RHC Weekend-18/19 May 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 18/19 May 2002 . *CARLOS LAGE DENOUNCES U.S. CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE ISLAND *EU-LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN SUMMIT IN MADRID EXAMINED *DISCORDANT VOICES AT EUROPEAN UNION-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT IN MADRID *GROWING FUROR OVER WHAT GEORGE BUSH KNEW OF ATTACKS, AND WHEN HE KNEW IT *COLIN POWELL TELLS EUROPE TO STOP BASHING AMERICA *PERU: CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER OFFICERS SUSPECTED OF MURDERING REBELS *DIPLOMATS IN MOSCOW CONCERNED OVER RISING XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS *MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS FIGURE DEMANDS FOX WITHDRAW ALL TROOPS FROM CHIAPAS *CAMAGUEY FOLKLORIC BALLET PREPARES FOR PERFORMANCE IN GRENADA *Viewpoint: KNOCKING AT THE DOORS OF EUROPE . *CARLOS LAGE DENOUNCES U.S. CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE ISLAND Madrid, May 18 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage -- heading the island's delegation at the 2nd Summit between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean -- strongly denounced new campaigns launched by Washington against Havana. Speaking before delegates Friday, as the Summit was wrapping up in Madrid, the Cuban vice president pointed to recent, false accusations by the U.S. State Department that Cuba is developing biological weapons and is involved in terrorist activities. Lage also noted that reports coming out of Washington say U.S. President George W. Bush will announce additional measures to tighten the economic blockade against Cuba on Monday. Earlier in the Spanish capital, Carlos Lage and other members of the Cuban delegation met with representatives of Caribbean nations to the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit. Following the meeting, which took place at the Cuban Embassy in Madrid, Lage emphasized the importance of preferential treatment for small economies that are unable to compete and develop under equal conditions with those of other nations that are larger and more developed. Cuba has always supported that position, Carlos Lage stated, adding that the island's Caribbean neighbors recognize the aid and cooperation of Cuba in general, and in particular, cooperation in the field of health care. Noting that the Caribbean is the second region of the world with the highest incidence of AIDS, the Cuban vice president reiterated the offer made by Havana during the AIDS Summit in New York City -- that the island will provide the medical and health care personnel and all of its experience in the fight against the disease, while other nations supply the financial resources required. *EU-LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN SUMMIT IN MADRID EXAMINED Havana, May 18 (RHC)-- During the nightly roundtable discussion -- broadcast live on Cuban radio and television Friday evening -- experts examined the results of the 2nd European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, which concluded yesterday in the Spanish capital. Panelists agreed that the Madrid Summit has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many in Latin America and the Caribbean. Eduardo Dimas, a journalist for Cuban television, explained that among the reasons for dissatisfaction is that European leaders were not receptive to the demand to review their policies of agricultural subsidies to their trading partners on the other side of the Atlantic. In addition, the refusal to give more help to Argentina during its current economic crises was seen as pushing that South American country into further poverty. On last night's televised roundtable discussion, panelists pointed out that the Summit in Madrid was being held at the time of a severe economic crisis in Europe, which only further aggravates the difficult situation that is already being faced by most countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. While negative results and general dissatisfaction tipped the scales, there were still some aspects of the Summit that were positive. Delegates to the meeting agreed on a condemnation of all forms of terrorism and rejected unilateral, extraterritorial measures -- specifically referring to Washington's economic blockade of Cuba. Roundtable participants noted that Cuba presented its position with clarity -- condemning terrorism and Washington's aggressions against the island, as well as criticizing the role of the International Monetary Fund and the terrible impact of the foreign debt on Third World nations. Friday evening's roundtable program also aired an interview with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque by Antenna 3 Spanish National TV Network. A leading member of Cuba's delegation to the Summit in Madrid, the island's top diplomat told the television audience that relations between Cuba and the people of Spain are excellent -- even if relations with the government of President Jose Maria Aznar are not. Perez Roque said that Madrid is supporting the so-called 'European common position' in relation to Cuba, discriminating against the island in relation to the rest of Latin America. *DISCORDANT VOICES AT EUROPEAN UNION-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT IN MADRID Madrid, May 18 (RHC) -- One of the discordant voices at the European Union-Latin America Summit in Madrid, Spain - that of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - has lashed out at what he called empty, meaningless gatherings that are nothing more than a labyrinth with no way out. Insisting on the need to redefine these types of summits that he said are evolving slowly and in the wrong direction, Chavez criticized the absence of debate and the gathering's format - in which each speaker was only allowed 3 minutes. During a 3-hour press conference, the Venezuelan president said that events like the Madrid summit do not respond to the urgent necessities of the poor whose ranks continue to grow despite the regional and international gatherings that promise to do more. He also again lashed out at the neo-liberal free market model, saying it is a road to hell. But his