Radio Havana Cuba-03 April 2001 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 03 April 2001 . *CUBA RESPONDS TO DIATRIBE BY ESTONIAN DELEGATE AT INTER-PARLIAMENTARY MEETING *LET US NOT BECOME A HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS, SAYS FORMER PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT *RICARDO ALARCON ELECTED HEAD OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION *HAVANA'S 4th INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FAIR GETS UNDERWAY *INTERNATIONAL SEA FAIR BEGINS IN CIENFUEGOS *MUSIC: ELIADES OCHOA TO PERFORM IN PUERTO RICO AND THE UNITED STATES *IN ROME, CUBA'S MINISTER OF CULTURE TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW NOVEL *Viewpoint: IT'S TIME TO CHALLENGE U.S. WORLD HEGEMONY . *CUBA RESPONDS TO DIATRIBE BY ESTONIAN DELEGATE AT INTER-PARLIAMENTARY MEETING Havana, April 3 (RHC)--Cuba responded strongly to a counterrevolutionary speech by a delegate to the 105th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, underway here in Havana. During Monday's session, Ignar Fjuk, a representative from Estonia, delivered what was described as "a counterrevolutionary diatribe" defending two Czech citizens who were arrested in January after breaking Cuban laws. The response came from the Vice President of Cuba's Parliament, Jaime Crombet, requesting the floor to answer the Estonian delegate, who left the assembly hall after delivering his speech. Crombet stated that the two Czechs were taken into custody by Cuban authorities after they violated laws that were approved by the island's sovereign parliament, also known as the National Assembly of People's Power. He said that the two mercenaries came to Cuba under the auspices of a foreign country in an attempt to finance isolated and powerless people who hope to once again make Cuba a U.S. colony. Jaime Crombet stated that Cuba is known for its solidarity, for its internationalist spirit and its defense of Socialism. And the vice president of Cuba's parliament affirmed that despite Washington's efforts to destroy the Revolution, Cuba continues to be an example of struggle and an inspiration for small and underdeveloped nations, especially because of its consistency and refusal to surrender and betray its principles or sell its soul to the highest bidder. *LET US NOT BECOME A HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS, SAYS FORMER PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT Panama City, April 3 (RHC)--According to former Panamanian President Aristides Royo, it is incomprehensible that his country would become a place of asylum for criminals and terrorists such as Luis Posada Carriles. In an interview published in Monday's edition of the Cuban weekly newspaper "Trabajadores," the former Panamanian president said that he felt it was his responsibility to advise the current administration of President Mireya Moscoso not to give in to pressure from outside the country -- designed to force her to let Posada Carriles and three other terrorists go free. Former President Aristides Royo told "Trabajadores" that he believes that when good working relations exist between two countries, one of the questions that must be asked is how would a government react if the situation were reversed. He added that if the United States had requested extradition of a known criminal, the Panamanian government would have reacted quite differently, even though the U.S. has a death penalty and -- according to Royo -- carries out executions much more frequently. Cuba has formally requested the extradition of Posada Carriles and several other terrorists accused of planning the assassination of President Fidel Castro last November in Panama. Responding to concerns that Cuba has the death penalty, Havana has assured Panama that Posada Carriles would not be sentenced to death and, if found guilty, would only be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison. Cuba has also offered to have international observers at the trial -- should Posada Carriles be extradited to Havana to face charges of terrorist crimes. The former president of Panama said that failure to extradite the terrorists currently imprisoned in his country would not only be a violation of international norms but also an unfriendly act against the Republic of Cuba. *RICARDO ALARCON ELECTED HEAD OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION Havana, April 3 (RHC)--Participating legislators in the 105th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union have elected Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon as the new president of that legislative body, the world's oldest multilateral political institution. The Cuban lawmaker thanked participants for his election to the post. The Havana meeting is gathering over 1400 legislators from 120 nations. The 105th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which runs through April 7th, is focusing on the observance of international law to achieve world peace and security and the importance of education and culture for development. The IPU conference began work sessions on Monday with a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, which has agreed to readmit Sudan as a full IPU member. The conference includes plenary sessions and work commissions on the protection of the environment and the observance of international rights and law. Participants also agreed to debate a third issue, dealing with the parliaments' contribution to the fight against all forms of terrorism. Presented by Cuba, the issue was taken up by an overwhelming majority of votes, 1229 of the 1400 legislators present at the meeting. Also on Monday, the President of the Cuban Women's Federation (FMC), Vilma Espin, offered dinner in honor of women legislators who are participating in the 105th conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Founded in 1889 and based in Geneva, the Inter-Parliamentary Union meets twice a