Radio Havana Cuba-19 April 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 19 April 2000 -APPEALS COURT RULES ELIAN MUST REMAIN IN US DURING JUDICIAL PROCESS; DECISION DOES NOT AFFECT CUSTODY -MAJORITY OF AMERICANS APPROVE USE OF FORCE TO RESCUE ELIAN FROM KIDNAPPERS -BOSTON ARCHBISHOP BERNARD LAW SUPPORTS RETURNING ELIAN TO HIS FATHER -CUBANS GEAR UP FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY -ZIMBABWE PRAISES CUBA'S SOLIDARITY WITH AFRICA -CUBA-JAMAICA MIXED COMMISSION WRAPS UP SESSIONS IN KINGSTON -INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SERVICES AND SOCIAL WORK UNDERWAY IN CUBA -THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FAIR SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK IN HAVANA -Viewpoint: WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG TO RETURN A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY TO HIS DAD? APPEALS COURT RULES ELIAN MUST REMAIN IN US DURING JUDICIAL PROCESS; DECISION DOES NOT AFFECT CUSTODY Atlanta, April 19 (RHC)-- The 11th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court in Atlanta has ruled that six-year-old Elian Gonzalez must remain in the United States until the appeals process has run its course. Today's ruling, however, does not affect custody rights during his stay. Shortly following the announcement by the appeals court in Atlanta, the attorney for Juan Miguel Gonzalez stated that the government of the United States must immediately turn Elian over to his father. Gregory Craig spoke with reporters in Washington and reiterated his client's willingness to stay in the United States with his son during the appeals process. But he said that there was no reason for the U.S. government to delay transfer of custody, pointing out that custody was formally withdrawn from the boy's great-uncle in Miami last week. The attorney for Juan Miguel Gonzalez said that the longer Washington waits, the more psychological damage will be inflicted on the six- year-old boy. And Gregory Craig added that the U.S. government will bear full responsibility for dangers to the child's well-being. Earlier this morning, Attorney General Janet Reno again attempted to defend her position regarding the case. At her weekly press conference in Washington, Reno reiterated her belief that Elian should be immediately reunited with his father and that there must be compliance with the law -- although refusing, once again, to specify any concrete action to enforce the law. MAJORITY OF AMERICANS APPROVE USE OF FORCE TO RESCUE ELIAN FROM KIDNAPPERS Washington, April 19 (RHC)-- The majority of Americans are in favor of Federal marshals using force, if necessary, to take Elian Gonzalez away from his kidnappers in Miami. According to a Gallup poll published today, 59 percent of those interviewed approve the physical removal of Elian from the home of his great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez -- compared to only 29 percent who are against such an action. Of the remaining 12 percent, four percent state that they would approve or disapprove of the action depending on the circumstances, while eight percent say they have no opinion. BOSTON ARCHBISHOP BERNARD LAW SUPPORTS RETURNING ELIAN TO HIS FATHER Boston, April 19 (RHC)-- The Archbishop of Boston -- Cardinal Bernard Law -- has come out in favor of returning the child to his father. In statements published today in The Boston Globe, one of the most influential leaders of the Catholic Church in the United States insisted that it is not necessary to wait for a State, Federal, or even a Supreme Court decision to tell us where a young boy who has lost his mother under the most tragic of circumstances should be placed. Archbishop Law said he has visited Cuba on numerous occasions over the past ten years and has come to know families in Cuba in which there are happy children in a loving relationship with their parents. The Catholic leader said "we should let the circus end and allow the return of Elian to his father," giving them the privacy to get on with their lives. CUBANS GEAR UP FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY Havana, April 19 (RHC)-- People are gearing up for municipal legislative elections on Sunday, when voters across the island will go to the polls to elect over 14,000 municipal delegates to the Cuban Parliament, also known as the Assemblies of People's Power. The President of the National Electoral Commission, Alberto Diaz Sotolongo, said that everything is set for elections, following a dry-run last week to check voting equipment that will be used this Sunday, April 23rd. In Cuba, elections are held by secret ballot, selecting candidates who are nominated on a local level, many times by their neighbors or co-workers. "Campaigning" is limited to the candidate's photo along with a short biographical sketch. Elected delegates to the Cuban Parliament do not receive a salary and consider it a privilege and duty to serve the people. ZIMBABWE PRAISES CUBA'S SOLIDARITY WITH AFRICA Havana, April 19 (RHC)-- Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Cuba, Jevana Ben Maseko, has expressed his country's gratitude for the island's solidarity with that African nation. Maseko spoke during an activity Tuesday, on the occasion the 20th anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence. The activity was organized by Cuba's Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and the Havana-based Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL). The African diplomat offered detailed information on Cuban assistance to his country, including the arrival of Cuban health professionals to treat those in remote areas, as well as cooperation offered by Cuba following recent natural disasters that affected Zimbabwe. The ambassador of Zimbabwe to Havana added that it's impossible to speak of the historic struggle against apartheid without mentioning