Cuba NEWSTRACK

 

By: Teo A. Babun, Jr.
Cuba-Caribbean Development Co., Ltd.
A Division of T. Babun Group, Inc.
All rights reserved

2000

 

 

6/24/2000        LAWMAKERS SEEK COMPROMISE ON ALLOWING FOOD SALES TO Cuba

Washington-Farm state lawmakers struggled to reach a compromise Friday aimed at ending a standoff over legislation to ease restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba. A compromise that would ban the use of U.S. financial institutions in the sale of agricultural food products to Cuba and Iran but allow transactions in cash. Their offer to the farm state lawmakers would also cement the existing ban on Cuban imports to the United States.

 

6/25/2000        HELMS DICE QUE LAS INVERSIONES NO AYUDARAN A LA DEMOCRACIA

Nueva York-El republicano Jesse Helms, que preside el Comite de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado de Estados Unidos, defiende la continuidad del embargo contra Cuba y afirma que las inversiones estadounidenses no contribuirian a democratizar la isla, en un articulo que publico ayer The New York Times.

 

6/26/2000        Cuba PROTESTS U.S. RULES ON DIPLOMATS

The Associated Press-United Nations-The Cuban government has complained to U.S. officials, saying a U.S. refusal to let Cuba’s U.N. ambassador travel to Los Angeles to attend a meeting was politically motivated. In a letter circulated Monday, Cuba said the United States imposed travel restrictions on Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla “arbitrary and for political motives.” Rodriguez had wanted to go to Los Angeles to attend a meeting of the Town Hall Los Angeles Forum, a respected public policy group. Since Cuba and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, diplomats of Cuba’s U.N. mission have to ask for authorization to travel outside a 25-mile radius from the center of New York City.

 

6/27/2000        SOY, RICE SEEN AS FIRST U.S. FOOD SALES TO Cuba

Reuters-Washington- Soy and rice will likely be the first U.S. food sales to Cuba if the 40-year embargo is eased under an agreement reached by Republican leaders in Congress, an expert said on Tuesday. But a ban on U.S. credit and private financing will mean Cuba will continue relying on its existing suppliers for much of its $750 million a year bulk food imports, John Kavulich, president of the U.S-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, said.

 

6/27/2000        Cuba LUKEWARM TO U.S. FOOD SALES MOVE

Reuters-Havana-Cuba gave a lukewarm welcome Tuesday to moves by the U.S. Congress to free up food and medicine sales to the island, saying the initiative was “symbolic” and left existing U.S. sanctions largely intact. Cuban government commentators claimed the reported agreement in Congress to ease the 38-year-old U.S. economic embargo against Cuba as a victory for the communist-ruled island’s attitude of stubborn resistance to U.S. hostility.

 

6/27/2000        REPUBLICAN LEADERS BOW TOFARM PRESSURE ON Cuba

Reuters-Washington-Landmark legislation easing the 40-year-old U.S. embargo on food and medicine sales to Cuba could be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives as soon as this week, a top House Republican said on Tuesday. House Majority Leader Dick Armey, a long-standing opponent of any measures to normalize trade with Cuba, conceded that supporters of the measure had enough votes to pass it. Lawmakers may attached it to a huge military construction bill that is scheduled for a vote this week on the House floor, the Texas Republican said.

 

6/27/2000        CLINTON NOT OPPOSED TO EASING Cuba SANCTIONS

Reuters-Washington-President Bill Clinton does not oppose a Republican plan to relax sanctions to allow sales of food and medicine to Cuba but is concerned about an initiative to limit presidential powers to manage embargoes, the White House said on Tuesday.

 

6/27/2000        U.S. LAWMAKERS REACH PACT TO EASE Cuba SANCTIONS

Reuters-Washington-The United States, in a historic shift of policy, will allow unfettered sales of food and medicine to Cuba for the first time in 40 years under a compromise brokered by Republican leaders in Congress on Tuesday. Reached overnight, the agreement could clear the way for congressional approval of calls by U.S. farm and business groups to exempt food and medicine from unilateral embargoes. In a concession to Cuban-American groups and conservative lawmakers who opposed easing sanctions on the communist-run island, the legislation would prohibit U.S. government financing to help the Cuban government buy American grains, livestock, animal feed or medicine. Cuban-Americans are a powerful political force in Florida, but their clout waned this year with the high-profile case of shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez. The boy’s distant relatives in Miami refused for months to turn Elian over to his Cuban father, until the government forcibly removed the child. As part of the Republican compromise, current U.S. rules on travel by Americans to Cuba would be written into law, making it harder to change them. The legislation also would deny access to the U.S. market for exports from Cuba.

 

6/27/2000        COLOMBIA GOVERNMENT, REBELS ASK CASTRO TO MEDIATE7 

Reuters-Bogota-Colombian government officials and Marxist rebel leaders have asked Cuban Fidel Castro to act as mediator in slow-moving efforts to end the Andean nation’s three-decade-old war, a government spokesman said Tuesday. Colombian ambassador, Julio Londono and a senior representative of the Cuban-inspired National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia’s second largest guerrilla group, met the Communist strongman in previously unpublicized talks in Havana about two weeks ago, the spokesman said. The rank or name of the ELN representative was not released.

 

6/28/2000        COURT: ELIAN CAN RETURN TO Cuba

The Associated Press-Washington-The Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for Elian Gonzalez’s return to Cuba, ending an international custody battle over the little boy that lasted seven months. Elian and his father reportedly planned to leave the United States later Wednesday. The court rejected a formal appeal filed by the boy’s Miami relatives and a separate emergency request aimed at postponing departure. Its action was announced in a brief order.

