RHC Weekend-1/2 December 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 01/02 December 2001 . *DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF VIETNAM PAYS HOMAGE TO JOSE MARTI *FIRST JOINT CONGRESS OF THE CUBAN ORTHOPEDICS SOCIETY AND THE AMERICAN FRACTURE ASSOCIATION CONCLUDES IN HAVANA *SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER BETWEEN SPANISH-CUBAN INSTITUTIONS BEGINS *EVERYTHING READY IN HAVANA FOR THE 23rd LATIN AMERICAN NEW FILM FESTIVAL *AFTER AFGHANISTAN: WASHINGTON HAS BAGHDAD IN ITS SIGHTS *US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MAY ALLOW FBI TO LEGALLY SPY ON GROUPS *NELSON MANDELA CALLS FOR ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR AIDS PATIENTS *ISRAELI FORCES SURROUND PALESTINIAN CITIES Viewpoint: *BUSH AND AZNAR - BOSOM BUDDIES THROUGH THICK AND THIN . *DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF VIETNAM PAYS HOMAGE TO JOSE MARTI Havana, December 1 (RHC)-- Visiting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung placed a floral wreath before the Jose Marti Monument at Havana's Revolution Square Saturday morning. The Vietnamese dignitary, who began an official visit to the island on Friday at the invitation of Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage, said that the aim of his visit is to strengthen bilateral cooperation relations, especially in the areas of trade and the economy. He also expressed his interest in learning first-hand about the Cuban experience in building socialism. The Vietnamese deputy prime minister is accompanied by a large delegation made up of his country's ministers of agriculture, industry, culture, tourism, information, trade and construction, as well as leaders of the Vietnamese Communist party. During his stay on the island, which runs through Tuesday, the Vietnamese deputy prime minister is scheduled to meet with high-ranking Cuban officials, among them Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, Communist Party's Political Bureau member Juan Carlos Robinson and Government Minister Ricardo Cabrisas. *FIRST JOINT CONGRESS OF THE CUBAN ORTHOPEDICS SOCIETY AND THE AMERICAN FRACTURE ASSOCIATION CONCLUDES IN HAVANA Havana, December 1 (RHC)-- The First Joint Congress of the Cuban Orthopedics Association and the American Fracture Association concluded on Friday at Havana's Frank País Orthopedics Complex. Among issues debated by the more than 800 delegates from 28 nations was the use of fixers to treat hip and other fractures. It was revealed that the United States, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Canada are among 36 nations benefiting today from the external fixers called RALCA, developed by renowned Cuban orthopedist Rodrigo Alvarez Cambra in 1971. The Cuban use of the technique, which has proven to be very effective in cases of fractures, bone tumors, congenital malformations, bone disease and joint obstructions, has avoided amputations and cured serious diseases in more than 85,000 patients. The production of high quality, recyclable RALCA external fixers in Cuba saves the island 250 dollars a piece -- the cost for each fixer on the world market. *SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER BETWEEN SPANISH-CUBAN INSTITUTIONS BEGINS Havana, December 1 (RHC)-- The 8th Solidarity Encounter between Institutions in Spain and their counterparts in Havana began today here in the Cuban capital. The event, which runs through Wednesday, December 5th, will also be attended by representatives from institutions in Italy and France. The aim of the gathering is to review the implementation of cooperation agreements signed between municipal authorities from various Spanish cities and local Havana authorities. Participants will tour municipalities in the Cuban capital, where cooperation projects are currently underway with those nations' sponsorship. *EVERYTHING READY IN HAVANA FOR THE 23rd LATIN AMERICAN NEW FILM FESTIVAL Havana, December 1 (RHC)- Everything is ready for the 23rd Latin American New Film Festival, which begins Monday in the Cuban capital. The event's organizing committee reports that expectations are running high among movie lovers, including Cubans as well as foreign visitors who travel to the island this time of year to attend the prestigious Havana film festival. Films in competition include titles such as "Y Tu Mamá También" (And Your Mother, Too) by Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and the Cuban films "Nada" (Nothing) and "Noches de Constantinopla" or Constantinople Nights. As in the past, the Havana film festival also exhibits movies from other parts of the world outside Latin America. Spanish productions are highly valued by the Cuban public. Among the Spanish films at the festival this year, movie lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy "Juana la Loca" (Joan, the Crazy Woman) and "Lucia y el Sexo" (Lucia and Sex) by Spaniards Vicente Aranda and Julio Medem, respectively. The annual Havana film festival, which this year runs through December 13th, is also a unique opportunity for filmmakers and arts critics from Latin America to exchange information and learn from each other experiences. *AFTER AFGHANISTAN: WASHINGTON HAS BAGHDAD IN ITS SIGHTS Washington, December 1 (RHC)-- According to news reports in the United States, Washington has Baghdad in its sights and may use the momentum of its so-called "war on terrorism" to attack Iraq in the near future. A top State Department official said on Friday that the United States was "on a roll" in its campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan and that President George W. Bush planned to force Iraq to open its borders to United Nations inspectors looking for "weapons of mass destruction." At the same time, other administration officials hinted that Bush was looking at options involving the building up of