Radio Havana Cuba-04 September 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 04 September 2001 . *INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONDEMNS US WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN CONFERENCE *INSPECTOR GENERAL OF VENEZUELA'S ARMED FORCES ENDS VISIT TO CUBA *WORLD FOOD FORUM OPENS IN HAVANA *ARGENTINA FACES MORE UNEMPLOYMENT AND MORE PROTESTS *UN STUDY EQUATES NEO-LIBERAL ECONOMICS WITH POVERTY *NICARAGUA RECEIVES HELP FROM FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION *GUATEMALAN FAMINE PROMPTS A STATE OF EMERGENCY *IRAQ WILL FIGHT NEW US SANCTIONS AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL *THOUSANDS WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS WITH NEW U.S. MEGA-MERGER *SEVENTH JAPAN/CUBA WORKSHOP BEGINS IN HAVANA ON WEDNESDAY *NORWEGIANS WARM UP AT HAVANA CLUB SALSA AND RUM FESTIVAL *Viewpoint: THE US-ISRAELI WALKOUT FROM DURBAN JUSTIFIES RACISM . *INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONDEMNS US WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN CONFERENCE Durban, September 4 (RHC)--The international community has strongly condemned Washington's decision to withdraw its low-level delegation from the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. In a statement released by the South African Foreign Ministry, President Thabo Mbeki said that the U.S. withdrawal constitutes a grave mistake and is nothing more than a pretext, demonstrating that the United States is not serious about confronting racism. Soon after the U.S. delegation stood up and left the forum, the Israeli delegation followed suit. The South African president noted that those delegations that withdraw from the World Conference Against Racism not only deprive the U.N.-sponsored meeting of their experience and vision, but also deprive themselves of a vital learning experience. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan -- visiting with African leaders in Kigali, Rwanda -- stated that he was disappointed to see Washington's delegation leave the forum, which he called an important opportunity to discuss the issues of racism and racial discrimination. He said the World Conference Against Racism would not be affected and will continue in the South African port city through the rest of this week. Speaking with reporters in Durban, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the secretary general of the conference, Mary Robinson, affirmed that the gathering would continue. She said that the victims of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia demand solutions from the delegates to the international conference. The UN official recalled the words of Kofi Annan, who had previously stated that to conclude the World Conference Against Racism without a final consensus would only serve to please the worst elements of society. Meanwhile, as news spread of Washington's withdrawal from the meeting, protesters gathered outside the International Convention Center in Durban -- shouting "Shame on the United States," calling for reparations to the victims of slavery and an end to racism. In related news, Cuban President Fidel Castro returned to Havana early Tuesday morning, following his widely acclaimed participation in the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa. On his way back to the Cuban capital, Fidel and his accompanying delegation made a technical stopover in Brazil, where he met with government and political leaders, including the leader of the Workers Party, Luiz Inacio da Silva, popularly known as "Lula." *INSPECTOR GENERAL OF VENEZUELA'S ARMED FORCES ENDS VISIT TO CUBA Havana, September 4 (RHC)--In an ongoing rapprochement between his nation and Cuba, the Inspector General of the Venezuelan armed forces, General Lucas Rincón, Tuesday ended a five-day work visit to the island in which he met with the chief of the Cuban armed forces, Raul Castro. Following a visit by Cuban president Fidel Castro to Caracas for his 75th birthday, the Venezuelan foreign minister, Luis Alfonso Dávila, was in Havana last week, where he commented that his country is maintaining a dynamic foreign policy that seeks to befriend all nations without subordinating itself to any. Cuba opposes the application of the US-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas, about which Venezuela has also expressed severe reservations. Both nations seek greater Latin American integration with Havana suggesting national plebiscites to ascertain whether the populations of the region seek to be effectively under the economic control of Washington. Finally, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said today that it was expecting Wednesday's meeting of a commission that will analyse the Integral Cooperation Accord between Cuba and Venezuela to be a great success. The two nations last year signed the accord that grants preferential oil tariffs to Cuba in return for the island's medical and sports know-how. A number of Venezuelan citizens with complicated medical problems have already been operated on in Cuban hospitals and Havana has doctors and sports trainers working in many parts