By: Teo A. Babun, Jr.
Cuba-Caribbean Development Co., Ltd.
A Division of T. Babun Group, Inc.
All rights reserved
1998
12/29 Anuncian Visita de Canciller de Canada a La Isla en Enero
El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Canada, Lloyd Axworthy, visitara oficialmente Cuba el 7 de enero proximo, confirmo el lunes oficialmente la cancilleria cubana.
12/29 Diplomaticos Expulsados
Vuelven a Cuba
Tres diplomaticos
cubanos acusados de espionaje y acreditos ante las Naciones Unidas abandonaron
el pais. El mirecoles pasado, el Departamento de Estado anuncio la expulsion
del primer secretario, Eduardo Martinez Borbonet; el tercer secretario Roberto
Azanza Paez y el consejero Gonzalo Fernandez Garay.
12/28 CTC Se Reune Con
Sindicatos Capitalistas
En lo que representa un
importante cambio en sus relaciones internacionales, que hasts ahora
monopolizaban unicamente las organizaciones de inspiracion comunista, la
Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC) se reunio en La Habana con los maximos
dirigentes del sindicalismo representativo de los paises capitalistas
desarrollados.
12/28 U.S. Sanctions on Cuba Under Growing Attack
Herald- Congressional conservatives,
liberals, American newspapers, a growing number of business people, academics
and intellectuals, Pope John Paul II, and even Henry Kissinger, the closest
thing America has to a foreign-policy deity favors a top-to bottom
reassessment of U.S. sanctions on Cuba, including the trade and travel
embargos.
12/27 After 40 Years, A Tattered Revolution
Herald- Cuba’s economy lies in tatters. Finding food is a daily battle. Buildings are caving in. The U.S. dollar rules, and President Fidel Castro’s call for an egalitarian society.
12/26 Report: Lift Limits on Remittances to Cuba
Herald- A draft report of an
independent task force wants the government to end limitations on cash
transfers from the United States to needy Cubans as part of a broader program
to promote “rapid, peaceful democratic change on the island”. At present,
such transfers are restricted to $1,200 a year, and the task force, sponsored
by the Council on Foreign Relations, says removing the limits would accelerate
the process of creating “a new group of Cubans” independent of the state. The
co-authors of the report are Bernanrd W. Aronson and William D. Rogers, both
Democrats who made their marks in Republican administrations.
12/25 President Pastrana Will Visit Cuba in January
EFE- Colombian President Andres Pastrana will visit Cuba January 14th through the 16th, and will analyze with his Cuban colleague, Fidel Castro the process of peace in Colombia, the judicial cooperation against narcotics and commercial relations. This is the first occasion in which a mandatory Colombian visits Cuba for diplomatic reasons in the last four decades.
12/24 U.S. Braces for Retaliation Over Cuba Spy Expulsion
Herald- U.S. officials said Wednesday
they hope the expulsion of three Cuban diplomats at the United Nations linked
to a Miami spy ring will not affect U.S. relations with Havana but they girded
for retaliatory expulsions by Cuba. The top Cuban expelled was Eduardo
Martinez Borbonet, the mission’s first secretary, who acted as liaison with
the U.N. Development Program and UNICEF. The other two were Thrid Secretary
Roberto Azanza Perez and Attache Gonzalo Fernandez Garay, described by U.N.
diplomats as “electronic repair types”. All have diplomatic immunity and
cannot be arrested.
12/23 La Asemblea Nacional Dio Agua Pasada
La Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular concluyo el martes su segundo periodo de sesiones
correspondiente a 1998 sin mayores sorpresas. Un periodo de sesiones de dos
dias, que se repite dos veces al año.
12/23 Church Seeks to Revive Meaning of Christmas
Herald- Roman Catholic Cardinal Jaime
Ortega said Tuesday that the church must strive to restore the religious
traditions of Christmas now that it has been declared a government holiday.
While Cubans have embraced the Communist government’s decision to make Dec. 25
an official day off, few understand that the day commemorates the birth of
Jesus, Ortega said.
12/23 Three Cuban Diplomats at U.N. Expelled
Herald- The U.S. government on Tuesday
ordered the expulsion of three Cuban diplomats at the United Nations, accusing
them of “activities incompatible with their status”. According to several
sources familiar with the subject, the action is a result of the
investigations conducted after 10 Cubans were arrested in South Florida in
September and charged with spying for the Cuban government.
12/23 Aleman Acepta Ayuda
Pero No Ira a Cuba
El Nuevo Herald – Luego
de recibir sonriente la condonacion de la deuda de $50 millones por parte de
Cuba, el presidente de Nicaragua, Arnoldo Aleman, se adelanto a reafirmar que
no tiene intenciones de cambiar su dura posicion contra Fidel Castro. El
gesto fue calificado tanto en Miami como en Managua de un intercambio
protocolario que no llevara a una normalizacion de las relaciones entre los
dos paises.
12/22 La Economia Cubana
Crece La Mitad de Lo Esperado
-Reuters- Cuba dijo el
lunes que su economia crecio 1.2 por ciento en 1998, el nivel mas bajo de
crecimiento en cuatro anos. El ministro de Economia Jose Luis Rodriguez, y
otros funcionarios, dijeron ante la Asemblea Nacional que el crecimiento,
aunque por debajo de las expectativas oficiales originales de entre 2.5 y 3.5
por ciento, indica que la economia cubana va todavia por el camino de la
recuperacion.
12/22 Miles de Duenos de Casa Practican Alquiler Privado
-AFP- El arrendamiento privado florece en Cuba y solo un ano y medio despues de legalizado, 8,000 propietarios de casas lo pratican, informo el lunes el Instituto de la Vivienda. De los 8,000 arrendadores, el 50 por ciento alquila en dolares y el resto en moneda nacional, y poco mas del 70 por ciento se localiza en la ciudad de La Habana. Le siguen Santiago de Cuba, Sancti Spiritus y Matanzas.
12/21 Turistas Dejaron $1,800
Millones
La visita a Cuba de mas
de un millon de turistas durante 1998 aporto a su economa $1,800 millones de
ingresos brutos, informaron el domingo fuentes oficiales.
12/20 Castro Les Pide
Disculpas a Los Mexicanos
En una forma inusual,
el periodico Granma, organo oficial del Partido Comunista de Cuba, publico el
sabado una extensa carta del gobernante cubano Fidel castro pidiendole perdon
al pueblo mexicano por unas “reflexiones” que realizo durante la clausura de
la reunion annual del Sistema Economico Latinoamerica (SELA).
12/19 ONU Reitera Sus
Peticiones de Asistencia Para La Isla
-Reuters- Funcionarios
de Naciones Unidas (ONU) renovaron el viernes sus pedidos de ayuda
internacional para Cuba. La isla necesita al menos $90 millones para
recuperarse de los danos causados este ano por una sequia y por el huracan
Georges, dijeron.
12/18 Producto Interno Bruto
Crece 1.5 Por Ciento
-EFE- El Producto
Interno Bruto (PIB) en Cuba crecio durante 1998 en 1.5 por ciento. Segun al
analisis preliminar del organismo economico de Naciones Unidas para la region,
el crecimiento del PIB en Cuba mostro por segundo ano consecutivo una
desaceleracion, despues de que en 1996 el incremento de la economia de la isla
fuera del 7.8 por ciento.