 

6/29/2000        EX-DIPLOMAT HEADS ANTI-CASTRO GROUP

The Associated Press-Washington-Dennis Hays, a newly retired career diplomat, has been named to head the Washington office of the Cuban-American National Foundation, the most powerful of the conservative groups opposed to Cuba’s communist regime. Hays, whose title will be executive vice president of the Miami-based organization, retired from the Foreign Service this week after serving as U.S. ambassador to Suriname. Hays once was coordinator for Cuban Affairs at the State Department. He resigned in protest from that post in 1995 after the administration reached a secret agreement with Cuba that called for the forcible return of Cuban boat people who are caught by U.S. authorities while trying to flee to the United States. In addition to Hays’ appointment, the foundation plans a major expansion of its Washington office.

 

6/29/2000        CLINTON “INCLINED” TO SIGN BILL THAT EASES EMBARGO

Washington-President Clinton said Wednesday that he would probably sign a bill to allow the sale of food and medicine to Cuba, easing sanctions designed to isolate the communist regime that have been in place nearly 40 years. Before he commits himself to an agreement reached Tuesday by House Republicans, however, Clinton said he needs to make sure the measure does not tie the hands of U.S. presidents in conducting foreign policy, and also that it does not place new restrictions on travel to Cuba.

 

6/29/2000        Cuba SAYS U.S. CONGRESS PLAN WOULD TOUGHEN EMBARGO

Reuters-Havana-Cuba said on Thursday a move by the U.S. Congress to free up food and medicine sales to the island contains so many restrictions that it would in practice strengthen rather than ease the four-decade-old embargo.

 

6/29/2000        CONGRESS PREPARING RELIEF BILL

The Associated Press-Washington-The last impasse was broken after House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., relented and agreed to keep language lifting food sanctions against Cuba off the bill. The Cuba provision, worked out earlier this week between farm-state and anti-Castro lawmakers, will now wait for inclusion in the final version of an agriculture spending bill later this summer, aides said.

 

6/30/2000        WHITE HOUSE CRITICIZES DEAL ON FOOD SALES TO Cuba

Herald-Washington-The White House and Democratic lawmakers took issue Thursday with the deal reached this week by House Republicans to allow sales of U.S. food and medicine to Cuba. Prompting the criticism are two provisions in the agreement-one that would strip the president of his power to expand American travel to Cuba and another that bans U.S. banks from involvement in food sales to Cuba or Iran.

 

6/30/2000        UN DIPLOMATICO AFIRMA QUE EL PAIS VA HACIA LA ECONOMIA DE MERCADO

El Nuevo Herald-Cuba esta avanzando hacia “una economia de mercado libre” afirmo el primer secretario de la Oficina de Intereses de Cuba, Gustavo Machin, en una intervencion ante empresarios de Carolina del Norte.

 

6/30/2000        U.S. Cuba STRAIN CAUSES SNAFU AT CANADA JAZZ FESTS

Reuters-Montreal- The same tense U.S.-Cuba relations that set off a firestorm of controversy over castaway Elian Gonzalez forced a group of young Cuban musicians this week to cancel concerts at two major Canadian jazz festivals. Los Primos, a group of 13 musicians aged 16-20, missed their flight and were unable to appear for scheduled gigs at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival and the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal because money wired for their plane tickets to Canada was held up in New York.

 

6/30/2000        Cuba PREPARES FOR NEXT BATTLE

The Associated Press-Havana-More than 30,000 people are scheduled to assemble Saturday in the southeastern city of Manzanillo, the first mass gathering since Elian’s return Wednesday. The rally “will initiate a new and prolonged chapter of struggle against the murderous Cuban Adjustment Act,” as well as the U.S. embargo and other policies designed to “asphyxiate our country” Juventud Rebelde, the daily newspaper of Communist youth, said Friday.

 

6/30/2000        LOTT SPEAKS AGAINST Cuba TRADE DEAL

The Associated Press-Washington-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott opposes trade with Cuba and says he’ll try to block an agreement by House Republicans to allow food sales to Fidel Castro’s government. The legislation is “not just about Cuba,” but also about getting food and medicine to Libya, Iran, and other countries “that are tyrannical, do horrible things to their people, and in some cases are even a threat to world peace,” he said. In addition to liberalizing trade with Cuba, both the House agreement and the Senate bill would prevent a president from blocking shipments of food and medicine to any country without congressional approval. Farm and business groups have endorsed the House agreement, but Democrats who oppose the Cuban embargo say the deal didn’t go far enough. In addition to putting tight financial restrictions on the food sales, it would write into law an existing ban on U.S. tourism in Cuba.                                       

 

JULY

 

07/01/2000      LA CAMARA DIFIERE EL VOTO SOBRE EL EMBARGO

El Nuevo Herald-La enmienda legislativa que suavizaria el embargo economico hacia Cuba, cuya votacion estaba senalada para ayer en la Camara de Representantes, no sera sometida al pleno sino hasta mediados o finales de julio, debido a una fuerte resistencia de los democratas en el Congreso y de la Casa Blanca, informaron fuentes legislativas. El viernes, el vocero de la Casa Blanca, Joe Lockhart, dijo que la iniciativa tal como esta planificada “significa un retroceso en materia de contactos pueblo a pueblo, y mientras mas uno estudia las partes sobre las ventas de medicinas y alimentos, se hace mas dificil evaluar si alguno de esos productos va a llegar algun dia a Cuba.” Tambien ayer, los democratas se quejaron de que el compromiso no es lo suficientemente amplio.

 

07/01/2000      CASTRO SENDS DEFIANT MESSAGE TO NEXT U.S. LEADER

Reuters-Manzanillo-President Fidel Castro on Saturday defiantly served notice on the next U.S. president that Cuba would continue resisting all attempts to defeat his 41-year-old socialist revolution. Castro’s message was read at the start of the gathering in Manzanillo, which-like the hundreds of other rallies and events throughout Cuba’s unprecedented patriotic Elian campaign-was carried live on state TV and radio. The rally was, Castro said, the start of a “new stage” in the battle against Cuba’s old adversary, the United States, with Havana’s priorities now the overturning of Washington’s economic embargo against Cuba and immigration policy towards Cubans.

