Radio Havana Cuba-7 July 2000 11:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 7 July 2000 11:00 am *JUAN MIGUEL GONZALEZ AWARDED THE CARLOS MANUEL DE CESPEDES ORDER *CUBA SETS CONDITIONS FOR RESUMING MIGRATION TALKS WITH U.S. *CUBA AND CARICOM SIGN ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT *WORLD BAPTIST ALLIANCE HOLDS ITS GENERAL COUNCIL IN CUBA *FLORAL WREATH PLACED AT NEW YORK CITY'S JOSE MARTI STATUE *MEETINGS ON SOCIAL MEDICINE & HEALTH POLICIES OPEN IN HAVANA *LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON BANKING SECURITY CONCLUDES IN HAVANA *PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH COUNCIL OF SPAIN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITS CUBA *Viewpoint: "EASING THE BLOCKADE" - JUST ANOTHER ANTI-CUBA FARCE *JUAN MIGUEL GONZALEZ AWARDED THE CARLOS MANUEL DE CESPEDES ORDER Havana, July 6 (RHC)-- Juan Miguel Gonzalez was awarded the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Order Wednesday evening here in the Cuban capital. The Order was presented in recognition of his extraordinary conduct during the long battle for the liberation of his son -- six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. The ceremony took place at the Karl Marx Theater with more than 2500 invited guests, representing various sectors of Cuban society, who also participated in the struggle to free Elian from the clutches of his kidnappers in the United States. During cultural presentations by dancers and musical groups -- including singer/songwriter Amaury Perez and the popular Groupo Moncada -- the audience was treated to a spectacular display that lasted nearly two hours and was broadcast live on Cuban radio and television. The President of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, read the declaration of the Council of State, outlining the reasons why Juan Miguel Gonzalez is receiving one of the highest civilian orders granted by the Cuban government. Alarcon stated that the perseverance shown by Juan Miguel was an inspiration to millions, not only in Cuba but internationally. Cuban President Fidel Castro pinned the special Order on the 31-year-old Juan Miguel, calling him an example of dignity and courage. Following the solemn ceremony, the Cuban leader gave an historical review of the kidnapping of Elian Gonzalez. Fidel said that from the moment Elian was taken by his mother, in a vain attempt last November to reach the shores of Florida, Juan Miguel attempted to get his son back to Cuba. The leader of the Cuban Revolution stated that it was only after numerous attempts to officially communicate with the U.S. government and secure custody of Elian Gonzalez that Havana decided to wage an international battle which would eventually end victoriously. At first, Washington refused to respond to the diplomatic notes from the Cuban government - and was only forced to respond to the pressure of U.S. and international public opinion. Fidel Castro affirmed that Juan Miguel Gonzalez demonstrated enormous courage in the face of attempts to bribe him -- literally trying to buy his son and his entire family. He emphasized that Elian's father and grandparents stood up to the reactionary Cuban-American mafia and their allies in the U.S. Congress, refusing multi-million dollar offers to stay in the United States if he would just sell-out the Revolution. But Juan Miguel Gonzalez - a humble Cuban father of small stature - has become a moral giant and is a symbol of pride and dignity for 11 million Cubans and millions more around the world. *CUBA SETS CONDITIONS FOR RESUMING MIGRATION TALKS WITH U.S. Havana, July 6 (RHC) -- Cuba today confirmed its decision not to resume migratory talks with the United States if the US s Cuban Adjustment Act is not discussed. Havana considers the anti-Cuban law, enacted in 1966, an obstacle to the talks since it encourages illegal migration into the northern country by granting permanent residency and a job to Cubans who manage to get to US coasts by any means. At a Havana press conference, the Cuban Foreign Ministry s alternate spokeswoman, Aymee Hernandez, pointed out that the legislation, the human contraband toward the United States, and the US based anti-Cuban radio stations efforts to encourage illegal migration from the island are obstacles in resuming negotiations scheduled for last month. "We ll again discuss the issue whenconditions are set are established", said Hernandez, adding that Havana remains committed to complying with the migration accords signed by the two countries in September of 1994 and May of 1995. According to local authorities, the case of six year old Cuban Elian Gonzalez, who lost his mother during an illegal attempt to leave the island, was one of the most publicized victims of the Cuban Adjustment Act. Under the migratory accords, the United States pledges to grant a minimum of 20 thousand visas annually to Cubans wanting to migrate legally and return illegal immigrants intercepted at sea. Cuba has lately filed complaints that Washington is repatriating increasingly less illegal Cuban immigrants in conjunction with an increase in the trafficking of humans toward the coasts of Florida. *CUBA AND CARICOM SIGN ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT Havana, July 6 (RHC)-- Cuba and the Caribbean community organization, known as CARICOM, advanced the process of regional integration on Wednesday with the signing of an economic and commercial accord at the 21st Summit on Community Integration. News sources highlighted the main objective of the accord as a push towards greater trade relations among the regional economic block, emphasizing air and maritime transportation and the tourism sector. The accord also includes a commission designed to evaluate development in these areas along with the overall continuity of the integration process among the Caribbean community. Cuban Government Minister Ricardo Cabrisas described CARICOM's political process as one based on unity. Consistent with front-page news all over Latin America, the Barbados Herald described the Cuba-CARICOM accord as one of the most significant achievements of the summit. CARICOM first became a regional organization at a summit in Trinidad and Tobago in 1973; its Secretary General, Trinitarian Edwin Carrington has occupied the executive seat since 1992. *WORLD BAPTIST ALLIANCE HOLDS ITS GENERAL COUNCIL IN CUBA Havana, July 6 (RHC) - For the first time, the World Baptist Alliance is holding its General Council in Cuba, with hundreds of participants from the island and around the world gathered Wednesday evening at Havana's Capitol building for the event's welcoming ceremony. Present at the ceremony were top Baptist authorities from the World Religious Organization, representatives of other Christian denominations from Cuba and other countries, and a group of Cuban government