12/16 A Triple Standard on North Korea, Iraq, and Cuba
Herald- In Cuba, where an aging
revolutionary still refuses to bow to the Yankees of North America, we impose
some of our most-punitive sanctions. In Fidel Castro’s Cuba, precious dollars
and devalued pesos are being used to rebuild a crumbling infrastructure and a
ravaged economy, not to build weapons. While we encourage our South Korean
ally to have dialogue with its northern kinsmen, we chastise those who would
want to communicate or do business with Cuba.
12/16 Probaran Por Segunda
Vez En Humanos Vacuna Contra Sida
-EFE- Una vacuna cubana
contral el sida sera probada de nuevo en humanos en el primer semestre del
proximo ano, mientras ha entrado en fase de estudios clinicos otra contra el
cancer, informo una fuente del Centro de Ingenieria Genetica y Biotecnologia (CIGB)
de La Habana. Ademas, se encuentran en fase de laboratorio un compuesto
contra el dengue hemorragico y otro en etapa mas avanzada para prevenir la
hepatitis C.
12/15 Explicacion de Cuba No Satisfe a Mexico
Las explicaciones del gobierno cubano por una critica del gobernante Fidel castro que origino in incidente diplomatico, no han dejado satisfecho al gobierno de Mexico. Los comentarios del presidente Zedillo son el mas reciente capitulo de un incidente diplomatico sin antecedentes en las armoniosas relaciones de ambos paises en los ultimos 40 anos. El gobierno cubano culpo a la prensa de haber malinterpretado el discurso de Castro y sustuvo que las relaciones de ambos paises continuaban inalterables.
12/14 From a Cuban Prison: First, Respect Individual Rights
Herald- On the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human rights the Cuban press is dedicating space to the subject, which undoubtedly certifies the anniversary’s importance and the force commanded by that declaration.
From a prison cell in Cienfuegos, Cuba, Vladimiro Roca Antunez, son of one of the founder’s of Cuba’s Communist Party and secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, penned the following column, dated Nov.13, for Cuban Free Press Project. Roca Antunez and three other dissidents;
Felix a. Bonne, Rene Gomez, and Martha Beatriz Roque, have been imprisoned since July 16,1977 after publishing a critique of Cuban government policy, The Homeland Belongs to Us All.
12/12 Jamaica, EU Fault U.S. on Cuba Market Access
Herald-
The United States took a scolding on Cuba and enhanced market access for
Caribbean Basin products Friday, as the Miami Conference on the Caribbean
and Latin America wrapped up its 22nd annual session.
Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Manuel Marin, Vice President of the European Commission
(the featured speakers at the day’s concluding sessions) both took a swipe at what Marin called “historical
absurdity” of Washington’s Cuba policy.
Patterson also took the occasion of a speech before the conference’s final plenary session, as well as a press conference and an interview with The Herald, to urge Washington to provide so-called CBI enhancement, which would grant smaller countries to the market access enjoyed by Mexico and Canada under the North American Free trade Agreement.
12/9 Relaciones Con Mexico Se Tornan Delicadas
- Agence France Presse – La prolongada ausencia del embajador de Mexico en Cuba torna delicado el incidente diplomatico provocado por unas declaraciones del gobernante Fidel Castro sobre la politica exterior mexicana, segun medios diplomaticos consultados por la AFP el martes en La Habana.
12/9 A Christmas Hope For Those in Cuba
Herald- Christmas is officially back
after a 29-year hiatus in Cuba. Such are tidings of comfort and joy from the
Cuban state, which expelled and jailed hundreds of Catholic priests and
persecuted Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 1960s and 1970s. The “Cuban Revolution
was never characterized by an anti-religious sentiment,” affirmed the Cuban
Communist Party statement signaling Dec. 25 an official holiday from now on.
12/9 Cardenal de EU Habla
a Favor de Comision
El arzobispo de Boston,
cardenal Bernanrd Law, dijo el martes en La Habana que “no se puede vivir
pensando constantemente en el pasado” al defender la creacion de una comision
bipartidista que tendria como objectivo analizar la politica estadounidense
hacia Cuba. “Necesitamos un dialogo nacional respecto a Cuba, y en general
pienso que en Estado Unidos existe una posicion favorable para considerar un
cambio de politica con la isla:, dijo Law, quien ceno con el gobernanate
cubano Fidel Castro el lunes por la noche.
12/8 Reafirma la UE Su Politica Con Cuba
Bruselas – Los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de la Union Europea (UE) acordaron el lunes en Bruselas “reconfirmar la posicion comun de la Union Europea del 2 de diciembre de 1996”. Esa posicion condiciona el dialogo politico y la cooperacion con Cuba a los progresos del regimen castrista hacia la democracia. El consejo de ministrios de Asuntos Exteriores de la UE decidio mantener sin cambios por los proximos seis meses la posicion comun de la UE respecto a Cuba. La posicion comun sobre Cuba impide que la UE establezca relaciones de cooperacion bilaterales con La Habana, mientras no compruebe avances democraticos importantes.
12/7 UK Seeks Cuban Meningitis Secret
BBC News- Doctors in the UK are testing a vaccine that has appeared to eradicate a deadly form of meningitis in Cuba. Each year more than 2,000 people in the UK get the B strain of meningococcal meningitis and of those 200 will die. Cuba has channeled funds into science education and healthcare since the revolution in 1959. One of its biggest successes has been a vaccine for meningitis B - an achievement that has proved beyond scientists from the rest of the world.
12/6 Senator Dodd Seeks New Cuba Discussion
Washington Post- Senator Christopher
Dodd called for new talks with Cuba, saying Washington’s four-decade policy of
isolating the communist nation hasn’t worked.
Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, said he spoke with Cuban President Fidel Castro for six hours Friday night focusing mainly on terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as U.S. efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America. Dodd proposed five steps that could improve relations between the two countries:
- Ending the ban on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba.
- Lifting travel restrictions and increasing direct flights.
- Permitting greater contact between U.S. and Cuban diplomats at all levels.
- Exploring opportunities to cooperate on environmental protection and efforts to fight drug trafficking and terrosim
- Establishment of a commision on exploring U.S.-Cuban relations, as has been suggested by Republican U.S. Senator John Warner.
12/5 U.S. – Cuba
Continues Talks in La Habana
AFP- The U.S and Cuba will conduct
their tenth round of conversation concerning immigration issues. Cuba will be
represented by Ricardo Alarcon and the U.S. by John Hamilton, Secretary of
State for Central America and Caribbean issues.
12/5 Exiles Consulted on Creation of Commission
Michael Rannenberger, Coordinator of
The Office of Cuban Affairs and Harold Hongjuhok, Secretary of State for
Democracy and Human Rights were in Miami talking to Cuban Exile Leaders about
the proposed commission.
12/4
Senator Dodd in
Cuba
EFE – U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd is
in Cuba evaluating Cuba’s need for medicines and food.
12/4
Association of
Caribbean Grain Companies Meet in La Habana
Reuters- The largest grain companies
from The USA attended a conference of Grain Companies in Cuba.
