Carlos Lage delivers speech at the Geneva-Based United Nations Human Rights Commission 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 Radio Havana Cuba brings you the transcript of a program aired on its English Language service on Wednesday, March 24, 1999. It focuses on the speech delivered in Geneva by the Vice President of the Council of Ministers, Carlos Lage. Text follows: Cuban Vice President, Carlos Lage condemned Tuesday Washington's policy toward Cuba in a speech in Geneva. Speaking at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights commission which got underway on Monday, the Cuban vice president charged that the decision by the Commission's president to limit discussion on the matter, favored the United States' interest in keeping the truth from being heard. Despite that decision, Lage was able to put forth arguments and examples illustrating that Washington has for the past 40 years attacked the island in every way imaginable, including the imposition of an economic blockade and financing counterrevolutionaries and counterrevolutionary activities against Cuba while at the same time condemning the island for defending itself against that aggression. "IT IS WORTHWHILE TO ASK ONESELF IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, WHO AUTHORIZED THE UNITED STATES TO ASSUME -SEEMINGLY FOREVER-, THE ROLE OF PROSECUTOR AGAINST CUBA. WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO APPOINT THEMSELVES AS SUPREME JUDGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE, ALSO SEEMINGLY FOREVER? WHY DO WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE STATE DEPARTMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR -ON THE MANDATE OF THE US CONGRESS-, TO DRAFT VOLUMINOUS REPORTS THAT CLASSIFY THE ACTIONS OF ALL NATIONS IN THE AREA OF HUMAN RIGHTS, EXCEPT, OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO ALLOW THE UNITED STATES TO JUDGE THE WORLD IN FIVE THOUSAND PAGES? THE UNITED STATES PLACES ITSELF ABOVE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE CONDEMNING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DESPITE THE FACT THAT ITS OWN RECORD LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED." Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage told the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva that the United States -the richest nation in the World- has millions of homeless people while just one of its citizen has amassed more than 80 billion dollars; it has more than 43 million inhabitants with no medical coverage and 20% of its population are functionally illiterate. Carlos Lage went on to say that the country that is accusing Cuba of human rights violations and judging the world as well, is characterized by its police brutality against African Americans, Hispanics and immigrants, has the largest penal system in the world, routinely applies the death sentence, allows neo-fascist and xenophobic groups to operate and expand, has more than a hundred political prisoners and has created the most evil weapons of mass destruction known to man. "THE NATION THAT IS JUDGING THE WORLD IS THE ONE THAT DROPPED ATOMIC BOMBS ON HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI, INVADED CUBA AT THE BAY OF PIGS, WAGED WAR ON VIETNAM, KILLING NEARLY 4 MILLION VIETNAMESE. THIS IS THE COUNTRY THAT INVADED SANTO DOMINGO, GRENADA, PANAMA, SOMALIA; THAT CARRIED OUT A DIRTY WAR IN CENTRAL AMERICA, THAT SUPPORTED THE MOST GENOCIDAL DICTATORS OF OUR REGION AND TRAINED THEIR BLOOD THIRSTY LEADERS IN TORTURE METHODS IN CIA SCHOOLS. THE NATION THAT PRESUMES TO JUDGE THE WORLD HAS DECIDED TO WAGE WAR ON ITS OWN AND FIRE MISSILES IN EVERY DIRECTION, AND TO WORRY ABOUT MISTAKES LATER. MOST LIKELY IN A FEW HOURS BRUTAL NATO AIR ATTACKS -UNDER U.S. AUSPICES-, WILL BEGIN AGAINST SERBIA, A NATION WHOSE PEOPLE FOUGHT HEROICALLY IN EUROPE AGAINST THE NAZIS IN WORLD WAR II. THE USE AND ABUSE OF FORCE CANNOT SOLVE THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS. WHO WILL DEFEND THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO WILL DIE UNDER THE MISSILES AND BOMBS THAT WILL BE LAUNCHED ON A SMALL COUNTRY OF CULTURED AND CIVILIZED EUROPE? IF THE WORLD TRIED THE UNITED STATES IN A TRIBUNAL IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL CENTURIES TO HEAR ALL ITS CRIMES." US policy against Cuba -continued the Executive Secretary of the Cuban Council of Ministers- has been particularly hostile. Since l992 it has passed 21 legislative dispositions, among them: the so called Torricelli and Helms-Burton Laws, warning letters to business executives who deal with with the island, visa and license denials and threats and fines against US citizens who have relations with Cuba. "AND IN SPITE OF THAT -AND IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE-, THEY SPEAK OF AN EASING OF POLICY AGAINST CUBA, AIMED AT STEMMING THE GROWING REJECTION OF THE BLOCKADE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES; IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMOBILIZE A POWERFUL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT IN FAVOR OF OUR COUNTRY, WHICH IS EVERYDAY STRONGER. THAT SUPPOSED EASING OF POLICY IS NOTHING MORE THAN AN EXCUSE