 

07/01/2000      LA HABANA DISPUESTA A REANUDAR LAS CHARLAS MIGRATORIAS

A pesar de las “discrepancias fundamentales” por la Ley de Ajuste Cubano (CAA), el gobierno de Fidel Castro podria decidirse a reanudar las conversaciones migratorias con Estados Unidos a finales de este mes, indicaron ayer fuentes en Washington. El Departamento de Estado reconocio ayer haber recibido informacines no oficiales sobre la propuesta cubana para reanudar las charlas migratorias, pero declino responder si la fecha seria aceptada.

 

07/01/2000      PUTIN

El Presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin proyecta visitar Cuba antes de fin de ano, informo ayer la agencia ItarTass citando fuentes diplomaticas rusas. El canciller Felipe Perez Roque invito a Putin a visitar Cuba durante su viaje a Moscu en enero.

 

07/03/2000      EU ESCALATES DISPUTE WITH U.S. OVER CUBAN RUM

Reuters-Brussels-The European Union on Monday raised the stakes in a transatlantic battle over the rights to a brand of Cuban rum, asking for a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel to probe a U.S. law on trade marks. The WTO dispute stems from a legal tussle between two world famous drinks manufacturers, Bacardi and France’s Pernod Ricard SA, over which has the rights to the “Havana Club” trade mark in the United States. The EU objects to the 1998 U.S. Omnibus Appropriations Act, which says trade marks connected to assets confiscated by Cuba’s Communist government after the 1959 revolution cannot be registered without the permission of the original owner.

 

07/04/2000      Cuba AIMS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The Associated Press- Havana-Cuba plans to become self-sufficient in the generation of electricity within five years fueling power plants entirely gas and oil from Cuba wells, officials said Tuesday. Currently, about half the electricity on the island of 11 million people is generated at plants fueled by fuels mined domestically, said Eredio Puentes, head of business administration for the states’ Western Oil Drilling and Extraction Company, or EPECO.

 

07/04/2000      CUBAN CRITICIZES U.S. POLICIES

The Associated Press-Havana-Fidel Castro’s point man on Cuba-U.S. affairs lambasted American immigration policies he blames for the Elian Gonzalez case, saying that a law allowing Cubans to stay if they reach American soil encourages people to make dangerous journeys across the sea. “The United States has to put its house in order” on migration issues, Ricardo Alarcon, the president of Cuba’s National Assembly, told the Associated Press on Monday. Now that Elian has been returned, Cuba is pushing ahead with a new campaign against those immigration policies and other laws aimed at punishing the communist island. A primary target is the Cuban Adjustment Act, a 1966 law that allows Cubans who reach the United States to apply for legal residency after one year in the country. Under migration accords with Cuba, the United States repatriates most other Cubans who are picked up at sea. 

 

07/04/2000      CAMPANA DE READOCTRINAMIENTO EN Cuba

El Nuevo Herald-La esperada campana de aculturacion politica anunciada por las autoridades cubanas, fue lanzada ayer con el objetiivo de que, al cabo de 40 anos de comunismo, el cubano promedio conozca el mundo en que vive. En la campana de aculturacion politica seran usadas todas las emisoras de radio del pais, periodicos e, incluso, se publicaran folletos para este fin.

 

07/04/2000      CONSIDERAN RIESGOSAS LAS INVERSIONES EN Cuba

El Nuevo Herald- Empresarios y economistas espanoles alertaron este fin de semana, durante una conferencia en Granada, sobre los crecientes riesgos de la inversion extranjera en Cuba ante la renovada intransigencia politica del regimen de Fidel Castro.

 

07/04/2000      Cuba TO PLAY ROLE IN COLOMBIA PEACE TALKS

Reuters-Bogota-Cuba has agreed to participate in slow-moving efforts to end Colombia’s three-decade-old internal conflict, a government official said Tuesday. Government peace commissioner Camilo Gomez said the communist-ruled nation was one of five countries that had agreed to play a formal role in peace talks between the government and Colombia’s second-largest guerrilla group, the Cuban-inspired National Liberation Army (ELN).

 

07/05/2000      Cuba TO LAUNCH FIRST FAST FERRY SERVICE

Cuba’s first domestic ferry service is expected to start this month. Cubanacan Jet will deploy the fast-ferry Jet Kat Express II in a daily service throughout the year making the 90-mile link between Havana and Varadero, along the north coast, in 2.5 hours. The first trip is scheduled for mid-month, as soon as the $1M ferry terminal in Varadero is completed. Cubanacan Jet is a 50:50 joint venture between the state holding agency Cubanacan and the private Argentine-based Dodero Cruceros (Del Bene Group).

 

07/05/2000      TRADE DEAL BETWEEN CARIBBEAN, Cuba

The Associated Press-Canouan- In a sign of warming relations with Cuba, Caribbean leaders signed an agreement Wednesday promising freer markets and closer cooperation on tourism projects with the communist island. The pact-heralded by Fidel Castro in a written statement as part of a “path toward higher achievement”-also shows a growing willingness to defy the United States, which for decades fought to curb Cuba’s influence in the region. The agreement with the 15-member Caribbean Community, or Caricom, was signed at a meeting of leaders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It comes a week after President Clinton said he is inclined to sign legislation easing the 38-year-old embargo on Cuba by allowing Havana to buy U.S. food and medicine on strict terms.

 

07/06/2000      U.S. SENATORS TO PUSH “VERY HARD” FOR Cuba TRADE

Reuters-Washington-Farm-state senators will push “very hard” for fewer restrictions on food and medicine sales to Cuba than a House of Representatives plan touted as a major change in U.S. policy, a sanctions-reform leader said on Thursday. North Dakota Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan, sponsor of Senate language to exempt food and medicine from unilateral U.S. embargo, said he and other pro-trade senators would fight to see that their language prevails. Washington lawyer Robert Muse, active on Cuban matters, said in an interview that the House package “is a poison pill” that made most food sales impossible and blocked U.S. President Bill Clinton from allowing more travel to Cuba.