officials. Caridad Diego, Head of the Religious Affairs Department of the Communist Party Central Committee welcomed participants on behalf of the Cuban government and said he hoped they would be holding the most successful Council ever. Topping the event's agenda was the official presentation of the new World Baptist Alliance President, South Korean Dr. Billy Kim, who extended greetings to all participants in the ceremony. "God Bless Cuba. We bring special greetings from 150 million Baptist families around the world. We have been welcomed wonderfully. I have been traveling around the world but have never seen such a beautiful congress hall as this. May God Bless Baptists, May God Bless Cuba." The World Baptist Alliance was founded in London in 1905 and it currently groups over 100 million people in 115 countries. The religious organization's general councils are held annually. The latest such gatherings took place in Canada, South Africa and Germany. The ongoing event will include several activities such as religious services, Christian music concerts and other meetings, and will wind up next July 9th. *FLORAL WREATH PLACED AT NEW YORK CITY'S JOSE MARTI STATUE New York, July 6 (RHC)-The President of Cuba's Office of the Marti Program Armando Hart placed on Thursday a floral wreath before the monument of Cuba's national hero Jose Marti this Thursday at New York's Central Park. Hart and representatives from the Cuban Mission to the United Nations paid homage to Cuba's independence leader during a ceremony in the US city. During the ceremony, the Cuban official stressed the need to reaffirm the commitment in promoting information on the reality of Cuba and Latin America in compliance with one of the ideas of Jose Marti. Cuba's National Hero warned about the ignorance within the United States on the realities of Latin America. We should contribute with information on the history and realities of our region to the people in the United States, said Hart. *MEETINGS ON SOCIAL MEDICINE & HEALTH POLICIES OPEN IN HAVANA Havana, July 6 (RHC)-The 8th Latin American Congress on Social Medicine and the 11th Association of Health Policies kicked off on Thursday in Havana with the presence of over 700 delegates and guests from some 34 countries. During today's sessions, delegates began discussing scientific work among the 600 papers and talks presented. Delegates and guests came to the conclusion that the contemporary problems of social medicine and health policies have been worsened due to neoliberalism. *LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON BANKING SECURITY CONCLUDES IN HAVANA Havana, July 6 (RHC)-The President of Cuba's National Bank, Francisco Soberon said on Thursday in Havana that neoliberal globalization has increased social inequality, poverty and world crime. During the closing ceremony of the Latin American Congress on Banking Security, the Cuban official said that in our region alone, there are close to 220 million people living in extreme poverty, representing almost 50 per cent of its population. Soberon pointed out that Cuba continues to closely look at the problems that emerges from neoliberal globalization, like money laundering, corruption and attempts to apply preventive policies destined to avoid illegal use of the banking system. The three day event included the participation of representatives of 10 European and Latin American countries, in addition to 200 specialists and officials from financial institutions. *PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH COUNCIL OF SPAIN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITS CUBA Havana, July 6 (RHC)-The President of the High Council of Spain's Chamber of Commerce, Jose Manuel Norniella has arrived in Havana heading a delegation to the 10th Cuba-Spain Business Committee Meeting. Their itinerary, which kicked off on Thursday in the Melia Habana Hotel has the participation of 70 business executives aimed at improving economic relations with the island. In statements to Prensa Latina news agency, Fernandez Norniella pointed out that his delegation also includes a representative from Spain's sugar industry and added that they are very interested in developing that industry on the island. Spain and Cuba, said the Spanish official have very close commercial relations and this will be an important opportunity to revise the current ties and continue to broadening those relations. During his stay on the island, the Spanish official will meet with Cuba's Vice President Carlor Lage, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and other government officials. *Viewpoint: "EASING THE BLOCKADE" IS JUST ANOTHER ANTI-CUBA FARCE The draft amendment presented at the US House of representatives by Republican legislator George Nethercutt, is aimed at easing Washington's blockade against Cuba by authorizing the sale of food and medicine to the island. The project has been openly opposed by the US ultra-right wing. Recently, Nethercutt was invited to a secret meeting outside the halls of the US Congress. The gathering was supposedly aimed at modifying the project's original version, but it turned out that it was a maneuver to torpedo the waiver on food and medicine altogether. The economic blockade against Cuba has been justly censured at international forums - such as the United Nations General Assembly - and has been frequently described as a genocidal, inhumane policy. It has been years since the General Assembly has been voting against the blockade, with a growing number of votes in favor of Cuba's position. Likewise, several renown personalities and institutions from all over the world have publicly expressed their opposition to the blockade. In an attempt to clean up their international image and kowtow to public opinion, Washington has promoted the idea of easing the blockade for humanitarian reasons. Which is why the draft amendment relates to the sale of food and medicines to Cuba. However, the project includes items and conditions that make sure trade will not be easy. These include the prohibition of obtaining bank credits and financing via US banks or banking institutions in the US, the prohibition of Cuba exporting its products to the US, the immediate payment of all purchases in cash, a well as maintaining the prohibition on transportation that make it practically impossible to carry any merchandise to Cuban territory. Such suffocating measures annul any merits the so-called easing of the blockade had. Thus, the right wing in Miami is more or less satisfied and the Clinton administration looks good to everyone else. So in spite of all the maneuvering, the US economic blockade against Cuba is alive and well - however much it may be in contradiction with the interests of US business sectors. (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-21432 2000-Jul-08 02:03:30