Radio Havana Cuba-09 November 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 09 November 2001 . *CUBA RESPECTFULLY DECLINES U.S. OFFER OF HUMANITARIAN AID, BUT SAYS WASHINGTON CAN STILL HELP IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MICHELLE *CARLOS LAGE: NO ONE WILL BE ABANDONED IN WAKE OF HURRICANE MICHELLE *PEREZ ROQUE WRAPS UP BRIEF VISIT TO MEXICO; HEADS FOR UN IN NEW YORK *CIVIL LIBERTARIANS ALARMED BY US PLAN TO MONITOR LAWYER-CLIENT CALLS *MEXICAN RELEASE OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS APPLAUDED, BUT NOT ENOUGH SAY ACTIVISTS *US LACK OF ACTION ON ABORTION-CLINIC ANTHRAX CASES DEPLORED *PHARMACEUTICAL PATENTS WILL DERAIL WTO GATHERING IN QATAR - NGOs *Viewpoint: MITCH AND MICHELLE AGAINST CENTRAL AMERICA . *CUBA RESPECTFULLY DECLINES U.S. OFFER OF HUMANITARIAN AID, BUT SAYS WASHINGTON CAN STILL HELP IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MICHELLE Havana, November 9 (RHC)-- Cuba has respectfully declined a United States offer of humanitarian aid, but stated that Washington can still help in the aftermath of Hurricane Michelle. While rejecting statements by White House spokesman Ari Fleischer -- who stated that any U.S. aid must not, in his words, benefit the Fidel Castro regime -- Cuba's Foreign Ministry highlighted a respectful offer of aid from the U.S. State Department in a message sent to Havana on 7 November 7th. The State Department conveyed to Cuba its deep concern and regret over the hardships suffered by the Cuban people due to the natural disaster, offering to send to Cuba a team of specialists to evaluate the island's humanitarian needs. On November 8th, the Cuban Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. Interests Section in Havana thanking Washington for its expression of concern, particularly amid more than 40 years of tense relations that unfortunately subsist - noting that this is the first time the U.S. government makes such a humanitarian offer to Cuba. The Cuban Foreign Ministry explained that in the note the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Michelle was detailed, while at the same time explaining to U.S. authorities that Cuba's untouchable reserves for this type of catastrophe are sufficient. Havana stated that what would be helpful -- as an exceptional measure, taking into account numerous US laws, regulations and prohibitions -- is that Washington allow Cuban firms to buy from the U.S. certain amounts of food, medicines and raw materials to produce pharmaceutical products in order to speed up the island's post-hurricane recovery. Cuba called on the U.S. government to authorize the transportation of these products in Cuban merchant marine vessels, since this would be the island's most practical, rapid and economic manner to handle the shipments. The Cuban Foreign Ministry stated that payment for these products -- which Cuba is only requesting in these special circumstances -- will be made in cash, on the spot, whether in U.S. dollars or another convertible currency. The Foreign Ministry affirmed that the State Department's respectful and friendly offer contrasts sharply with the gibberish of the White House spokesman, and that Cuba has responded with an equally respectful and friendly note. *CARLOS LAGE: NO ONE WILL BE ABANDONED IN WAKE OF HURRICANE MICHELLE Havana, November 9 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage presented a detailed report Thursday night on the damages caused by Hurricane Michelle. Lage, who also serves as Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, addressed the nation live on radio and television. Emphasizing that the island's resources, while limited, are prioritized to recovery efforts, the Cuban vice president said that those efforts are directed toward getting Cuba back to normal as quickly as possible. Carlos Lage noted that the task would be difficult, given the enormous damage caused by the storm, but that "the Cuban Revolution has a spirit of struggle." He pointed to the organization, discipline and solidarity that have characterized the Cuban people during this natural disaster and other events over the past 42 years. The Cuban vice president said that last weekend's storm was the worst hurricane to hit the island in more than 50 years. He revealed that the devastating storm affected about 45 percent of the island's territory -- a little over five million of the country's 11 million inhabitants. In terms of agricultural damage, Carlos Lage noted that sugar and citrus were the two export crops most affected by Hurricane Michelle. Nearly one million acres of sugarcane -- which was to be harvested later this month and into December -- was flattened by the hurricane- strength winds. During his special appearance on Cuban radio and television last night, Vice President Lage released the latest figures on the recovery effort. Regarding the restoration of electrical power following the hurricane, the Cuban official said that the province of Pinar del Rio now has 65 percent of its power restored; Havana, the capital, has 85 percent restored; the province of Matanzas: 27 percent; Cienfuegos province: 46 percent; and Villa Clara province has 65 percent of its electrical power restored. While most of the power will be back up by Monday, the 12th, the Cuban vice president said that the restoration of electricity to Villa Clara would take one additional week. And he noted that work crews will need about 30 days to completely reestablish electrical service to the residents of Matanzas and Cienfuegos -- the provinces hardest hit by the storm. Carlos Lage told the nation Thursday night that the island's water system suffered only minor damage and that most interruptions in water service were due to lack of electrical power. Finally, the