Radio Havana Cuba-31 January 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 31 January 2002 . *WASHINGTON LEANS ON ARGENTINA TO JOIN ANTI-CUBA CAMPAIGN FOR AID *SPANISH UNITED LEFT PARTY LEADER ENDS VISIT TO CUBA *VOLUNTEERS OUT IN THEIR THOUSANDS IN CAMPAIGN AGAINST DENGUE FEVER *FOUR MORE WETLANDS PROPOSED FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION BY CUBA *WORLD SOCIAL FORUM GETS UNDERWAY IN BRAZIL *PROTESTERS GATHER AS RICH AND POWERFUL MEET AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM *SHARON SAYS ARAFAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN "ELIMINATED" YEARS AGO *ISRAEL CONSIDERS PLAN TO CLOSE OFF JERUSALEM *INTERVIEW WITH MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX *Viewpoint: TWO WORLD VIEWS . *WASHINGTON LEANS ON ARGENTINA TO JOIN ANTI-CUBA CAMPAIGN FOR AID Havana, January 31 (RHC)-- Argentine Foreign Minister Carlos Ruckauf recently traveled to the United States, seeking economic assistance for his beleaguered nation. But, according to Cuba's top diplomat, Felipe Perez Roque, the U.S. placed conditions on its aid: jump on Washington's anti-Cuba bandwagon at the UN Human Rights Commission. During a roundtable discussion Wednesday evening -- broadcast live on Cuban radio and television -- Felipe Perez Roque and other panelists examined the pressures on Latin American countries, including Argentina, to go along with the annual resolution against Cuba for alleged human rights violations. The Cuban foreign minister noted that his Argentine counterpart spent only 30 minutes with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday -- coming out of the meeting with a statement that Buenos Aires would jointly work with Washington on the issue of human rights in Cuba. Perez Roque asked how it was possible that the Argentine foreign minister could sell out so quickly and come to an agreement on Cuba, when he supposedly met with U.S. officials to secure economic aid for his bankrupt country. Panelists on last night's roundtable discussion agreed that the United States was turning up the heat on Latin American countries -- aimed at getting their support for Washington's resolution in Geneva to condemn Cuba. They pointed out that the Argentine Foreign Ministry has apparently chosen to repeat last year's performance at the UN Human Rights Commission -- when they voted along with the U.S. against Cuba in exchange for Washington's support of a multi-billion dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund. Juan Antonio Fernandez, the Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry and one of the panelists, said that Washington's resolution in Geneva is an annual circus, designed to demonize Cuba and provide a rationalization for the U.S. blockade against the island. He reminded the audience that Washington was voted off the UN Human Rights Commission last year and, for the first time in 50 years, does not have a seat on the Commission in Geneva. The Cuban Foreign Ministry official also noted that Argentina is undergoing a severe social and economic crisis, leading to scenes of repression in the streets of Buenos Aires and other cities -- hardly putting that country in a position to criticize anyone for alleged human rights violations. *SPANISH UNITED LEFT PARTY LEADER ENDS VISIT TO CUBA Havana, January 31 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro Wednesday met with the coordinator of Spain's United Left Party, Gaspar Llamazares and his delegation who were on an official visit to the island. Llamazares had previously met with Cuban Vice-President Carlos Lage in a general discussion of relations between his party and the Communist Party of Cuba which had extended the invitation for the Spanish dignitary to visit the island. After meeting with the Cuban leader, the delegation accompanied him to the Cuban television studios to attend a round table on the current crisis in Argentina, and Buenos Aires' capitulation to the US government in relation to Cuba, which was attacked in the Cuban daily Granma in Thursday morning's edition. The Spanish politician and his delegation left the island Thursday afternoon. *VOLUNTEERS OUT IN THEIR THOUSANDS IN CAMPAIGN AGAINST DENGUE FEVER Havana, January 31 (RHC)-- In Cuba's massive offensive against the mosquito that spreads the dengue fever virus, the entire student and teacher faculty of a school that trains social workers in the city of Santa Clara have joined thousands of other volunteers traveling to Havana for a weekend fumigation campaign. The campaign to eradicate the Aedes Aegypti mosquito will be concentrating its efforts on Havana's 15 municipalities today, fumigating every single residence for the third time in three weeks. Street fumigation is also taking place. Cuban public health authorities have taken unprecedented steps to prevent the type of epidemic that has hit other nations in the region - especially in Central America - and appear to be gaining ground. The number of confirmed cases of dengue fever infection have dropped and it's hard to find a mosquito in Havana these days. Most of those affected are suffering from the less dangerous viral dengue, but there have been cases of the potentially fatal hemorrhagic dengue and health authorities are taking no chances. All those infected by the hemorrhagic strain have been admitted to