TO FINANCE AND SUPPORT U.S. AGENTS ON THE ISLAND AND TO TRY TO DISRUPT PUBLIC ORDER IN OUR COUNTRY. AND THEY HAVEN'T SOLD US A SINGLE ASPIRIN AND WON'T ALLOW WESTERN UNION TO OPEN AN OFFICE IN HAVANA SO THAT IT COULD ORGANIZE THE SENDING OF FAMILY MONEY REMITTANCES, AND THAT MONEY CANNOT BE SENT FROM THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS NOR HAVE THEY FACILITATED VISITS OF U.S. CITIZENS OF CUBAN ORIGIN. ON THE OTHER HAND THEY ARE EVEN MAKING TELEPHONE CALLS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES DIFFICULT." Speaking to the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Cuban Vice president Carlos Lage recalled Washington's criminal actions on Cuba and asked why those crimes have not been condemned by the Commission, as if only underdeveloped nations merited that punishment. "THOSE WHO KNOW A BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION KNOW THAT SINCE THE DAYS OF THE LIBERATION WAR, WE HAVE NEVER LIED. THE TRUTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR PRINCIPAL WEAPON. THAT IS HOW WE HAVE GAINED THE RESPECT OF EVEN OUR ENEMIES, THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. THE POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY THAT TRUTH SINCE 1998. AFTER SEVEN YEARS,19 MEMBER NATIONS OF THIS COMMISSION REJECTED THE ANTI-CUBA RESOLUTION. BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS NOT THE END OF THE BATTLE. THEY LOOKED FOR AND FOUND A GOOD PANDERER WHO WOULD ADOPT THEIR IMMORAL PROPOSITIONS AND DEAL WITH THE RESULTS; A COMPLETE DEFEAT OR A GREAT VICTORY. THE CHOICE DIDN'T FOOL US, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME LITTLE NOTHING WHO WILL LET THEMSELVES BE USED TO COMMIT THE LOWEST OF ACTS." Vice president Lage was referring to the Czech Republic whose government presented the anti-Cuba resolution obviously drafted in Washington. Lage said that he was sure that it would be difficult for the Commission's member nations to pass a resolution condemning Cuba because those countries are aware of how much the island has done to promote human rights. " DESPITE LIVING BLOCKADED AND ISOLATED, AND WITH MANY FEWER RESOURCES THAN OTHERS, WHERE IN CUBA ARE THE ILLITERATES?, THE CHILDREN WITHOUT SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS WITHOUT CLASSROOMS?, WHERE IS THERE A SINGLE CITIZEN WITHOUT MEDICAL ATTENTION? WHERE ARE THE DISABLED WHO DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY AND WORK? WHERE IS THERE IN CUBA A RETIRED PERSON WITHOUT A PENSION OR AN ELDERLY PERSON WITHOUT SOCIAL SECURITY? WHERE IN CUBA ARE THERE WOMEN WHO EARN LESS THAN MEN FOR THE SAME WORK? WHERE IS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND XENOPHOBIA? WHERE IN CUBA ARE THERE WORKERS THROWN INTO THE STREETS? WHERE IS THERE A SINGLE CITIZEN ABANDONED BY THE SYSTEM? WHERE IN CUBA IS THERE A SINGLE CASE OF TORTURE OR DISAPPEARANCES? WHERE IN CUBA ARE THE DEATH SQUADS AND EXTRA JUDICIAL SANCTIONS? A PEOPLE LIKE CUBA'S, EDUCATED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF THE REVOLUTION, IN THE ETHICS AND MORALS OF THE REVOLUTION, IS ABLE TO COME HERE TODAY WITH HEAD HELD HIGH AND CONSCIENCE CLEAR. IF WE ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD, THAT WON'T STOP US FROM COMING HERE. WE RECALL THAT THE CHURCH CENTURIES LATER FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GALILEO WAS RIGHT." Cuban Vice president Carlos Lage stressed that Cuba's commitment to human rights transcends its borders recalling the 25 thousand Cuban doctors who have volunteered their services in the most remote parts of the world, the 14 thousand children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster who have been treated on the island, the thousands of teachers who have taught in dozens of countries, and the 41 thousand young people who have studied or who are studying on scholarships in Cuba. Lage also recalled Cuba's generous and heroic contribution to the independence of Namibia and the end of apartheid in South Africa . "HOW MANY CAN SAY THE SAME, AMONG THOSE WHO WOULD JUDGE US? HUNDREDS OF DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL WERE SENT TO THE MOST REMOTE AND INHOSPITABLE AREAS IN CENTRAL AMERICA, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI....." At this point in Carlos Lage's declarations to the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Commission, he was interrupted by the Commission president who told him he had exceeded the time allotted, but the Cuban leader reiterated his charges in his final words: "THOSE RULES DID NOT EXIST LAST YEAR AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THEM AFTER WE ARRIVED. WE JUST NEEDED TWO MINUTES MORE TO FINISH. WE REGRET THAT A COUNTRY THREATENED, BLOCKADED AND SUBMITTED TO A CRIMINAL POLICY OF GENOCIDE IS NOT PERMITTED TO CONCLUDE ITS WORDS. WE THANK EVERYONE FOR THE SPIRIT IN WHICH YOU HAVE LISTENED. THANK YOU. Those were the words of Cuban vice president Carlos Lage speaking to the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland. END OF TEXT Radio Havana Cuba will post the full text of Lage's speech [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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