Radio Havana Cuba-22 May 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 22 May 2001 . *US THREATENS MEXICAN FIRMS AS CUBA TRADE AGREEMENT FINALIZED *ICAP CONDEMNS US TARGET PRACTICE IN VIEQUES *UN RECOGNIZES CUBA'S ENVIRONMENTAL WORK *CUBA PARTICIPATES IN TOKYO TRADE FAIR *NEW AIRPORT READY FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS *NGOs TO CONFRONT OAS WITH INCREASED RIGHTS VIOLATIONS *UN OFFICE FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE Viewpoint: *FOR MID-EAST PEACE, US SHOULD FORCE ISRAEL TO STOP THE KILLING . *US THREATENS MEXICAN FIRMS AS CUBA TRADE AGREEMENT FINALIZED Mexico City, 22nd May (RHC)--The United States government has once again threatened to take action against all foreign companies -- especially Mexican -- that are doing or about to do business with Cuba as Havana and Mexico City prepare to sign a reciprocal investment agreement on the 30th May. The US stock market regulatory commission is requiring that all foreign companies trading in the US and having business dealings with countries that are economically blockaded by Washington, report in detail the amount and the nature of their business. They could then be added to a black list and forbidden to trade on any US stock exchange. The Mexico-Cuba accords are expected to catapult the amount of business between both nations which they agree needs to be stimulated by such an agreement. The new restriction of forced disclosure of the nature of their business transactions with Cuba and other nations that Washington sanctions, will apply only to new companies entering the stock market. It's application does not need US congressional approval and it will go into effect at the end of May. *ICAP CONDEMNS US TARGET PRACTICE IN VIEQUES Havana, May 22 (RHC)--The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, known by its Spanish acronym ICAP, has condemned the latest military target practice and maneuvers carried out by the U.S. navy in the Puerto Rican island-municipality of Vieques. An official statement issued by ICAP affirms that Washington's arrogance and complete disrespect for the basic norms of civilized coexistence constitute an aggression against the dignity of the Puerto Rican people, and a violation of their civil and human rights. In the document, ICAP calls on progressive forces and people of goodwill from around the world to save Vieques against the ferocity of the U.S. navy and their continued use of uranium-depleted missiles and other weapons that damage the health of the Vieques population as well as their environment. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples also expressed its solidarity with the Puerto Rican activists who are in jail or awaiting trials and sanctions in the United States federal court system for expressing their firm opposition to the U.S. military presence in Vieques. The latest U.S. military practices in Vieques concluded last May1st and left over 150 detained, among them senators, mayors and religious leaders who entered the restricted area to try to stop the U.S. military exercises, which have been carried out in Vieques for over 60 years. The ICAP statement ends by saying that the Cuban people will always support the Puerto Rican people in their struggle, which is also that of all the progressive forces and people of goodwill around the world. *UN RECOGNIZES CUBA'S ENVIRONMENTAL WORK Havana, May 22(RHC)--Cuba's Jose Marti Pioneer Children's Organization and the organization CUBASOLAR will receive next month the Global Prize 500, granted by the United Nations Environment Program, the UNEP, in recognition of their active role in protecting the environment. The Cuban capital and the Italian City of Turin were both chosen to be the alternate sites for celebrations marking World Environment Day next June 5th. The World Environment Day will be marked in Cuba with a series of activities that include the inauguration of photographic exhibits on environmental-related topics and community debates on themes such as hygiene, recycling and protection of the environment at the community level. The Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Tribune will be the site of a concert with songs that promote protection of the environment. Officials from the UNEP will tour the provinces of Camaguey, Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila to see first-hand important projects for the protection wildlife. The central activity to mark World Environment Day will take place on June 5th at Havana's International Convention Center. *CUBA PARTICIPATES IN TOKYO TRADE FAIR Tokyo, May 22 (RHC)--Cuba is participating in the 9th International Fair of Investment Promotion, which is currently underway in Tokyo under the auspices of the Japan's Foreign Trade Organization. Cuba is participating with a large government delegation, headed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Ernesto Senti Darias. The event's agenda includes two seminars on business opportunities in Cuba. Other activities of the Cuban delegation include meetings with high-ranking Japanese officials and executives of private companies. *NEW AIRPORT READY FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Santa Clara, May 22 (RHC)--The Abel Santamaria airport in central Santa Clara City is now ready to operate international flights, coming into and leaving the island. The Abel Santamaria airport has become Cuba's tenth international air terminal, following refurbishing works that included a bigger parking platform and the introduction of state-of-the-art technology to