Radio Havana Cuba-02 December 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 02 December 2000 . *CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH NEW MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX *MORE THAN 200,000 RALLY IN HAVANA TO CALL FOR EXTRADITION OF POSADA CARRILES *SANTIAGO DE CUBA COMMEMORATES REVOLUTIONARY ANNIVERSARIES *CUBAN ECONOMY MAINTAINS UPWARD TREND *RICARDO CABRISAS MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES *MEXICO'S NEW PRESIDENT HAS SOME GOOD IDEAS... IF HE'S ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THEM . *CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH NEW MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX México, December 2 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro said his meeting last night with Mexican President Vicente Fox went "very well." When the newly sworn-in Mexican president thanked the Cuban leader for attending the ceremony, Fidel Castro said it was his duty. As the protocol gatherings of heads of state were taking place in Mexico following the inauguration ceremony, Cuban journalists and commentators on Friday evening's televised roundtable took note of Fox's different style which, they said, may announce a different future for Mexico. Panelists pointed to the new Mexican president's strongly expressed concern for the country's poor and marginalized population, his promise to not privatize Mexico's education, electricity and energy sectors and his affirmation that the free market cannot solve everything. *MORE THAN 200,000 RALLY IN HAVANA TO CALL FOR EXTRADITION OF POSADA CARRILES Havana, December 2 (RHC)-- More than 200,000 gathered in Arroyo Naranjo, located to the west of downtown Havana -- calling for an end to the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba and for the extradition from Panama of Luis Posada Carriles and his terrorist accomplices. Part of a regular series of Open Tribunals held every Saturday morning in different parts of the island, speakers called for justice -- not revenge -- in the case of Posada Carriles. The internationally-known terrorist and three other members of his commando were arrested two weeks ago in Panama City, just one day before they were able to carry out an assassination attempt against Cuban President Fidel Castro. *SANTIAGO DE CUBA COMMEMORATES REVOLUTIONARY ANNIVERSARIES Santiago de Cuba, December 2 (RHC)-- Children dressed in olive green uniforms of the July 26th Movement and carrying toy rifles symbolically stormed the old headquarters of the local police -- commemorating the 44th anniversary of the 1956 uprising in this eastern Cuban city. The uprising in Santiago de Cuba was timed to coincide with the landing of Fidel Castro and 81 other revolutionaries, who were sailing from Mexico to begin the armed struggle against the Batista dictatorship. But the timing was off and the uprising -- designed to divert attention from the Granma landing -- took place two days before the yacht actually reached land. Today, December 2nd, marks the 44th anniversary of the landing of the Granma -- the beginning of the guerrilla struggle against Batista. It is now known as the Day of the FAR - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba - having been formed on that date in 1956. As hundreds of young children symbolically carried out the assault on the former police headquarters, survivors of the historic uprising looked on. Cesar Suarez, a member of the July 26th Movement, called the November 30th attack "yet another example of the revolutionary spirit of the residents of Santiago de Cuba." Other speakers at the rally called for the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles and other terrorists, currently being held in Panama. *CUBAN ECONOMY MAINTAINS UPWARD TREND Guantanamo, December 2 (RHC)-- Cuba's economy continues its upward trend, recuperating from a severe economic crisis. According to Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage, the island's economic growth will register somewhere around 5.6 percent by the end of this year. Speaking at the inauguration of several public works projects in the eastern city of Guantanamo, Lage said that Cuba's economy is still improving, despite the fact that the island has had to spend an extra 500 million dollars on oil - due to the increase in fuel prices. The Cuban leader also noted that the world market price of sugar has dropped considerably over the past several months - now standing at less than five cents a pound. The Cuban vice president said that the island's economic recovery, in spite of the obstacles, is proof that Cuba's economic program is on track. *RICARDO CABRISAS MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES Moscow, December 2 (RHC)-- Cuban Minister without Portfolio Ricardo Cabrisas met in Moscow with members of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Among the topics during the meeting were ways to increase bilateral trade and economic exchange. Cabrisas also spoke with the Deputy Minister of Health for the Russian Federation, Guennadi Onishenko, and discussed ways to improve health services in the former Soviet Union. Following the meeting with Onishenko, the Cuban minister was invited to an informal gathering with Russian business representatives. Ricardo Cabrisas told reporters that Cuba is convinced that trade relations between Havana and Moscow will improve over the coming months and years. For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov stated that Moscow is proud of the fact that relations between Russia and Cuba are on the mend, following a period when bilateral relations had greatly suffered. Ivanov said he was greatly disappointed when contacts between the two countries took a turn for the worse during the early 1990's - adding that relations are much better now as we prepare to enter the 21st century. *MEXICO'S NEW PRESIDENT HAS SOME GOOD IDEAS... IF HE'S ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THEM The progressive image that the new president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, is presenting to the world has little to do with his business background. It is clear that Vicente Fox has been able to connect with the majority of the Mexican people with promises of great social projects. It has been a very realistic and brave approach that identifies the problems affecting the nation and puts together a daring program of social transformation that will require popular support. His future will also depend on his ability to convince people that he's able to accomplish such programs. If Mexican President Fox manages to turn his government's program into a mass movement, he will be able to make considerable achievements in less time than that he predicts. Mexicans have been looking for a true leader for a long time now -- like those that Mexico has had throughout its history. Fox's social background should not affect his social and political projects, considering that his plans seem to be truly motivated to improve the social, economic and political life of the Mexican people. Furthermore, President Fox seems to have decided to be radically different than his predecessors. To make a difference, Fox's projects would have to make significant changes in national economic policies, which are increasingly dependant on economic associations with the United States and characterized by neo-liberal economic recipes. These policies seem to improve macro-economic indicators but, at the same time, they increase poverty and unemployment, widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots. If Fox's administration fights these neo-liberal policies, he will soon be having problems with the United States. U.S. economic and political behavior would have to change before we could say that the new Mexican president will not have to face U.S. opposition to his new projects. That is not, by the way, such an absurd idea -- if we consider that the United States has been having difficulties lately, insisting on out-of-date domestic and foreign policies. The future of our world depends on how political and economic forces in power lead their nations. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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