was not the only discordant voice. Argentinean President Eduardo Duhalde charged that the global policies of industrialized nations are extremely unjust, and have been designed based only on the interests of the rich North. And Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso noted that while protectionism has been condemned as an instrument for development in poor countries, it has become an instrument for the protection of the rich. *GROWING FUROR OVER WHAT GEORGE BUSH KNEW OF ATTACKS, AND WHEN HE KNEW IT Washington, May 18 (RHC) -- Controversy over accusations that the George W. Bush administration failed to act on intelligence reports before the September 11 attacks is intensifying following revelations of warnings as far back as two years before hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It has now been revealed that in September 1999 a federal report warned the executive branch that Osama bin Laden's terrorists might hijack an airliner and dive bomb it into the Pentagon or another government building. The report described the suicide hijacking as one of several possible retribution attacks Al Qaida might seek for the 1998 US airstrike against bin Laden's camps in Afghanistan. It noted that an Al Qaida-linked terrorist first arrested in the Philippines in 1995 and later convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing had confessed as early as 1996 that such a suicide jetliner mission was being considered. Observers are noting that the report contrasts sharply with the affirmation of Bush administration officials, including national security adviser Condoleeza Rice, that none in government had ever imagined a September 11-style attack. And this 1999 report was also based on information in the hands of the FBI as early as 1996 that members of Al Qaida were taking pilot training courses in the United States. President Bush and his administration have been desperately defending themselves amid fears that their credibility will be undermined and their competence seriously questioned. But many lawmakers continue calling for a wide-ranging probe, insisting that the White House failed the American people. *COLIN POWELL TELLS EUROPE TO STOP BASHING AMERICA London, May 18 (RHC) -- The George W. Bush administration is not only on the defensive at home, but also abroad, with Secretary of State Colin Powell telling Europe to stop bashing America. In an exclusive interview with the British news daily The Guardian, Powell termed as "misplaced" European criticism of American policy statements such as Bush's "axis of evil" speech - which European leaders called simplistic and dangerous. He pointed to the imminent enlargement of NATO and Russia's acceptance of Washington's star wars projects as policy successes for the Bush administration, though numerous observers have agreed that these so-called successes are more the result of Russia's weakness amid the new reality of a sole superpower. The secretary of state also tried to defend Washington against charges of unilateralism, saying that just because the US government acts alone doesn't mean it doesn't care what others say. Powell's interview coincided with further evidence of the growing US-EU rift Friday evening when French President Jacques Chirac accused Washington of inflicting harm on the world's poorest nations with its imposition of steel tariffs and more farm subsidies. *PERU: CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER OFFICERS SUSPECTED OF MURDERING REBELS Lima, May 18 (RHC) -- Controversy continues on the rise in Peru over the cases of military officers suspected of having summarily executed leftist guerrillas five years in a hostage standoff. With President Alejandro Toledo's administration fiercely opposing arrest warrants issued against a dozen high-ranking officers believed to have gunned down Tupac Amaru guerrillas who had surrendered after the military stormed the Japanese embassy in Lima, the Peruvian judiciary has slammed the executive branch's interference in judicial matters. In a statement published Saturday in local news dailies, the Judicial Executive Council accused Defense Minister Aurelio Loret de Mola of exceeding his constitutional attributions. In reference to the arrest warrants, Loret de Mola recently stated that the judiciary is reaching extremes that can be considered unacceptable. At the same time, Peru's Truth Commission - set up to investigate human rights abuse between 1980 and 2000 following the collapse of the Alberto Fujimori government - has questioned the Toledo administration's announcement that it will consider an amnesty for any military officers eventually tried and convicted in connection with the Japanese embassy hostage affair. The Truth Commission reminded the government that since Fujimori fled the country a so-called democratic transition is supposed to underway. One of the Japanese hostages affirmed several years ago, and reiterated this week, that he saw 3 Tupac Amaru guerrillas alive when the military operation was over. But the local news daily La República reported Saturday that according to a forensic investigation, as may as 8 of the 14 rebels were executed. *DIPLOMATS IN MOSCOW CONCERNED OVER RISING XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS Moscow, May 18 (RHC) -- Diplomats in Moscow have protested government inaction in the face of rising xenophobic attacks against foreign students and embassy personnel in the Russian capital. Delegations of six embassies representing the diplomatic corps in Moscow met Saturday with Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to express their growing concern. The delegation denounced recent "skinhead" attacks against Kenyan and Zimbabwean diplomats in plain sight of police who did not intervene. Attacks against non-Slavics have left 10 people killed this year in Moscow alone. President Vladimir Putin has admitted the gravity of the situation, saying that it represents a serious threat to security and stability. On April 30th Putin submitted a draft bill to the Russian Parliament aimed at addressing "extremist actions". This week, Russia's Attorney General, Vladimir Ustnov, ordered stepped up police control of racist and xenophobic