RHC Weekend-22 September 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 22 September 2001 . *CUBA IS AGAINST TERRORISM AND IRRATIONAL WAR: FIDEL CASTRO *CUBA WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH BELIZE, SAYS RICARDO ALARCON *CUBA AND VIETNAM SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT *CUBAN PIONEER CHILDREN MARK 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CDRs *WAR OF VENGEANCE MAKES US NO BETTER THAN TERRORISTS, SAYS NOBEL LAUREATE *VENEZUELA OPPOSES ANTI-TERRORIST METHODS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO TERRORISM *INFLUENTIAL BRAZILIAN DAILY BLASTS BUSH'S BELLIGERENT, UNILATERAL RHETORIC *THE ONLY WAR WE NEED IS ONE AGAINST POVERTY: ARGENTINA LABOR LEADER *WRITER UMBERTO ECO CALLS BUSH'S CRUSADE AGAINST TERRORISM DEMENTED . *CUBA IS AGAINST TERRORISM AND IRRATIONAL WAR: FIDEL CASTRO Havana, September 22 (RHC)--In response to US President George Bush's "with-us-or-against-us" speech, Cuban President Fidel Castro has affirmed that Cuba is against terrorism but does not side with Washington's irrational war. Speaking before tens of thousands of Cubans at a political rally on the outskirts of Havana, the Cuban leader said no one can deny that terrorism is today a dangerous and ethically indefensible phenomenon that should be eradicated, regardless of its deep origins and the economic and political factors that brought it and those responsible for it to life. He said that the unanimous irritation caused by the human and psychological damage brought on the American people by the unexpected and shocking death of thousands of innocent people, whose images have shocked the world, is perfectly understandable. But, added the Cuban President, only the extreme right has profited -- the backward forces, in favor of crushing a growing world rebellion and sweeping away everything progressive that still remains on this planet. He said this tragedy, however, should not be used to recklessly start a war that could unleash an endless carnage of innocent people in the name of justice -- a war, he added, that was thought out well in advance and that was just waiting for its chance to materialize. The Cuban leader said that in the aftershock of the atrocious and insane terrorist attack against the American people, the extremist ideologists and belligerent hawks in positions of power have taken control of a country with an enormous military and technological capacity to kill, but with a minimal inclination towards equanimity, serenity, thoughtfulness and restraint. Fidel Castro said the first victims of whatever military actions are undertaken will be the billions of people living in the poor and underdeveloped world, with their unbelievable economic and social problems, their unpayable debts, the ruinous prices of their basic commodities, their growing natural and ecological catastrophes, their hunger and misery, the massive undernourishment of their children, teenagers and adults, their terrible AIDS epidemic, their malaria, their tuberculosis and their infectious diseases, which threaten entire nations with extermination. The Cuban leader asked whether there can be any hope after George Bush's speech. Making reference to statements from the White House on the use of "every necessary weapon of war" and a "lengthy campaign unlike any other," President Castro said that particularly worrisome is Bush's affirmation that "the course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain and we know that God is not neutral." He said that when he thinks about the real or imagined parties involved in the bizarre holy war that is about to begin, he finds it difficult to distinguish where fanaticism is stronger. Noting that Bush ordered everyone to ally either with the United States government or with terrorism, Fidel Castro said Cuba -- the country that has suffered the most and the longest from terrorist actions -- claims with a high morale that it is opposed to terrorism and opposed to war. Although the possibilities are now remote, he said, Cuba reaffirms the need to avert a war of unpredictable consequences whose very authors have admitted to not having the least idea how events will unfold. President Castro said Cuba will never declare itself the enemy of the American people and its territory will never be used for terrorist actions against the American people, but that Cuba will defend its independence, its principles and its social achievement with honor, and to the last drop of blood if Cuba is attacked. *CUBA WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH BELIZE, SAYS RICARDO ALARCON Havana, September 22 (RHC)--Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon reaffirmed the island's determination to continue cooperating with Belize, where there are currently some 180 Cuban specialists offering their services, primarily in the field of health. Alarcon is in Belize, heading the Cuban delegation to festivities on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Belize's independence from British rule. Cuba's top legislator stressed that cooperation between the two nations is mutually beneficial, pointing to the valuable contribution of the only English-speaking nation in Central America to programs to improve teaching of the English language here on the island. The President of the Cuban Parliament stated that the bilateral cooperation between Cuba and Belize is a perfect example of South-South cooperation, involving two developing nations whose tremendous wealth can be found not in their scarce capital, but in their vast human resources. For his part, Belize's Prime Minister Said Musa thanked Cuba for its support of his country's independence twenty years ago, as well as the island's cooperation with the Central American nation ever since. *CUBA AND VIETNAM SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT Havana, September 22 (RHC)--Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and his Cuban counterpart Felipe Perez Roque have signed a cooperation agreement ratifying the governments' willingness to further strengthen the already excellent relations that exist between the two nations at all levels. The two dignitaries held official talks on Friday, during which they discussed issues of common interest, as well as the extremely difficult international situation, marked by the imminent threat posed by an impending U.S.