Radio Havana Cuba-31 May 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 31 May 2001 . *CUBA DEPLORES PANAMA'S REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE POSADA CARRILES *FIFTH US-CUBA BUSINESS MEETING SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK *VIETNAM AND CUBA CELEBRATE THEIR LONG-STANDING FRIENDSHIP *REMOTE CAMAGUEY SCHOOLS GET AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT *CUBA'S NEW MINISTRY AIMS TO STOP CORRUPTION BEFORE IT STARTS *JAZZ PIANIST CHUCHO VALDES THANKS PUERTO RICO FOR HONORING HIM *HUGO CHAVEZ URGES A UNITED VOICE AMONG G15 NATIONS *JEFFORDS RECEIVES DEATH THREATS AFTER LEAVING REPUBLICANS *NEW DETAILS ON THE CIA's ROLE IN TRUJILLO ASSASSINATION *CUBA OBSERVES "NON-SMOKING DAY" Viewpoint: *CUBA'S POPULATION TRENDS MIRROR DEMOGRAPHICS OF DEVELOPED WORLD . *CUBA DEPLORES PANAMA'S REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE POSADA CARRILES Havana, May 31 (RHC)--In light of the Panamanian government's continued refusal to extradite Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, Cuba has reiterated its condemnation of that decision. In April, the Panamanian foreign ministry officially communicated the decision to Cuban authorities. Havana responded on May 2nd in an official statement from the Cuban foreign ministry. On May 14th, Panama sent another official note attempting to justify its refusal to extradite Posada Carriles and three other terrorists of Cuban origin involved in an assassination plot against Cuban President Fidel Castro. The Cuban foreign ministry yesterday published its latest response, asserting that the Panamanian government has made a frivolous interpretation of its own legislation by insisting that the terrorists be tried in Panama. The statement points out that the Panamanian legislation in question clearly states that authorities can postpone extradition when the accused have been charged in Panama. On May 14th, Panama reiterated its argument concerning reciprocity due to Cuba's refusal in 1993 to extradite a Panamanian who had sought asylum in Cuba for political motives. The Cuban foreign ministry responded that the Panamanian in question was given safe conduct by Panamanian authorities themselves, and noted that charges of homicide against the individual only surfaced after he was in Cuba. The May 2nd Cuban foreign ministry statement had recalled that this Panamanian exile later returned to his country without being charged or arrested. Today's Cuban foreign ministry statement affirms the the interpretation of reciprocity by Panamanian authorities is arbitrary and superficial. Panamanian authorities have repeated their position that the extradition request isn't valid because Cuban authorities have not convicted and sentenced the terrorists. But the Cuban foreign ministry yesterday observed that, according to Panama's own legislation and the international Bustamante Code on extradition signed by both countries, extradition is valid when those requested have been sentenced, charged or sought. What has caused the greatest indignation among the Cuban people, says the foreign ministry, is Panama's insistence that Cuba has not presented evidence of the crimes the terrorists have committed. On the contrary, the statement says, Cuba has sent to Panama volumes of detailed information concerning the charges that Cuban authorities have issued against the four, for crimes against the Cuban people committed over the past more than 30 years. Accusing Panama of lacking a political commitment to justice in the case, the Cuban Foreign Ministry expressed its serious doubt that Panamanian authorities will prosecute the four with the full weight of the law. The foreign ministry statement reiterates Cuba's position that Panama will be held responsible and complicit by the international community if the terrorists -- because of pressure from the US government and terrorist elements in Miami -- escape or evade justice for crimes that have cast into mourning dozens of Cuban families and millions of Cubans in general. *FIFTH US-CUBA BUSINESS MEETING SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK Havana, May 31 (RHC)--Cuban and US business representatives are scheduled to meet in Cancun and Havana between June 6-June 9. This will be the fifth US-Cuba business encounter, in which participants will exchange information on the Cuban business scene. More than 50 US business people will first get together in Cancun and then travel to Havana where they will have the opportunity to talk with Cuban officials. the upcoming meeting will allow US business people to examine Cuba's economic system first-hand and to evaluate business possibilities on the island. Despite Washington's economic blockade against Cuba, or perhaps because of it, more and more entrepreneurs from the United States are eager to establish relations with businesses on the island. *VIETNAM AND CUBA CELEBRATE THEIR LONG-STANDING FRIENDSHIP Havana, May 31 (RHC)--Relations between Havana and Hanoi continue to strengthen, with meetings of the 19th Session of the Mixed Inter-governmental Commission underway here in the Cuban capital. During a ceremony held at the Vietnamese Embassy in Havana Rosa Elena Simenon, Cuba's Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment was awarded the Medal of Development, Science and Technology by her Vietnamese counterpart. Expressing her thanks for the distinction, the Cuban minister said that the medal was a symbol