year to promote peace, security, democracy and respect for human rights through political dialogue among its member nations. This is the second time the Inter-Parliamentary Union meets in the Cuban capital. The first time was in 1981. *HAVANA'S 4th INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FAIR GETS UNDERWAY Havana, April 3 (RHC)--The 4th International Construction Fair opened its doors today at Havana's Pabexpo exhibition hall. Participants include Cuban and foreign firms operating on the island and in other Latin American nations. The fair, which runs through Saturday, includes exhibitions of goods and state-of-the-art technology, as well as business meetings. Havana's traditional International Construction Fair is an opportunity for business people to exchange views and sign cooperation and trade agreements. The event also serves as a unique opportunity for foreign executives to explore the possibilities of the Cuban market. *INTERNATIONAL SEA FAIR BEGINS IN CIENFUEGOS Cienfuegos, April 3 (RHC)--The International Sea Fair, called FIRMAR'2001, began today in the central province of Cienfuegos. Sponsored by the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, the fair promotes business opportunities in areas such as fishing, marine agriculture, cruise tourism and other related industries. Over 100 Cuban and foreign firms are represented at the fair site, an area of approximately 1000 square kilometers of tents and open space. The sea fair includes lectures on fishing development in Cuba and opportunities for foreign investment in that sector, as well as the presentation of special editions of the weekly business publications "Negocios en Cuba," "Opciones" and the tourism magazine "Excelencias Turisticas del Caribe." Parallel to FIRMAR'2001, other ocean-related events are taking place, such as the Friends of the Sea Festival, which includes competitions like the National April 4th Cup of nautical motorcycles. There will also be workshops on the protection of the environment. *MUSIC: ELIADES OCHOA TO PERFORM IN PUERTO RICO AND THE UNITED STATES Havana, April 3 (RHC)--Renowned Cuban musician Eliades Ochoa has begun a tour of Puerto Rico and the United States. Invited by the Higher Octave Music Group, Eliades Ochoa will offer lectures on Cuban traditional music and perform in the Puerto Rican capital San Juan and also in New York. The troubadour's musical repertoire includes pieces by famous Cuban song writers, including Ignacio Piņeiro, Miguel Matamoros, Sindo Garay, Ņico Saquito and Francisco Repilado, also known as Compay Segundo. While in New York, Eliades Ochoa will perform for lovers of Cuban music at B.B. King's Blues Club, and will appear on NBC's Today Show and others. *IN ROME, CUBA'S MINISTER OF CULTURE TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW NOVEL Rome, April 3 (RHC)--Upgrading the cultural level of the Cuban people has always been a priority of the Revolution, said Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto during a press conference in Rome, Italy. Abel Prieto is in Italy on the occasion of the presentation of his new novel entitled "El Vuelo del Gato" (The Flight of the Cat). The Cuban official said that the triumph of the Revolution advanced Cuban society in all spheres, including the cultural sector. In reference to his new novel, the Cuban culture minister said it reflects part of the history of a generation of Cubans, his generation, who were born after the revolutionary triumph in 1959. Prieto said that humor is a prominent element in the book, adding that that the Cuban people have a very good sense of humor, which has helped them to overcome the most difficult situations. *Viewpoint: IT'S TIME TO CHALLENGE U.S. WORLD HEGEMONY A recent article written by French specialist Eduardo Simonet referred to the unprecedented power that the United States holds in the geopolitical world. Its military force is awesome. It is the top nuclear and space power. It has, furthermore, ships in every ocean with the military capacity to intervene in any part of the world in the shortest possible time. It has in place a network of military bases and communication systems that can listen in on other systems in all the continents. The U.S. spends more than 30 million dollars a year on military investigations alone. Its naval forces, with more than a million and a half men, can identify everything that moves over land, sea and air. Its networks can see everything without being seen and destroy with great precision, without being threatened itself. Its media brings its military, political, economic, social and cultural ideology to all parts of the world. They are capable of robbing diplomatic, industrial, technological and scientific secrets. They can and have been able to do this for a long time. Since the collapse of the socialist countries in eastern Europe, the U.S. has imposed its form hegemony in an unprecedented manner. This is evident in the part it has played in internal conflicts when Washington decides who it will support depending on its own interests. It certainly is the most powerful country in the world. However, there also exists a powerful opposition, a cherished idea which cannot be crushed by force. That is the right and the desire of the peoples of most of the world to be free, independent and self-governing. Cuba is in the frontline of this force which will not be beaten even after more than forty years of constant confrontation by the U.S. The power game that the U.S. is playing is becoming more and more dangerous. In order to mount an effective opposition, it is crucial that the countries of Latin America and other developing countries unite, to resist any further political and ideological manipulation from the most powerful and manipulative nation on earth. (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 ================================================================= nytcari-04.04.01-03:01:45-9859