 

07/07/2000      Cuba SAYS HIGH OIL PRICES HURB BUT ECONOMY GROWING

Reuters-Havana-High oil prices are forcing Cuba o restrict fuel use and cut back hard-currency spending but the communist-ruled island is maintaining steady economic recovery, state media quoted officials as saying on Friday. Finance Minister Manuel Millares, cited by the domestic news agency AIN, said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the first six months of the year should be around 4.5 percent, in line with official forecasts. First quarter GDP growth had been higher at 7.8 percent but Millares said the economy felt the impact of high oil prices, which obliged the government to reduce hard currency spending.

 

07/07/2000      VISLUMBRAN “BALSERAZO” EN LA HABANA

El Nuevo Herald-En el marco de la nueva campana ideologica lanzada por elregimen de Fidel Castro contra la ley de Ajuste Cubano y el embargo norteamericano hay una amenaza que pende inquietante sobre la administracion Clinton: una nueva oleada de balseros.

 

AFIRMAN QUE CASTRO BLOQUEA LAS REFORMAS ECONOMICAS

El Nuevo Herald-El presidente de la Corriente Socialista Democratica (CSD), Manuel Cuesta Morua, afirmo en Miami que el regimen de Fidel Castro bloquea las reformas economicas en la isla, mientras mantiene inalterable su falta de voluntad politica para el cambio democratico.

 

07/08/2000      DISABLED STREET SELLERS STAGE RARE PROTEST IN Cuba

Reuters-Havana-About a dozen disabled Cuban street vendors, some on crutches or in wheelchairs, others blind or deaf, blocked a Havana street on Saturday to protest against alleged mistreatment by police, witnesses said. It was a rare public act of defiance in communist-ruled Cuba, where political opposition is banned and anti-government protests are usually swiftly suppressed.

 

07/08/2000      Cuba FIGHTS U.S. MIGRATION POLICIES

The Associated Press-Havana-Tens of thousands of people demonstrated Saturday against American immigration policies as their government pressed the United States for detailed information about recent arrivals of Cuban migrants in South Florida. Nearly 40,000 people attended the rally, led by Gen. Raul Castro, Cuba’s Defense Minister and Fidel Castro’s younger brother. Although 6-year-old Elain Gonzalez returned to Cuba on June 28 following a protracted custody flight between his father and their Miami relatives, the communist government has promised a rally in a different provincial city every Saturday. The idea is to draw attention to American migration and other policies Havana considers unfair.

 

07/08/2000      Cuba PIDE “INFORMACION PRECISA” A LOS EU SOBRE INMIGRANTES

The Associated Press-La Habana-Cuba solicito el viernes”informacion precisa” a Estados Unidos sobre tres grupos de emigrantes ilegales detenidos  en los ultimos dias al llegar a las costas norteamericanas, se indico oficialmente. Un grupo de cubanos, el tercero en cuatro dias, llego en esta fecha a las costas de Florida (Sureste), tras una persecucion con la Patrulla Fronteriza que termino con la detencion de 43 ilegales y que dejo tres heridos. Indico la Patrulla Fronteriz de ese pais.

 

07/08/2000      AVIACION

La Isla-El grupo espanol Iberia y la Corporacion de Aviacion Cubana (CACSA) firmaron ayer en La Habana la constitucion de dos sociedades mixtas de mantenimiento de aviones y de carga aerea, dijo la aerolinea espanola.  Tendran participacion al 50% tanto CACSA como la filial de la empresa espanola Iberia Tecnologia. El proyecto preve la construccion de una terminal de transito de carga en el aeropuerto de La Habana.

 

07/09/2000      Reuters-Havana-

Amid shouts of “Freedom! Freedom!” leading dissidents and former political prisoners joined Cuban Catholics Sunday in celebrating a mass for all prisoners on the communist-ruled Caribbean island. 

 

07/10/2000      The Associated Press-

A pro-democracy group in Cuba said Monday it will reach out to grass-roots groups in Cuba and the United States to build popular support for a rapprochement between the two estranged  neighbors. A committee will be formed “to handle new and greater points of understanding and communication between both nations and to collaborate with both states in the removal of the obstacles that impede a positive and respectful rapprochement, “the Reflective Roundtable of the Moderate Opposition said in a document read at a news conference.

 

07/10/2000      Reuters-Moscow-

Russia is still interested in helping Cuba complete construction of a nuclear power station started nearly 20 years ago but abandoned eight years  ago, the trade ministry said in a statement on Monday.

 

07/11/2000      Reuters-Washington-

The House of Representatives passed a $75.4 billion agriculture funding bill on Tuesday that soon may become the vehicle for easing U.S. sanctions on food and medicine sales to Cuba The funding bill now goes to the Senate, which has a more liberal provision on food and medicine trade as part of its version. Farm-state senators and foes of the Cuban embargo say they will fight to see their proposal prevail in the final version. An aide to Representative George Nethercutt, a Washington state Republican and sponsor of the original House language, said the final version may be written later this month.

 

07/12/2000      SIN RASTROS DE OFICIAL CUBANA DESERTORA

El Nuevo Herald-El paradero de una ex-agente de los servicios de inteligencia de Cuba que presuntamente llego a Estados Unidos el pasado fin de semana se mantenia el martes bajo un manto de silencio, sin ninguna confirmacion oficial. El Departamento de Estado dijo ayer al Nuevo Herald que carecia de informacion sobre el caso de Maria del Pilar Navarro Alvarez, de 48 anos,ex-capitana de la Direccion General de Inteligencia (DGI) del Ministerio del Interior de Cuba.

 

07/12/2000      Reuters-Havana-

As scores of Cubans take advantage of calm summer seas for dangerous bids to reach the United States, Havana reiterated on Wednesday its call for an overhaul of U.S. policy it blames for the exodus. Cuba’s National Assembly issued a declaration slamming a 1966 U.S. law that gives preferential treatment to immigrants from the island and which President Fidel Castro’s government blames for encouraging illegal boat departures.

 

07/13/2000      Cuba POSES BIG THREAT TO U.S., SAYS POLICY EXPERT

Reuters-Washington-Cuba poses a huge security risk to the United States despite the end of the Cold War and any violent conflict on the island could have “terrible consequences” for both countries including mass emigration, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton said on Thursday.