Paul Dickerson, Vice President of the U.S. Wheat Association said that it would be an advantage to know more about the Cuban market.
12/4
U.S. Ready to
Announce Cuba Commission
El Nuevo Herald
reported that
The White House is ready to announce the introduction of a commission to
review U.S. policy of Cuba. The report says that The Clinton Administration
only needs to decide on who will lead the commission.
12/4 Human Rights Watch Accuses Cuba
The Human Rights Watch Annual Report
said that Cuba has experienced “A disheartening return to heavy-handed
repression”.
12/3
El Nuevo Editorial
Reviews The U.S. Embargo
An article by Soren Tariff in El
Nuevo Herald called for Review of The Embargo.
12/1
Herald Article Says
Blacks and Women Are Discriminated
An article
in The Miami Herald by Manuel Vazquez Purial, an independent journalist
in Cuba said that crime has risen drastically and that Blacks and Women are
being blamed.
12/1 Hotel Chain TRYP Builds New Hotel
Hotel chain TRYP has broken ground on a
new 250 room hotel in Cayo Coco. The TRYP Villa Cayo Coco will be TRYP’s
third hotel to add to their 1,000 hotel rooms in Cuba. The TRYP Peninsula
Varadero (600 rooms) will open in April, 1999.
NOVEMBER
11/28 U.S. Telecom Revenues increase by 20 Percent
Telephone traffic between the U.S and Cuba surged during the first six months of this year. From January 1 to June 30, U.S. telecommunications companies paid the Cuban government $39.5 million to long distance services. U.S. companies earned another $49 million for their service to Cuba.
1/28 Budget Bill Requires New State Department Report
A provision sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was attached to the congressional omni bus spending bill to pressure The State Department to increase its enforcement of The Helms-Burton Act.
11/28 Mississippi Group Favors Lifting Embargo
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) International Studies Program Leaders feel that they have very good contacts with Cuban officials and that Mississippi businesses could be in the fore front of working with Cuba.
11/28 Protests Mark Trial of Cuban Dissident
AP- Government supporters surrounded dissidents protesting the trial of an independent journalists, shouting at the demonstrators in a rare street disturbance in The Cuban Capital.
11/28 Argentina and Cuba Sign Cooperation Accord
EFE- Cuba and Argentina signed an
economic accord which include 41 different cooperation projects.
11/27 Cardinal Says EURO will be Good for Cuba
EFE- Cuba’s Jaime Lucas or Ortega Alamino, La Habana’s Cardinal, critized the U.S. embargo on Cuba and declared hope that the Cuban economy can rebound once Cuba begins using the EURO for its hard currency. Cuba’s catholic leaders are in Berlin, Germany for a conference of Bishops.
11/25 Members of Congress Call commission “a gift to Castro”
The imminent creation of a commission to review U.S. policy of Cuba is being called A Christmas Present for Fidel Castro, said Congress members Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
11/24 Cuban Policy under Heated Discussion
Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will meet with Cuban-American legislators to discuss the accelerated move toward creation of a bipartisan commission to review U.S. policy of Cuba. Vice President Al Gore is heading-up a team to review the creation of the commission.
11/24 Exiles Favor a Peaceful Transition
Silvia Wilhelm, Executive Director of Cuban Committee for Democracy (CCD) said that the majority of the Cuban Exiles favor an evolution toward democracy, while supporting introduction of free market mechanisms.
11/22 OP-ED Calls for Fresh Look
William Rogers, a former Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary of State wrote an OP-ED for The Los Angeles Times wrote that the proposed bipartisan commission’s purpose is not to judge the past but to assess the future. It is about what policy will best serve the United States national interest in the future. The commission should recommend what this country ought to do to hasten the end of the authoritarian communism in Cuba.
11/21 Argentina Clarifies Stance on Cuba-Criticizes Embargo
Seeking to clarify confusion Diego Guelar, Argentina’s Ambassador to the United States met with Cuban Exile Leaders and told them that his country will support Cuba’s government economic integration to the region, while it will continue criticizing The Island’s regime.
11/21 Nicaragua Accepts Cuban Doctors Previously Rejected
AP- After originally refusing help from Cuba, Nicaragua is accepting medical teams to fight epidemics caused by Hurricane Mitch. Cuba had offered medical assistance in early November but President Arnoldo Aleman had only accepted food and medice.
11/21 Torricelli will consider Lifting Embargo
EFE- Democrat Senator Robert Torricelli said that if Cuba wants to see the elimination of the U.S. Commercial Embargo, Fidel Castro must introduce democratic reforms, allow elections and allow for a free press.
11/21 Brazilian Company to Explore for Oil
Petroleros Brasileros has signed a six-year $23 million agreement to explore for oil in Cuba, the Cuban government’s Prensa Latina News Agency reported Friday. Under the agreement, Petrobas is to make geological studies, review old ones and drill at least one exploration well in waters north of Havana.
11/21 Cruise Ships Return to Cuba
GRAMMA reported that up to five new cruise ships will visit Cuba this year, bringing approximately 120,000 additional tourists. A study by Price Waterhouse predicts that 2.2 million tourists will visit Cuba by the year 2000.
11/20 El Nuevo Herald Reports Kissinger’s Conflict of Interest
El Nuevo Herald reported that Henry Kissinger (Author of a petition for a Biparisan Commision to review U.S. Policy of Cuba) is a Director of Continental Grain Co. who sent representatives to a conference in Cuba, as well as, a Director of Chase Manahattan Bank, who has given loans to The Carlyle Group of which Frank Carlucci (another Author) is President who, owns companies interested in doing business in Cuba.
11/20 Kaufman Predicts No Change Till 2000
Speaking in Miami, Susan Kaufman-Purcell, Vice-President of Council of The Americas stated that the possibilities of a change in the U.S. embargo law are minimal before the year 2,000. She did forsee greater efforts toward increase in humanitarian assistance and support for the private sector.
11/19 Cuba Offers to send 2,000 Doctors to Central America
Cuba will send 2,000 doctors to Central America to help control epidemics and the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. 102 doctors are already offering services in remote huts in Honduras and Guatemala.
11/19 Greece-Cuba Sign Open Air Deal
Cuban deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende and her Greek counterpart Yanos Kranidiotis signed an agreement to open air transportation between both countries.
11/18 U.S. Considering Creation of Commission
The U.S. is studying a proposal to create a bipartisan commission to revise Cuba policy, said Sandy Berger, Assistant to President Clinton on issues of National Security. Berger wrote to the Cuban-American Legislators seeking their input. Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart blamed Vice-President Al Gore for accelerating the proposal.
11/18 AP Names Anita Snow as Head of Cuban Office
Anita Snow, The Associated Press news editor for Mexico and Central America has been named the new Chief of Cuba’s new AP office in La Habana.
11/16 N.Y. Times Recommends Ending Embargo of Cuba
EFE- The United States should reconsider its policy toward Cuba and try to influence constructive debate on the Island’s future, The New York Times said in an editorial Sunday. Over time, the views of Cubans in the United States have become “less monolithic”, the article says. It contends that young Cuban Americans question whether isolation is the best way to encourage change on The Island.
