Radio Havana Cuba-27 May 2000 01:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 27 May 2000 01:00 *GONZALEZ FAMILY'S MOVE TO WASHINGTON AN IMPORTANT STEP *NY TIMES CRITICIZES FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONSA AGAINST CUBA *CUBA THANKS AFRICAN NATIONS FOR SOLIDARITY *INFORMATICS 2000 CONVENTION WRAPS UP IN HAVANA *JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN EUROPEAN UNION AND CUBA *CUBA RENEGOTIATES FOREIGN DEBT WITH GERMANY *CUBANS MARK NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY *CUBANS IN GUATEMALA PAY HOMAGE TO JOSE MARTI *3RD INT'L MEETING OF TOURISM WORKERS TO BE HELD IN HAVANA *Viewpoint: IN HAVANA, FRENCH JOURNALIST LOOKS AT FREE MARKET GLOBALIZATION *GONZALEZ FAMILY'S MOVE TO WASHINGTON AN IMPORTANT STEP Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- The move by Juan Miguel Gonzalez, his son Elian, their family and friends to a new residence in Washington, DC constitutes an important development and a new step toward freedom. According to an article published in Friday's edition of the Cuban daily Granma, the next step is their definitive liberation: their return to Cuba. Elian and his immediate family along with visiting classmates moved Thursday evening from Wye Plantation to Washington, DC proper. In this morning's Granma newspaper, the front-page article notes that the secluded environment of Wye Plantation served its purpose during these past several weeks, following Elian's rescue from his kidnappers in Miami. The wide expanse of land was well used and played a decisive role in the rapid and surprising recovery of the six-year-old boy -- as everyone could see in the photos of a smiling Elian with his father and friends. But the area had its drawbacks, according to the Granma article. Wye Plantation is located 70 miles from downtown Washington, outside of the 25-mile-limit placed on our diplomatic personnel from the Cuban Interests Section. At first, there appeared to be no major problems, but then the U.S. State Department suddenly cut off permission for the Cuban diplomats to travel outside of their imposed limits. Personnel from the Cuban Interests Section were responsible for logistics, supplies and communications between Elian's family on the outskirts of Washington and their relatives on the island. The U.S. State Department also placed obstacles in the way of those who applied for entry visas to visit Elian, including denying visas for his grandparents and important doctors and medical personnel. The article in Friday morning's edition of Granma points out that given this situation, it was decided to move closer into the U.S. capital. With this new residence, Elian and his family are now closer to professionals and friends who are working for their eventual return to Cuba. Choosing another temporary home, where the group will await a decision by the Atlanta court of appeals, was not easy. According to the Granma article, the U.S. State Department stepped in and rejected several possibilities that were being considered. Among those who worked to help find a new residence was the former Secretary General of the National Council of Churches, the Reverend Joan Brown Campbell -- an extraordinary religious leader who even offered her own home, free-of-charge. The article published in this morning's Granma newspaper concludes that this new move constitutes an important step toward the eventual return of Elian and his family to Cuba. In related news, Elian's father -- Juan Miguel Gonzalez -- has sent a message of thanks to those who allowed his family to stay at Wye Plantation. According to Gregory Craig, Juan Miguel's attorney, his client expresses his sincere appreciation for the generosity accorded to members of his family and for allowing them to begin the process of recuperation following his son's kidnapping. Juan Miguel said that over the past few weeks, Wye Plantation provided Elian with peace and privacy. Juan Miguel also took the opportunity to thank the American people for their support -- expressed in hundreds of letters and messages -- which have been a great source of help for his son and the entire family. *NY TIMES CRITICIZES FOOD AND MEDICINE SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA New York, May 26 (RHC)-- An editorial in this morning's edition of The New York Times strongly criticizes the U.S. government for using sanctions on the sale of food and medicine as a political weapon. The editorial is written by Republican Congressman George Nethercutt, Jr., a representative from Washington State who has introduced a bill lifting such restrictions on sales to Cuba and other countries currently sanctioned by Washington. Representative Nethercutt says that the House of Representatives agriculture spending bill includes an amendment that would lift all food and medicine sanctions on Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea and Sudan. He points out that "the United States stands alone in prohibiting sales of the most basic humanitarian goods to these countries," noting that U.S. farmers suffer more than one billion dollars in lost sales. The congressional representative refers to the vote earlier this week on Capitol Hill, granting permanent normal trading privileges to China, and asks if Congress "has the courage of its convictions" to lift sanctions against Cuba. In his New York Times editorial, the Washington State Republican argues that "denying innocent civilians access to food and medicine, if only in principle, is an abhorrent foreign policy tool." And he states that "American farmers are the only ones punished; they are denied access to significant international markets." Representative George Nethercutt writes in The New York Times that his amendment to the House agriculture spending bill will allow currently sanctioned states to buy food and medicine on a commercial basis -- concluding that "if a normal trading relationship with China is a home run for America, then lifting these sanctions [against Cuba and other nations] is the equivalent of a grand slam." *CUBA THANKS AFRICAN NATIONS FOR SOLIDARITY Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque, thanked African governments for their firm rejection of defamatory campaigns against Cuba at international forums, as well as their strong position against Washington's 40-year blockade of Cuba. Perez Roque delivered, on Thursday, the closing speech of an activity here in Havana to mark the 37th anniversary of the OAU --Organization of African Unity-and Africa day. The top Cuban diplomat called on the International Community to redouble its efforts in assisting African nations to solve urgent problems resulting from centuries of colonial rule. The Cuban foreign minister recalled that Cuban troops fought and died alongside their African brothers, to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Angola, and also played an active role during Namibia's independence struggle. He added that the island also contributed to the downfall of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Cuba currently has diplomatic relations with all African nations, except Morocco. *INFORMATICS 2000 CONVENTION WRAPS UP IN HAVANA Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- The 7th International Convention on