Cuba's role in helping Africans oppressed by that racist regime. The African dignitary pointed to the excellent relations at the highest level between Harare and Havana, at the same time expressing his government's willingness to work for even stronger bilateral economic ties with the Caribbean nation. After recalling that Zimbabwe has always expressed solidarity with Cuba at all international forums, the ambassador of that African nation to Cuba demanded the immediate release and return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, who is still illegally being held in Miami against his father's wishes. CUBA-JAMAICA MIXED COMMISSION WRAPS UP SESSIONS IN KINGSTON Kingston, April 19 (RHC)-- The second meeting of the Cuba-Jamaica Mixed Commission concluded its sessions on Wednesday in Kingston, the Jamaican capital. The two-day talks were presided over by Cuban Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Raul Taladrid and the Permanent Secretary of Jamaica's Ministry for Foreign Relations and Trade Stafford Neil. Neil thanked Cuba's cooperation, particularly in areas such as health and education, as well as the granting of scholarships for young Jamaicans to study medicine on the island. The Cuban minister for foreign investment and economic cooperation emphasized the decisive role played by Jamaica and the Caribbean Community during the recently held Group of 77 South Summit here in Havana. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SERVICES AND SOCIAL WORK UNDERWAY IN CUBA Camaguey, April 19 (RHC)-- The Third International Workshop on Services and Social Work, currently underway at the University of Camaguey in eastern Cuba, has gathered together specialists from around the world interested in strengthening human solidarity. Delegates from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Spain and Cuba are participating in the forum, which runs through tomorrow, Thursday. Participants are debating issues of common interest such as social work in rural communities and the integration into society of patients with the Down's Syndrome, as well as assistance to pensioners and mental health. THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FAIR SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK IN HAVANA Havana, April 19 (RHC)-- Experts from 22 nations have already confirmed their participation in the Third International Construction Fair Havana '2000, set for April 25th through the 29th here in the Cuban capital. Participants will discuss issues related to new building projects as well as the application of new computer construction designs. Viewpoint: WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG TO RETURN A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY TO HIS DAD? The U.S. government's incredibly slow pace in advancing the case of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, kidnapped in Miami against his father's will, is increasingly calling the world's attention to how very neurotic Washington can be about Cuba. The case is very clear in legal terms. In fact, it is the first time in the history of bilateral relations between Cuba and the United States since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, that both governments agree on the peculiarities and the solution of a conflict between them. Elian's case has turned more complicated for political reasons since the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service decided last January 5th to approve Juan Miguel Gonzalez's paternal rights over his son Elian, agreeing that his son be returned to Cuba, if that is the father's will. Federal and state courts have ruled against the illegal and dishonest claims of Elian's kidnappers in Miami, but although Washington announced its decision to return Elian to his father on several occasions, it has taken no action to uphold the decision. Elian's father has been in the United States for almost two weeks now and still has not been able to see his son. Many people throughout the world are wondering why it is taking so long to resolve such an obvious case. The answer to this question is quite simply that Washington -- after nearly 40 years of an economic blockade and active conspiracies to overthrow the Revolution -- is not a big hurry to admit that Cuba is right for whatever reason. The last nine Washington administrations have carried out a relentless, negative propaganda campaign against Cuba since the very first days of the Revolution. The sole purpose has been to misinform the world as to the social gains of the island that frighten the U.S. so much. It is Washington's private continuation of the Cold War against its neighbor that will not allow its sovereignty to be compromised in any way. Since Batista's dictatorial, Washington-supported regime was overthrown in 1959, the United States has granted political asylum to condemned criminals who oppose the Cuban Revolution. Orlando Bosch, the man who openly admitted to bombing a Cuban airliner in 1976 with the loss of all 73 people on board, freely walks the streets of Miami -- a local folk hero. More recently, the U.S. admits undocumented immigrants who flee from Cuba for purely economic reasons, encouraging this illegal migration with the existence of the Cuban Adjustment Act, which protects every Cuban who manages to reach U.S. territory -- legally or otherwise. Washington does not apply regulations of this kind to immigrants from any other country in the world, although many who suffer far more economic limitations than Cubans are continuously heading for the United States. The absurd reason why Washington is taking so long to comply with its own decision of returning Elian Gonzalez to his father is shamefully and obviously because the administration does not want to give Cuba any legitimacy whatsoever. (c) 2000 Radio Havana Cuba. 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