Radio Havana Cuba-10 July 23:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 10 July 2000 23:00 *CUBA PRESSES DIPLOMATIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST WASHINGTON *THE U.S. BLOCKADE AND THE HELMS-BURTON LAW *CITIES CHOSEN FOR 26 OF JULY CELEBRATIONS *FIDEL CASTRO THANKS BAPTISTS FOR CONDEMNING BLOCKADE *WORK COMMISSIONS OF CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEGIN DEBATES *JOSE MARTI AND NORDIC BRIGADES ARRIVE IN CUBA *Viewpoint: THE PALESTINIANS' RIGHT TO THEIR OWN STATE *CUBA PRESSES DIPLOMATIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST WASHINGTON Havana, July 10 (RHC)-- The number one priority for Cuba's foreign service is counteracting the aggressive policies of the United States. According to Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, the island's diplomatic personnel around the world have been, and will continue to be, engaged in the struggle against the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba and other aspects of Washington's hostile policies toward Havana. Speaking over the weekend at a meeting of the Foreign Relations Permanent Commission of the Cuban Parliament, Perez Roque described the recent return of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez as a "victorious battle" waged by the entire Cuban people. The foreign minister outlined the upcoming battles: against the Cuban Adjustment Act, which encourages illegal immigration and endangers lives; against subversive activities implicit in Track Two of the Torricelli Law; and the struggle against the genocidal U.S. blockade, waged in the United Nations General Assembly and on the Internet. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque also emphasized the importance of working for the fulfillment of the accords signed during the Group of 77 South Summit, held recently in Havana, as well as strengthening relations with African and Caribbean countries. He noted that Cuba has diplomatic relations with 171 countries, with 96 permanent diplomatic missions around the world. The Cuban foreign minister added that there were plans to open ten more diplomatic posts before the end of the year. The Foreign Relations Commission of the Cuban Parliament met over the weekend along with the nine other permanent commissions to examine important political, economic and social issues for the country. The meetings are taking place prior to the Fifth Ordinary Sessions of the National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament), slated to get underway on Wednesday at Havana's International Convention Center. *THE U.S. BLOCKADE AND THE HELMS-BURTON LAW Tonight's roundtable on Cuban TV continued to explore different aspects of the U.S. blockade against Cuba. The panel, composed of Cuban journalists, government officials, and legal experts, took a close look at the Helms-Burton Law in both nature and content. Discussion began with some pertinent background on the Helms-Burton Law. It was noted that the law was passed in the wake of the downing by Cuba of two small aircraft that deliberately violated Cuban airspace in 1994. Panelists contended that this incident provided the pretext to combine a hodgepodge of anti-Cuban legislation designed to further internationalize and tighten the blockade against the island. It was mentioned that the extraterritorial dimension of the Helms-Burton law further internationalizes the blockade by applying sanctions to foreign companies and individuals doing business with Cuba. In analyzing the text of the law, panelists pointed out that businesses and individuals conducting commerce with Cuba are both prohibited from doing business with, and entering, the United States. Roundtable participants highlighted the fact that any international product with even a single Cuban component is considered contraband, and prohibited from penetrating the U.S. market, while U.S. subsidiaries continue to be off limits with regard to Cuba. Moreover, expressed the panel, the measure goes to the extent of applying sanctions to foreigners who reside in, or conduct business from, property nationalized by the revolution post January 1st, 1959. The second part of the roundtable discussion dealt with the internal focus of the Helms-Berton Law. Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon spoke on the domestic character of the Law as an extension of the infamous Platt Amendment. In analyzing the text, he demonstrated that the Law stipulates that a normalization of relations with Cuba can only transpire under the auspices of a transitional government in Havana recognized by the U.S. in which all expropriated properties, confiscated by the revolutionary government during the 1960s, are returned to their previous owners or compensated according to U.S. requirements. From the outset, Cuba offered compensation to all those nations whose property was expropriated for the benefit of the people. The US was the only nation that refused to negotiate and froze Cuban assets in the United States in retaliation. He pointed to the fact that the law allocates million dollar packages annually to counterrevolutionary groups both inside and outside of Cuba, including funding for espionage and terrorism, as a means of destabilizing the Revolution and thus setting the stage for such a change to take place. The roundtable was broadcast live on Cuban television and radio Monday night. *CITIES CHOSEN FOR 26 OF JULY CELEBRATIONS Havana, July 10 (RHC)-The Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party has selected the western provinces of Pinar del Rio and Havana City and the central province of Villa Clara to host this year's celebrations to mark the 47th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Garrisons on July 26, 1953 marking the beginning of Cuba's struggle against the Batista dictatorship. The