Radio Havana Cuba-08 March 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 08 March 2002 . *CUBA DENOUNCES US ATTEMPTS TO MANIPULATE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION *INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED IN CUBA *PAN-AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION PRAISES CUBA'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST DENGUE *CUBAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TAKE THE FOREFRONT IN THE BATTLE OF IDEAS *PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON CHILD PSYCHIATRY WRAPS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL *ISRAELI TROOPS KILL SOME 60 PALESTINIANS IN BLOODY DAY OF ATTACKS *SHIMON PERES WARNS THAT ISRAEL COULD BE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES *WHITE HOUSE BOBS AND WEAVES IN FACE OF ENRON ACCUSATIONS *US GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS ADAMANT IN REFUSING AID TO VIETNAM AGENT ORANGE *TONY BLAIR FACING MOUNTING PRESSURE AGAINST MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ *KEY US ALLY TURKEY ALSO WARNS WASHINGTON AGAINST ATTACKING IRAQ *Viewpoint: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY . *CUBA DENOUNCES US ATTEMPTS TO MANIPULATE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Havana, March 8 (RHC)--Cuba denounced Friday what it described as "new and brutal pressures" on the part of the United States with the aim of imposing, once again, an anti-Cuba resolution during the forthcoming session of Human Rights Commission in Geneva. An official Foreign Ministry note addressed these new maneuvers. The enormous international discredit that the Czech Government has had to face as designated author of the resolution against Cuba over the last three years has now led the United States to try and find new "sponsors" for its anti-Cuba scheme, focusing its pressures this time on several Latin American governments. But the US State Department has attained few results so far, explains the Cuban Foreign Ministry note. The President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, has made it clear that his country will not sponsor any such measure; the President of Chile, Ricardo Lagos, indicated nearly two years ago and has reiterated recently that his country would not be involved in a new anti-Cuba action, while the Governments of Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador have not supported and will not support the unfair measure this time either. The methods employed by the United States in order to achieve its objective are exactly the same as in the past: pressures, blackmail and political and economic conditions. To support its actions, the United States has "circulated" in several Latin American capitals-with great caution so that Cuba would not be privy to it-a document urging countries to endorse a new draft resolution to condemn Cuba at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Commission, claiming that the so-called dissidents in Cuba would see the lack of such a resolution as abandonment by the world. The actions taken by the United States to try to condemn Cuba in Geneva have involved important officials from the current Republican Administration. It has already included actions in New York and Geneva, letters, telephone calls and harsh treatment during contacts held in Washington and in certain Latin American capitals. Everyone agrees that the pressure from the North is intensifying, says the Cuban Foreign Ministry note, adding that as part of those endeavors, it has been announced that on March 23rd and 24th, US President George W. Bush will visit El Salvador and Peru, and will meet with several Latin American dignitaries, to try and convince them to come out against Cuba. Cuba will be closely following these preparations and the outcome of such meetings. These actions, cautions the note, are taking place in conditions of growing Latin American vulnerability with respect to the United States. The Government of the Czech Republic, for its part, in a re -casting of its commitment and subordination to the US, has sent a delegation to several Latin American countries-begging them to come out against Cuba. The Czech delegation has already visited Mexico, Peru and Chile. It has also been learned that if necessary the Czech Republic would once again be willing to present the anti-Cuba draft resolution in Geneva. These maneuvers, notes the Cuban Foreign Ministry document, are taking place precisely at a time when the United States, for the first time in history, will be missing from the Human Rights Commission, to which it was not elected in 2001 as a direct result of the international community's discontent over the positions and actions of Washington on the issue of human rights-particularly with regards to Cuba. Cuba believes that there is no legitimate reason to selectively include the matter of human rights in Cuba on the Human Rights Commission's agenda, stressed the Foreign Ministry note. Any resolution or initiative-including the adoption a "softened" text, as some are requesting-would single Cuba out in an unfair manner and could only be understood as a response to the US pressing need to find a justification for its policy of hostility and blockade against Cuba. The US document that Cuba was not have been privy to, the high-level actions by Washington in Latin American capitals, and the Latin American tour by Czech officials is a clear indication of the despair that is already looming large, as in previous years, in the corridors of the State Department. And since it is obviously impossible for those masterminding these actions to keep their plans secret, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue revealing this intrigue, concludes the Cuban official note. *INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED IN CUBA Havana, March 8 (RHC)--Today, March 8th, marks International Women's Day. Here in Cuba, celebrations and parties were held in workplaces and schools