the capital's Tropical Medicine Institute for care. More than 1,100 students and 104 professors from Santa Clara were welcomed by colleagues at the social workers school in the Havana suburb of Cojímar, Thursday. *FOUR MORE WETLANDS PROPOSED FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION BY CUBA Havana, January 31 (RHC)-- Cuba is preparing for World Wetlands Day on February 2nd by seeking international recognition of four more wetland sites on the island. Some 20 percent of Cuban territory is covered by wetland ecosystems with the Cienaga de Zapata being the most well-known. Zapata is renowned for its bird population and is within easy reach of the capital, Havana. The proposed new sites include the Cienaga de Lanier which is in the south of the Isle of Youth and consists of 88,000 hectares of wetlands and 38,000 hectares of marine platform as well as a number of biospheres. The 48,000 hectares of wetlands surrounding the Cauto River - Cuba's longest river located in easternmost Granma province - are also being proposed for international sponsorship and protection. It's special features are the diversity of its marine life and aquatic birds. The other two sites under review are the Maximo-Caguey wetlands to the north of the city of Camaguey, famous for its pink flamingos, and the Buenavista falls and caves area in the province of Villa Clara which seeks greater protection against the effects of tourism expansion in the nearby La Bruja and Santa Maria keys. Although Cuba has a record of good preservation and environmental policies it lacks the resources to implement them. International agencies such as UNESCO have stepped in the past to sponsor sites, but more protection is needed, say Cuban wetland experts. *WORLD SOCIAL FORUM GETS UNDERWAY IN BRAZIL Porto Alegre, January 31 (RHC)-- Delegates to the World Social Forum began meeting on Thursday in Porto Alegre -- searching for alternatives to neo-liberal globalization. The meeting is taking place in Brazil to coincide with the World Economic Forum underway in New York City. Under the slogan "Changing the World is Possible," participants at the anti-globalization summit are attending a series of seminars to discuss the current international situation. They plan to develop social and economic alternatives to free-trade globalization, which they say favors rich nations and threatens the world's poor. Among the seminars and workshops in Porto Alegre will be discussions on the world economy, the tragic events of September 11th in the United States, the Argentine economic crisis and world peace. One of the organizers of the World Social Forum, Bernard Cassen, stated that "the shipwreck of Argentina is a real example of the ravages of economic liberalization. He said he works with a group that supports a tax on financial transactions to help the poor. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva -- the leader of Brazil's Worker's Party -- said that while the economic forum in New York is meeting to figure out ways to make more profits and accumulate wealth, the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre is discussing ways to distribute wealth more equitably. Da Silva also condemned the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas, which he called Washington's plan to economically annex the region. *PROTESTERS GATHER AS RICH AND POWERFUL MEET AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM New York City, January 31 (RHC)-- While business leaders and CEOs of the world's major corporations gathered in New York City for the World Economic Forum, protesters are preparing to give them a hardy welcome. According to organizers of the demonstrations, thousands are expected to protest the summit of the world's wealthiest, which runs through Monday, February 4th. One group that is leading protests in New York City is A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). In a statement released Thursday, the group said that the World Economic Forum "will celebrate war in Afghanistan and the Middle East, attacks on civil liberties and corporate tax cuts." The organizers are calling for a protest march near the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Saturday. Some 6000 police and Federal agents are providing security for the event, which observers say has turned the luxurious hotel into an armed camp. One protester told reporters that there are only about 3000 delegates to the event -- giving every rich and famous delegate an average of two armed bodyguards. Another group at the event, Students for Global Justice, stated that the aim of the World Economic Forum is for the world's richest CEOs "to collaborate with the world's most powerful politicians in setting the global economic agenda." Others said that the five-day gathering in New York City is nothing more than greedy corporate leaders discussing how to fatten their bottom lines. *SHARON SAYS ARAFAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN "ELIMINATED" YEARS AGO Jerusalem, January 31 (RHC)-- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview on Thursday that Tel Aviv should have "eliminated" Yasser Arafat in 1982 when it had the Palestinian leader under siege in Beirut. Quoted by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Sharon said: "In Lebanon, it was agreed that Arafat would not be