RHC Weekend-25/26 May 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Weekend News Update - 25/26 May 2002 . *FIDEL REAFFIRMS CUBA'S SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES *US SOLIDARITY GROUP SUPPORTS FIVE CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE USA *CUBA AND SPAIN SIGN SPORTS COOPERATION AGREEMENT *CIVIL DEFENSE EXERCISE BEGINS SATURDAY IN CUBA *FRENCH SONG FESTIVAL OPENS IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA *MORE REACTION TO "SHALLOW" ARMS REDUCTION TREATY BY MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON *PAKISTAN CONDUCTS MISSILE TESTS, PROVOKING FURTHER TENSIONS WITH INDIA *US PRESIDENT HAS SECOND THOUGHTS ON IRAQ INVASION *HUGO CHAVEZ CALLS ON IRAN TO SUPPORT MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN OPEC *GUERRILLAS ANNOUNCE OFFENSIVE IN CHECHNYA *FUTURE GENERATIONS COULD BE LEFT SPEECHLESS AS LANGUAGES DISAPPEAR . *FIDEL REAFFIRMS CUBA'S SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES Havana, May 25 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro presided over a rally Saturday morning in the central province of Sancti Spiritus with the participation of over 3,000 Cubans who demanded an end to Washington's blockade and continued aggression against the island. Referring to US President George W. Bush's recent announcement that Washington will not change its Cuba policy, the Cuban leader said that Bush's accusations will be analyzed and replied to one by one, adding that the Cuban people's struggle will never be against the people of the United States. He said Cubans are people of ideals and not a community of fanatics. Cuba has never promoted hatred against the people of the United States for the aggression that they have suffered from consecutive US administrations, said Fidel Castro. The Cuban President added that it is sad that the American people have been deceived with the lie that Cuban laboratories produce biological weapons when in fact scientists discover, produce and develop vaccines, medicines, and therapeutic treatments that cure diseases and save lives. Our country, said the Cuban leader, would never think of ever producing biological weapons, as our scientists have been educated to protect lives and not destroy them. Referring to the continued terrorism warnings from Washington following the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, Cuban President Fidel Castro said during Saturday's rally that as an island which has had to defend itself from terrorist attacks for over four decades he can affirm that inciting panic is not the correct way to combat such terrorism, and is likely to turn ordinary people's daily lives into hell. The risk of terrorist attacks has always existed and will always exist in the United States, as in any part of the world before or after September 11. In these difficult times, said Cuban President Fidel Castro, and in the fight against terrorism, the people of the United States can count on the support of the Cuban people. In related news, US Army Major General Gary Speer, who heads the Southern Command, said on Thursday that he first heard about the so called bioweapon threat from Cuba in news reports of Under Secretary of State John Bolton's comments on the subject. The US army leader said that he has no evidence that Cuba is producing biological weapons. *US SOLIDARITY GROUP SUPPORTS FIVE CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE USA Washington, May 25 (RHC)--The National Committee of Freedom for the Five Cuban Prisoners in the US, a US-based solidarity organization, denounced yesterday in San Francisco the duality of the White House's anti-terrorist policy, which condemned five Cubans for trying to prevent terrorist actions from Miami. The organization issued a statement encouraging citizens to send articles to US newspapers about Cuba's position concerning terrorism. The document asks Americans to gather signatures on petitions to demand that President Bush release the five Cubans. The initiative is sponsored by a group of American lawyers that is seeking support from other US colleagues. They have attached an explanation of the arbitrary decisions in the Miami trial. Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino and Antonio Guerrero are serving time in American jails with sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison. The Cuban government and people maintain that the political prisoners are innocent because they were only compiling information on terrorist plans against Cuba by Florida groups. So far, the case is little known inside the United States due to the lack of press coverage and Washington's desire to keep the case from coming to light as well as its refusal to grant the five political prisoner status. *CUBA AND SPAIN SIGN SPORTS COOPERATION AGREEMENT Havana, May 25 (RHC)--Cuba and Spain signed an important sports agreement at Friday's closing in Havana of the 8th Ordinary Assembly of the IberoAmerican Sports Council. Cuban Sports Minister Humberto Rodriguez and Spanish Sports Secretary of State, Juan Antonio Gómez-Angulo, signed the document. The Cuban Sports Minister stated that "this is the most important sports cooperation agreement that Cuba has signed with another nation." He added that by penning the agreement Gómez Angulo has recognized not only Cuba's technical possibilities, but also the intelligence and capability of Cuban experts. Minister Rodriguez explained that anti-doping cooperation is an important aspect of the agreement. The bilateral cooperation in this area will begin shortly in a series of meetings in Havana where experts, laboratory specialists, and sports managers will meet to discuss the issue. Gomez Angulo visited the Cuban School of Boxing and conversed with Cuban experts. He expressed his interest in extending a formal invitation to the Cuban boxing team to tour Spain. The Spanish Sports Secretary of State closed the IberoAmerican meeting on Friday. The next session will be in the Dominican Republic in 2003. *CIVIL DEFENSE EXERCISE BEGINS SATURDAY IN CUBA Havana, May 25 (RHC)--More than three million Cubans are participating this weekend in civil defense exercises to prepare for possible