If there were a violent transition to democracy in Cuba, Nuccio said Cuban-American exiles were likely to become involved and this could lead to direct U.S. military involvement, said Nuccio.

 

07/13/2000      Cuba CRASH KILLS BELGIAN TOURISTS, INJURES DUTCH

Reuters-Havana-Two buses collided in the central Cuban province of Cienfuegos, killing three Belgian tourists and two Cubans, and injuring 11 others including three Dutch visitors, diplomats and authorities said on Thursday

 

07/14/2000      SIGNING OF LANDMARK TRADE DEAL A “HISTORIC STEP” FOR U.S. VIETNAM

The Associated Press-Washington-The United States and Vietnam signed a landmark trade agreement Thursday, marking what President Clinton hailed as “another historic step in the process of normalization, reconciliation and healing between our two nations.” The World Bank has estimated the deal would boost Vietnam’s exports by $800 million annually.

 

07/14/2000      SUPPORT EBBS FOR PROPOSAL TO SOFTEN Cuba EMBARGO

Special to the Herald-Washington-After taking a second look, many supporters of easing trade sanctions against Cuba have begun to back away from a House deal that would allow the first U.S. food sales to Fidel Castro’s government in 38 years. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue this week called it a “Christmas tree” that’s decorated with provisions that are bad for U.S. business. Others, including a national organization of small farmers, complain that it would prevent American producers from fairly competing with farmers from other nations for Cuba’s market. After long negotiations, the so-called Nethercutt deal was reached. It would remove restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea and Sudan. Under this so-called Nethercutt deal, those categories would be locked into law and another one added: businessmen and farmers trying to broker contracts with the Cuban government for food and medical sales would be allowed to apply for individual travel licenses, Joined by Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and other Democrats in the Senate, Dorgan hopes to derail the agreement in favor of a provision contained in the Senate farm spending bill that doesn’t contain travel or finance restrictions

 

07/14/2000      JESUS CHRIST “WAS A COMMUNIST” SAYS Cuba’S CASTRO

Reuters-Havana- Cuba’s Catholic-educated President Fidel Castro, one of history’s most famous communists, believes Jesus Christ shared his political faith.

 

07/15/2000      U.S. SENATORS MEET CASTRO, DISSIDENTS IN Cuba

Reuters-Havana-Three U.S. senators on a fact-finding trip to Cub met Saturday with President Fidel Castro after earlier holding talks with political dissidents opposed to his one-party communist system, diplomatic sources said. The high-level U.S. delegation-led by Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts-began the meeting around 4 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) at Revolution Palace in Havana, and were still in by early evening, the sources added.

 

07/15/2000      CASTRO ATACA AGRIAMENTE A LA DEMOCRACIA

La Habana-El gobernante Fidel Castro, califico a la democracia representativa como “el desastre mas grande” del mundo. Al intervenir en la ultima jornada de la sesion del Parlamento concluida el jueves en La Habana, Castro dijo que en otros paises “son los dirigentes de los partidos los que eligen a los diputados; los gobiernos tienen cada vez menos prerogativas porque han cedido el poder a las multnacionales”. Tambien fueron aprobadas las proclamas contra la ley norteamericana de Ajust Cubano y el embargo de EU. Ademas fue presentado un informe de balance de la gestion del ministerio de la Pesca y la Marina Mercante y elegidos 329 jueces legos para el Tribunal Supremo.

 

07/15/2000      EN Cuba 3 SENADORES DE EU

The Associated Press-La Habana-Tres senadores de Estados Unidos llegaron ayer a Cuba de visita, en una delegacion legislativa que apoya la normalizacion de las relaciones entre los dos paises. El senador Max Baucus, democrata por el estado de Montana, encabeza la delegacion, a la que se suman el senador democrata Daniel Akaka, de Hawai, y Pat Roberts, republicano de Kansas, indicaron voceros de la Seccion de Intereses de Estados Unidos en La Habana.

 

07/16/2000      CASTRO DEBATES, CHARMS U.S. SENATORS—AT LENGTH

Reuters-Havana-Three U.S. senators met with Fidel Castro for nearly 10 hours ending early on Sunday and found the Cuban president “charming” and “entertaining” as they challenged him on political and economic reform. Shortly before flying back to Washington later in the day at the end of a fact-finding trip, the two Democrats and one Republican also reiterated their opposition to the four-decade-old economic embargo of Cuba. “Cuba is not a national security threat to the United States….There is no reason why the United States and Cuba may not have normal relations. It’s a no-brainer” Montana’s Democratic Sen. Max Baucus told a news conference.

 

07/17/2000      U.S. TRADE EXPERTS IN Cuba TO STUDY EMBARGO IMPACT

Reuters-Havana- Two trade experts working for the U.S. government began talks in Cuba on Monday as part of the first official U.S. investigation into the impact of Washington’s 38-year-old trade embargo against the communist-ruled island. Economists Jonathan Coleman and James Stamps, who arrived in Havana on Sunday on a mission for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), were due to spend a week in Havana meeting Cuban officials and economists, as well as foreign businessmen. The ITC, an independent federal agency  that reports on trade issues, was asked by the U.S. Congress in March to draw up a report on the long-standing U.S. sanctions against Cuba, which now, face growing opposition from some American lawmakers.

 

07/18/2000      CLINTON BARS Cuba CONFISCATION SUIT

The Associated Press-Washington-President Clinton has suspended for an additional six months a law that would allow Americans whose property was confiscated by Cuba to sue foreigners who use those assets to do business, his spokesman said Tuesday. The right to sue is contained in sanctions legislation approved by Congress in 1996. But Clinton has the authority under the law to waive or enforce the provision at six-month intervals. Clinton has consistently exercised his waiver authority since the legislation was approved.