of the traditional friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Vietnam, "showing how it is possible to establish the globalization of solidarity between our peoples." Simenon said that in the coming months and years, Cuba and Vietnam will continue to work together to cooperate in new scientific technologies. *REMOTE CAMAGUEY SCHOOLS GET AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT Camaguey, May 31 (RHC)-- With the objective of enhancing the quality of education, the Cuban Ministry of Education has delivered new television sets and video equipment to area schools in the central province of Camaguey. More than 2000 TV sets and 1960 video recorders are now installed in all of the primary schools, high schools and educational centers of the area. Local officials said that to make use of the new equipment, it was first necessary to hook up 60 schools with electricity. The schools -- located in remote, mountainous regions of the province -- had previously operated only during the day with natural sunlight. Now, children from rural areas will be able to benefit from the educational tools of television and video. Camaguey is the third province to provide all schools with audio-visual equipment. There are currently more than 1000 teachers and advisors working in the Ministry of Education's program to raise the level of education in this part of the island. *CUBA'S NEW MINISTRY AIMS TO STOP CORRUPTION BEFORE IT STARTS Havana, May 31 (RHC)--Addressing participants of an international meeting of anti-corruption specialists here in Havana, Lina Pedraza, the new Minister of Audit and Control, said that corruption is not a major social phenomenon in Cuba. Cuba is seeking international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and other forms of corruption at the conference, attended by specialists from other Latin American countries as well as Africa, Asia and Europe, The Minister said that although corruption is not found at high levels of government -- a claim supported by foreign diplomats and business interests -- it is present in middle-level government as well as in both national and foreign firms. While corruption in Cuba has not reached a level of serious concern, the new Ministry of Audit and Control was established to combat corruption on every level and to prevent possible acts of corruption by various means, including addressing vulnerable aspects of the nation's economy. Pedraza said the new ministry is prepared to deal with any situation relating to corruption, on any level. *JAZZ PIANIST CHUCHO VALDES THANKS PUERTO RICO FOR HONORING HIM San Juan, May 31 (RHC)--Internationally renowned pianist and composer Chucho Valdes has expressed his great pleasure upon receiving special recognition from the Puerto Rican Senate. The Cuban musician spoke with reporters in San Juan at the opening of Jazz Fest 2001 -- where he was honored for his spectacular musical career, spanning more than 40 years. Chucho Valdes said he was honored by the tribute rendered to him by the Puerto Rican Senate earlier this week, which "was something I will never forget." The Puerto Rican daily "El Nuevo Dia" declared that dedicating the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest 2001 to him was a "fine tribute" to Valdes. *HUGO CHAVEZ URGES A UNITED VOICE AMONG G15 NATIONS Jakarta, May 31 (RHC)--Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called on the Group of 15 developing nations to unite and become strong so that the rich industrialized north will listen to their voices. Chavez, who delivered the closing speech Thursday at the G-15's 11th summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, said the north-south dialogue is like a solemn procession in the desert, with the north deaf and sometimes even mute. At the Venezuelan president's insistence, the 19 countries now making up the G-15 delayed sessions for the final draft of its first joint declaration since the organization was founded in 1989. At the center of the joint declaration is the call on the industrialized north to share its informatics and communications technology with the south so as to narrow the growing gap between rich and poor nations in this area. But Chavez insisted on more than just a statement, obtaining the formation of a G-15 work commission to pursue the acquisition of the new technologies. The Jakarta Declaration also focuses on the risks and inequities of globalization, calling on the industrialized north to give an example of its commitment to free trade by eliminating their subsidies and adopting protectionist measures in sectors like agriculture and textiles. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blasted what he called efforts by the industrialized nations and the World Trade Organization to impose unjust trade relations on developing countries. Next year, Caracas will be the site of the 12th G-15 summit. *JEFFORDS RECEIVES DEATH THREATS AFTER LEAVING REPUBLICANS Washington, May 31 (RHC)--U.S. Senator James Jeffords has received death threats following his defection from the Republican Party, according to the news daily "USA Today." The newspaper reports that Jeffords is under the protection of plainclothes police officers. Washington, DC Police Chief Dan Nichols refused to comment. Jeffords announced his decision to abandon the Republican Party last week due to what he called his persistent differences with the George Bush administration on numerous issues, including