across the island -- to highlight the role of women in society. During a solemn ceremony Friday evening at Havana's Karl Marx Theater, the wives and mothers of Cuba's five political prisoners held in the United States were awarded special honors for their extraordinary courage and dignity. In a message issued on the occasion of International Women's Day, Vilma Espin -- president of the Federation of Cuban Women -- said that the situation of women in Latin America has worsened dramatically over the past year. She noted that women are deeply affected by economic recession, emphasizing that the feminization of poverty is a growing reality throughout the Third World, as well as industrialized countries. The president of the Federation of Cuban Women stated that the situation in Cuba is quite different -- with women holding important and decisive positions in production, education, medicine, scientific research, sports and culture. Vilma Espin stressed that while Cuba has achieved a great deal in the area of women's equality, there is still much work to be done. *PAN-AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION PRAISES CUBA'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST DENGUE Havana, March 8 (RHC)--Cuba's efforts to eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquito and stop dengue fever have been praised by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). In statements to Radio Reloj in Havana, Jorge Arias, a regional advisor to PAHO on transmittable diseases, said that the island's anti-dengue campaign "is perhaps the best in the hemisphere." The PAHO official made special mention of Cuba's decision to carry out the campaign at the community level -- noting that by involving the entire population in the effort to eliminate the carrier of dengue helps to educate people about the importance of maintaining a clean environment. Jorge Arias said that the anti-dengue campaign in Cuba is following the recommendations of the World Health Organization -- emphasizing that destroying the mosquito's breeding grounds and conducting a follow-up program "is exacting what must be done to effectively eliminate this enemy." Pointing out that dengue is currently the main health problem in Latin America with some 500,000 people affected, the official from the Pan-American Health Organization recommended that other countries in the region do what Cuba is doing to stop the spread of this deadly disease. *CUBAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TAKE THE FOREFRONT IN THE BATTLE OF IDEAS Havana, March 8 (RHC)--The participation of Cuba's university students in the "Battle of Ideas" will be one the main topics of discussion next week in Havana at a national meeting of the Federation of University Students (FEU). According to Hassán Pérez Casabona, president of the FEU, more than 400 students from across the island will begin arriving in the Cuban capital over the weekend. Special events will be held on Monday and delegates will gather in seven work commissions beginning on Tuesday, the 12th. Other issues that will be discussed include political and ideological questions related to university studies and preparations for the 40th anniversary of the Union of Young Communists (UJC) and the 80th anniversary of the Federation of University Students -- both commemorated this year. *PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON CHILD PSYCHIATRY WRAPS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, March 8 (RHC)--The Pan-American Congress on Child Psychiatry concluded today in the Cuban capital, with the participation of more than 500 specialists from some 20 countries. Among those attending the event were delegates from Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Spain, France and Germany. Over the past five days, experts in the field of child psychiatry exchanged information and experiences with the aim of promoting sound mental health among young people. Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, president of the Cuban Psychiatric Society, praised the often-unacknowledged professionals who work with children. He noted that Cuba has 149 community mental health centers and is the Latin American country with the largest number of child psychiatrists. Juan Enrique Mezzich, president of the World Psychiatric Association based in the United States, said that the example of Cuba in the area of mental health should be imitated throughout the world. During the meeting, which took place at Havana's International Convention Center, delegates also examined the negative influence of violence in the media and entertainment industry, child abuse, prostitution and child pornography. Participants agreed that greater efforts must be made to create a safer and happier place for children: the future of the world. *ISRAELI TROOPS KILL SOME 60 PALESTINIANS IN BLOODY DAY OF ATTACKS Jerusalem, Washington, March 8 (RHC)--Israeli troops Friday killed some 60 Palestinians in the bloodiest assault against occupied territories since the beginning of the Intifada. Israel ignored international outcry over its strategy of raiding crowded and volatile Palestinian refugee camps, sending its troops storming into two more. The Israeli air force played what has been called another game of Russian roulette with thousands of Palestinian civivlians by dropping a 1,000 pound bomb into an already wrecked police station in Gaza City at 9 am in the morning. It landed within 200 yards of three United Nations schools, where more than 3,000 children were studying. The bombardment drew a scathing condemnation from the schools' operator, Peter Hansen, of the United Nations relief organization for Palestinian refugees, who accused Israel of sowing panic and terror among Gaza's civilians. A Palestinian militant killed some 5 Jewish settlers, while another suicide bomber was overpowered in Jerusalem before he could detonate his explosives. And in the suicide bombing of a hotel in a West Bank Jewish settlement