natural disasters on the island. On Saturday civil defense command posts were organized against a possible high-intensity hurricane moving northward. On Sunday, people will participate in practical exercises that include cleaning out gutters and canals, trimming trees, and collecting debris. Officials and experts will revise measures against hurricanes and study new ways to reduce potential damage. The exercise, called "Meteoro 2002," also includes municipal and provincial review of action plans in case of major fires in rural areas. Cuba's Civil Defense maintains more than 2400 shelters that can accommodate more than 900 thousand people affected by natural disasters. *FRENCH SONG FESTIVAL OPENS IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, May 25 (RHC)--The traditional competition of French song began Saturday in Santiago de Cuba's Heredia Theatre. Some 15 participants will perform well-known works by Charles Aznavour, Patricia Kaas, Eric Vincent and Veronique Samson among other famous authors. Three provincial winners will be invited to the national finals, scheduled to take place on June 30th in the Cuban capital. They will also participate in a extensive program of activities. The contest is organized by the Santiago de Cuba Alliance Francaise. The institute's director Christophe Benest, explained that France, from a cultural standpoint, is an ever present influence which was clearly illustrated by the performance of the Danel string quartet when it played in Santiago de Cuba's Dolores Concert Hall. The renown musical group has won numerous distinctions in European theatres. Santiago de Cuba as well as other eastern Cuban provinces, was recently the scenario of the 10th Festival of French Cinema, which attracted some 3 thousand 500 spectators. The most popular movie was "Amelie" by Jean Pierre Jeunet, which was nominated for five Oscar awards. Benest affirmed that the close cultural links between Cuba and France date from many years ago and are supported by the ethnic interrelation established during the 18th century when thousands of slaves and French colonists fled other parts of the Caribbean to settle in the south eastern part of Cuba. *MORE REACTION TO "SHALLOW" ARMS REDUCTION TREATY BY MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON Havana, May 25 (RHC)--The arms control pact signed on Friday by Moscow and Washington -- termed as the last of the Cold War age -- continues to come under fire as lacking in body and having no serious intention to reduce the nuclear arsenals of either signatory. After Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev signed the first strategic arms limitation treaty (SALT-1) on May 22 1972, the two nations agreed to set limits on their arsenals and maintained a precarious but respected peace, recognizing the dangers to the planet. They both agreed to each other's strength with neither gaining the upper hand in negotiations. This, say analysts, has now changed. With the new so-called SORT treaty, the US is free to set up it's much heralded defense shield that was a violation of its ABM treaties with the former Soviet Union and attracted much international criticism for the Bush administration. Washington, say observers, is now clearly the winner. The new treaty calls for the destruction of two thirds of their nuclear long range missiles, but at Washington's insistence, the warheads themselves will be stored to the dismay of disarmament activists worldwide. The ceiling is now 2,200 nuclear missiles for each. There is also no time limit imposed for dismantling the warheads so in theory they could be kept operational until the treaty expires in 2012. Most analysts believe that this was always the intention of Washington. Furthermore, there is no verification procedure included in the treaty. In statements reported by the Guardian, Clifford Kupchan of the Moscow office of the Eurasia Foundation, commented that this treaty marked the first time the Russians acknowledged that they were not equal with the United States. Rather, he said, they have changed strategy and want to act as another France - be an ally that is also a pain in the side. Russia continues to undergo enormous economic problems and has serious military deficiencies that its generals are very vocal about. It is generally accepted that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to build closer economic ties with the US and has quietly turned a blind eye to some of the more glaring advantages for the US imposed on Moscow by Washington's negotiators of the treaty. *PAKISTAN CONDUCTS MISSILE TESTS, PROVOKING FURTHER TENSIONS WITH INDIA Islamabad, May 25 (RHC)--In spite of the fact that Pakistan has this week been extremely close to outright war with its neighbor India over issues pertaining to the border region of Kashmir, Islamabad has begun a series of missile tests which has further increased tensions in the region. International reaction was negative indicating the concern that exists over the massing of over a million troops on both sides of the disputed border between both countries. The United States urged both sides to take steps to restrain their missile and nuclear weapons programs. The Indian government reacted with disdain over the news of the tests, saying that they were being carried out for the consumption of the domestic audience in Pakistan. India has reacted to what it says is Islamabad's allowing the infiltration of armed militants into the primarily Muslim region of Kashmir. Frequent massacres have occurred between Muslim and Hindu populations in India, and tensions rose to such a degree over the week that both side's artillery exchanged fire for a while. In an article that appeared in today's London Times, a limited nuclear war between both countries would result in the deaths of at least 3 million people. A US nuclear researcher, M. V. Ramana of Princeton University in New Jersey, told New Scientist magazine that it was imperative that the two countries not go to war, however limited in scale. He said that even in the most local conflicts there is a potential for an escalation into a full-scale war, possibly nuclear. The current situation began when Pakistan-based