Informatics is into its last day of sessions at Havana's Convention Center. Over 100 Cuban enterprises are already using new computer and automation techniques. There are 150 computer clubs for children and adolescents throughout Cuba. Forty-seven universities have already introduced computer teaching in their programs as a specialty. Tele-medicine is already a reality and its use is increasingly expanding. Soon, post-offices throughout Cuba will have computers for those who need to send e-mail correspondence. The work carried out by Cuba within the Caribbean and Latin American System for Cultural Information, new informatics technologies, challenges and possible solutions for developing nations were among the issues that sparked the attention of participants in the last day of the convention's sessions. The 14 events that took place simultaneously provided participants with more knowledge on informatics and its relevance in terms of economy, industry and society. Delegates exchanged their ideas and experiences in the various fields in order to implement new strategies to cope with current difficulties in the application of these technologies in their respective countries. The organizing committee of the International Convention on Informatics has convened its next edition for February in the year 2002. *JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN EUROPEAN UNION AND CUBA Havana, May 26 (RHC)-In related news, experts from Cuba and the European Union have reviewed possibilities for future bilateral cooperation in the areas of information technologies and communications, under a new joint project called TAPLINK. The project was presented Thursday during a seminar, one of the 14 events taking place as part of the 7th International Convention on Informatics, which wrapped up on Friday at Havana's International Convention Center. Among issues discussed during the seminar were the virtual libraries, which constitute a viable response in the face of today's information demands, and the development of small and middle-sized enterprises, both in Cuba and Europe. The International Convention on Informatics, held every two years and considered among the most important events of its type in Latin America, gathered this year more than 1300 representatives of 160 companies from 15 nations. *CUBA RENEGOTIATES FOREIGN DEBT WITH GERMANY Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Cuba and Germany have signed an agreement that extends the dateline for the payment of the island's foreign debt with the European nation, for a period of 21 years. The debt amounts to 230,000,000 marks -the equivalent to 115,000,000 dollars. The agreement was signed on Thursday by German Ambassador to Havana, Reinold Huber, and the Vice President of Cuba's Central Bank, Sergio Plasencia. The agreement deals with various aspects of the debt, including Cuba's debt with the former Democratic Republic of Germany. *CUBANS MARK NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- More than 3,000,000 Cubans will participate this weekend in a massive exercise, called METEORO '2000, as part of activities to mark National Defense Day on the island. METEORO '2000 is aimed at preparing the Cuban people for the upcoming storm season, from next June through November. This weekend's exercise includes the collection of garbage, cleaning up streets, gutters, and sewage systems, and the pruning of trees. *CUBANS IN GUATEMALA PAY HOMAGE TO JOSE MARTI Guatemala City, May 26 (RHC)-- Researchers from the Cuban Center on Marti Studies and members of the Cuban medical mission in Guatemala paid homage on Friday to Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti, on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of his death in combat against Spanish colonialism on May 19th 1895. The tribute to the apostle of Cuban independence included a lecture on the life and work of the Cuban national hero and the unveiling of a bust of Marti in the Guatemalan department of Izabal. *3RD INT'L MEETING TOURISM WORKERS TO BE HELD IN HAVANA Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Havana will be the venue of the 3rd International Meeting of Hotel and Tourism Workers, to be held on October 30th. The event will be within the framework of the 2nd Cuban National Congress of Hotel and Tourism Workers, scheduled for October 27th through the 30th here in the Cuban capital. Participants will debate issues such as cooperation among trade unions of the sector, the impact of neo-liberal policies on hotel and tourism workers, as well as their rights, salaries and working conditions. So far, delegations from Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have already confirmed their participation. For more information on the 3rd International Meeting of Hotel and Tourism Workers, e-mail the organizing committee at SNTHT@teleda.get.tur.cn. *Viewpoint: IN HAVANA, FRENCH JOURNALIST LOOKS AT FREE MARKET GLOBALIZATION An article on aspects of the world situation recently published in Havana by Ignacio Ramonet, director of the French newspaper "Le Monde Diplomatique", placed particular emphasis on United States domination, the imposition of free market globalization, and the International Monetary Fund programs that have proven to be dismal failures. Ramonet not only wrote of social justice that is placed on the IMF chopping-block in Third World nations, but also the effects of unbridled economic liberalization in the richest nation in the world. The French journalist noted that in the United States there are 32 million people whose life expectancy is less than 60 years, and that two thirds of those people lack sufficient medical assistance. In addition, he asserted, 45 million US citizens live below the poverty line, while 52 million are illiterate or semi-literate. He argued that the transnational corporations spearheading the concentration of wealth in a few hands wield more economic power than dozens of countries. Ramonet also mentioned that each of the 100 most important transnationals based in the United States, sells more than any of the annual exports of the planet's 120 poorest countries. As an example, the French journalist pointed to the yearly profits of General Motors, which surpass Denmark's gross domestic product - also noting that the profits of Exxon-Mobil are higher than Austria's gross domestic product. The 100 most powerful US companies control 70 percent of the world's trade. The personal wealth of the 15 richest Americans is more than the gross domestic product of all of Africa, where so many people are dying of starvation and curable deseases. In Latin America more than 224 million people are living in poverty and the level of social injustice is sprialing at an alarming rate. Latin America's foreign debt will soon reach 800 billion dollars and the obligatory annual interest payments cut off the possibility of national investment or obtaining loans for economic and social development. The article by the director of "Le Monde Diplomatique" was merely another of an avalanche of exposes laying bare the true nature of the so-called benefits of the market economy and economic opening. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. 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-11449 2000-May-28 04:06:14