 

07/19/2000      RUSSIA DEBT RESCHEDULING BARRED

The Associated Press-Washington-The House voted Wednesday to bar the rescheduling or forgiving of Russian debt until Russia shuts down its intelligence listening post in Lourdes, Cuba. Supportes said it made no sense to give Russia debt relief when it is pouring billions of dollars into an operation that props up the Havana government whiles eavesdropping on America’s military, companies and private citizens. But the administration opposes the legislation, arguing that Russia, like the United State, needs intelligence facilities to monitor and verify arms control agreements. Many Democrats opponents of the bill said it was a continuance of a 40-year-old failed policy of trying to isolate Cuba. The bill passed 275-146.

 

07/20/2000      HOUSE DEBATES Cuba RESTRICTIONS

The Associated Press-Washington-The House debated Thursday whether to allow unrestricted sales of U.S. food and medicine to Cuba and there by Americans, moves that supporters said would help weaken Fidel Castro’s communist rule. The proposals, pushed by an alliance of conservative, liberal, business-and farm-state lawmakers, were the latest congressional battle this year over removing some of the four-decade-old trade barriers between the United Sates and the Caribbean island nation.

 

07/20/2000      LEADERS GATHER IN OKINAWA

The Associated Press-Okinawa City-Japan-Thousands of protesters formed a human chain around the gates of U.S. air base Thursday as leaders of the world’s industrial powers and Russia assembled on this World War II battleground island to discuss narrowing the gap between rich and poor countries. Russia said it will push at the summit for a write-off of Soviet-era debts, despite a bill passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives barring debt forgiveness until Russia shuts its intelligence listening post in Lourdes, Cuba.

 

07/21/2000      AIRADA RUSIA POR UNA LEY CONTRA BASE DE ESPIONAJE

El Nuevo Herald-Rusia reacciono ayer con sorpresa e irritacion a una ley aprobada la vispera por la Camara de Representantes de Estados Unidos que condiciona el perdon de la deuda de Rusia al cierre de sus instalaciones de espionaje en Lourdes, Cuba.

 

07/21/2000      CONGRESS STEPS CLOSER TO EASING US-Cuba SANCTIONS

Reuters-Washington-The United States moved a step closer toward easing trade sanctions against Cuba after the House of Representatives and the Senate approved different versions of a proposal to allow food and medicine sales to Havana, proponents said on Friday.

 

07/21/2000      VENEZUELA DENIES CUBAN CLAIMS

The Associated Press-Venezuela-A self-proclaimed Cuban agent said Friday that Cuban intelligence had infiltrated Venezuelan society to “brainwash” people into supporting President Hugo Chavez. Foreign Minister Jose Vicente Rangel denied the claim by Juan Alvaro Rosabal Gonzalez, saying it was an attempt to undermine Chavez ahead of July 30 presidential elections.

 

07/21/2000      HOUSE VOTES TO EASE SALES, VISITS TO Cuba

The Herald-The House voted late Thursday, by an overwhelming margin, to prevent the government from enforcing the long-standing U.S. ban on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba or on policing American travel to the island. The ban on funding enforcement of the embargo was interpreted by some as kicking open the door to sales and travel to Cuba. The Senate, meanwhile, passed an agriculture bill. Thursday night that includes a provision to allow food and medicine sales to Cuba. A major difference in the House and Senate versions is the Cuba provision. The House-approved embargo provisions have not been considered by the Senate, which has yet to debate Treasury Department spending bill.

 

07/22/2000      CLIMATE IMPROVING FOR TRADE WITH Cuba

The Herald-Washington-Opinion of Ana Radelat to the Miami Herald-The surprise approval of anti-embargo measures in the House on Thursday night by an overwhelming margin has improved prospects for the lifting of some sanctions against Cuba this year, congressional sources said Friday. In an apparent rebellion against the Republican leadership, rank-and-file GOP members joined Democrats in a 301-116 vote to strip the Treasury Department of funding to enforce restrictions  on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba. By a smaller margin, the House also barred the Treasury –the principal overseer of embargo regulations-from enforcing restrictions on U.S. travel to the island.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., who visited Havana this month, said the latest House action would allow Senate supporters of relaxed sanctions to demand improvements when the House and Senate negotiate the final farm bill-either next week or after Congress returns from summer recess in September. Before the House vote, Roberts said he was pessimistic about the prospects of easing the embargo this year. But now he says he may sponsor a Senate amendment banning enforcement of restrictions on food sales to Cuba in order to “keep up the momentum.”

 

07/22/2000      CUBANS TO PROTEST US TRADE EMBARGO

The Associated Press-Havana-Cuba will begin national celebrations to mark the start of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power 41 years ago with a large demonstration in Havana to protest the U.S. trade embargo, an official newspaper said Saturday. The Communist Party daily Granma said that that participants will march down the Malecon coastal highway on Wednesday morning to the U.S. Interests Section to “express to the world their profound and indignant rejection against the monstrous genocidal policy applied against our people.”

 

07/23/2000      PUTIN VISITARA Cuba

El Nuevo Herald-El presidente ruso Vladimir Putin visitara La Habana en septiembre, despues de su viaje a Japon y los Estados Unidos programado para ese mes, segun un informe de la agencia nipona de noticias Kyodo. Putin, el primer presidente ruso en viajar el pais caribeno tras la caida de la Union Sovietica en 1991 y desde la visita de Mijail Gorbachov en 1989, tiene previsto un viaje oficial a Japon para el 3 de septiembre.

 

07/23/2000      DELAY DECRIES Cuba EMBARGO VOTE

The Associated Press-Washington-The House’s third-ranking Republican said Sunday that he is ashamed of his colleagues for voting to ease the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and its “ruthless, murdering dictator,” Fidel Castro. Majority Whip Tom Delay of Texas believes Castro would use the food and medicines to increase repression in Cuba.

 

07/23/2000      W.HOUSE INTERESTED IN BILL TO EASE Cuba SANCTIONS

Reuters-Washington-The White House signaled on Sunday it might support legislation to relax trade sanctions against Cuba as long as the efforts did not aid the Communist government of President Fidel Castro. White House chief of staff John Podesta said bills to permit food and medicine sales to Cuba appeared consistent with President Bill Clinton’s policies toward the island nation.

