Radio Havana Cuba-27 July 2000 23:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 27 July 2000 23:00 *INTERNATIONAL REACTION TO HAVANA'S JULY 26th PROTEST MARCH *FRIENDS OF CUBA COMMEMORATE JULY 26t6 *FIDEL CASTRO AWARDED BENITO JUAREZ INTERNATIONAL ORDER *VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ BLASTS ULTRA-RIGHTWING EXILE GROUPS *CUBA AND UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM BEGIN COOPERATION PROJECT *AIR SERVICE BETWEEN HAVANA AND OSAKA BEGINS AUGUST 1st *Viewpoint: MASSIVE MARCH IN HAVANA TARGETS U.S. BLOCKADE OF CUBA *INTERNATIONAL REACTION TO HAVANA'S JULY 26th PROTEST MARCH Havana, July 27 (RHC)-- Cuba's July 26th protest march past the the U.S. Interests Section in Havana sparked widespread reaction in today's editions of newspapers throughout Latin America. The Brazilian daily Jornal do Brasil published a front-page story with the headline "One Million Against the Blockade of Cuba," together with a full-length photo of President Fidel Castro. In a survey published by the Jornal do Brasil, 70 percent of those interviewed thought it was correct that Fidel Castro condemn the proposed lifting of some restrictions in Washington's blockade and call for its total elimination. Havana's Prensa Latina News Agency commented that only on rare occasions does this Brazilian newspaper give front-page prominence to an international event. In the Dominican Republic, the news daily Listin Diario carried a front-page article on the Havana protest with the headline "Cuba Continues its Revolution 47 Years Later." The local newspaper Hoy also provided wide coverage of the event. In Nicaragua, El Nuevo Diario and La Prensa both published ample information on the July 26th protest to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the assault on the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship's Moncada military garrison -- the opening shot of the Cuban Revolution that was to triumph in 1959. *FRIENDS OF CUBA COMMEMORATE JULY 26th Hanoi, July 27 (RHC)-- World leaders have sent messages of solidarity to the Cuban government and people on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada. The General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Le Ka Fiu, congratulated Cuban President Fidel Castro on the 26th of July -- expressing Vietnam's unconditional support of the Cuban Revolution. In Mexico, politicians, NGOs and Cuba solidarity groups converged on the Cuban embassy in Mexico City to express their support for the Cuban people in their struggle to defend their sovereignty and all peoples' right to self-determination. During the activity, representatives of the organization Revolutionary Women of Mexico sent a letter to Cuban President Fidel Castro, congratulating him on receiving the Benito Juarez International Order. Meanwhile in Quito, deputies, political leaders and members of groups in solidarity with Cuba celebrated July 26th with a political activity in front of the largest monument in all of South America, dedicated to Jose Marti -- Cuba's National Hero. *FIDEL CASTRO AWARDED BENITO JUAREZ INTERNATIONAL ORDER Havana, July 27 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has been awarded the Benito Juarez International Order in recognition of his commitment to defend the sovereignty and independence of the Third World. During the awards ceremony, Berta Zapata, head of the Mexican delegation here in Havana to confer the Order, referred to Fidel Castro's active involvement in the struggle for independence and the right to self-determination. She added that the Cuban leader's firm opposition to any foreign interference in the internal affairs of other nations and his efforts toward peace have won him international recognition. In his acceptance speech, Fidel Castro expressed his sincere gratitude, noting that the Cuban people are the main protagonists in the struggle for the island's definitive independence and sovereignty, with the solidarity of many people around the world. Fidel emphasized that the Cuban people have been able to resist the acute hardships over the past decade -- following the collapse of the former socialist camp in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union -- thanks to the work done during the first 30 years of the Revolution. Fidel Castro: " We have just waged a battle. You know about it. It lasted seven months, but it was just the beginning. How can we send the message? How can we send our message to the world so that the world learns of our reality? Throughout the course of these past seven months we have discovered many things, which will be of paramount importance to us. We have gained experience in the battle of ideas that we are waging today against the genocidal U.S. blockade, the Cuban Adjustment Act, the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Laws and all of Washington's aggressive policies toward Cuba. "As you know, some people of goodwill in the United States -- including an ever-growing number of U.S. lawmakers -- have finally realized how cruel and unjustified the blockade is. They have presented some legislation and have even achieved some results. It is being said that the initiative to sell food and medicine to Cuba was approved some two years ago. They now talk about approving what they call a "softening of the blockade." But how can that be, if they maintain all those laws that make up the blockade? How would a poor, blockaded nation that has been submitted to the longest economic war in history obtain the necessary resources to buy food and medicine? How can a nation that is not allowed to sell its products be able to buy anything? In practice, it's impossible. "They said two years ago that they were willing to sell medicine to Cuba. I think that over that period of time we have been able to purchase some 60,000 dollars worth of medicine. The blockade used to be a prerogative of the U.S. president, but now he is no longer in the position to decide. "We call it a blockade and an economic war because to blockade is to prohibit. They call it an "embargo" to prohibit others from engaging in any business transaction with Cuba. The United States has the world's most powerful economy. But