opposition groups to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but that such an initiative would take time to develop because "there isn't a ready-made opposition" now. Speaking with reporters in Washington, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage suggested that military action against Iraq was not imminent, but would come -- in his words -- "at a place and time of our choosing." The remarks were part of what has been a steady drumbeat of bellicose comments toward Iraq this week, including statements by the U.S. president that have concerned some European and Arab allies. A number of European leaders this week called on Bush not to pursue a military course against Iraq. U.S. allies in Europe and the Arab World have expressed concern that an attack against Iraq could harm efforts to negotiate a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Other Arab leaders have also warned that a wider war in the Middle East will incite the imagery of a Western assault on Muslim nations. Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell denied reports that something is on the verge of happening militarily against Iraq, saying it "has no particular substance to it." *US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MAY ALLOW FBI TO LEGALLY SPY ON GROUPS Washington, December 1 (RHC)-- U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is reportedly considering a plan to relax restrictions on the FBI's spying on religious and political organizations in the United States. According to this morning's edition of The New York Times, the proposal would loosen one of the most fundamental restrictions on the conduct of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and would be yet another step by the Bush administration to modify civil-liberties protections. The report notes that surveillance guidelines were imposed on the FBI in the 1970's, following disclosures that the FBI had run a widespread domestic surveillance program, called Cointelpro, to monitor antiwar activists, the Black Panthers and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., among others. Since then, the guidelines have defined the FBI's operational conduct in investigations of domestic and foreign groups that operate in the United States. The New York Times story says that some government officials who oppose the change said the rules had largely kept the FBI out of politically motivated investigations, protecting the bureau from embarrassment and lawsuits. But Attorney General Ashcroft and the current FBI director, Robert Mueller, reportedly favor the change. The relaxation of the guidelines would follow administration measures to establish military tribunals to try foreigners accused of terrorism; to seek out and question 5,000 immigrants, most of them Muslims, who have entered the United States since January 2000; and to arrest more than 1200 people, nearly all of whom are not connected to the events of September 11th. Under the current surveillance guidelines, the FBI cannot send undercover agents to investigate groups that gather at places like mosques or churches unless investigators first find probable cause or evidence leading them to believe that someone in the group may have broken the law. Some officials are now saying they need broader authority to conduct surveillance of so-called terrorists, no matter where they are. The proposed review of FBI guidelines has apparently created a rift in the Justice Department. Several senior career officials have complained that they had not been consulted about the proposed change -- a criticism they have expressed about other Bush administration counterterrorism measures. When the Justice Department decided to use military tribunals to try accused terrorists and to interview thousands of Muslim men in the United States, the officials said they also were not consulted. This morning's edition of The New York Times says that some complaints seem to stem from the FBI's shifting status under Attorney General John Ashcroft. Weakened by a series of blunders that took place before September 11th, the FBI has been forced to follow orders from the Justice Department. In the past, the FBI director had far more independence and authority to make his own decisions. Political analysts point out that the FBI and other intelligence agencies have long carried out surveillance on domestic groups within the United States -- and that these changes and new measures will, from a judicial standpoint, merely make them legal. *NELSON MANDELA CALLS FOR ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR AIDS PATIENTS Cape Town, December 1 (RHC)-- Former South African President Nelson Mandela called on Saturday for AIDS victims to be given access to drugs that fight the disease and said heads of state must take the lead in raising awareness of the illness. Today, December 1st, is World Aids Day and many activities are taking place internationally to commemorate the date. In Cape Town, South Africa, Nelson Mandela visited a clinic for AIDS patients and told reporters that those who are HIV positive must receive the proper treatment and drugs to help them resist the pandemic. The 83-year-old African statesman took a number of infected and dying children into his arms and later answered questions from Black and white school children at a local community meeting hall. Nelson Mandela told the children that that the government should provide drugs to prolong the lives of people already infected with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. He said, "We must combine various strategies, firstly giving people the necessary drugs to try and prevent the disease taking the upper hand." South Africa has more people living with AIDS than any other country in the world -- nearly five million people, or one in nine of the country's population, are