of Venezuela. Cuba imports 53,000 barrels of oil a day from the South American country. Venezuela has become Cuba's biggest trade partner and includes exports to Havana of ceramics, paper, cardboard, laminated products, steel, and tires. *WORLD FOOD FORUM OPENS IN HAVANA Havana, September 4 (RHC)--With more than 300 delegates representing some 200 social, agrarian, campesino and professional organizations from 50 countries across the globe, the World Food Sovereignty Forum began Monday in Havana. The forum, which is taking place in the capital's Convention Palace, seeks to protect the rights of the world's poor to access to food and the means of food production. Many international experts agree that enough food is produced to feed the world but that distribution is unequal due to international food corporations' profit and loss concerns. Peter Rossett, from the Oakland, California-based organization Food First, gave a lecture entitled "Land Reform and Access to Means of Production," in which he described how the most successful economies nowadays are those with vibrant small farm systems that contribute to regional economic development and lead to strong internal economies. Rossett said that in the five years since the World Food Summit, the situation for the world's poor and hungry has actually become worse. This is mostly due to the opening up of local markets to globalization allowing cheap imports of agricultural products to drive local farmers out of business. This free-trade "mania," as Rossett calls it, is imposed by the United States and other First World nations on the economies of the Third World, preventing land reforms that would promote improved local food distribution. Rossett said that meetings such as the World Food Sovereignty Forum were important in building a global protest movement to protect food sources and distribution, as well as the environment, from the global corporations that are taking over the means of food production and distribution worldwide. The World Food Sovereignty Forum will last through the week. *ARGENTINA FACES MORE UNEMPLOYMENT AND MORE PROTESTS Buenos Aires, September 4 (RHC)--The number of layoffs in Argentina has risen by 152% over the past month. According to a newly published report by an financial consulting firm called Tendencias Economicas, tens of thousands joined the ranks of the unemployed during the month of August, while strikes and labor actions in Argentina rose by ten times compared with the same period last year. The sectors most affected by the new layoffs were the food, textile, construction and communications industries. It was reported that between January and August this year 41,000 workers have lost their jobs and more than 87,000 have been temporarily laid off. Headlines of the main Argentine newspapers expressed grave concern with the situation and contradicted stories by government officials that the economy was on the rebound last month. Reports are also coming in that the governing Alliance Coalition, which brought Argentine President Fernando de la Rua to power in 1999, is rapidly falling apart. One of the founders of the coalition, former vice president Carlos Alvarez, has apparently gone over to a new opposition group, led by a dissident deputy from the Radical Civic Union. Elisa Carrion, president of the new group, announced Tuesday that Alvarez is throwing his support to the opposition organization. Media sources are reporting that the economic policies of President de la Rua have created huge cracks in the governing Alliance. Predictions are coming in that the coalition will not be able to survive the current economic and political crisis in Argentina. *UN STUDY EQUATES NEO-LIBERAL ECONOMICS WITH POVERTY Geneva, September 4 (RHC)--A new study carried out by the United Nations Institute for Social Development warns that free market neo-liberal economic policies are responsible for growing poverty and unemployment in the Third World. The study notes that not only are poor countries at risk, but even wealthy nations are on a collision course as a result of neo-liberal globalization. Released in Geneva, the new report reflects a negative balance throughout the world since the economic summit in Copenhagen in 1995. Strongly criticizing the abandonment of social responsibilities by the State, the study condemns dependence on the private sector. According to the report from the UN Institute for Social Development, the neo-liberal economic model has been totally unable to resolve the problems of unemployment, poverty and hunger. The main problem with neo-liberalism, says the report, is that the fruit of any economic gain is not distributed equitably -- only further widening the gap between rich and poor. *NICARAGUA RECEIVES HELP FROM FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION Managua, September 4 (RHC)--Small farmers in Nicaragua -- affected by a severe drought that is sweeping that Central American nation -- will receive assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization. According to Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Francisco Aguirre, the UN agency will