 

07/24/2000      HOLD THE HYPOCRISY (A SNEAKY WAY TO CHANGE U.S.-Cuba POLICY)

The Miami Herald-Even for Congress, it was a particularly cynical move. First the House voted to keep the current embargo on Cuba, then to block federal enforcement of the embargo’s restrictions on food and  medicine sales and on Americans traveling to the island. What seems apparent, however , is a growing groundswell in Congress to ease the embargo on Cuba just as the power of the traditional Cuba-exile lobby has waned. Meanwhile, anti-embargo pressure has grown over several years, as groups such as Engage USA have lobbied heavily to get rid of all trade sanctions.

 

07/24/2000      JERRY BROWN DECRIES Cuba SANCTIONS

The Associated Press-Havana-Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown called Monday for an end to U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba during a visit aimed at increasing relations between his California city and the eastern Cuban city of Santiago. Brown leaves Tuesday for a two-day visit to the eastern city of Santiago, which is in the process of forming a sister city relationship with Oakland. He said he envisions increased exchanges between Santiago and Oakland, allowing Cuban teachers, musicians, artists and other professionals to visit Oakland and vice versa. Brown was California governor from 1975-1983. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976, 1980 and 1992, then won a landslide victory in the race to become mayor of Oakland in 1998.

 

07/24/2000      Cuba RECOGNIZES CONGRESS’ ATTEMPTS

The Associated Press-Havana-Fidel Castro on Monday night urged the entire population of Havana to turn out for a massive march to protest the U.S. trade embargo and celebrate the start of the revolution that triumphed 41 years ago. In its first public reaction to last week’s moves in U. S. Congress to ease sanctions against Cuba, the communist leadership on Monday recognized the “constructive” moves, but said only a full lifting of the embargo would help the nations.

 

07/26/2000      CUBAN PROTEST U.S EMBARGO

The Associated Press-Havana-Hundreds of thousands of people streamed into Old Havana park on foot and by bus before sunrise early Wednesday for a march to demand an end to the U.S. trade embargo against the communist nation. Huge red, white and blue Cuban flags dangled over the narrow streets of historic Old Havana and from the sides of tall, gleaming hotels in the capital, where up to 1 million people were expected to gather for the protest.

 

07/26/2000      REEDITAN CONTROL DE ASISTENCIA A MOVILIZACION

El Nuevo Herald-El gobierno cubano pondra hoy en accioon un singular metodo de control de multitudes que no era aplicado desde mediados de los anos 80: todos los que asistan a una manifestacion contra el embargo economico estadounidense recibiran un certificado firmado por el gobernante, Fidel Castro.

 

07/26/2000      CANADA ESTABLISHES FORMAL TIES WITH N. KOREA

Reuters-Ottawa-Canada formally recognized North Korea on Wednesday and expressed hope of achieving full diplomatic relations with the hardline Communist regime by the end of the year. Canada is only the third member of the Group of Eight powerful nations, after Russia and Italy, to recognize the state. Over the weekend, the G8 discussed whether to establish ties with North Korea and, if so, how broadly and how fast.

 

07/27/2000      AGILIZAN INDEMNIZACIONES CONTRA CASTRO

El Nuevo Herald-La Camara de Representantes aprobo un proyecto de ley que agiliza la entrega de las indemnizaciones que un juez federal otorgo, en 1996, a los familiares de los pilotos de Hermanos al Rescate derribados por Cuba. La propuesta del congresista Bill McCollum, republicano por la Florida, ampara y fortalece una ley de 1996 que permite a una victima estadounidense presentar una demanda contra un Estado considerado oficialmente terrorista, al tiempo que limita considerablemente los poderes del Presidente para emitir exenciones que impidan usar dineros de la nacion condenada-congelados en bancos estadounidenses-para pagar esas indemnizaciones. Ademas de los activos congelados, esta nueva ley tiene la particularidad de permitir que sean intervenidas propriedades comerciales, cuentas en efectivo y otros valores-entre ellos dineros adeudados a empresas de Estados considerados terroristas.

 

07/29/2000      GOP BLOCKS EASING OF Cuba SANCTIONS

Special to the Herald-Using their power-and some unusual tactics –Republican congressional leaders left for a monthlong  recess Friday after turning back a series of votes to weaken the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba , dimming prospects for substantial changes in the law this year. Although the fight will be joined again when Congress returns for an abbreviated session after Labor Day, the determination of influential Republicans not to allow any easing of trade sanctions on Cuba and other nations at this time has proven a potent counterforce to the growing sentiments on Capitol Hill for changes on Cuba policy. The leadership’s latest tactic also prevented anti-sanctions lawmakers in the Senate from  imitating the House. It stunned Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan; Chris Dodd, D-Conn.,and Robert Dornan, D-ND, who hoped to introduce anti-embargo amendments but were thwarted. The greatest showdown over sanctions is expected when House and Senate negotiators meet in September.

 

07/29/2000      CASTRO LASHES AT AMERICAN POLICIES

The Associated Press-Santa Clara, Cuba-“The revolution will not destroyed, not by force nor by seduction:” Castro told more than 200,000 people who came to commemorate the start of the revolution that brought him to power on New Year’s Day 1959.  Among the foreign dignitaries in attendance Saturday was Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, a former California governor who last week visited Oakland’s sister city, Santiago, Cuba.  Cuban President Fidel Castro attacked the Clinton administration Saturday for trying to undermine his socialist revolution by increasing contacts between Americans and Cubans, saying the movement can not be destroyed “not by force nor by seduction.”.  Over the last year, the U.S. government has allowed a growing number of Americans to visit the island for academic, sports cultural and religious exchanges with Cuban citizens.  Proponents of the policy say increased contacts with Americans will expose Cubans to democratic and capitalists. But Castro, using glasses to read his speech, lashed out at the 38-year

U.S. trade embargo and U.S. laws passed in recent years to strengthen it. “The theoreticians and advocates of the imperial policies still dream that the revolution …….might be subverted with such appealing methods as the one they have called the policy of “people-to-people’ contact” Castro said.

