relations at a later age and better use of condoms by young people. During his visit to the island, Montanier has been visiting various scientific centers and has been examining the country's anti-AIDS vaccines under development. FLYING EYE HOSPITAL IN EASTERN CITY OF CIEGO DE AVILA Ciego de Avila, January 19(RHC)-- Eye specialists of the international Orbis Project began a series of demonstration operations on Tuesday in the eastern Cuban city of Ciego de Avila. The DC-10 airliner that serves as the organization's flying hospital will stay for three weeks in Ciego de Avila. During that time, the Orbis team of eye surgeons and other specialists will exchange experiences with and train their Cuban counterparts. The Orbis team consists of 63 ophthalmologists, nurses and technicians from 13 countries. [c] 1999, 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