they have gone far beyond that. They pressure all of their allies and the entire world not to do business with Cuba. They are pressing the entire world not to invest in those sectors of the Cuban economy that have been opened to foreign investment. They threaten any foreign company trying to invest in or do any kind of business with Cuba. That is why we call it an economic war. But we are sure that the struggle that we are waging against Washington's blockade of Cuba is a struggle against one of the greatest injustices being committed in today's world." President Fidel Castro also noted Cuba's potential to help other peoples in need, especially referring to the health cooperation program put in place by Cuban authorities to develop integral health care systems in other Third World nations. Fidel announced the opening of a Cuban-based International Sports School next September to train young athletes from Latin America and Africa, as well as the creation here in Cuba of an International Agronomy Faculty. The Benito Juarez Order is sponsored by 270 organizations from 23 countries. Among the organizations: Mexico's Anti-Apartheid Committee, the Anti-Imperialist Tribunal of Our America, The International Organization of Journalists, The Confederation of Latin American Journalists and the African National Congress. The Benito Juarez Order was first conferred in 1989 to South African independence fighter Nelson Mandela. *VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ BLASTS ULTRA-RIGHTWING EXILE GROUPS Caracas, July 27 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned that he will not allow foreign residents in his country to organize mafias, particularly ultra-right wing Cuban exile groups. The statement was in reference to the recent denunciation of an alleged Cuban intelligence agent, claiming that there are 1500 Cuban intelligence officials in Venezuela indoctrinating civilians and military personnel. President Chavez has ordered the arrest of Juan Alvaro Rosabal, demanding that he present proof of his denunciations -- but the alleged former Cuban intelligence agent has apparently now gone into hiding. The claims by Rosabal prompted an official statement from Cuban President Fidel Castro earlier this week. Fidel sarcastically and adamantly denied the deployment of Cuban intelligence agents in Venezuela -- blaming this new hoax on reactionary elements in Venezuela, attempting to prevent President Hugo Chavez's re-election. The Cuban leader provided personal data on Juan Alvaro Rosabal, who, he said, has not only never been a Cuban intelligence agent, but has never even held down a job and has a criminal record. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said foreigners coming to Venezuela to disturb the peace will be arrested and, at the very least, kicked out of the country. On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jose Vicente Rangel once again called on Rosabal to present the proof of his denunciations -- adding that he hasn't done so because he has no proof. *CUBA AND UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM BEGIN COOPERATION PROJECT Guantanamo, July 27 (RHC)-- A cooperation project between Cuba and the United Nations World Food Program to produce high-yield seeds has been implemented in Cuba's eastern provinces. The project, which runs through the year 2002, consists of the use of state-of-the-art technology to produce seeds in seven production centers in eastern Cuba as a way to counteract an intense drought affecting the area. It also includes the training of some 75,000 farmers and agricultural workers and the use of advanced technology in preparing the soil, the harvest and seed processing. *AIR SERVICE BETWEEN HAVANA AND OSAKA BEGINS AUGUST 1st Havana, July 27 (RHC)-- An air link between Havana and the Japanese city of Osaka will be inaugurated on August 1st, allowing Cuba to enter Japan's tourism market. Japan Airlines will operate the flights, working in conjunction with Cuba's Cubanacan S.A. Company. Cubanacan President Juan Jose Vega announced that if things go well, service linking the two cities could become regular flights beginning in November. *Viewpoint: MASSIVE MARCH IN HAVANA TARGETS U.S. BLOCKADE OF CUBA Wednesday's gigantic march past the U.S. Interests Section in Havana should have been an eye-opener for the enemies of the Revolution and those who have been deceived by anti-Cuba propaganda. The demonstration against Washington's blockade and its hostile policy against the island took place on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Garrison, an action led by a young revolutionary named Fidel Castro. That attack, on July 26, 1953, began the struggle that concluded in 1959 with the definitive victory of the Cuban Revolution. Over one million people of all ages, races and beliefs -- most of them born after 1959 -- marched along Havana's seaside drive known as the Malecon on Wednesday. They expressed the commitment to defend their homeland, the Revolution's social and political achievements, as well as the nation's independence and sovereignty. The Cuban people have resisted a brutal economic and financial blockade for nearly four decades. They have been the target of all kinds of direct and indirect aggressions, subversive conspiracies, as well as lies and slander campaigns designed to distort Cuba's reality. Despite these brutal attacks, Cuba has resisted and survived. Over these past 40 years, the Cuban people have made tremendous gains, receiving international admiration. Cuba's struggle is not only for its own benefit but also in favor of the peoples of the Third World -- who are currently suffering from poverty, the unequal distribution of wealth, the lack of education and health care. With their massive march -- the largest in the Revolution's history -- the Cuban people have reaffirmed their willingness to continue fighting until the final victory. And it will be a beautiful victory of justice and dignity for all people everywhere. Because everyone has the right to live in peace, with independence and sovereignty. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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