Cuban vice president wrapped up his special, hour-long address to the nation Thursday night by expressing his confidence that the island will pull itself out of the damages caused by Hurricane Michelle. Cuba's greatest resource is its people, "whose discipline, solidarity and willingness to work hard is the best guarantee for victory". *PEREZ ROQUE WRAPS UP BRIEF VISIT TO MEXICO; HEADS FOR UN IN NEW YORK Mexico City, November 9 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque has wrapped up an official visit to Mexico. The island's top diplomat told reporters in Mexico City that Havana deeply appreciates the solidarity shown by the Mexican people and government to Cuba. Upon his arrival in the Mexican capital on Thursday, the Cuban foreign minister met with Fernándo Margain, head of Foreign Relations of the Mexican Senate. Pérez Roque also visited with other lawmakers in the Mexican Congress, as well as opposition politicians from the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque told journalists that independent of the different positions of Mexican political parties, "there is one thing upon which they all agree: respect for Cuba and developing relations with our country based on mutual respect." Cuba's top diplomat added that Mexico has always had a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. Noting that he felt a great admiration for the Cuban Revolution among the Mexican people, Pérez Roque said many expressed support for Cuba's position against terrorism and against war -- pointing out that "Cuba is able to say out loud what others think but are unable to say". The Cuban foreign minister said he would head the island's delegation to the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled to begin tomorrow, Saturday. During his stay in New York, Felipe Pérez Roque said he would also attend ministerial meetings of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations and the Group of 77. *CIVIL LIBERTARIANS ALARMED BY US PLAN TO MONITOR LAWYER-CLIENT CALLS Washington, November 9 (RHC)-- Human rights activists in the United States have sounded the alarm over the Justice Department's decision to listen in on the conversations of lawyers with clients in federal custody, including people who have been detained but not charged with any crime. Attorney General John Ashcroft approved the eavesdropping rule last week on an emergency basis, without the usual waiting period for public comment. The move has stunned defense lawyers and civil libertarians. American Civil Liberties Union official Laura W. Murphy called it "a terrifying precedent." Irwin Schwartz, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, denounced the eavesdropping as "an abomination", vowing to challenge it in court at the first opportunity. Schwartz said the Code of Professional Responsibility is quite clear: attorneys must maintain confidentiality. If they can't, he added, they can't speak with a client at all and the client is stripped of his Sixth Amendment right to have a lawyer. Kate Martin, director of the Washington-based, non-profit Center for National Security Studies, said the monitoring of witnesses and others who have not been convicted would be "particularly outrageous" and that the idea that his could be happening to innocent people is truly disturbing. The monitoring will reportedly be conducted without a court order whenever certified by the attorney general. The move is the latest in a series of controversial law enforcement measures that critics say is converting the country into a veritable totalitarian police state. *MEXICAN RELEASE OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS APPLAUDED, BUT NOT ENOUGH SAY ACTIVISTS Mexico City, November 9 (RHC)-- Human rights activists in Mexico have asserted that Thursday's release of two environmental activists is a positive move, but is insufficient. Mexican President Vicente Fox announced that he was using his legal attributions to release for humanitarian reasons Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera, arrested two and half years ago in the state of Guerrero as they participated in an anti-deforestation drive. The two indigenous leaders were convicted of planting marijuana and carrying concealed weapons, which an international campaign in their favor denounced as trumped up charges aimed at silencing them. They were reportedly tortured by members of the military. Montiel and Cabrera were reportedly elated over their release, but said they won't rest until they are totally cleared of the charges. Mexico's Greenpeace chapter said releasing them for humanitarian reasons is an affront to human rights activists after international agencies and personalities have for more than two years condemned the arrests, noting that the move comes just three weeks after the assassination of prominent Mexican attorney and human rights activist Digna Ochoa. Ochoa's murder sparked international condemnation, with numerous observers expressing concern that impunity continues to be business as usual in Mexico. Activists have termed as unfortunate that the release of the environmental activists had to wait for the Ochoa crime and the resulting international pressure. *US LACK OF ACTION ON ABORTION-CLINIC ANTHRAX CASES DEPLORED Washington, November 9 (RHC)-- More than 200 abortion clinics in the United States Thursday received mail threatening to contain anthrax, as abortion-rights organizations deplore a lack of action against the attacks on the part of federal authorities. The attack is the second mass mailing in less than a month signed by the Christian fundamentalist Army of God, a group of antiabortion extremists who have claimed responsibility for killing doctors who perform abortions and for bombing