11/14 Havana Opens Door to AP News Bureau
AP- The Associated Press announced Friday that the Cuban government had authorized it to reopen a news bureau in Havana, more than 9 years after Cuba expelled the last permanent American correspondent on The Island. Doug Clifton, The Miami Herald’s Executive Director called the approval “A giant step toward improving the world’s understanding of the issues there”.
11/13 Matutes Says Castro is Open to Dialogue
AFP- Spanish Foreign Minister, Abel Matutes said that he had perceived a spirit of dialogue in Fidel Castro. Matutes added that Castro is open to discuss any subject.
11/11 Why Restrict Food and Medicine Sales to Cuba
Writing for The Miami Herald, Max J. Castro, a Senior Research Associate at the North-South Center wrote that even if congress elects to continue most elements of the embargo, members might consider wether continuing to restrict sale of food and medicine is consistent with American values or a travesty of these values.
11/11 Albright Favors Proposal for Commission
Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright has found some merits on the proposal recently sent to President Clinton aimed at evaluating U.S. Cuba policy.
11/10 Preval and Matutes Visit Cuba
Cuba welcomed Haiti’s President Rene Preval and Spain Foreign Relations Minister, Abel Matutes. The Spanish Foreign Minister will spend four days in Cuba, while the Haitian President will spend one week.
11/10 Cuba Wants Commercial Agreement with Mercosur
Reuters- Manuel Aguilera, Cuba’s Embassador to Uruguay hopes that being member of ALADI would allow Cuba the right to begin negotiations toward an accord with Mercosur next year. Cuba would sign a common commercial accord with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
11/10 Herald Editorial asks for Castro’s Arrest
The Miami Herald agreed with a suit by The Cuban American National Foundation’s (CANF) suit in spanish court to take cognizance of “Crimes Against Humanities” in Cuba. The editorial said that every action forcing the world to examine his monstrous abuses of power ensures that history will never absolve the iron-fisted dictator.
11/9 Cuba Says EURO will be Mandatory Hard Currency
Cuba will establish The EURO as the
obligatory hard currency for foreign transactions effective on July 1, 1999.
11/9 U.S. Senators Call for Revision of Cuba Policy
According to The Washington Post, twenty U.S. Senators were signatories to the recent petition to President Clinton for a bipartisan commission to revise Cuban policy. Some of the Senators include, Republican Rick Sanjorum and Rod Grams and Democrats Bob Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Christopher Dodd and Dale Bumpers.
11/8 ALADI asks Cuba for Internal Reforms
Didier Opertti, Minister of Foreign Relations for Uruguay and President of Aladi’s annual meeting in a press conference said that Latin American countries are awaiting for positive political signals in the next few months following the support that they are receiving (from the Latin American countries).
11/7 Japan Offered $8.6 Million in Help
The Japanese government offered $8.6 million in financial assistance to Cuba to help with the rebuilding in the affected zones following Hurricane Georges.
11/6 U.S. Thinks Caribbean Countries can help
The U.S. believes that the Caribbean countries that have re-established relations with Cuba have a moral responsibility to help strengthen democratic forces in Cuba. John Hamilton, U.S. Secretary of State for Central America , the Caribbean and Cuba was on an official visit in the Dominican Republic.
11/5 OP-ED Favors Bipartisan Commission
William Ratliff, a Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University wrote an OP-ED in The Miami Herald calling for a bipartisan commission. Ratliff argued that a bipartisan commission would go far toward ending what has become a vicious dispute in the United States and enable the U.S. government to conduct an informed, broadly supported policy that would benefit the people of Cuba and the United States.
OCTOBER
10/30 Clinton Asked to Create Cuba Policy Review Panel
A group of prominent Republicans that includes former Secretary of State Kissinger and Eagleburger has urged President Clinton to form a bipartisan panel to study U.S. Policy toward Cuba. Arguing that the policy has not been fully reviewed in nearly 40 years.
10/30 Congress Adjourns-No Change in Policy Reviewed
· Food & Medicine Exemption
A coalition of organization headed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, supported by U.S. senator Chris Dodd, to lift sanctions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba, died in negotiations.
· Solidaridad
A proposal by Sen. Jesse Helms for a “Solidaridad” bill aimed at expanding a provision in the Helms-Burton Act to raise support for dissidents in The Island from $3 to $25 million to include humanitarian assistance was not supported by Cuban legislators.
· Helms-Burton Waiver
An administration attempt to win congressional support for a waiver of The Helms-Burton Act related to The U.S. and E.U. agreement of May 18th failed when key law makers refused to endorse The U.S.-E.U. deal.
10/29 ALADI Will Accept Cuba Unconditionally
Representatives from 11 member countries of The Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) approved membership of Cuba during a meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay, opening the way for Cuba entry into other regional organizations.
10/25 U.S. Funds Pro Democracy Organizations
The Clinton Administration has committed $2.1 million this year to 10 programs that help dissidents and non-governmental organizations and send books, videos and medicines to the Island. The 10 programs brought to $2.75 million the total contracted so far by the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID).
10/24 Cruise Business Welcomed
Cuba hopes to attract cruise ship passengers to the Island and expects 120,000 tourists this year from cruises organized by French, British, German and Italian operators. The largest of the vessels (2,000 passengers) is the “Aida”, a German vessel with a weekly Gran Caiman, Santo Domingo, Stgo de Cuba itinerary.
10/22 OP-ED Calls for Fresh Look
Max J. Castro of the North-South Center wrote an OP-ED for The Miami Herald saying U.S. policy toward Cuba is under debate. M. Castro closed by asking if someday soon the next generation of Cubans will be able to shake off the weight of the past and invent a new nation.
10/22 Pinochet Arrest Sparks Calls Against Castro
Questions about Castro’s possible arrest have been sweeping Miami’s Cuban Exiles almost from the time that Pinochet’s arrest in London hit the news Saturday.
10/21 Castro Admits Spying on Exile Groups
Fidel Castro confirmed that he sometimes sends spies to the United States. But Castro said his targets are Cuban Exile Groups- not military bases- and accused the U.S. of tolerating U.S.- launched terror attacks against his island.
10/21 Castro Meets Aznar in Madrid
EFE. The head of the Spanish government, Jose Marisa Aznar and Fidel Castro met for almost two hours. The King and Queen of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia plan an official visit to Cuba in 1999.
10/21 Lage Explains Economy Problems
Vice President Carlos Lage, said that the Cuban economy must grow urgently.
10/21 Where are the Young People in Anti-Castro Rallies?
Sarah Moreno wrote an OP-ED in El Nuevo Herald saying that it doesn’t matter that young people are not easily found during political rallies in Miami.
10/20 Wall Street Journal-Why not Arrest Castro Too?
The Wall Street Journal printed an editorial arguing that if the world begins a program of wholesale revenge against dictators who drop their defenses, it should look at all dictators.
10/20 British Business Interest Growing
England will provide an exhibit in Cuba’s next Trade Fair. England’s trade with Cuba grew to $70 million and represents 7 percent of all of Cuba’s trade with European Union.
10/20 Guatemala-Cuba Air Route Established
Cuban airline AEROCaribbean has started a twice per week service from La Habana to ciudad de
Guatemala. The Air Route uses an ATR42 plane with a capacity of 46 passengers.
