Radio Havana Cuba-14 April 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 14 April 2000 -US JUSTICE DEPT SEEKS COURT ORDER AGAINST KIDNAPPERS OF ELIAN GONZALEZ -SOUTH SUMMIT CLOSES WITH STRONG CONDEMNATION OF NEOLIBERAL "FREE" MARKET -HAVANA'S PARTAGAS CIGAR FACTORY INCREASES SALES -CUBAN MINISTER OF BASIC INDUSTRY VISITS SCOTLAND -INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSIC EVENT UNDERWAY IN PINAR DEL RIO -KAMAHAITI 2000 COMES TO A CLOSE IN CAMAGUEY -Viewpoint: THIRD WORLD MUST CLOSE RANKS... OR FACE CERTAIN DEATH US JUSTICE DEPT SEEKS COURT ORDER AGAINST KIDNAPPERS OF ELIAN GONZALEZ Washington, April 14 (RHC)-- The U.S. Justice Department has officially petitioned the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to issue an order to the kidnappers of Elian Gonzalez to surrender the child to his father. The Federal agency has also requested that the court reject a petition submitted by the attorneys of the kidnappers, prohibiting Elian's father from taking his son back to Cuba until the appeals process has run its course. The move came shortly after Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Doris Meissner announced that action will be taken in the case. In statements to the NBC TV network's "Today" program, Meissner said the time has come to enforce the law and that those holding Elian in Miami are breaking the law. She declined, however, to say when U.S. authorities would act. The U.S. news daily The Washington Post quoted an anonymous government official to the effect that President Bill Clinton hopes to see Elian with his father in a day or two, although according to other sources from the Justice Department, the process could take another three or four days. In Cuba, meanwhile, indignation is running high following Attorney General Janet Reno's refusal to act when Elian's great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, openly and defiantly challenged Federal authorities following the passing of another deadline for the child's surrender to his father. Cubans, and many in the United States itself, were also insulted by the TV video of Elian stating that he did not want to return to Cuba -- in what has not only been called an obvious manipulation, but also criminal, emotional and psychological abuse of the child. SOUTH SUMMIT CLOSES WITH STRONG CONDEMNATION OF NEOLIBERAL "FREE" MARKET Havana, April 14 (RHC)-- The Group of 77 South Summit in Havana is expected to wind up this evening with a strident condemnation of what it is calling "the inhumane neo-liberal free market order." The heads of state or government participating in the event will sign what has been called an ambitious plan of action, aimed primarily at eradicating poverty, increasing south-south cooperation and fomenting an increasing participation of Third World countries in technological development. The eradication of illiteracy, greater cooperation in the areas of health, family planning and education programs, stimulating south-south investment through the establishment of a voluntary fund to promote technological expertise among Third World nations, are just some of the aspects of plan of action. On another level, the G-77 will call for the strengthening of the United Nations' role in the promotion of international cooperation, deep-seated reforms in the World Trade Organization and a greater Third World participation in the international financial system. Created in 1964, the G-77 is now comprised of 133 nations in Africa, the Americas and Asia. The Havana Summit has been characterized by a shower of attacks against economic globalization, which Third World leaders charge has only benefited the industrialized world. Cuban President Fidel Castro, and G-77 leader, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, will deliver the closing speeches this evening. HAVANA'S PARTAGAS CIGAR FACTORY INCREASES SALES Havana, April 14 (RHC)-- Havana's Partagas cigar factory reaffirmed on Thursday its position as the world's largest seller of Habanos. Partagas, of the House of the Habano, ended 1999 with profits of 3.7 million dollars. Partagas' main markets are France, Italy, Canada and the United States, where customers can choose from among the company's 32 cigar brands. CUBAN MINISTER OF BASIC INDUSTRY VISITS SCOTLAND Edinburgh, April 14 (RHC)-- Responding to an invitation from the government of Great Britain, Cuba's Minister of Basic Industry, Marcos Portal, visited Scotland to inform local authorities of the opportunities offered by Cuba for offshore oil exploration in its territorial waters. The British Minister for Scotland, Brian Wilson, welcomed Portal at Edinburgh Palace. Wilson expressed his country's interest in developing relations with Havana. The Cuban Minister of Basic Industry also visited the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Aberdeen, where he met with representatives from more than 40 oil companies. INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSIC EVENT UNDERWAY IN PINAR DEL RIO Pinar del Rio, April 14 (RHC)-- An international music event for children called "The Blue Planet" got underway on Friday in the Pedro Zaiden Theater in Western Pinar del Rio province. More than 70 songs were presented in competition for the event, which is being sponsored by the Cuban Ministries of Education and Culture and the Jose Marti Pioneers Children's Organization. For the final competition, the jury chose 19, among them two by renowned Spanish composer, Ricardo Lafuente Aguado. Along with the musical event, competitions in literature, dancing and painting are also taking place. KAMAHAITI 2000 COMES TO A CLOSE IN CAMAGUEY Camaguey, April 14 (RHC)-- The first event of cultural exchange between Haiti and the eastern Cuban province of Camaguey, Kamahaiti 2000, concludes on Friday after five days of workshops, conferences and artistic galas. Among other activities, the final day of the event included the signing of an agreement for bilateral cultural exchange and meetings between Cuban and Haitian authorities in the cultural sector to explore future trade agreements. Viewpoint: THIRD WORLD MUST CLOSE RANKS AND ACT AS ONE... OR FACE CERTAIN DEATH Faithful to the legacy of Jose Marti, Cuba has once again championed the cause of unity among the world's poor. With his customary political valor and powerful command of language, Cuban President Fidel Castro stressed that the Third World must close ranks and act as one -- if it is to successfully navigate the turbulent waters of globalization. A constant defender of the integrationist ideas of Cuba's National Hero, Fidel Castro warned of the problems threatening the underdeveloped countries as they prepare to confront growing globalization of the economy. "Never before has humanity had such a formidable scientific and technical potential, a capacity generated from extraordinary wealth and well-being -- and never before has the world been so divided with so much inequality," stated the Cuban president in the inaugural session of the Group of 77 South Summit. After comparing the world to a ship which, like the Titanic is sailing unchecked toward self-destruction, Fidel noted that it is evident that the vessel is carrying too much injustice to stay afloat, yet it continues on its irrational and absurd course insuring that it will be unable to reach safe port. Not only did the Cuban leader paint a clear picture of the situation, he also proposed a solution: Dismantle the current anachronistic and unjust economic order. "It is time that the Third World energetically demand the demolition of organizations like the International Monetary Fund, which do not provide economic security." There must be a financial, regulatory organization that functions democratically and without veto powers for any member; an organization that is not exclusively defending the rich, that doesn't impose conditions that interfere in the sovereignty of other nations; an agency that would halt uncontrolled speculation. According to Fidel Castro, a tax of at least one percent should be imposed on international speculative transactions, which would create a fund of more than a billion dollars a year for sustainable development in the Third World. Fidel Castro reiterated that the Third World debt is unpayable and uncollectable and is one of today's principal obstacles to development and a time bomb ready to explode. Taking into account the importance of oil for progress, the leader of the Cuban Revolution proposed the regulation of oil prices. "Rich consumer nations can pay more than 30 dollars a barrel without being seriously affected." However, in the Third World, no country can pay more than 20. Finally, Fidel Castro concluded by stating that another Nuremberg is needed in order to judge the economic order that has been imposed on us. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. 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