that injured 10 people, responsibility was claimed for the first time by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - sparking worrying evidence that the pool of suicide bombers has expanded from Islamic to secular nationalists. Meanwhile, observers agree that Washington's decision to send its special envoy back to the Middle East will have little effect and is more a face-saving measure than a serious effort to try to halt the violence. News analysts are noting that Washington was in danger of being left behind as two of its closest Arab allies, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, launched new peace initiatives, and as Vice President Richard Cheney is likely to receive a frosty reception from Arab countries during his upcoming Middle East tour if the United States doesn't at least appear to be still engaged. And many are calling US Secretary of State Colin Powell's criticism this week of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's policy "too little, too late." *SHIMON PERES WARNS THAT ISRAEL COULD BE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES Tel Aviv, Gaza City, March 8 (RHC)--Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has asserted that the excessively harsh military measures in occupied Palestinian territories could lead to accusations of war crimes. The British news daily "The Independent" reported that the statement came in a sharp exchange during a Cabinet meeting between Perez and Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman, which has been called a sign of deep rifts in the Israeli leadership. Lieberman's spokesman confirmed the bitter exchange. According to the British newspaper, the Israeli "Yediot Ahronot" daily reported that Lieberman is pushing to bomb all Palestinian commercial centers in the morning, bomb all their gas stations at noon and then bomb all their banks at 2 pm - to which Peres is reported to have said that at 6 pm the Israeli government will receive an invitation to the international tribunal in The Hague. The report coincides with expressions of growing alarm over the killing of Palestinian ambulance workers by Israeli troops as another Palestinian medic died Friday in a hail of fire. The death of medical worker Sayed Shalayel in the Gaza Strip brought to four the number of ambulance workers killed by Israeli soldiers since Monday. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, two of whose staff were among this week's dead, has accused Israeli forces of targeting ambulances as they rush to recover wounded Palestinian resistance fighters and civilians. An Israeli army commander again accused the Palestinians of using ambulances to move gunmen and ammunition, but the Red Cross said Tel Aviv's authorities have failed to substantiate the charge. *WHITE HOUSE BOBS AND WEAVES IN FACE OF ENRON ACCUSATIONS Washington, March 8 (RHC)--US President George W. Bush's administration was again forced this week to bob and weave in the face of accusations concerning its involvement with the Enron scandal. The White House Thursday came out in support of Army secretary Thomas White, who did not comply with a pledge to divest himself of Enron stock before assuming his current post. The revelation brought sharp criticism from leaders in both parties on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which accused White of violating the terms of an ethics agreement he signed. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer argued that it takes time to divest from complex financial arrangements and that the Bush administration is confident that White will meet all the Senate committee's requirements. But according to local media outlets, while the Army secretary retains some partnership interests that may take time to unwind, his stock options could have been forfeited at any time. Fleischer also said that White has not worked on any Enron-related matters since he assumed his post and therefore has avoided any conflict of interest. But some lawmakers have challenged that statement, citing the Army secretary's repeated contacts with Enron officials during his tenure -- though White claims the gatherings were personal in nature. Jennifer Palmieri, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, said Fleischer's comments were "another example of the administration's stonewalling." She said the White House continues to arrogantly assert that they have disclosed all relevant information regarding Enron when every week more damaging information leaks out. White's tenure at Enron has come under scrutiny due to allegations by former employees, who say that he was vice president of a division that overstated profits by hundreds of millions of dollars through controversial, and perhaps illegal, accounting techniques. Fleischer was also asked whether Bush's recently announced initiative of holding corporate executives more accountable contradicts his support of White, but the president's press secretary referred questions about wrongdoing to the Justice Department - which is conducting a criminal investigation into the scandal-ridden firm. *US GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS ADAMANT IN REFUSING AID TO VIETNAM AGENT ORANGE Hanoi, March 8 (RHC)--US and Vietnamese scientists gathering in Hanoi Friday failed to finalize a strategy on the toxic Vietnam War defoliant Agent Orange. Though no details of the gathering were released, scientists from the US's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Environmental Protection Agency have been insisting on further research and rejecting humanitarian aid to Vietnam following a landmark conference on Agent Orange that began last Sunday and wrapped up on Wednesday. Vietnamese scientists and government officials have insisted that along with a future research strategy there should also be an agreement on US humanitarian assistance for tens of thousands of Vietnamese born with birth defects and suffering other diseases. On Thursday, Hanoi reiterated