10/20 Increase in Violent Crimes Reported
Cuban Newspaper Juventud Rebelde recently described street crime as one of the most serious challenges to the revolution.
10/19 Spanish Sol Melia and Sheritt to build 14 new Hotels
Sol and Sheritt are researching construction of 14 new hotels. If approved, Sheritt will invest the money needed to build the hotels, while Melia will assume the management of them. Melia currently manages 12 hotels in Cuba.
10/19 Herald Editorial Reviews U.S. Policy
The Miami
Herald asked for a review of U.S. policy toward Cuba. But don’t stack the
odds against the embargo by not addressing human rights.
10/18 Gorbachev Says Embargo is Misguided
Former head of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev said that the American Embargo of Cuba was a misguided, lonely U.S. policy that helped repress democratic reforms on the island.
10/18 Pro and Con Castro Marches in Portugal
Approximately 7,000 people marched in favor of Fidel Castro and another group of 20 marched against Castro during the 8 Ibero- American Summit taking place in Oporto, Portugal.
10/18 Economic Crisis Worsens Due to Lack of Sugar
In an interview for El Nuevo Herald , economist, Antonio Jorge of FIU said that the Cuban economy will feel the affects of lower exports in the next six months.
This week, a spokesman of the Minister of the Sugar Industry revealed that Cuba had lost approximately $250 million in revenue due to lost of production. In the last two years Cuba has imported $1,100 million above their exports. Cuba exported 2.4 million tons of unrefined sugar during the 1997-1998 harvest. Together with the interest consumption of 650,000 tons, the total production only reached 3.1 million.
10/18 Crime Growling in Cuba
A special report by Gerardo Reyes of El Nuevo Herald revealed that street crime in Cuba is growing at an unprecendented rate. The report explained that the people seem to be losing fear of the police.
10/17 Argentina Ready to Settle with Cuba
A report by Andres Oppenheimer of The Miami Herald said that Argentina was sending their Secretary of International Economic Relations, Jorge Campbell, to Havana for talks expected to result in agreement to begin collecting Cuba’s $1.2 billion debt to that country. Cuba is expected to pay in part through debt-for-equity swaps, which will allow Argentina investors to get sweeter -than-usual deals to take over Cuban companies.
10/15 1963 CIA Report Declassified
A secret central intelligence agency “status report” on Cuba concluded that there were only two courses which would eliminate the Castro regime: An invasion or a complete blockade. The report was among more than 1,000 pages of declassified Cuba-related documents released by the Kennedy Assassination Review.
10/15 U.N. Votes To End Embargo of Cuba
The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday demanded an end to the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. The General Assembly adopted a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to the 36- year economic embargo with 157 votes in favor, 12 abstentions and only the United States and Israel against.
10/14 Former Official Urge Review of Cuba Policy
A powerful group of former Republican officials, including Henry Kissinger and Lawrence Eagleburger, joined John Warrer, a GOP Senator from Virginia, in calling for a bipartisna commision to re-examine U.S. policy toward Cuba.
In related stories:
Spokesman for the Department of State, James Rubin, said that “we always welcome the points of view of responsible North Americans and members of congress concerning Cuba”. However, he mentioned that they can not respond to the request until they receive details and specific recommendations.
The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) and three Cuban-American members congress rejected the proposal as an effort of lobby interest, paid by large corporations.
10/13 Oil Production Reaches 1 Million Tons
EFE reported that Cuba’s oil production had reached 1 million tons of crude oil and should reach 1.2 million tons by the end of the year. Cuba imports approximately 6 million tons of oil per year at a cost of about $100,000 million. In 1995 production reached 1.475 million tons, and the prior year 1.5 million tons. Cuba oil is known as heavy and with a high content of surphur.
10/13 Hondura’s Minister Calls for Diplomatic Relations
Hondura’s Minister of Tourism, Norman Garcia, said that he was in favor of Hondura’s re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. Last week Hondura’s congress called for President Carlos Flores to examine the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Havana which have been severed since 1962.
10/12 Mercedes Benz Signs Cooperation Accord
Automotive giant Mercedes Benz signed an agreement of cooperation with Cuba dealing with licenses for service stations for limousines, trucks, buses and pick-up trucks.
10/11 Diplomats in Black Market
El Nuevo Herald reported that diplomats from African countries are participating in Havana’s black market.
10/11 Paladares are Disappearing
El Nuevo Herald reported that Paladares are being regulated and taxed to death. Paladares are taxed $1,250 per month and are prohibited from selling sea-food. Most Paladares are now owned by family’s associated with high government officials.
10/11 Cuba to Participate in Summit
Cuba will be part of the Ibero -American Summit which will take place on October 17th-18th in Oporto, Portugal. Twenty one countries will be present.
10/11 Cuban Exiles Parade in Miami
Thousands of Cuban exiles marched in Miami to oppose presumed softening of U.S. policy towards Cuba. Radio commentator, Armando Perez Roura organized the march. (Note: No organizationm, including the parade organizers would estimate the size of the crowd).
10/10 Hillary Clinton Hugs Vilma Espin
Hilary Clinton hugged Vilma Espin, the top Cuban governement women at an international conference for women.
10/8 U.K. Exports are Up
El Nuevo Herald reported that Cuba’s exports to the United Kingdom had reached $40 million in the first seven months of the year. The figure represents a 120 percent growth over last year’s exports. At this rate, exports to the U.K. will reach $69 million by the end of the year.
10/8 Cuba Expects to Sell $10 million in Sugar Derivatives
Reuters reported that Cuba expects to sell $10 million in sugar derivative products this year. The sugar harvest in 1997-98 was the worst in 50 years. The harvest produced 3.2 million tons (according to official reports), but 3.0 million according to informed sources.
10/8 Chile to Cooperate with Havana
Jacqueline Weinstein, Director of The Agency of International Cooperation (AGCI), reported that Chile will provide assistance to Cuba in public administration, production and environmental matters.
10/8 Experts Predict Pandoras Box if EU/U.S. Agreement is Reached
EFE reported that during a Cuba conference in Dallas, Texas, experts predicted that the proposed European Union -U.S. agreement on the Helms Burton Law could open “Pandoras Box” in international matters. Hermenegildo Altozano, a Madrid lawyer, questioned Leon Brittan (EU’s Minister of Foreign Relations) authority to negotiate such a deal.
10/8 Study Predicts $36 billion in Investments
A study by Cuba Caribbean Development Co. predicted up to $36 billion in investments if Cuba privatized their state owned assets.
10/7 Diplomats and Castro’s Contradictions
Pablo Alfonso of El Nuevo Herald, wrote that Cuban diplomats and Fidel Castro seem to be saying different things at different forums on the same subjects.
10/7 New Bank Announced
El Nuevo Herald reported that a new financial joint venture (Corporacion Financiera Habana [CFH] ) with $5 million in capital and potential line of credit of $10 million was formed by The Banco Popular de Ahorro (Cuba) and Caja Madrid (Spain).
10/6 Oil Industry Investments Reviewed
EFE reported that at least $300 million has been invested by foreign company’s in Cuba’s oil industry. This year Cuba’s oil industry expects to extract 1.7 million tons of crude oil.