demonstrations. However, local media outlets are charging that most of the racist crimes go unpunished, and that government officials shrug off the issue by pointing out that it's a problem that affects all European countries. *MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS FIGURE DEMANDS FOX WITHDRAW ALL TROOPS FROM CHIAPAS San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, May 18 (RHC) -- A Mexican army general who spent eight years behind bars as a prisoner of conscience has called on President Vicente Fox to remove remaining government troops from Chiapas and let the Zapatista rebels live in peace. Brigadier General José Francisco Gallardo was arrested in 1993 after writing an article calling for a human rights inspector in the military. A military tribunal later sentenced him to 23 years in prison on dubious charges of corruption, illegally amassing a fortune and destroying files. After years of protests from human rights groups, Fox ordered Gallardo's release in February. Visiting Chiapas for a human rights forum, Gallardo asked what was stopping Fox's government from letting Indian communities in Mexico's southernmost state ''live free, independent and peaceful lives.'' Zapatista guerrillas staged a 12-day rebellion in the name of Indian rights and socialism in 1994, but since then their conflict with the government has been mostly a war of words. As part of his political campaign, Fox made bringing a peace settlement to troubled Chiapas a top priority. He has removed hundreds of troops from Chiapas, closed seven army bases built to surround Zapatista strongholds, freed dozens of rebel prisoners and sent a Zapatista-backed Indian Rights bill to Congress, which had been signed by rebels and government peace keepers in 1996 but rejected by then-President Ernesto Zedillo. But the rebels refused to resume peace talks with the government after legislators watered down the bill. Army officials claim that only several hundred troops are still stationed around Chiapas, but the exact number of soldiers in the area has never been made public. *CAMAGUEY FOLKLORIC BALLET PREPARES FOR PERFORMANCE IN GRENADA Camagüey, May 18 (RHC)-- Camagüey's Folkloric Ballet is scheduled to take part in the 7th Dance Festival from May 29th through June 2nd in Grenada. The dance company's director, Reynaldo Echemendia told reporters that the presentation includes dances that reflect the syncretic religious rites introduced by African slaves. "Echu" recreates the games and pranks of "Eleggua," "Orisha" from the pantheon "Yoruba" of the largest Afro-Cuban tradition on the island and "Oya Yansan," based on the relation between the deities "Oya," "Oggun" and "Chango" are included among the pieces the group will perform. The repertoire also includes the "Congas" and "San Juan de Mi Barrio" shows, referring to national carnival traditions, rural dances and other Cuban rhythms. The Camagüey Folkloric Ballet company was founded over a decade ago has toured a number of countries, including Spain, Portugal and Mexico. *Viewpoint: KNOCKING AT THE DOORS OF EUROPE The 2nd Summit between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean advanced important definitions regarding a general rejection of unilateral policies, though it failed to identify and promote new viable mechanisms to favor Latin American and Caribbean access to European markets. Participants at the Madrid Summit, particularly the Europeans, seized the opportunity to blast the unilateral philosophy promoted by the United States -- a nation that was directly and indirectly criticized on several occasions during the summit. For the so-called 'Old Continent,' a new U.S. protectionist law is absolutely intolerable. The new law, which grants some 190 billion dollars in government subsidies for stronger protectionist measures in the U.S. agro-industry, is generating sharp tension between Washington and its traditional European allies. Delegates to the Summit in Madrid agreed that the recent economic measures adopted by Washington run contrary to neo-liberal, free trade theories. It's very contradictory, they charged, that Washington pushes others to eliminate any obstacles in the way of free trade, while at the same time, strengthening U.S. protectionist measures, making it almost impossible for others to compete. In that sense, the 46 nations represented at the 2nd Summit between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean called for a strategic association to counteract Washington's unilateral policies. For Cuba, it was very significant that the forum's final declaration rejects unilateral mechanisms, particularly those promoting extraterritorial measures to affect others. The document refers to unilateral decisions, which like the U.S. blockade against Cuba, damage third countries. Apart from several strictly economic matters, the three regions represented at the Madrid Summit agreed to work together to advance new initiatives in the area of world politics. The ratification and immediate implementation of the Kyoto Protocol on the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is said to be the most significant step in that direction. Regarding trade, the Madrid conference did not propose any concrete mechanism, though participants agreed to resume negotiations next July in Brazil. Although the Europeans committed themselves to advance negotiations with MERCOSUR -- the South American Common Market -- the future is far more uncertain for similar talks with Central America and the Andean Community. For Latin America and the Caribbean, it is of utmost importance that Europe abandon its rhetoric and turn words into deeds. As Colombian President Andres Pastrana said during the Madrid Summit: "If current economic tendencies prevail, the gap between rich and poor would only grow wider." With its ups and downs, the Madrid forum was, in the end, beneficial for the aspirations of Latin America and the Caribbean to knock at the doors of Europe -- in an effort to diversify their markets and therefore lessen their excessive dependence on the United States. (c) 2002 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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