eliminated. To tell the truth, I'm sorry we didn't kill him." Serving as Israel's defense minister during the 1980's, Ariel Sharon directed the invasion of Lebanon -- sending tanks and troops to the outskirts of Beirut where they blocked Yasser Arafat and fighters from the Palestine Liberation Organization. Arafat and the PLO members were finally able to leave Beirut after an internationally-brokered agreement was reached with Tel Aviv. Now Israel's prime minister, Sharon's comments have drawn angry condemnation from Palestinian officials who have accused him of trying to carry out a decades-old vendetta against Yasser Arafat. One Palestinian cabinet member, Saeb Erekat, said that "for prime ministers to openly announce their gangster intentions is a reflection of what kind of government we're dealing with." Reaction to Sharon's comments was also swift in other parts of the world. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, whose country currently holds the European Union's presidency, condemned the Israeli prime minister's statement. Pique told reporters in Madrid that if Sharon indeed said that Arafat should have been killed years ago, he deplores and rejects such comments. Observers noted that Israeli troops and tanks have forcibly confined the Palestinian leader to his office in Ramallah for the past two months, refusing to allow him to leave the area. They point to the similarities when Tel Aviv trapped Arafat in Lebanon 20 years ago -- but Israeli officials have publicly stated that, this time, they have no plans to kill him. *ISRAEL CONSIDERS PLAN TO CLOSE OFF JERUSALEM Jerusalem, January 31 (RHC)-- The Israeli government is studying a plan to surround Jerusalem with fences, roadblocks, electronic surveillance and increased police checkpoints. The plan, known as "Enveloping Jerusalem," was developed by Israel's National Security Council and is being considered by top government officials. Critics of the plan say it would in effect repartition Jerusalem, without actually ensuring Israeli security. The government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon denies that there would be any physical or de facto division of Jerusalem between Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods, but it acknowledges that movement into, out of and around the city would be more difficult under the plan. Police and security officials reportedly had proposed fences or walls to divide parts of Jerusalem. But for Sharon and right-wing members of his government, a wall would signal a willingness by Israel to cede part of the city to the Palestinians and would symbolize a return to pre-1967 borders, before Israel captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan. Tel Aviv insists that Jerusalem is the "eternal, undivided capital" of Israel and firmly rejects Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. The Jerusalem security plan would cost about 35 million dollars and involve hundreds of additional troops patrolling the 33-mile municipal boundary that Israel has drawn around Jerusalem. According to Israeli media, the plan calls for separating Jerusalem from the West Bank by means of roadblocks, ditches and other barriers, including fences. Other areas will be under the control of video cameras, thermal sensors and patrols with night surveillance equipment. One observer said that if the plan is approved, Jerusalem will once again become The Walled City -- noting that it didn't work in the past and won't work now. *INTERVIEW WITH MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX Mexican President Vicente Fox phoned Radio Havana Cuba Wednesday morning and gave us an interview concerning his upcoming visit to the island, to begin Sunday, February 3. The following are highlights of President Fox's comments to Radio Havana Cuba. RHC: President Fox, this would be your second visit to Cuba. Your first visit was in 1999, in your capacity as Governor of the Mexican State of Guanajuato. FOX: "This time, I would visit Cuba in my capacity as President of Mexico at the invitation of President Fidel Castro, who extended his invitation for me to visit Cuba the very day I sworn in as president of Mexico, December 1st, 2000. Today, fortunately we are in a position to respond to that invitation, which for us is very important." RHC: What is the aim of this second visit? FOX: "The objective of this visit is to strengthen our trade relations with Cuba, and promote our mutual investments. In fact, for the first time we can now speak of Cuban investment here in Mexico. On the other hand, Mexican firms have also made important investments in Cuba. What we want is to further promote this type of relationship for the benefit of both nations. We want to further boost bilateral trade relations, which in its current state we consider to be rather incipient. We think that there is great potential to do very much more in terms of trade cooperation with Cuba than we have accomplished thus far." RHC: Last year, Cuba and Mexico took joint, concrete action to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of investment, including the signing of an agreement to promote and protect mutual investments and meetings between officials from the Chambers of Commerce of Mexico and Cuba and a session of the Mexican-Cuban Mixed Cooperation Commission. FOX: "That's what this