Radio Havana Cuba-05 December 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 05 December 2000 . *CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS BRAZIL *CUBAN PRESIDENT'S RECENT VISIT TO MEXICO IN DEPTH *JAPANESE PEACE BOAT DEFIES HELMS-BURTON LAW AND VISITS CUBA *VIETNAM'S CULTURE MINISTER VISITS CUBA *PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S WRITERS AND ARTISTS ASSOCIATION IN PUERTO RICO *22nd FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA OPENS IN HAVANA *19th INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY THIS MONTH *INDUSTRIAL E-MAIL NETWORK BEGINS OPERATING IN CUBA *Viewpoint: THE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OF TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS *CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS BRAZIL Brasilia, December 5 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque began an official, three-day visit to Brazil on Monday. During his stay, Cuba's top diplomat plans to sign several bilateral agreements with Latin America's largest nation. The Cuban foreign minister met on Monday with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Felipe Lampreia -- with whom he discussed issues of regional and international interest. Felipe Perez Roque will also meet with other high-ranking Brazilian officials during his official visit to that country. This marks the first visit by a Cuban foreign minister to Brazil since 1988 -- which analysts interpret to be a sign of good relations between the two countries. From Brazil, the Cuban official will travel to Honduras -- where he will attend a ministerial meeting of the Association of Caribbean States, the ACS. The regional meeting gets underway in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, on Thursday. *CUBAN PRESIDENT'S RECENT VISIT TO MEXICO IN DEPTH Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- A roundtable discussion, broadcast live on Cuban radio and television, examined the recent visit to Mexico of Cuban President Fidel Castro. Journalists and experts on international issues took a look at the impact of the Cuban leader's two-day stay in Mexico, where he attended the inauguration of President Vicente Fox. Panelists agreed that attempts to isolate Cuba have failed -- highlighted by the fact that Fidel Castro's visit to Mexico was given wide and favorable coverage, both in Mexico and internationally. The Cuban leader was presented with the key to the capital, Mexico City, and met with a number of world leaders who were also there for the swearing-in ceremony. Several participants stated that the talks held between the leader of the Cuban Revolution and the new Mexican president were evidence of continuing excellent relations between the two nations. It was noted that speculation that President Fox would change his country's relations with the Caribbean island were roundly refuted by the warm and personal dialogue between the two leaders. The roundtable discussion was aired Monday evening on Cuban radio and television, as well as the international shortwave frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba. *JAPANESE PEACE BOAT DEFIES HELMS-BURTON LAW AND VISITS CUBA Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- The Peace Boat, headed by its Japanese director Dairi Nakajara, has arrived in Havana. Nakajara said that the objective of their sixth trip to Cuba is to continue learning about the realities of the Cuban people. He affirmed that the Cuban people have great spiritual strength, despite Washington's economic blockade against the island. The famous Peace Boat, which departed from the Canary Islands six days ago, docked for a day in Havana with 550 passengers on board, mainly Japanese young people. After donating medicines and school supplies to the Cuban people, the Peace Boat will not be able to dock in any U.S. ports, due to provisions of the Helms-Burton law. The passengers on the Peace Boat include young people from Spain, Brazil, Australia, the United States, Canada and France. While on the island, they will do voluntary work in the agricultural sector as a gesture of solidarity with the Cuban people. *VIETNAM'S CULTURE MINISTER VISITS CUBA Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- Vietnamese Culture Minister Nguyen Koa Diem is in Havana to participate in the 22nd International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. He met on Tuesday with his Cuban counterpart, Abel Prieto. The Vietnamese official told reporters that he plans to sign a number of bilateral agreements during his stay on the island. Vietnam's culture minister began his official visit on Monday as part of a regional tour that will also take him to Argentina, Chile and Brazil. *PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S WRITERS AND ARTISTS ASSOCIATION IN PUERTO RICO San Juan, December 5 (RHC)-- Carlos Marti, President of Cuba's Writers and Artists Association (UNEAC) is in Puerto Rico to participate in a weeklong cultural program. Marti said he expects to iron out important cultural projects and broaden exchanges between Cuba and its sister nation. The Cuban writer announced that during his stay in San Juan, he will present his recent book entitled "Aqui la Sombra es la Luz" (Here, Shadow is Light), an analysis of the role of women in Cuban culture. *22nd FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA OPENS IN HAVANA Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- The 22nd Festival of New Latin American Cinema will officially open its doors tonight with a showing of the Argentine film "Nueces para el Amor by Director Alberto Lecchi, who also directed "Secretos Compartidos" and "Operacion Fangio". The Festival will run through December 15 with more than 350 films and documentaries in competition. *19th INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY THIS MONTH Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- The 19th International Jazz Festival "Plaza 2000" will be held in Havana from December 13th to the 17th. Important jazz players from 15 countries will perform together with the best of Cuban jazz musicians. Among the U.S. participants are Ronnie Mathews and Kenny Barron who head two of the most important jazz trios today as well as the world-famous Roy Hargrove and flutist Dave Valentin. The opening concert of the Jazz Festival will be held next Wednesday, December 13th, at Havana's Amadeo Roldan Theatre. Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes will perform and also share the stage with his Spanish counterpart, Chano Dominguez. The Jazz Plaza 2000 will coincide with the presentation of a film by Fernando Trueba entitled "Calle 54" -- on the development and roots of Latin Jazz. The film will be shown during the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. *INDUSTRIAL E-MAIL NETWORK BEGINS OPERATING IN CUBA Havana, December 5 (RHC)-- An industrial e-mail network began operating in Cuba on Tuesday. The announcement was made at the office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) here in Havana. UN Information Officer Alberto D. Perez said that the island's industrial e-mail network has come into operation, thanks to contributions by the United Nations. The official opening of the network took place today in the presence of several government ministers and the interim resident representative of the UNDP. Also present was the officer in charge of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO). According to Perez, the e-mail Internet site will offer Cuban industrial products and provide an opportunity to exchange information with foreign producers and purchasers. *Viewpoint: THE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OF TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS Mass migrations, which are a direct consequence of the huge economic gap between developed and underdeveloped countries, has become an uncontrollable problem, which is being taken advantage of by those who make money from people's misery. It is estimated that every year more than four million people illegally emigrate to Europe and the United States, the vast majority attracted by dreams of high salaries and improving their standard of living. The so-called "human market" has made the clandestine trafficking of people the third most profitable business in the world, surpassed only by drugs and weapons. Conservative estimates give seven billion dollars annually as the amount generated by this type of contraband. According to the Geneva-based International Migration Organization, some 500,000 undocumented immigrants manage to cross European borders each year. A study made by the organization reveals that some three million undocumented workers live in southern European alone -- in Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal -- countries which also serve as stopover points for other destinations. The trade in human beings in Europe has attracted many mafia networks, which have left their former businesses to dedicate themselves to transporting undocumented immigrants across international borders. In many cases, women are forced to prostitute themselves, as are children, who are also used as a reservoir of human organs to be sold for transplants. Many businesses are happy to take advantage of the cheap labor offered by unprotected and unorganized illegal immigrants. Despite growing demonstrations of racist intolerance and xenophobia, Europe -- with its aging population -- needs this new labor force. The United Nations agrees, noting that in order to maintain the increase in their standard of living European Union countries will need at least 150 million foreign workers over the next 25 years. However, if they wish to take migration out of the hands of criminals, these nations must find a way to legalize foreigner's work status in Europe while extending basic human and labor rights to all workers. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= rhc-eng-13003 2000-Dec-06 02:45:55