its insistence that the US has a moral and spiritual responsibility to Vietnamese victims. Vietnamese Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Pham Khoi, Nguyen said future US cooperation should include establishing a network of communal medical centers, providing drugs to counter the effects of the highly toxic dioxin used in Agent Orange, rehabilitation of those with birth defects and improved infrastructure in sprayed areas. After dumping millions of gallons of Agent Orange over Vietnam, spraying was halted in 1971 after it was found that the most dangerous form of dioxin used in the defoliant, TCDD, caused cancer in rats. The post-conference talks were expected to continue Saturday, and according to the US scientists, if an agreement isn't reached the talks will continue long-distance. *TONY BLAIR FACING MOUNTING PRESSURE AGAINST MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ London, March 8 (RHC)--British Prime Minister Tony Blair is reportedly facing mounting pressure due to his support of military action against Iraq, with rumors of a split in his Labor Party and Cabinet divisions. Downing Street Friday denied reports that one or possibly two ministers might resign if Blair supports an attack against Iraq. But the number of Labor MPs supporting a motion expressing "deep unease" about the prospect of military action against Iraq has now grown to 62. some of them reportedly fear that action against Iraq led by the United States may destabilize the entire Middle East. Labor MP Martin Salter, a signatory of the motion, said he would have huge reservations about linking military action against Iraq to September 11, adding that he was a staunch supporter of action against Afghanistan, but that this is totally different. He said it's only about the Republican right wing in America trying to finish off the job that the first George Bush failed to do. Salter also said that there is no international coalition that would support an attack on Iraq, and the he would not want to see Britain isolated from the rest of the world over an action that is unwise and unsupportable. *KEY US ALLY TURKEY ALSO WARNS WASHINGTON AGAINST ATTACKING IRAQ Istanbul, March 8 (RHC)--In related news, another staunch US rival in the Middle East has warned Washington about attacking Iraq. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has urged the United States to focus on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict instead of tackling Saddam Hussein. He said there is no need for US military strikes on Iraq, which, he added, is a country that poses little threat. The Turkish prime minister said that even if Baghdad does not give permission for the return of UN weapons inspectors, he didn't think that war was necessary because Iraq no longer has the power to cause a new major disturbance in the region. He said there was no need for US military strikes on Iraq, even if Baghdad did not allow UN arms inspectors back. Washington needs Turkey both for its air base at Incirlik to patrol Iraq, and for the moral support provided by NATO's sole Muslim member state. The Turkish prime minister's call to concentrate on the Middle East is also seen as holding weight since Turkey is one of the few Muslim states to have close ties with Israel. *Viewpoint: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Zafiya Hussini is a 30 year-old Nigerian woman. She is the mother of six children. It is likely that for her International Women's Day holds no special meaning since she is facing a terrifying prospect. For Zafiya is a widow who became pregnant, and under the law where she lives, she was found guilty of adultery. The sentence? She is to be buried up to her waist and stoned to death by a mob, including other women who ignore the existence of their rights or that there is an international struggle to make such rights a reality. Unfortunately for millions of women, International Women's Day is just another day of drudgery, without meaning, because they are not lucky enough to be living in a society where they can control their lives, exercise their rights and freely make fundamental decisions in an ambiance of equality. In Latin America, for example, the willingness and dedication of the authorities to grant woman equality is only supported on paper. Actual traditional practices are far different. Family violence, the feminization of poverty, the drop in living standards of rural women, the aging of the female population in the countryside due to the growing migration of young men, and prostitution, are many ills that continue to be the daily menu in Latin American countries. Though more women are entering the labor market, their salaries continue to represent as much as fifty per cent less than their male counterparts doing the same jobs with the same responsibilities. Although some levels of urban society have shown an increase in the level of women's education, the poor sectors and women in the countryside continue to remain low on the ladder in comparison to men. If we take brief look at other continents we find a truly desolate panorama, because despite the number of summits and international meetings held to examine the situation of women and to try and find solutions to improve life, the situation is every day worse. In Africa misery has a woman's face. Women are the victims of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS, while tens of thousands are mutilated each year in ancient rites. In the Middle East women suffer the loss of their sons, husbands and fathers as a result of Israeli repression. Of course, women also are the victims: hundreds have died in Israeli fire. Decades of war in Afghanistan including the latest and religious regimes have sent women back to the Stone Age. So as were congratulate each other today, let us remember many others who have little to be thankful for on this International Women's Day. (c) 2002 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-13262 2002-Mar-09 08:06:52