is all about, to strengthen our bilateral economic, commercial and diplomatic ties. It is important that we discuss and analyze our respective positions regarding relevant international issues. We also want to see the political relationship between our two peoples further strengthened." RHC: This upcoming visit takes place at a time when our two nations are celebrating this year the 100th anniversary of bilateral relations. FOX: "In fact, this year marks the 100th anniversary of Mexican relations with Cuba. It's important that based on this we now promote a new and lasting relationship, which provides ever-new possibilities to strengthen ties between our two peoples." "But, even in the framework of this harmony that has always prevailed in the Mexican-Cuba relationship, we have differences. We maintain a very mature relationship and that is why we can address our differences in a serious, sensible manner. Sometimes, when our opinions on one specific issue differ, we get together and discuss it frankly." RHC: President Fox, Mexico represents Latin America as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. FOX: "Yes, Mexico is now a member of the UN Security Council and that implies a great deal of responsibility. Mexico currently plays an active role within the new system of international relations. For me, it's very important to get together with President Fidel Castro to discuss these international issues, so that we exchange our views and at best, adopt a common position with respect to those issues. In the event our opinions differ, we are both certain that such a difference would never be a motive to damage the long-standing and friendly relations which are highly valued by our two peoples." RHC: Finally, President Fox, could you comment on the role that your nation expects to play as the Latin American representative at the UN Security Council? FOX: "The Mexican position in the end is that we advocate a tireless search for peace and harmony among nations. We promote dialogue, constructive negotiation and the continuous search for world peace." RHC: Thank you very much, President Vicente Fox, for this exclusive interview with Radio Havana Cuba. *Viewpoint: TWO WORLD VIEWS Two very different views of the world are being expressed today in the work agendas of gatherings in two very different parts of the world. The different geographical locations are symbolic because one is in the north, in rich, opulent Manhattan, while the other is taking place in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. But the differences run far deeper than landscape and temperature. The fact is that the two encounters belong to different worlds; not only in points of view, but in way of life, ideals, interests and aspirations. The World Economic Forum, which for three decades met in the Swiss city of Davos and now, for security reasons is being held in New York, functions like an elegant, exclusive club of some 1000 permanent members who pay $30,000.00 each for the honor. Invited guests are powerful impresarios, millionaires, heads of state, and personalities from the world of culture and the sciences. The meeting in Brazil's Porto Alegre, which is taking place for the second time, is something totally different. The gathering's slogan sums it up: "Changing the World is Possible." There are no permanently affiliated members, rather the meeting is an opportunity for all the region's personalities, independent institutions and non-governmental organizations to express their concerns about the state of the planet and the future of humanity. In Manhattan, participants will nibble on crab tarts and will be entertained by Elton John and on Saturday they will dine at New York's exclusive Club 21, after having debated world-shaking topics like "The Integrated Mind" and "Dance and Diversity". Meanwhile in the Third World city of Porto Alegre, the agenda includes discussions on hunger, the denial of the cultural rights of millions of people and the daily violation of human guarantees. Personalities like Noam Chomsky, James Petras, Rigoberta Menchu and Adolfo Perez Esquivel will share their experiences on defending the dignity of human beings, sometimes at the risk of their own lives, in an attempt to build a world which encompasses other worlds and not just that of the intellectual, economic, academic and cultural icons featured in the Manhattan meeting. Two world visions, or two different worlds? The fact is that the two meetings that began on Thursday themselves reflect the dramatic polarization of humanity, the unjust division that capitalism has created between North and South, producing a system based on the exclusion of the majority in exchange for the well-being of a tiny, powerful few. But as long as the possibility of another world exists -- a world in which there is room for all -- the struggle will continue for peace, full human, economic, social and cultural rights, and the existence of principles and values that elevate all human beings. And gatherings will continue around the world bringing together those who dream and struggle to turn those dreams into reality until their demands are heard even in the exclusive clubs of the world's most rich and powerful. (c) 2002 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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