Cuba has signed 22 exploration contracts with 10 companies from Canada, France, England, Sweden, Spain and other countries.
Canadian company, Sheritt International is presently financing the construction of installations for the utilization of natural gas in Varadero. Cuba imports at least 6 million tons of crude oil every year at a cost of approximately $100 million.
10/5 Congress Reluctant to Endorse EU Deal
Cuba News reported that Ben Gilman (R.NY), chairman, House International Relations Comittee, and Jessy Helms (R.NC), chariman; Senate Foreign Relations Comittee, had written to Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright expressing concerns.
The European union has rejected the possibility of making major changes to the accord, but written guarantees, in the form of side letters, may be obtainable without renegotiation.
Michael Ranneberger, Director of The State Department’s Cuba Desk, said that contacts between The Clinton Administration and congress are ongoing, but that it is unlikely that congress will consider a Title IV waiver in the last days this session, which is supposed to end in September.
10/4 Luxury Aparments Attract Foreign Investors
Real Inmobiliaria, a developer based in Monaco is constructing a 31-apartment studio units “The Monte Carlo-Palace” in the Havana neighborhood of Miramar at an average of $149 a square foot for foreign investors.
Legislation allows real estate investments if the property is used for private homes, for tourists or for employees of foreign companies. Jean-Pierre Pastor is the president of Inmobiliaria Real.
10/4 Jimmy Carter Encourages Spanish Investors
During a conference in Santander, Spain, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter encouraged spanish investors to help Cuba, and in a way help to correct the old error of U.S. dominance in Cuba.
10/2 Cuba’s Food Shortage Worsens
Hurricane Georges worsened an already large problem. Before the hurricane, drought had destroyed 42 percent of crops in five of Cuba’s 14 provinces, bringing with it the danger of hunger. After the storm, Castro announced an increase in government food rations to 1.6 million people in Eastern Cuba.
10/2 Robaina and Menoyo Meet in New York
Cuba’s foreign minister, Roberto Robaina met for over one hour in New York with the head of the exile group “Cambio Cubano”, Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo. Cambio seeks dialogue with the Cuban government.
10/2 Treasury Cancels Two Direct Flight Charters
The U.S. Treasury Department has lifted the permit of two charter companies flying to Cuba. C&T Charter and Wilson International were suspended for not fulfilling various U.S. government requirements. The suspensions appear to be temporary.
10/1 770 Companies Attend Trade Fair
Approximately 770 companies representing 21 countries participated in The Second International Fair of Transportation in Havana. Spain and Italy, after Cuba were the largest exhibitors.
SEPTEMBER
9/30 U.S. Urges Clampdown on Exile’s Terrorism
U.S. diplomat in Central America have been ordered by Wahington to prod their host governments to clamp down on cuban exiles attempts against Cuba.
9/30 Castro Halts Work on Nuclear Reactor
Cuban President, Fidel Castro, has announced that work on the country’s Juragua Nuclear Reactor, which was begun with Soviet aid, has been suspended indefinetely.
The reactor, begun in 1980, has cost $1 billion so far, and it would cost an additional $750 million and four years to finish.
9/30 Anti-Embargo Initiative is Rejected
The House Committee on Conferences rejected a parlamentary initiative which would have allowed commercial transactions and financing of food to Cuba. The initiative was an amendment by Rep. Jose Serrano, (a member of the committee) to an agricultural bill. The initiative had the support of Senator Christopher Dodd.
9/29 Italy Conditions it’s Cooperation
Italy’s foreign minister, Lamberto Dini mentioned that Italy was satisfied with Cuba’s progress in economic opening, but needed to do more work on Human Rights Issues. The statement was made in Rome during a meeting with Cuba’s Vice President, Carlos Lage.
9/28 Cuban Conference in Dallas Debate Changes
The Dallas Morning News sponsored a conference on Cuba.
9/28 Herald Editorial by Frank Canton
Frank Calzon, Executive Director of The Center for Free Cuba, wrote an OP-ED for The Miami Herald. Calzon says that the real reason for Castro threatning to refuse humanitarian assistance from the United Nations is that he wantsto continue diverting humanitarian assitance to the military.
9/27 Cuban Oil Production Could Increase
Reyters reported that Cuba expects to produce 1.64 million tons of crude oil by the end of the year, a 12 -percent increase over the last year’s production of 1.46 million tons. Cuba imported 6.7 million tons of oil last year. In 1989, Cuba imported 13 million tons of oil.
9/27 Hurricane Georges Causes Damages
Hurricane George’s rain and winds collapsed some 100 old houses in Havana and damaged more than 20,000 elsewhere.
9/27 Cuba-U.S. Lock Horns at United Nations
U.S. Alternate Ambassador tothe United Nations, Peter Burleigh and Cuba’s Foreign Secretary, Roberto Robaina Locued-horns in public debate during the 53rd General Assembly.
9/26 Albright Calls Caribbean Countries to Help
AP- U.S. Secretary of State, madeleine Albright called on Caribbean countries to encourage Cuba to promote a transition toward democracy. Albright said that the U.S. see Cuba as a country in transition, with hope for peace and democracy. She called on the Caribbean countries to exercise moral and political authority to help accelerate the process.
9/24 Cuba will Join First Europe-Latin Summit - Sign $200 Credit Line
AFP- Cuba’s Vice President, Carlos Laje, traveling throughout Europe announced from Paris that Cuba will attend next year’s Rio de Janeiro Summit between the European Union and Latin America. Laje signed a $200 million credit line for 1999 with Finance Minister, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. $180 million are earmarked to agricultural products and $20 million for electrical industry equipment.
9/23 Business with France Growing - Will Not Yield on Helms Burton
AFP- A spokesman for French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin said that France was not prepared to make concessions to modify the Helms Burton Law. 40 French companies have looked at entering into joint ventures in Cuba. Cuba has a $3 billion debt with France, the 8th largest trade partner. Exports to Cuba were $214 million in 1997 from $176 million in 1996.
9/22 Japanese Business Delegation Visits Cuba
EFE- 35 Japanese Corporate Presidents visited Cuba during a trade delegation representing Department Stores, Supermarkets, Warehousing, Transportation, and Tourism.
9/22 Cuba to Get Tough on Crime
AFP- The Cuban weekly Trabajadores called for tougher answers against growth of delinquency and negative social activity.
9/20 Castro Receives V.P. of Guatemala
EFE- Fidel Castro received Guatemala’s Vice President Luis Flores during an official visit to Cuba. Flores was accompanied with a large delegatiion of business people.
9/20 Dollars Continue to Save Cuban Economy
A report by Anita Snow of the Assciated Press noted that approximately $800 million is being sent by family members to the island helping the country to neutralize loses in the sugar industry.
9/19 Cuba Accuses U.S. Diplomat of Meddling
AFP- Cuban Foreign Minister, Spokesman, Alejandro Gonzalez, said that a U.S. diplomat, a memeber of the U.S. interest section, is engaged in activities that fall within the definition of interference in the internal affairs of our country and promotion of counterrevolutionary activities”.
9/18 Cuba will Accept U.N. Humanitarian Help
Reuters- Cuba said it will accept $20.5 million in emergency food and medicines from The United Nations.