Islamic militants killed more than 30 Hindus on India's side of the Kashmir border. The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee went so far as to tell his troops massed along the border to prepare for what he termed a "decisive victory." *US PRESIDENT HAS SECOND THOUGHTS ON IRAQ INVASION Havana, May 25 (RHC)--The chair of the United States joint chiefs of staff, Richard Myers, has apparently been able to persuade US President George Bush that an invasion of Iraq would be a grave tactical error. He is supported by most top military brass in the country. The issue has been in the pipeline since the September 11th attacks on the United States and the bombing of Afghanistan and Bush's statements about Iraq belonging to an "Axis of Evil." Bush has for months been floating the possibility of an invasion of the country - its leader, Saddam Hussein, being his father's arch enemy. Senior military advisors to the White House are reported to have warned that US military might has been depleted by the war in Afghanistan and that any invasion force would need at least 200,000 troops and be fiercely fought causing heavy loss of life - especially for the civilian population. US forces are also committed elsewhere abroad as well as at home in stepped up security since September 11th. The Air Force especially is being pushed to its limits due to shortage of pilots as well as planes, according to its head, General John Jumper. "We never sized ourselves to have to do high force-protection levels at home and overseas at the same time. We're stretched very thin in security forces," he was quoted as saying by the New York Times. Other aspects that may have changed the general hawkish direction of the Pentagon, say analysts, is the clear warning from a number of Muslim states that their populations would not tolerate a US invasion of an Arab country and that traditional allies such as England were encountering important resistance to the notion at home. *HUGO CHAVEZ CALLS ON IRAN TO SUPPORT MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN OPEC Tehran, May 25 (RHC)--Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez has called on Iranian president Mohammad Jatami to work toward strengthening the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC. On Saturday Iranian radio reported that Chavez stated that his country, which is currently heading OPEC, favors fortifying the organization that represents the world's major oil producers. The Venezuelan leader said in a telephone conversation with President Jatami that investigations have revealed that the objective of those who attempted a coup in his country last month, was to take Venezuela out of OPEC. Iranian radio reported that Jatami congratulated Hugo Chavez on the failure of the coup against his government and stressed that Iran will do what it can to advance the goals of the oil cartel. The Organization of Oil Exporting Nations and other producers of crude will meet on June 20 and 21 in Vienna in order to avoid a crisis after Russia, not an OPEC member, refused to continue limiting production in the second trimester. *GUERRILLAS ANNOUNCE OFFENSIVE IN CHECHNYA Moscow, May 25 (RHC)--The military leader of the Chechnya separatist guerillas, Shamil Basayev, announced on Saturday that his men will soon take to the mountains to launch a new offensive against Russian Federation troops. Bassayev's statements to a small press agency, come two days after Russian general Ghennadi Troshev had announced that the separatist leader had died in a battle with Russian troops. According to the Russian secret service there have been various unconfirmed reports of Bassayev's death in the past. *FUTURE GENERATIONS COULD BE LEFT SPEECHLESS AS LANGUAGES DISAPPEAR London, May 25 (RHC)--A linguistic disaster is looming according to an article in the English newspaper, the Guardian. Writer David Ward warns that the linguistic equivalent of an ecological disaster is on the horizon. Researchers from the University of Manchester say that 90% of the world's languages are likely to disappear by 2050. One such tongue is Tofa, spoken by only about 60 people who herd reindeer and hunt sable on empty lands in central Siberia. Academics from the linguistics department will stage an endangered languages day today. They will play tapes and videos of native speakers and tell of their own researches and field trips across the globe to investigate languages ranging from Faroese to Banawa, one of 300 languages spoken in the Amazon basin. "British Romani is now almost at the level of extinction," says Yaron Matras, who speaks 13 languages. "I'm still looking for the alleged four or five families in Wales who still speak it" he said. Dr Matras is also an expert on Domari, Low German, Yiddish, Neo-Aramaic and Frisian and has just published a grammatical sketch of Low German as spoken in East Frisia. There is no shortage of languages: at the last count, there were about 6,000 -- but 4% of them are spoken by 96% of the people. About 10 languages, including English, Arabic and Hindi, are spoken by more than 100 million people each. "People are aware of threats to ecology and of species dying out," said Nigel Vincent, professor of linguistics at the University of Manchester. "But they don't realize that we are leaving languages to die out. A language can only survive if it is transmitted from parents to their children. Every language is the repository of the culture of the people who speak it. When you lose the last speaker, you lose the people's cultural memory." Tofa, which has hardly ever been written down, has an oral tradition of epic poems, stories, proverbs and songs. When the last Tofa-speaking reindeer herder dies, that tradition will live on only on tape. Other tongues in danger of disappearing are Europe Faroese, unprotected by the EU's bureau for minority languages, Votic, spoken by 30 people on the Russian coast of the Gulf of Finland and Yiddish, the language of writer and Nobel prizewinner Isaac Bashevis Singer, which has been under threat since the end of the second world war. (c) 2002 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. 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