improve flight safety operations. The new international airport will support tourism development in Villa Clara province, especially in tourist site such as Jardines del Rey, Las Brujas, Ensenachos and Santa Maria Keys, visited by a significant amount of foreign tourists. *NGOs TO CONFRONT OAS WITH INCREASED RIGHTS VIOLATIONS Havana, 22nd May (RHC)--Representatives from non-government organizations across Latin America today denounced the continued human rights violations that are taking place on the continent, saying that in many cases things are worse than they were in the times of the dictators. The 31st General Assembly of the Organization of American States will meet in San Jose, Costa Rica between June 3-5 and attempt to strengthen the Interamerican Human Rights Court. Referring to the millions of Latin Americans suffering the consequences of disastrous economic models, regional NGOs are all in agreement that in many respects the sufferings of their people are worse than in the 1970s and 80s. Poverty, prostitution and unemployment are higher than ever in spite of the establishment of so-called democracies, said Gustavo Cabrerra of Justice and Peace Service. Bruce Harris, the coordinator of NGOs present for the OAS General Assembly, said that child prostitution is of especial concern -- particularly in Costa Rica, the host nation for the meeting. He was joined in his condemnation by Norma Pereira of the NGO Cefemina and Juan Carlos Gutierrez, director of the Center for Justice and International Rights. Gutierrez said that some 60 ONGs would be present for the OAS meeting demanding member states stand by their commitment to human rights made in Canada at last year's assembly. Norma Pereira said that she wanted a call to account of the work done to combat disappearances, assassinations and kidnappings in a variety of nations in the region. She and others will ask for more resources to be dedicated to the defense of human rights in Latin America. One of their goals is to assure that the Interamerican Human Rights Court is maintained on a permanent basis to investigate and try cases of human rights abuse. *UN OFFICE FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE Geneva, 22nd May (RHC)--The United Nations Coordinating Office for Humanitarian Affairs has received only 23% of the funds it was pledged to assist the 44 million people in 19 regions of the world that are considered to be in a state of emergency. The director of the UN Office, Ross Mountain, explained in a press conference Tuesday, that of the $2.7 billion promised only $640 million had been forthcoming. The money has also been erratic with some 30% received for Asian and European programs while only 17% has been received for Africa. The UN agency's main operations are currently working in SW Europe, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Korea, Angola, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Tajikistan. Although the major part of donations have been for food relief, Mountain reported that the essential areas of education and agriculture have been practically ignored by donor nations. He said there was a need to see beyond the immediate need of feeding people to prevent future conflicts and disasters. He said that his office as well as many others in the UN constantly lacked funds to do the work they were supposed to be doing. The United States has been blamed by critics in the United Nations for much of the shortfall, paying its dues late or denying funds that it owes to the UN due to it not being voted onto the UN Human Rights Commission for the current term. Mexico City, 22nd May (RHC)--The United States government has once again threatened to take action against all foreign companies -- especially Mexican -- that are doing or about to do business with Cuba as Havana and Mexico City prepare to sign a reciprocal investment agreement on the 30th May. The US stock market regulatory commission is requiring that all foreign companies trading in the US and having business dealings with countries that are economically blockaded by Washington, report in detail the amount and the nature of their business. They could then be added to a black list and forbidden to trade on any US stock exchange. The Mexico-Cuba accords are expected to catapult the amount of business between both nations which they agree needs to be stimulated by such an agreement. The new restriction of forced disclosure of the nature of their business transactions with Cuba and other nations that Washington sanctions, will apply only to new companies entering the stock market. It's application does not need US congressional approval and it will go into effect at the end of May. *ICAP CONDEMNS US TARGET PRACTICE IN VIEQUES Havana, May 22 (RHC)--The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, known by its Spanish acronym ICAP, has condemned the latest military target practice and maneuvers carried out by the U.S. navy in the Puerto Rican island-municipality of Vieques. An official statement issued by ICAP affirms that Washington's arrogance and complete disrespect for the basic norms of civilized coexistence constitute an aggression against the dignity of the Puerto Rican people, and a violation of their civil and human rights. In the document, ICAP calls on progressive forces and people of goodwill from around the world to save Vieques against the ferocity of the U.S. navy and their continued use of uranium-depleted missiles and other weapons that damage the health of the Vieques population as well as their environment. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples also expressed its solidarity with the Puerto Rican activists who are in jail or awaiting trials and sanctions in the United States federal court system for expressing their firm opposition to the U.S. military presence in Vieques. The latest U.S. military practices in Vieques concluded last May1st and left over 150 detained, among them senators, mayors and religious leaders who entered the restricted area to try to stop the U.S. military exercises, which have been carried out in Vieques for over 60 years. The ICAP statement ends by saying that the Cuban people will always support the Puerto Rican people in their struggle, which is also that of all the progressive forces and people of goodwill around the world. *UN RECOGNIZES CUBA'S ENVIRONMENTAL WORK Havana, May 22(RHC)--Cuba's Jose Marti Pioneer Children's Organization and the organization CUBASOLAR will receive next month the Global Prize 500, granted by the United Nations Environment Program, the UNEP, in recognition of their active role in protecting the environment. The Cuban capital and the Italian City of Turin were both chosen to be the alternate sites for celebrations marking World Environment Day next June 5th. The World Environment Day will be marked in Cuba with a series of activities that include the inauguration of photographic exhibits on environmental-related topics and community debates on themes such as hygiene, recycling and protection of the environment at the community level. The Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Tribune will be the site of a concert with songs that promote protection of the environment. Officials from the UNEP will tour the provinces of Camaguey, Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila to see first-hand important projects for the protection wildlife. The central activity to mark World Environment Day will take place on June 5th at Havana's International Convention Center. *CUBA PARTICIPATES IN TOKYO TRADE FAIR Tokyo, May 22 (RHC)--Cuba is participating in the 9th International Fair of Investment Promotion, which is currently underway in Tokyo under the auspices of the Japan's Foreign Trade Organization. Cuba is participating with a large government delegation, headed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Ernesto Senti Darias. The event's agenda includes two seminars on business opportunities in Cuba. Other activities of the Cuban delegation include meetings with high-ranking Japanese officials and executives of private companies. *NEW AIRPORT READY FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Santa Clara, May 22 (RHC)--The Abel Santamaria airport in central Santa Clara City is now ready to operate international flights, coming into and leaving the island. The Abel Santamaria airport has become Cuba's tenth international air terminal, following refurbishing works that included a bigger parking platform and the introduction of state-of-the-art technology to improve flight safety operations. The new international airport will support tourism development in Villa Clara province, especially in tourist site such as Jardines del Rey, Las Brujas, Ensenachos and Santa Maria Keys, visited by a significant amount of foreign tourists. *NGOs TO CONFRONT OAS WITH INCREASED RIGHTS VIOLATIONS Havana, 22nd May (RHC)--Representatives from non-government organizations across Latin America today denounced the continued human rights violations that are taking place on the continent, saying that in many cases things are worse than they were in the times of the dictators. The 31st General Assembly of the Organization of American States will meet in San Jose, Costa Rica between June 3-5 and attempt to strengthen the Interamerican Human Rights Court. Referring to the millions of Latin Americans suffering the consequences of disastrous economic models, regional NGOs are all in agreement that in many respects the sufferings of their people are worse than in the 1970s and 80s. Poverty, prostitution and unemployment are higher than ever in spite of the establishment of so-called democracies, said Gustavo Cabrerra of Justice and Peace Service. Bruce Harris, the coordinator of NGOs present for the OAS General Assembly, said that child prostitution is of especial concern -- particularly in Costa Rica, the host nation for the meeting. He was joined in his condemnation by Norma Pereira of the NGO Cefemina and Juan Carlos Gutierrez, director of the Center for Justice and International Rights. Gutierrez said that some 60 ONGs would be present for the OAS meeting demanding member states stand by their commitment to human rights made in Canada at last year's assembly. Norma Pereira said that she wanted a call to account of the work done to combat disappearances, assassinations and kidnappings in a variety of nations in the region. She and others will ask for more resources to be dedicated to the defense of human rights in Latin America. One of their goals is to assure that the Interamerican Human Rights Court is maintained on a permanent basis to investigate and try cases of human rights abuse. *UN OFFICE FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE Geneva, 22nd May (RHC)--The United Nations Coordinating Office for Humanitarian Affairs has received only 23% of the funds it was pledged to assist the 44 million people in 19 regions of the world that are considered to be in a state of emergency. The director of the UN Office, Ross Mountain, explained in a press conference Tuesday, that of the $2.7 billion promised only $640 million