9/12 U.S. Businessman Meet Alarcon in Cancun
AP- The President of Cuba’s parliament, Ricardo Alarcon visited a group of Businessmen meeting in Cancun, Mexico during Alamar Associate’s second Cuba Business Conference.
9/11 ALADI will Consider Cuba’s Integration
High officials from the Asociacion LatinoAmericana de Integracion (ALADI) declared confidence that Cuba will be integrated into the 11 country association at this November 5-6 meetinf in Montevideo.
9/11 Spanish Scrapmetal Plant Inagurated
During a visit to Cuba, Jose Antonio Ardanza, President of the Vasque Government of Spain, together with Fidel Castro, inagurated a scrapmetal plant donated by The Vasque Government.
9/11 Cuban Medicines to be Produced in Asia
The Governor of Malayo (Kuala Lumpur, Malasia), Abdul Ghani Othman, says that his state will becone the principal distribution of Cuban pharmaceuticals in Asia.
9/11 Foreign Investment Growing
Reuters- Cuba produced that $2.2 billion have been invested directly or through future commitments the last eight years (sice 1990) in 340 “Economic Associations”. Ministers of Foreign Investements, Ibrahim Ferradaz, made the statement during a magazine interview.
9/11 Herald OP-ED Critized D.R. Awards to Castro
The Miami Herald reprinted an article from El Caribe of Santo Domingo critizing President Leonel Frenandez calling Castro’s regime “A symbol of the dreams of redemption of a major sector of humanity”.
9/11 Cuba Rejects U.S. Help
AFP- Cuba said that humanitarial assistance fromthe U.S. would be humiliating, hyprocritical and unacceptable. Cuba had requested $20.5 million in humanitarian assistance from the United Nations.
9/10 El Herald OP-ED Calls for Humanitarian Assistance
Lazaro L. Farinas said that human solidarity is worth a thousand times more than letting the country die of starvation. The U.S. should contribute its part.
9/10 High Profile for Mohammed Ali
EFE- Former World Heavyweight Boxing Campion, Mohammed Ali, visited Cuba with $1million in humanitarian donations for a local hospital.
9/8 U.S. Says No to Cuban Business Trip
The Clinton Administration banned Washington-based Alamar Associates and the U.S. - Cuba Business Summit from an overnight visit to Havan to examine further business opportunities in Cuba.
9/8 Bank Report Looks Western
Banco Metropolitano S.A. published its 1997 Annual Report (First Report). The report resembles a Western Bank report. The Bank created in 1996 operates with a Board of Directors and Stockholders. It provides services to foreigners and to The Cuban Diplomatic Corps. The Bank has a capital of $15 million.
9/7 Castro Visits Cardoso in Brazil
AP- Fidel Castro arrived in Brazil for a 24-hour visit on his way to South Africa. During his stay Castro will meet with Brazilian President, Henrique Cardoso.
9/6 Rio Group Critizes Helms Burton Law
AP- The Latin leaders attending a summit along with leaders from four other countries critized The U.S. Helms-Burton Law, which punishes business that trade with Cuba, as harmful to International Commerce and an example of a nation wrongly attempting to impose its law outside its territory.
9/6 Fujimore asks for Cuba’s Participation
AFP- Peru’s President, Alberto Fujimore, condemned the marginization of Cuba from international forums.
9/6 Portuguese Consortium to Build 15 Hotels
The Portuguese Real Estate Consortium Amorim Hoteis e Servicos (AHS) has announced that they will start building 15 new hotels in Cuba with the objective of controlling 7,500 rooms from the 2,500 rooms (10 hotels) already managed by the group. AHS is the second largest hotel operator in Cuba after the Spanish group, Sol-Melia.
9/5 Tobacco Exports Will reach $250 Million
The President of Habanos, S.A., Francisco Linares Calvo announced that Cuba’s exports of tobaco will reach $250 million this year. The exports include the sale of 160 million cigars. Habanos, S.A. has six joint ventures with foreign companies.
9/3 U.S. to Study Cuban Humanitarian Assistance
The U.S. is studying a request by The United Nations to provide Cuba with $20.5 million in humanitarian assistance. The help would include rice, vegetable oil, fish and wheat.
9/2 OFAC Tightens Rules on Travel to Cuba
The Clinton Administration has clamped down on Americans who travel to Cuba without Treasury Department Licenses that allow them to spend money on their trips. Fully hosted travelers to Cuba may be asked for documentation that provide that all expenses incurred on the trip were paid by a third party who isn’t subject to U.S. law and that the payments were not made in exchange of services.
Under the new regulations, which become effective May 18, fully hosted travelers are prohibited from taking direct flights to the island and must travel through a third country.
9/2 Sen. Dodd Says it’s the Beginning Not the End
An attempt on the Senate floor to lift restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba was thwarted by Anti-Castro lawmakers. A motion by Senator Christopher Dodd was defeated on a 67-30 vote. Despite his defeat, Dodd indicated that he was not ready to give up on the fight and may try to attack his amendment to another apprpriation bill after September.
9/2 U.S Grains Council Donates 4,000 lbs to Cuba
The U.S. Grain Council donated 4,000lbs of mixed feed grain last spring to a Cuban aid agency, and Kansas farmers and The Whaet Industry’s Export arm donated 22,000 lbs of flour to Cuba in February.
AUGUST
8/30 CANF to Supporters¼”Brace Yourselves”.
In an article written for The Miami Herald, Alberto M. Hernandez, M.D., Chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) wrote that “all of us¼need to race ourselves for difficult times ahead”. “powerful forces are at work to undermine everything we have accomplished over the last decade¼”, he added.
8/30 Cuba Projects 1.4 Million Tourists
Cuba’s Vice-Minister of Tourism, Miguel Brugueras, announced that Cuba’s tourism is growing at a rate of 36-percent over last year. At this rate, Cuba will see approximately 1,430,000 tourists by the end of 1998.
8/29 U.S. Legislators Protest Food Assistance
The Clinton Administration is considering providing food assistance to Cuba through the World Food Program (Note: news on 7/29). Florida Republicans, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen oppose the plan. An administration official said that there has been no official notification yet from the WFP concerning an appeal for Cuba.
8/29 Unusual Small Protest in Havana
A small group of protesters staged a rare demonstration outside of a Havana courthouse after the sentencing of Alfaro Garcia to three years in prison for “disseminating false news”. The demonstrations lasted 15 minutes and the group was dispersed without apparent incident.
8/29 Unemployment Figures Announced
Reuters reported that the Cuban Government announced an unemployment of 7 percent of the population eligible to work ( 6.65 million of 11 million people).
8/26 Castro will Make Tactical Stop in Brazil
The daily newspaper Jornal do Brazil, reported that Castro will make a tactical stop in Salvador on his way to South Africa on August 30th. Castro is traveling to participate in a forum of non-aligned countries.
8/26 Cuba Request Help from the United Nations
Cuba has officially requested humanitarian assistance from the Office of the United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Issues. Cuba cited that during 1998, rainfall has been less than 50 percent of normal in five provinces, and only 20 percent in some communities.