decision was made after analyzing each of the 14 provinces results for 1999 in different economic and social sectors. Pinar del Rio, Havana City and Villa Clara provinces registered important economic growth in the areas of the production of merchandise, agriculture and a reduction in energy consumption. The Political Bureau of Cuba's Communist Party considered important to mention that the central provinces of Matanzas and Cienfuegos have maintained good results worth mentioning. *FIDEL CASTRO THANKS BAPTISTS FOR CONDEMNING BLOCKADE Havana, July 10 (RHC)-Cuban President Fidel Castro thanked the World Baptist Alliance for its resolution condemning Washington's blockade against the island during the weekend in Havana. The Cuban President thanked the World Baptist Alliance for having selected Cuba to host the event which unanimously condemned the US's almost 40 year blockade. Delegates from 60 countries gathered in Havana last June 30th to participate in the religious event. Participants expressed their satisfaction for having come to Cuba and thanked the Cuban government for the generous welcome they received. The World Baptist Alliance is made up of 196 Baptist Conventions and associations from around the world. The Baptist institution was founded in London in 1905 and currently represents over 43 million Baptists in 115 countries. There are four Baptist denominations in Cuba, three of which belong to the World Baptist Alliance. *WORK COMMISSIONS OF CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEGIN DEBATES Havana, July 10 (RHC)-- Ten commissions of Cuba's National Assembly of the People's Power met on Sunday in Havana to discuss issues related to the country's economic and social development. Speaking before the Culture commission, Culture Minister Abel Prieto came out for a more educated and free nation constantly guided by the ideas of Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti and President Fidel Castro. The deputies of the Commission of Productive activities outlined the advances made by the Fishing Industry Ministry with the introduction of science and technology in fishing cultivation. Fishing Minister, Orlando Rodriguez said that this year they are expected to capture 100 thousand tons of fresh water fish to substitute imported caned fish. Meanwhile, in the children, youth and women's rights commission, the President of the Federation of Cuban Women, Vilma Espin said that the Cuban people should be proud and sure of the future of the Revolution, highlighting the outstanding work carried out by Cuban children. Vilma added that the new generation of Cubans fought in the battle of ideas for the return of six year old Cuban Elian Gonzalez. *JOSE MARTI AND NORDIC BRIGADES ARRIVE IN CUBA Havana, July 10 (RHC)-The Jose Marti and Nordic Brigades are in Cuba at the invitation of the Cuban Friendship Institute. The over 350 European solidarity activists will do volunteer agricultural work on the island and visit places of interests in western Pinar del Rio and Havana City. *Viewpoint: THE PALESTINIANS' RIGHT TO THEIR OWN STATE The recognition of the right of Palestinians to have their own national state is nothing but a fair demand, considering the plundering that Arab people have historically been a victim of. The United States, which has traditionally been Israel's main protector and supporter of its expansionist policy in the Middle East, at the cost of the Arab people is now acting as the promoter of peace. Israeli authorities are finally relinquishing the West Bank territories, that have been militarily occupied for so many years, in order for the Palistian people to consolidate national statehood. In concert with "land for peace" initiatives with the Palestinian leadership, one might anticipate an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights in Syrian territory -also occupied during the so called "6 day war" in 1967. Unfortunately, the conditions imposed by Israel have created an impasse in negotiations between the two countries. Israeli authorities have resisted peace proposals by Washington, geared towards the possibility of exploiting vast oil deposits in the region, to normalize relations between Israel and Syria. The Israelis have withdrawn their troops from some of the occupied territories, tolerating the presence of the Palestinian National Authority headed by Yasser Arafat. But withdrawal has been selective and limited thus far. In light of Israeli withdrawal from both the West Bank and Southern Lebanon, close to the border of the Gaza Strip Corridor, a number of human rights abuses have been committed by Israeli troops. Thus, Arab sovereignty continues to be a tightrope walk. The Palestinian decision to proclaim an independent state may very well produce a breakdown in negotiations. According to Israeli Foreign Minister, a Palestinian withdrawal from peace talks would constitute a renewal of military conflict. President Clinton has announced that he will moderate the Camp David summit, between Israeli and Palestinian authorities, to try to convince the historical adversaries to give peace a chance. But the US leader himself does not appear to be convinced of the potentially positive results negotiations could yield. Not withstanding the powerful strategic and economic incentives at play, Washington's hesitation in pressuring Israel indicates a definitive lack of resolve. Any chance for real peace in the Middle East depends on Washington's policy towards Israel. If the U.S. remains soft on Israel, and continues to support imperialism against the will of the Arab peoples, regional instability appears inevitable. Neither disinformation campaigns nor political smoke screens can alter world opinion and the march of history. (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-19061 2000-Jul-11 05:47:24