had been forthcoming. The money has also been erratic with some 30% received for Asian and European programs while only 17% has been received for Africa. The UN agency's main operations are currently working in SW Europe, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Korea, Angola, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Tajikistan. Although the major part of donations have been for food relief, Mountain reported that the essential areas of education and agriculture have been practically ignored by donor nations. He said there was a need to see beyond the immediate need of feeding people to prevent future conflicts and disasters. He said that his office as well as many others in the UN constantly lacked funds to do the work they were supposed to be doing. The United States has been blamed by critics in the United Nations for much of the shortfall, paying its dues late or denying funds that it owes to the UN due to it not being voted onto the UN Human Rights Commission for the current term. Viewpoint: *FOR MID-EAST PEACE, US SHOULD FORCE ISRAEL TO STOP THE KILLING A five-person international commission headed by US Democratic senator George Mitchell, has presented a report to both sides in the Middle East conflict. The document contains some of the Palestinian's demands which must be met before they return to the negotiating table. Palestinian planning minister, Nabil Shaath, informed US president George W. Bush of the report last Tuesday during a meeting in Washington. At first Tel Aviv quickly dismissed the Mitchell report and accused the Palestinians of being responsible for most of the violence in the Middle East in which more than 500 people have died, 85% of whom are Palestinians. That is because the Palestinians are unarmed and the Israelis have an arsenal of high tech killing machines. Among the changes demanded by the Palestinians is that all Israeli troops be withdrawn from the occupied territories. Another fundamental part of any agreement is that the Israelis put a stop to the building of Jewish settlements there. The Palestinians also demand that economic pressures against them be ended. Unemployment among Arabs in the occupied territories is more than 30 percent because there are simply not enough jobs in the in the areas to which they are confined. The Mitchell report is in agreement with these points. Ariel Sharon has called on the Palestinians to end the violence but few believe that it is the Palestinians who are causing the violence. One thing is certain: the only way to return to the bargaining table is to stem the verbal violence and to secure a minimum guarantee that the next time whatever is agreed upon will be complied with and that Sharon will be constrained from sending in his tanks. The massacres must stop and Israel must decide to honor its promises. There is no other solution. The conflict has gone on for too long and has endangered peace in the entire region. All of this depends on the United States. If Washington doesn't act with clarity and precision the problem in the Middel East will continue indefinitely. By now it should be obvious that the Palestinian people will never give up -- something that must always be kept in mind if true peace is to be acheived. Viewpoint: *FOR MID-EAST PEACE, US SHOULD FORCE ISRAEL TO STOP THE KILLING A five-person international commission headed by US Democratic senator George Mitchell, has presented a report to both sides in the Middle East conflict. The document contains some of the Palestinian's demands which must be met before they return to the negotiating table. Palestinian planning minister, Nabil Shaath, informed US president George W. Bush of the report last Tuesday during a meeting in Washington. At first Tel Aviv quickly dismissed the Mitchell report and accused the Palestinians of being responsible for most of the violence in the Middle East in which more than 500 people have died, 85% of whom are Palestinians. That is because the Palestinians are unarmed and the Israelis have an arsenal of high tech killing machines. Among the changes demanded by the Palestinians is that all Israeli troops be withdrawn from the occupied territories. Another fundamental part of any agreement is that the Israelis put a stop to the building of Jewish settlements there. The Palestinians also demand that economic pressures against them be ended. Unemployment among Arabs in the occupied territories is more than 30 percent because there are simply not enough jobs in the in the areas to which they are confined. The Mitchell report is in agreement with these points. Ariel Sharon has called on the Palestinians to end the violence but few believe that it is the Palestinians who are causing the violence. One thing is certain: the only way to return to the bargaining table is to stem the verbal violence and to secure a minimum guarantee that the next time whatever is agreed upon will be complied with and that Sharon will be constrained from sending in his tanks. The massacres must stop and Israel must decide to honor its promises. There is no other solution. The conflict has gone on for too long and has endangered peace in the entire region. All of this depends on the United States. If Washington doesn't act with clarity and precision the problem in the Middel East will continue indefinitely. By now it should be obvious that the Palestinian people will never give up -- something that must always be kept in mind if true peace is to be acheived. (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-32068 2001-May-23 02:27:56