provide aid worth $390,000 to some 10,000 farmers. Aguirre signed an agreement with FAO representative Francisco Roque Castro, earmarking the aid for 20 hard-hit municipalities in the Nicaraguan Departments of Leon and Chinandega. The Food and Agriculture Organization will distribute seeds for corn and sorghum, as well as fertilizers to guarantee a better harvest. It was reported that with this emergency measure, the UN agency has supplied Nicaragua with more than $20 million since 1990. The Nicaraguan foreign minister expressed his appreciation to the Food and Agriculture Organization, noting that the Inter-American Development Bank has also agreed to provide a loan for $3 million to help affected farmers. Last week, thousands of Nicaraguan farmers marched on Managua, the capital, to demand a solution to their problems of land and the lack of food. Following two days of protests, the government conceded some of their demands, offering temporary jobs to 800 farmers who are without food in the northern part of the country. Nicaraguan farm families are reportedly going hungry as a consequence of the severe drought. In addition, the falling price of coffee on the world market has hit farmers hard in northern Nicaragua, where the season's coffee harvest has also been drastically reduced due to adverse weather conditions. *GUATEMALAN FAMINE PROMPTS A STATE OF EMERGENCY Guatemala City, September 4 (RHC)--Faced with famine and hunger in the eastern region of Guatemala, the government has declared a state of emergency through the country, in effect for the next 30 days. Speaking with reporters in Guatemala City, presidential spokesman Jorge Perez said that the special measures will be be used to evaluate the crisis in the affected region, especially in the Department of Chiquimula. Perez noted that the state of emergency will not limit the constitutional guarantees of any of the country's citizens. The Guatemalan Ministries of Agriculture, Public Health, Education and Employment will work with the central government to find a solution to the severe drought in the region. Media reports from the affected area show dramatic images of malnutrition -- sparking a spontaneous movement of solidarity. Food, clothing and medicine have been collected by community organizations throughout Guatemala to be sent to the victims of the famine. *IRAQ WILL FIGHT NEW US SANCTIONS AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL Baghdad, September 4 (RHC)--Iraq will strongly oppose any maneuvers by the United States to present new sanctions against Baghdad to the UN Security Council. Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Ahmed told reporters in Baghdad that any attempt by Washington to restructure sanctions against Iraq will be met forcefully. He noted that Iraq has cultivated improved relations with Arab nations and other countries. Baghdad has called for the total and unconditional lifting of decade-old sanctions imposed by the United Nations under strong pressure by Washington and its allies. The Iraqi foreign minister noted that Moscow is firmly opposed to a continuation of the sanctions, threatening to veto any move by Washington to continue punishing Baghdad. He also expressed his appreciation to other countries on the Security Council who are against the sanctions: Turkey, Syria and Jordan. Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Ahmed called on the international community to respect Iraq's right to sovereignty and self-determination. In related news, U.S. warplanes attacked positions in northern Iraq again today. It was the fourth such attack in less than two weeks. According to the Pentagon, the latest bombing run was in response to so-called "hostile actions" against reconnaissance flights by U.S. and British planes. Baghdad has refused to recognize U.S.-imposed "no fly zones" in the north and south of the country. *THOUSANDS WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS WITH NEW U.S. MEGA-MERGER San Francisco, September 4 (RHC)--More than 13,000 U.S. workers will lose their jobs when two giant corporations -- Hewlett Packard and Compaq -- become one. The announcement was made today at a news conference in San Francisco, California by the Chief Executive Officer of Compaq, Michael Capellas. According to Capellas, the new merger between Hewlett Packard and Compaq will net more than $87 billion annually. While economic analysts are praising the move, observers note that thousands of families will be negatively affected. Reports show that, aside from the 13,000 workers who will soon find themselves among the ranks of the unemployed, Hewlett Packard fired 9,000 of its employees in recent months and Compaq laid off 8,500 workers. Hewlett-Packard is aquiring the Compaq for a price of $25 billion dollars. *SEVENTH JAPAN/CUBA WORKSHOP BEGINS IN HAVANA ON WEDNESDAY Havana, September 4 (RHC)--The Seventh International Cuba/Japan Workshop will open Wednesday in Havana with the objective of strengthening cultural and trade relations between both nations. The event is sponsored by the Center for Asian and Oceanic Studies and the Japan Foundation. The Japanese