clinics. The directors of Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Federation and the Feminist Majority Foundation have again requested a meeting with Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Director Thomas Ridge. Planned Parenthood director Ann Glazier recalled that abortion-rights groups have been asking to meet with Ashcroft since last June, insisting that the country needs to hear the attorney general and Tom Ridge publicly say this is an abhorrent crime and they will make sure every resource that law enforcement needs will be used to find out who is behind it. Abortion-rights groups bitterly opposed Ashcroft's nomination to the country's top law enforcement job out of concern that his personal opposition to the legalization of abortion would get in the way of his mandate to uphold the law. Because there have been so many anthrax threats against abortion clinics in the last three years, abortion-rights groups have developed routines for notifying all clinics of the threats that have been received and most are careful to screen their mail. Only about 10 of the letters were opened, while warnings prevented the delivery of many others. *PHARMACEUTICAL PATENTS WILL DERAIL WTO GATHERING IN QATAR - NGOs Doha, November 9 (RHC)-- As the World Trade Organization gathering that opened Friday in Qatar, non-governmental organizations predicted that it will be a failure due to the dispute over pharmaceutical patent rights. At a press conference in Doha, the Qatari capital, Oxfam International, Doctors Without Borders, and the Third World Network criticized the United States, Japan, Switzerland and Canada for blocking an accord that would allow developing countries to take exceptional measures regarding intellectual property regulations to face health emergencies like the AIDS epidemic. The NGOs charged that Third World proposals on the issue of patent rights have been ignored in the rough draft of the WTO ministerial summit due to pressure from pharmaceutical transnationals. Oxfam representative Michael Bailey said that hopefully Washington's dispute with the German pharmaceutical Bayer over access to the anthrax antibiotic Cipro will make rich countries more sensitive to the health needs of poor countries. He admitted, however, that unfortunately the U.S. government doesn't appear to want budge an inch on the issue after having threatened Bayer that U.S. authorities would ignore the Cipro patent if the price of the medication was not reduced. The activists recalled that more than 14 million people die every year of curable diseases, and that these deaths could be drastically reduced by lowering pharmaceutical prices. In other WTO news, French rural labor leader Jose Bove and some 50 other anti-globalization activists Friday managed to stage a protest in Doha in front of the hall serving as site for the ministerial gathering. The demonstrators put adhesive tape across their mouths to denounce their lack of voice in the World Trade Organization. Once participants were inside the building, they took off the tape and chanted slogans about the organization's lack of democracy and lack of concern for the environment and labor rights. NGOs in Qatar have only managed to acquire less than 400 accreditations to participate, far lower than in the 1999 gathering in Seattle. *Viewpoint: MITCH AND MICHELLE AGAINST CENTRAL AMERICA Before Central America had time to recuperate from being battered by Hurricane Mitch in l998 another natural disaster hit: this time tropical storm Michelle, before it became a hurricane. Michelle before entering Cuba, bore down on the Caribbean, leaving twelve dead in Honduras and Nicaragua, 26 missing and more than 115,000 people had to be evacuated. In Honduras, the powerful storm in just five days brought with it half the country's total yearly rainfall. The natural disaster caused by Michelle come on top of the already critical consequences of Hurricane Mitch, whose winds in l998 caused nearly 6000 deaths and more that six billion dollars worth of damages. Once again Central Americans are faced with blocked highways, flooded crops and towns and homes collapsing due primarily to the unrelenting, torrential rains. Naturally, the affected nations asked other countries and international financial institutions for aid and donations. All of this must be taken in the context of the extreme crisis occurring in Central America. The World Food Organization reports that nearly 70 million people in Latin America are teetering dangerously on the edge of hunger. The countries most affected by poverty and hunger is Nicaragua, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras and regions of Brazil and Colombia. Haitians suffer the most hunger followed by Nicaragua, where 31 percent of the population is malnourished due to lack of food. In the case of Central America, the effects of Hurricane Michelle come on top of a totally different kind of problem: Drought. So far this year a million and a half farmers are going hungry because of lack rain. Of those, 700,000 need urgent aid if they are to survive. Unfortunately, the World Food Program has received just 60 percent of the more than 16,000 tons of food required to care for the hungry in Central America which had been promised by the United States, France, Finland and Sweden. International support is now of the utmost importance especially after tropical storm Michelle slammed into the region, flooding crops just as Central American farmers were preparing for the season's second planting next month. We can only hope that enough aid arrives in time to save those who are hanging onto life by a thin thread. (c) 2001 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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