the environment and Star Wars. A week later, Republican attacks against Jeffords have reportedly intensified. Out-going Republican Senate leader Trent Lott, who has to turn over the post to the Democrats because of Jeffords' defection, said the decision of one man has trampled on the will of the American people, calling the decision a "solitary coup d'etat." Democratic control of the Senate is expected to cause serious problems for Bush's legislative agenda. The Democrats will now control key committee chairs, and as such will be able to prioritize their own agenda while blocking that of the Republicans. *NEW DETAILS ON THE CIA's ROLE IN TRUJILLO ASSASSINATION Santo Domingo, May 31 (RHC)--A former U.S. diplomat has revealed further information concerning the CIA's role in the assassination 40 years ago of Dominican dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Henry Dearborn, business attache in the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo at the time of the assassination, told the Dominican newspaper "El Caribe" that the CIA was initially against killing Trujillo, fearing that his removal would lead to the establishment of a progressive government in the Dominican Republic -- particularly following the Cuban Revolution and the failed US invasion at the Bay of Pigs. Dearborn asserted that the CIA was later convinced that it couldn't prevent the assassination plot and agreed to cooperate. Numerous historians and investigative reporters, however, have insisted that Washington -- embarrassed by its support of Trujillo's bloody, 31-year dictatorship -- saw no other alternative. The former US diplomat said that a little less than two months before Trujillo was gunned down by seven assailants, the CIA gave him three M-1 rifles to deliver to the assassins. Dearborn said that, nevertheless, Robert Kennedy -- advisor to his brother on Caribbean affairs -- was in favor of invading the Dominican Republic following Trujillo's assassination on May 30th, 1961. Trujillo's death led to the setting up of a civilian-military junta to govern the country, but the dictator's repressive apparatus acted quickly -- killing or arresting five of the seven conspirators just hours after the assassination. When nationalist members of the Dominican military, together with other progressive forces, staged an armed uprising in 1965, Washington invaded the country with 35,000 troops. *CUBA OBSERVES "NON-SMOKING DAY" Havana, May 31 (RHC)--Cuba, the producer of perhaps the world's best tobacco, is also one of the 191 members of the World Health Organization supporting efforts to combat the habit. For quite a number of years, Cuba has marked May 31st, "International Non-Smoking Day," with special radio and television programs to encourage people to quit. In 1995, Cuba implemented a national program to prevent and control tobacco consumption. . Viewpoint: *CUBA'S POPULATION TRENDS MIRROR DEMOGRAPHICS OF DEVELOPED WORLD Cuba's demographic profile, after forty years of revolutionary process, was recently examined on the daily broadcast Roundtable. Before the Revolution, population growth was an urban phenomenon, centered mostly in Havana where industry and small business became rapidly saturated with workers. This resulted in the rapid growth of an informal sector, overcrowded living conditions and a substantial increase in delinquency. The capital and other major cities in Cuba, similar to urban centers in other countries today, suffered a lack of basic services such as medical attention, education, and social security, result in unemployment and the proliferation of problems such as prostitution, begging, and thousands of desperate people wandering the streets. In the 1970s, Cuba achieved what is called a "period of demographic transition" -- the island attained a balance in its population growth. In this sense, Cuba's demographic make-up corresponds to that established by international organizations according to national characteristics. The Cuban population is currently 52 percent women and 48 percent men. Excessive male mortality, an international phenomenon, has been reflected on the island since 1999. The consequence of low population growth is reflected in a progressive increase in Cubans who are over 60. This situation -- attributed to a combination of high educational levels, women's reproductive freedom and economic constraints -- has prompted Cuban authorities to carry out special studies with a view to maintaining a viable population balance. Despite recent economic difficulties, the Cuban government has managed to intensify agricultural and industrial production, which has helped to stem immigration from the countryside to the major cities, a phenomenon very prevalent in Latin America and other Third World countries. So in spite of Cuba's underdeveloped status and in spite of the economic blockade that has so badly affected the well-being of the population, the island's demographics exhibit the characteristics of First World nations: low population growth and movement within the country. Next year, Cuba will conduct its national census, which will give the government more precise information on the make-up of Cuban society, its distribution and living conditions. The results will help in planning projects to advance Cuban society and further improve the quality of life of the island's people. (c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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