ambassador to Cuba, Mutsuo Mabuchi, will offer a master conference on the current situation between both nations and their hopes for the future. Themes that will be explored over the next few days will be Japanese emigration to Cuba, efforts at teaching Spanish in Japan and Japanese in Cuba, and the role of Japan in peace and security in Asia and the Pacific. *NORWEGIANS WARM UP AT HAVANA CLUB SALSA AND RUM FESTIVAL Oslo, September 4 (RHC)--With the presence of the famous Cuban salsa group NG la Banda, the pop singer Alina Izquierdo and dancers from the world famous Havana nightclub Tropicana, the Norwegian capital of Oslo warmly celebrated over the weekend a Cuban cultural event named "Havana Club." The films "Fresa y Chocolate," "Guantanamero" and "The Buena Vista Social Club" were presented on huge open-air screens, alongside exhibits and sales of photographs, typical Cuban food, rum and cigars. Salsa dancing shows were also given, attracting thousands of Norwegians in a weekend of festivity and fun that press reports said warmed up the participants' otherwise chilly Scandinavian bottoms. As with much of Europe, Norway is experiencing a period of Cubamania and the folks in Oslo are quickly picking up those sensual moves that make Cuban salsa so popular. *Viewpoint: THE US-ISRAELI WALKOUT FROM DURBAN JUSTIFIES RACISM The United States and its strategic ally in the Middle East -- what we should all now be terming as the Apartheid State of Israel -- Tuesday walked out of the 3rd World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa in an attempt to take the teeth out of its resolutions on Israel. Their complaint? Discussion on the treatment of Palestinians by Israel, which has been likened by most delegates to the conference as in keeping with a system of apartheid. Many of the real representatives of US society -- Latino, African American, and Native American NGOs -- spoke of the genocide against the Palestinian people, as well as the aftermath of slavery and the unjust economic order imposed by Washington upon today's world. During Cuban President Fidel Castro's address at the plenary of the World Conference Against Racism, he said that no one has the right to boycott the international event, whose objective is to ease the terrible sufferings and the enormous injustice that racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia have meant and still means for the immense majority of humanity. The United States government placed unacceptable conditions for its high-level participation on the Durban conference, among which was no reference by participants to the terrible system of apartheid being carried out by its ally Israel. The withdrawal of the US and Israeli delegation from the Conference confirms Washington's and Tel Aviv's racist positions and their lack of political will to carry out a decent and respectful dialogue toward peace in the Middle East. This is a clear political maneuver aimed at weakening the important role of the United Nations whose objective in this gathering is a world without racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. Washington has not been able to find consensus in Durban, so will once again attempt to impose its point of view and the interests of a minority on the rest of us. The United States has not worked towards eliminating racism but instead justifies it. And with this attitude, Washington operates outside international law as it has been doing for many years. This is not the first time that the US government has boycotted an international conference against racism. The first time was in Geneva in 1978 and again in 1983, also in Geneva. So, the George W Bush administration will continue its threatening policy against the United Nations and its agencies. It opposes the work of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization or UNESCO; it still owes UN membership fees; it imposes political conditions that affect the majority of its members; it does not comply with UN resolutions such as that calling for an end to Washington's blockade against Cuba or those calling for an independent state of Palestine; it boycotts environmental agreements such as those of the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming, biological weapons and disarmament. And now it threatens to boycott, of all things, the UN Summit on Children scheduled this month in New York. The United States speaks loudly about democracy but does not comply with what it allegedly defends. Examples are electoral fraud, maintaining military bases abroad against the will of local populations and carrying out destructive military exercises such as those on the Puerto Rican island municipality of Vieques. We should never forget that the very system of apartheid that was defeated in South Africa by those who are today hosting the Conference Against Racism was supported -- we repeat, supported -- by the very two nations that Monday walked out on the rest of the world because it would not sanction a new system of apartheid: Israel and the United States of America. (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-14873 2001-Sep-04 20:47:30