-led military attack against Afghanistan in retaliation for the terrorist attacks of September 11 against public and federal installations in the United States. Also on Friday, the top Vietnamese diplomat awarded Cuban Defense Minister Raul Castro Ruz and Heroine Melba Hernandez with the Golden Star and the Ho Chi Minh Orders, respectively, for their decisive contribution in strengthening the bonds of friendship and solidarity between Havana and Hanoi. During his stay on the island, which runs through Sunday, the Vietnamese foreign minister is scheduled to meet with other leaders of the Cuban Communist Party and tour places of scientific, cultural, socioeconomic and historical interest. *CUBAN PIONEER CHILDREN MARK 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CDRs Havana, September 22 (RHC)--The youngest generation of Cubans paid homage to the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the CDRs, this Friday, with the mass night guard organized by the Jose Marti Pioneer Children's Organization in every neighborhood island wide. The traditional pioneer children's guard is part of activities to mark the 41st anniversary of the CDRs on September 28th. Dressed in their school uniforms, the young Cubans patrolled the streets accompanied by members of the National Revolutionary Police, the PNR, to make a contribution to the primary task of the CDRs: To provide security for the citizenry and protect all socioeconomic sites. The activity was also an occasion to congratulate CDR members for their outstanding performance in other important tasks developed by the CDRs, such as blood donations and the collection of raw materials. *WAR OF VENGEANCE MAKES US NO BETTER THAN TERRORISTS, SAYS NOBEL LAUREATE Managua, September 22 (RHC)--While most governments are expressing support for George Bush's "with-us-or-against-us" speech, numerous voices are deploring its warlike and vengeful tone. Jody Williams, 1997 US Nobel Peace laureate, stated that a war of vengeance would make Washington no better than the terrorists. Speaking in Nicaragua, where she is attending a conference on the elimination of landmines together with delegates from 72 countries and 100 international agencies, Williams acknowledged that many Americans want vengeance in the emotion of the moment but, she added, it's the US government's duty to calm that emotion and to evaluate what has occurred and what are the long-term consequences. She characterized telling the world that you are either with Washington or with the terrorists as simplistic. While terming the attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon horrible, the founder of the International Campaign to Prohibit Land Mines recalled that many nations, including Arab nations, have suffered and continue to suffer from the actions of circles of power in her country. Williams said those circles of power are now exacerbating passions to garner support to as to do whatever they want. She said she believes that Washington's intentions go far beyond a struggle against terrorism, and that the government is also targeting those who think differently. *VENEZUELA OPPOSES ANTI-TERRORIST METHODS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO TERRORISM Caracas, September 22 (RHC)--The government of Venezuela has stated that it is not in favor of anti-terrorist methods that are equivalent to terrorism. While reaffirming his government's condemnation of international terrorism, Venezuelan Defense Minister Jose Vicente Rangel said his country will not participate in any irrational and thoughtless action. In response to George Bush's Thursday evening speech, Rangel said that to put forth the idea of being in favor of or against the United States is to put forth a false dichotomy. He said it's not a question of being with or against Washington, but of being with or against terrorism. Stating that Venezuela will not aquiesce to measures that could affect innocent persons and get out of control, the Venezuelan Defense Minister said his country's position is to respect international mechanisms that regulate the type of actions Washington is promoting -- mechanisms, he added, that have in the past been ignored in the use of force and violence. *INFLUENTIAL BRAZILIAN DAILY BLASTS BUSH'S BELLIGERENT, UNILATERAL RHETORIC Sao Paulo, September 22 (RHC)--The influential Brazilian news daily "O Estado de Sao Paulo" has regretted that President George Bush subordinated politics and diplomacy to belligerent and unilateral rhetoric during his Thursday speech before Congress. An editorial in the news daily noted that Bush used the word "war" 12 times during his speech, while not referring even once to the participation of the United Nations in the struggle against terrorism, to the need to seek peace between Israelis and Palestinians or to the need to attack the primary cause of fundamentalist atrocities which, it said, is the abject living conditions of Islamic populations. The editorial noted that hardliners in the Bush administration are using the term "war" literally, instead of as a metaphor for struggle, commitment and perseverance. *THE ONLY WAR WE NEED IS ONE AGAINST POVERTY: ARGENTINA LABOR LEADER Buenos Aires, September 22 (RHC)--Argentinean labor leader Victor De Genaro has asserted that the only war in which social activists in his country are willing to participate is the war against poverty, hunger and unemployment. De Genaro spoke on Friday in Buenos Aires before nearly 20,000 people culminating a protest march of 23,500 kilometers that passed through 82 Argentinean cities. The leader of the militant Argentine Workers Central criticized the government's desire to incorporate the nation into Washington's "war on terrorism" when in his country 100 newborns die every day, 2.5 million people are jobless and 14 million of Argentina's 37 million people live below the poverty line. The "march against poverty" began the same day as the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and ended 11 days later. *WRITER UMBERTO ECO CALLS BUSH'S CRUSADE AGAINST TERRORISM DEMENTED Rome, September 22 (RHC)--Renowned Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco has characterized as "demented" the crusade against terrorism announced by the US President. He said such a crusade would lead to a permanent situation of war and without territorial limits. The author of the best-seller "The Name of the Rose" said that it's a mistake to confuse fundamentalism and terrorism with the Islamic faith. Eco said that generally in a war, the enemy can be intimidated with threats to kill, but that now we are witnesses to individuals willing to kill themselves. "What then," he asked, "is to be done?" He said the lack of a visible enemy and a defined territory has not only changed the definition of war, but also the definition of what is an army -- definitions, he added, that even army generals have not come up with. (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-6141 2001-Sep-23 06:00:05