RHC Weekend-24/25 November 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 24/25 November 2001 . *FIDEL SAYS WASHINGTON'S OFFER OF AID A "GOOD GESTURE" *CARLOS LAGE REMINDS SUMMIT OF CUBA'S STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM *CUBA'S MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT BEGINS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO RUSSIA *GUYANA'S FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER DUE IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY *MEXICO CITY LEGISLATORS DONATE EQUIVALENT OF A DAY'S SALARY TO CUBA *CUBA'S BALLET COMPANY PACKS THE KENNEDY CENTER'S OPERA HOUSE ONCE AGAIN *ISRAEL CONDEMNED AFTER ANOTHER PALESTINIAN LEADER ASSASSINATED *ARAB LEAGUE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED "CRIMINAL ISRAELI AGGRESSION" *TALIBAN PREPARE TO DEFEND KANDAHAR AS KUNDUZ ABOUT TO FALL *EX-KING ZAHIR SHAH SENDS A MESSAGE TO AFGHAN WOMEN *BRAZIL RESPONDS WITH ANGER TO US DIPLOMAT'S "TERROR NETWORK" ACCUSATIONS *NEW CONTACTS WITH REBELS RENEW HOPES FOR COLOMBIAN PEACE . *FIDEL SAYS WASHINGTON'S OFFER OF AID A "GOOD GESTURE" Havana, November 24 (RHC)--Cuban president Fidel Castro Saturday qualified as "a good gesture" humanitarian aid offered by the United States in the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Michele. If the aid package comes through it will be the first time in four decades that a commercial operation has taken place between both nations. The United states maintains a 40 year old economic blockade against the island. According to statements made by Vice President Carlos Lage who is attending the 11th Iberoamerican Summit in Lima, Peru, the Cuban leader chose not to attend the Summit for the first time since its inception due to the pressing needs of the population in areas devastated by the hurricane. Speaking in the south-western town of Artemisa which was badly hit by Michele, Fidel Castro also announced an increase in retirement benefits paid to Cuban senior citizens. He added that at the current rate of recovery almost all the houses destroyed by the hurricane would be rebuilt within a year. "No cyclone can derail this Revolution or the spirit of its people," said the President. *CARLOS LAGE REMINDS SUMMIT OF CUBA'S STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM Lima, November 24 (RHC)--On the second day of the 11th Iberoamerican Summit as 20 Latin American leaders along with those of Spain and Portugal debated their opposition to terrorism wherever it occurs, Cuban vice-president Carlos Lage reminded those present that his country had been very vocal on this point at the previous summit in Panama City last year. "We would remind you all of the debate that ensued when the proposal to condemn terrorism against Spain was presented as a resolution," said Lage. Cuba at that time disagreed with the resolution because it singled out only Spain for consideration when Cuba was suffering acts of terrorism perpetrated against it over the past forty years. Havana at that time proposed a blanket condemnation of any form of terrorism regardless of source but was overruled in a heated discussion in which Cuban president Fidel Castro reacted to a condemnation of Cuba by Salvadorean President Francisco Flores by reminding him of his government's support of terrorism against Cuba over many years. In later declarations to the press, Carlos Lage deplored the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the rich nations of the West upon the Third World. He said that a full ten years after the application of free market economic principles across the globe, underdeveloped countries - especially those in Latin America - were reeling from the full force of the social destruction wrought. Also present at the Summit is Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque who in an interview on Peruvian radio Saturday, said that Cuba is far from being isolated. Alluding to the United States he added that the one country that perpetrates the blockade is that which finds itself increasingly isolated on the world's political stage. Cuba has diplomatic relations with 171 countries, added the Foreign Minister, with nearly 2 million tourists visiting Cuba this year. *CUBA'S MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT BEGINS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO RUSSIA Havana, November 24 (RHC)--Cuban Minister of Government, Ricardo Cabrisas, Saturday begun a four-day official visit to Russia. According to Moscow's diplomatic sources, the aim of the visit is to analyze issues related to bilateral economic cooperation between both nations. The Cuban minister of government will meet with his Russian counterpart, Serguei Shoigu, on Monday as well as with other Russian representatives of important ministries including economic development, trade and health. *GUYANA'S FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER DUE IN HAVANA ON SUNDAY Havana, November 24 (RHC)--Guyana's foreign trade minister, Clement J. Roe, will arrive in Cuba on Sunday afternoon to participate in a joint inter-governmental commission which is scheduled to begin on Monday. The work agenda of the Guyanese minister includes a meeting on Tuesday with his Cuban counterpart, Raul de la Nuez, and with the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Carricarte, among other activities. Clement Roe will also meet with the Cuban vice-minister of foreign affairs, Fernando Ramirez de Estenoz on Wednesday, a day in which the sessions of the inter-governmental commission will be suspended. *MEXICO CITY LEGISLATORS DONATE EQUIVALENT OF A DAY'S SALARY TO CUBA Mexico City, November 24 (RHC)--Mexico legislators have donated a day's salary to Cuba -- equivalent to some 200 dollars per person -- to contribute to alleviate the devastating consequences of Hurricane Michelle. The Mexican legislators said that such a contribution is also a new way to protest the U.S. economic blockade imposed on the island for over 40 years. In addition, the Mexican Senate and the Chamber of Deputies expressed their intention to help Cuba in its process of recovery in the wake of the hurricane as well as their support and solidarity in demanding the U.S. blockade be finally lifted. Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party also urged its country's authorities to assist Cuba and thus maintain the Mexican people's tradition of solidarity with nations with most needs. So far, social organizations, governmental authorities and Mexican citizens have spontaneously donated 42 tons of food and medicine to the Cuban people affected by the path of Hurricane Michelle. *CUBA'S BALLET COMPANY PACKS THE KENNEDY CENTER'S OPERA HOUSE ONCE AGAIN Washington, November 24 (RHC)--During their second night in Washington, Cuba's Ballet Company packed the Kennedy Center's Opera House once again, with their acclaimed presentation of "Coppelia." Applauding the Cuban dancers, and especially the stars of the night, Viengsay Valdes and Victor Gili (interpreting Swanilda and Franz), the public rewarded their brilliant performance with standing ovations and loud exclamations of "Bravo!" at the end of the ballet. A solid coherence between acting and dance was the most outstanding element of this first "Coppelia" after 22 years of absence from the stages of the US capital. Accompanied by an orchestra directed by Ivan del Prado, the Cuban Ballet Company left a memorable night to both critics and public, a night abundant in talent but, above all, in art. *ISRAEL CONDEMNED AFTER ANOTHER PALESTINIAN LEADER ASSASSINATED Havana, November 24 (RHC)--In the aftermath of another targeted assassination of a Palestinian leader by the Israeli security forces, some 50,000 people participated in the West Bank funeral of Mahmud Abu Hanud, Saturday. Abu Hanud, who was killed along with two bodyguards by helicopter-fired missiles, was one of the most senior leaders of the Islamic resistance organization, Hamas. His death has created fear in Israel that it will be avenged in the cycle of killing for killing that has engulfed the Middle East. The government of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that the selective assassination had been justified because Hanud had been preparing what they termed "new massacres." No proof of the charge was presented. Israel has been internationally condemned for its open policy of targeting Palestinian leaders and activists for assassination. Palestinian National Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina, said that Tel Aviv was solely responsible for what may occur in the wake of the assassination. In related news, the Israeli army has admitted planting the explosive that killed five Palestinian children as they crossed a sand dune on the way to school earlier this week. The children were all related and were aged between six and 14 years. Calling the deaths of the children a "grave operational mishap," a senior security official told Ma'ariv newspaper that a special army unit had invaded the neighborhood in the Gaza Strip and placed the explosive device aimed at Palestinian militants he said were operating in the area. Israeli politicians reacted with condemnation and horror demanding to know what the army was doing placing bombs in residential districts. Even allies of Ariel Sharon responded with disgust with one of his supporters in the Knesset, Dan Meridor, calling the deaths "appalling and horrible." Sharon's defense minister promised that an investigation would be carried out. However, in the protests that followed the funeral of the children, Israeli security forces made matters worse by opening fire and killing another 15 year old Palestinian child. *ARAB LEAGUE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED "CRIMINAL ISRAELI AGGRESSION" Cairo, November 24 (RHC)--The leader of the Arab League, Amir Mussa has termed as "criminal" continued Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank over the last few days. Mussa told the press in Cairo that the Israeli policy is a challenge to the United States and a rejection of statements made by Secretary of State, Colin Powell. The Arab League leader stated that he did not believe it would be possible for U.S. Middle East envoys, Anthony Zinni and William Burns to fulfill their mission as long as the Israelis continue destroying and killing in the occupied territories. Mussa wondered whether Washington would now oppose Tel Aviv's policy of assassinations in order to save the peace process. On Novemeber 20th U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a speech on the Mid East which the Arab league had considered to be a new, more positive position on the crisis *TALIBAN PREPARE TO DEFEND KANDAHAR AS KUNDUZ ABOUT TO FALL Islamabad, November 24 (RHC)--In Afghanistan, the southern Taliban stronghold of Kandahar is preparing to defend the city reportedly to the death, says a former Taliban commander who escaped from the city Friday night. Mullah Bismillah told reporters on the ground that moral was strong in the Taliban ranks and that they had hundreds of tanks ready to fight. He added that Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader, was present in Kandahar and was exhorting his soldiers not to surrender under any circumstances. In the northern