affected -- and the government has been widely criticized for its handling of the crisis. This week, AIDS activists and doctors took the South African government to court in a bid to force it to provide a drug called nevirapine that could cut the risk of pregnant women passing on HIV to their babies by up to 50 percent. Government lawyers argued the cost of providing such treatment would cripple the public health system given the numbers of those affected with HIV. The former South African president said that heads of state and governments should lead the fight against AIDS, which has already infected more than 40 million people worldwide. Hundreds of gatherings are being held across South Africa to mark World Aids Day, which will culminate with the Flame for Life ceremony, in which Deputy President Jacob Zuma will light a candle in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. *ISRAELI FORCES SURROUND PALESTINIAN CITIES Jerusalem, December 1 (RHC)-- The Israeli army has reportedly taken up positions around the West Bank cities of Jenin and Nablus. According to both Israeli and Palestinian security sources, the movement of troops and tanks came just 24 hours after a Palestinian suicide bomber, who was from Jenin, blew himself up on a bus, killing himself and three other people. This latest development also took place as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in Washington to prepare for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, who has criticized recent Israeli military incursions into Palestinian areas. Observers say that the Israeli move is also likely to complicate the work of U.S. peace envoy, Anthony Zinni, who is in on a mission to secure a ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Israeli army radio quoted Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer as saying that the two cities surrounded by Zionist troops are -- in his words "terrorist hot spots." Palestinian officials said they were bracing for a possible Israeli incursion into the cities. The Palestinian National Authority said it was working "in its full capacity" to stop attacks against Israeli civilians and had ordered its security agencies to "bring the perpetrators to justice." The Palestinian Authority also called on Israel "to stop its assaults and to stop assassinations, which only increase tension." Viewpoint: *BUSH AND AZNAR - BOSOM BUDDIES THROUGH THICK AND THIN The current visit to the United States by Spain's President José María Aznar has stirred euphoric reactions given his sharing of similar positions with U.S. President George W. Bush, despite some minor differences. The Spanish visitor still walks the streets of New York, but before his return to Madrid, the local press has not missed an opportunity to stress Aznar's good relations with his U.S. counterpart. When Bush paid his first visit to Europe last June, Aznar behaved as the most gracious host in the world, offering the U.S. president a stay at the Quintas de Mora Ranch, Aznar's holiday place. During the Bill Clinton administration, the Spanish government surprised local observers by immediately granting the U.S. a permit to enlarge the Rota Naval Base, despite an ongoing dispute over who would pay the salaries of Spanish workers at the military base. During his current stay in Washington, Madrid's top representative did not miss any chance to highlight his converging positions with those of George Bush, which include the Spanish offer of sending troops to Afghanistan in an open show of support for the so-called "international anti-terrorist coalition," led by Washington. It appears that the recent encounter in Washington between Bush and Aznar focused largely on the war against Afghanistan and its repercussions. However, to Aznar's concern, the Pentagon has openly expressed its disagreement with having any other foreign troops in Afghanistan, in what is considered an attempt to clear the country of any witnesses that may impede Washington's continued covert actions in the region. Thus, the supposed privilege of sending troops to Afghanistan is thus far being enjoyed only by Russia, whose soldiers are deployed in Kabul with the alleged mission of supporting humanitarian efforts and the refurbishing of the former Soviet embassy in that country. Aside from the presence of Russian troops in Kabul before any other European military force, nobody will be able deprive Aznar of his moment of glory this week after reiterating his support to Washington in its struggle against terrorism, at any time and with all its consequences, as he himself has said. During their meetings and meals together, Bush and Aznar discussed the issue of the extradition of eight alleged members of the Al Qaida organization, headed by Osama Bin Laden, who were recently detained in Madrid. The Spanish leader conditioned the extradition on respect for Spanish laws and the U.S.-Spain bilateral treaty, though he hurried to say that Washington has not yet made an official extradition request. Article 7 of the Spanish-U.S. Extradition Treaty stipulates the possible delivery of persons provided that Washington guarantees that the death penalty will not be applied. However, the United States has already announced that terrorist suspects might go before military courts, ensuring that the severest sentences would thus be handed down -- including, of course, execution. Aznar will soon return to Madrid to put the finishing touches on Madrid's participation in the war against Afghanistan, which includes 13 planes for "humanitarian aid," though the announced 1500 troops will have to stand by until Pentagon generals lift their current prohibition before Spain can join in the further destruction of the Central Asian country and its long-suffering people. (c) 2001 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-8983 2001-Dec-01 23:23:03