Special from the Iberoamerican Summit 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 THIS IS RADIO HAVANA CUBA'S VIEWPOINT FOR THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1999. The US media has always boasted of its impartial and objective coverage of national and international events. Certainly, it has publicized the intimate behavior its own government leaders, which has damaged the prestige of top US officials, because such matters have been used in a scandalous manner by the country's media in an effort to make more money through sensationalism. In all fairness it must be said that some of the major US electronic media, have on occasion, reflected on the abuses committed by Washington against Cuba, such as its criminal more than 37-year blockade against the island. However, each time Washington receives an international blow, the US media's answer is silence. That was the case in the November 10th United Nations' vote overwhelmingly supporting a Cuba-sponsored resolution condemning the US blockade against the island. The resolution was approved by 158 member nations, and opposed by only two: the United States and Israel. The US media's silence in the face of that unprecedented vote exposes the total lack of concrete arguments to justify Washington's hostile Cuba policy over the past 40 years. The lack of action on the part of the US media is a denial of the justice and democracy so loudly proclaimed by US presidents throughout the history of that nation. Actually, they are better off keeping silent rather than providing information on the recent embarrassing defeat handed to their country for practicing its hostile policy against Cuba; a policy that denies the values of the US people and isolates them even more from the international community. Washington's most recent anti -Cuba move has been aimed at persuading Ibero-American heads of state and government to boycott the upcoming Havana Summit or; if they do attend, to serve Washington's interests by promoting the objectives of the US's anti-Cuba policy. Such a low opinion of the dignity of the sovereign Ibero-American community only reaffirms the imperialist character of Washington's foreign policy and the reasons for its growing international isolation. Cuba will never accept any imposition or conditions placed on its national independence and sovereignty. THE PRESS CONFERENCE OFFERED BY CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER FELIPE PEREZ ROQUE AT THE PRESS CENTER ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13TH IN HAVANA ON US ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE THE 9TH IBERO AMERICAN SUMMIT IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque blasted Washington's attempts to sabotage the success of the 9th Ibero American Summit. In a press conference at the Press Center Saturday, Perez Roque disclosedthe content of a letter sent by US Secretary of State Madeline Albright urging Latin American leaders to make anti Cuban statements during the Summit. After the Press Conference that attracted hundreds of journalists, the Foreign Minister spoke with Radio Havana Cuba on his expectations of the Summit: "The 9th Ibero American Summit is an important event not only for Cuba, but also for the community, made up of 21 countries. The main subject of the event is vital for the life of our countries in the future and it is -Ibero America and the International Financial Situation in a Globalized Economy. Preparations have been quite intense, Cuba, not onlyhas worked hard on logistics, but it has worked similarly in the negotiation of documents. They are almost finished after debates, and I frankly believe that the Summit is going to be successful and a contribution to the integration process spearheaded by Ibero American Summits. Asked about the presence of Venezuela in the Summit, the Cuban Foreign Minister said: "This will be the first Ibero American Summit for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, there is no doubt he will be one of the main figures of the conference, we know he has a lot to say, but in the mean time, during the debates he will have to spare some energy, since he will be the opening pitcher of the baseball game between Cuba and Venezuela slated for the night of the 18th." On the private visit of Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, said the Cuban Foreign Minister: "The Brazilian President is one of the Heads of State who has had to work the most to face the consequences of the international financial crisis. It severely hit his country. He's very experienced, we are sure that his views and experiences will be great contributions to the debates of the Summit." [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 rhc-eng-22391 1999-Nov-13 17:46:22