town of Kunduz where thousands of Taliban troops are surrounded, there are fears of a coming bloodbath as Northern Alliance muhajedeen warlords prepare to claim the city for themselves. Knowing that they will not be offered quarter by the muhajedeen, Arab, Chechen and Pakistani fighters have reportedly killed hundreds of Afghan Taliban militia as they attempted to surrender. US and British military experts -- who have placed the war in the hands of bombers from the air and the rough coalition of Northern Alliance muhajedeen forces on the ground -- were reportedly attempting to avoid a massacre reminding Alliance leaders that "the eyes of the world were upon them." In Kandahar, the bombing is so intense that most ministries and offices have been destroyed according to al-Jazeera TV reporter Yousef al-Shouly. In statements to the English daily, The Guardian, al-Shouly said that some half of the city's 800,000 population have fled and that he himself had had to help dig a trench in the grounds of his office as shelter. In London, the defense department was taking further steps to backtrack from previous commitments to send in British troops. Only about 100 Royal Marines are currently serving in Afghanistan although Prime Minister Tony Blair has placed another 6,000 military personnel on stand-by. British public opposition to the war how grown far faster than in the United States and politicians are now treading carefully before committing any more troops, although the government's development minister, Clare Short, has used the protection of humanitarian aid as an excuse to support sending in more soldiers. *EX-KING ZAHIR SHAH SENDS A MESSAGE TO AFGHAN WOMEN Rome, November 24 (RHC)--Afghanistan's former king, Zahir Shah, has sent a message of support to the women of Afghanistan. In what some experts see as a move to gain the backing of the women of the war-torn nation, the statement was released in Rome during a world day of fasting and non-violence convened by the Afghan Radical Transnational Party aimed at securing representation for women in the provisional government. The message, which was read by the former king's son Nirwais, says that a society which denies women the right to be seen and to barely see themselves is itself blind and recognizes that in recent years Afghan women have been denied the right of expression and have been forced to cover themselves to keep from being seen. The statement mentions that not long ago the experience and knowledge of the women of Afghanistan was indispensable to the development of the nation and it pledges that the former monarch and his supporters will do everything possible to ensure women's participation in the reconstruction and future of the country. *BRAZIL RESPONDS WITH ANGER TO US DIPLOMAT'S "TERROR NETWORK" ACCUSATIONS Rio de Janeiro, November 24 (RHC)--Brazil's foreign ministry has demanded an explanation over unfounded claims by the U.S. embassy's commercial attaché of the existence of a terrorist network in the southern city of Foz de Iguazu. In a brief note, the "O Globo" newspaper made a sharp reference statements made by the U.S. diplomat, who publicly doubted words by the Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso that there is absolutely no evidence of the existence of Al Queda terrorist cells or financing in Foz de Iguazu. The Brazilian leader made the statement in a parliamentary conference in which he urged participants to make sure that the struggle against terrorism does not eclipse the fight against poverty and social inequality, which is his opinion, are Latin America's most serious problems. The next day the U.S. diplomat, in the same conference, reiterated Washington's claims that business representatives of Arab origin operating on the Brazilian, Argentine, Paraguayan border, were financing terrorism. Brazil's president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso noted that neither the CIA, nor Brazilian intelligence has detected the existence of terrorist cells along the triple border. *NEW CONTACTS WITH REBELS RENEW HOPES FOR COLOMBIAN PEACE Bogota, November 24 (RHC)--Hopes for peace in Colombia were given new life on Saturday after negotiations were unblocked with the Revolutionary Armed Forces, FARC and new contacts were planned with the National Liberation Army. According to the high commissioner for peace, Camilo Gomez, there now exists a "highly favorable" atmosphere to overcome obstacles that have kept the peace process with the FARC stalled since October. The official said that good news can be expected in the next few days. On Friday Gomez met with two rebel representatives in Colombia's southern neutral zone in an attempt to restart the dialogue, which was frozen by the guerillas who oppose military inspections of the area. According to Gomez, the successful meeting has opened the way towards re-establishing talks between rebels and the government. The high commissioner for peace will now meet with representatives of the other major insurgent group, the National Liberation Army, ELN. The FARC has demanded and end to military flights over the neutral area and a statement by the government on whether they consider the rebel group to be terrorist, as a condition for returning to the negotiating table. The United States has placed the FARC on a list of organizations it considers to be terrorist organizations. Participating in the new round of contacts are countries friendly to negotiations with the ELN including, Switzerland, France, Spain, Cuba and Norway. (c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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