Cuba noted that there has been more than $100 million in damages, and that the priority would be to provide food to more than 600,000 inhabitants in the effected regions.
8/24 Cuba Approves the Decentralization of 95 Companies
In a very strange move, more typical of countries promoting pre-privatization of state-owned enterprises, the Cuban government announced that 95 state-owned firms, which are part of the Basic Industry Sector, will be decentralized.
Armando Perez, Executive Secretary of the “Governmental Group” (new?), announced that the new Law No. 87 involves 115,000 workers. The companies are both profitable and unprofitable and include companies in Nickel, sugar, construction materials, food, fishery, transportation, culture, communications, finance, public health, and others.
8/23 Cuba and Chile Sign Trade Accord
EFE reported that Cuba and Chile have signed a five year trade accord where more than 1,000 products, primarily medicines, sugar, and food products where involved. The accord was signed to promote trade between the two countries (Note: Castro’s contradiction in speech of 8/21).
Cuba and Chile renewed trade relations in 1995. Juan Gabriel Valdes, Chile’s Director General of Economic Relations, and Orlando Hernandez, Cuba’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Commerce, signed the agreement. Cuba’s Vice President Carlos Lage was present during the ceremonies.
8/23 Report says that End of Embargo Would Hurt the Caribbean
A study published by a Washington organization (Center for a Free Cuba), which is financed by USAID to promote democracy in Cuba, and authored by Jaime Suchlicki, of the University of Miami, predicts that lifting the U.S. embargo on Cuba would hurt tourism throughout the Caribbean and Florida.
8/21 CARIFORUM Agrees to Cuba’s Integration
Edwin Carrington, Secretary General of CARICOM, announced that all of the Caribbean nations, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic, support the integration of Cuba to the LOME Agreement-CARICOM.
8/21 Castro Arrives in DR for CARIFORUM
Castro arrived in the Dominican Republic as an observant to CARIFORUM, a forum of Caribbean Countries. Cuba is trying to become a member of the Association of Caribbean States (CARICOM).
In his first speech, Castro advocated that lifting trade barriers would only help the rich countries (Note: 8/19 Carlos Lage’s interview-typical of Cuba taking positions on two sides of an issue by different spokesmen).
8/19 EU Approves $2 million Assistance
EFE announced that the European Union (EU) has approved a $2.4 million in humanitarian assistance for Cuba.
8/19 Lage Agrees on Global Market
In a strange interview with El Espectador, a daily paper of Colombia, used to support the re-election of Cesar Gaviria as Secretary of the OAS (of which Cuba is an expelled member). Vice President of Cuba, Carlos Lage recognized that Cuba will need to be more and more open to the world markets.
8/18 Cuban Investments Exceed $2.2 Billion
EFE reported that Osvaldo Martinez, President of the Commission on Economics of the Cuban Parliament, announced that foreign investments in Cuba exceeded $2.2 billion. The investments (presumably made since 1989 and include commitments not actualized), were made in 30 different economic sectors. Canada leads the way with 20 percent of all the investments-particularly in the Nickel industry (Sheritt). Spain, Italy, France and England represent 50 percent of the investments (after Canada?). While, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile represent the main partners from Latin America. (Note: the statement left more questions than it gave answers).
8/15 Cuba Recommended to Join ALADI
Chile’s Ambassador to Uruguay and representative to La Associacion Latinoamericana de Libre Comercio (ALADI), stated that Cuba should be accepted into ALADI during its next meeting in Montevideo in November. He predicts that his recommendation will be accepted. ALADI includes 11 member countries from South America.
8/15 Cuba Accused of Arming Kabila’s Regime
Reuter’s reported that rebels fighting the Congo’s government of Laurent Kabila, have accused Cuba and Zimbabwe of arming and sending pilots to fly the Congo’s planes.
8/15 Ret. U.S. Army to Help New Cuban Military
El Nuevo Herald’s writer (and more), Andres Vargas Gomez wrote that retired U.S. Army General, Erneido Oliva is leading an organization called Consejo Militar Cubano-Americano (CAMCO). CAMCO, proposes to help Cuba’s members of the Army (FAR) to make a smooth transition to democracy, and in the organization of a new Cuban army.
8/14 El Nuevo Prints “The Miami Debate” OP-ED
Jorge Ramos Avalos wrote in El Nuevo Herald that Cuban-Americans are divided by age regarding the most effective strategy of dealing with Cuba. Younger Cubans and Cuban-Americans prefer the reestablishment of relations and dialogues to deal with the government in Havana.
8/14 Biotech Industry Vital to Cuba’s Future
Mark Fineman of the Los Angeles Times wrote an extensive report on the present status and the future potential of Cuba’s pharmaceutical industry. Among other things, Fineman wrote:
1) Cuba’s Group-B Meningococcal vaccine is just one of many unheralded breakthroughs in Cuba’s little-known yet highly advanced biotechnology industry.
2) Cuban scientists have developed an array of new vaccines and drugs that are at the leading edge of biotech research.
3) The first effective drugs against cholera and AIDS could be available within two years.
4) Heber Biotech, S.A., created by the Cuban government in 1991, is now selling products in 34 countries.
5) U.S. scientists said that the Cuban’s safety and research standards equal or even exceed those of the U.S. Federal Drug Administration and the European Union.
8/13 CANF Asks for Investigation of Conference
The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), has asked Congress (in a letter to Rep. Benjamin Gelman, President of the Commission on International Relations, and to Rep. Dan Burton, President of the Commission of Governmental Supervision and Reforms) to investigate the real purpose of Kinby Jone’s Alamar Associates conference of Cuba, scheduled for early September.
8/13 Rivera Asks for Direct Flights NY to Cuba
Bronx’s County Commissioner, Jose Rivera, has presented a Bill requesting authorization for direct flights, for humanitarian reasons, between John F. Kennedy airport and Cuba.
8/12 Cuban Economy Should Imitate Eastern Europe
Cuban experts meeting at the 8th annual meeting of La Associacion Para el Estudio de la Economia Cubana (ASCE), concluded that Cuba should follow the steps of Eastern European countries once the Communist regime ends.
8/11 Calls for Cuban Vaccine to be Tested Here
An editorial in the Los Angeles Times, called for the Treasury Dept. to issue a waiver to allow Smith-Kline Beecham to test a Cuban-made vaccine which virtually has wiped out Group B Meningitis on the island nation.
8/11 Herald New OP-ED Against Embargo
Ariel Hildago, a former political prisoner living in Miami, wrote that “all predictions about the collapse of Castroism as a result of isolation remains unfulfilled”. “The hard-liners ignore a reality that undermined their personal agendas”, he added.
8/10 Cuba’s Dry Spell Called Severe
According to various sources, Cuba has lost 40 percent of some of its harvest of vegetables. Pregnant women, in record numbers, are reported to be getting anemia.
According to CEPAL, Cuba’s imports of food items in 1995 totaled $605 million, but in 1997 the preliminary figure is $600 million. Cuba’s commercial deficit is $1.1 billion.
8/8 Cuba Searches for Mining Partners
According to EFE, Cuba’s enterprise Geominera, S.A. is looking for partners to provide the technology and capital to conduct exploration of deposits of gold and other minerals in more than 800,000 hecta