 

07/29/2000      HOW SANCTIONS WERE PRESERVED - RARE MANEUVER BROUGHT VICTORY

Washington-Republican congressional leaders employed a rarely used legislative maneuver. The House GOP leadership used authority granted it under House rules to write a substitute Treasury funding bill, without the Cuba provisions and attach the new bill as an amendment to a separate piece of legislation.

 

07/29/2000      NETHERCUTT’S CAMPAIGN TO EASE Cuba EMBARGO FINALLY BEARING FRUIT

Special to the Herald-Washington-Rep. George Nethercutt is known for three things: his vanquishing of a powerful Democratic leader, his relentless campaign to ease U.S. sanctions against Cuba and his change of heart about leaving Washington  after six years.

 

07/31/2000      CHENEY FAVORECE EL EMBARGO HASTA QUE HAYA OTRA ALTERNATIVA

Washington-Dick Cheney, el candidato republicano a la vicepresidencia, se mostro ayer partidario de mantener el embargo economico a Cuba hasta que se encuentre una politica alternativa, si bien reconocio que hasta ahora esas sanciones no han funcionado.

 

07/31/2000      Cuba’S COMMUNIST PARTY CELEBRATES CHAVEZ VICTORY

Reuters-Havana- Cuba’s ruling Communist Party expressed delight on Monday at the landslide election victory of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a close friend and key political ally of President Fidel Castro. The rest of Cuba’s state-run news media followed suit, heading TV and radio programmes with news of Chavez’ reelection, which was described as a “triumph for truth.”

 

AUGUST

 

08/01/2000      WASHINGTON BALLET TO PERFORM IN Cuba

Reuters-Washington- The Washington Ballet will visit Cuba in October to perform in an international dance festival, a further step in increasing U.S. cultural exchanges with the communist –ruled island, a spokeswoman for the company said on Tuesday. About 100 dancers, choregraphers, ballet students and arts patrons will travel to Cuba as “cultural ambassadors” to attend the Oct. 23-29 International Dance Festival hosted in Havana by Cuba’s National Ballet.

 

08/01/2000      DEVELOPING COUNTRY BODY TO VISIT Cuba OVER EU SPAT

Reuters-Brussels-The African, Caribbean and Pacific developing country group said on Tuesday it would send a mission to Havana this week after a spat between Cuban and the European Union.

The ACP decided in May to send a mission to Cuba to look at the reasons for Havana’s decision to withdraw its request to join a trade and aid pact linking the ACP and the EU. The ACP has made clear its disappointment at the withdrawal.

 

08/01/2000      JAPAN AIRLINES TO TRY OUT OSAKA-Havana ROUTE

Reuters-Havana-Japan Airlines was to inaugurate Tuesday a tentative new route between Osaka and the Cuban capital of Havana, to test its viability for tourist travel to the Caribbean island, local officials and Japanese diplomats said. A 370-passenger Jumbo was due to land early evening at Havana’s Jose Marti international airport, after a technical stopover in Canada, on the first of four charter flights planned for August, the Cuban air and tourism authorities said.

 

08/01/2000      Cuba EMBARGO SOWS DIVISION IN REPUBLICAN RANKS

Reuters-Philadelphia-Deep divisions over whether to maintain a four-decade-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba surfaced this week among Republicans at their national convention to nominate Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the White House. Former Republican Secretaries of State George Shultz and Lawrence Eagleburger called on Monday for an end to the embargo at a foreign policy forum, saying Cuba had ceased to be a threat after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

 

08/01/2000      JAPAN TEST FLIGHT ARRIVES IN Cuba

The Associated Press-Havana-Dozens of travel agents, journalists and tourists arrived in Cuba Tuesday evening on the first of four Japanese flights aimed at discovering whether this Caribbean island could become a major tourism destination for Asian travelers.

 

08/01/2000      PARTY ADOPTS PRO-EMBARGO PLATFORM

Philadelphia-Cuban-American officials in the Florida delegation celebrated a firm pro-embargo plank in the party platform that Republican leaders adopted Monday, despite deep divisions in the party over Cuba policy.

 

08/01/2000      FIRME LA POLITICA HACIA FIDEL CASTRO

Filadelfia-Por primera vez en la historia del Partido Republicano, su direccion incorporo ayer a su plataforma de trabajo una politica de linea dura sobre las relaciones de Estados Unidos con Cuba. El documento establece tres condiciones que deben cumplirse antes de que las relaciones con Cuba se normalicen: liberar a todos los presos politicos, legalizar las protestas pacificas y celebrar elecciones democraticas.

 

08/01/2000      CASTRO ACUSA A EMPRESARIO VENEZOLANO DE ASESINO

El Nuevo Herald-Tratando de vincular a un viejo enemigo con los que se oponen a su mas reciente aliado politico, Fidel Castro acuso al antigo presidente de la compania petrolera de Venezuela de conspirar con la Fundacion Nacional Cubano Americana (FNCA) para matar al presidente venezolano, Hugo Chavez. Luis Giusti, que renuncio a Petroleos de Venezuela cuando Chavez fue elegido por primera vez, respondio que estaba en Inglaterra el dia que, segun las acusaciones de Castro, se reunio con funcionarios de la FNCA para recaudar dinero para el contrincante de Chavez y planear el asesinato.

 

08/01/2000      ACP DEVELOPING NATIONS’ GROUP IN Cuba AFTER EU SPAT

Reuters-Havana-A high-level mission from the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of developing nations flew into Havana on Wednesday in response to Cuba’s withdrawal of a bid to join the new ACP-European Union trade and aid pact.

 

08/03/2000      OLYMPICS- Cuba WARNS ATHLETES AGAINST DEFECTING IN SYDNEY

Reuters-Havana-President Fidel Castro’s government, irritated by a steady exodus of top Cuban athletes over the years, has issued a stern warning to its 241-man Olympic squad not to consider defecting at the Sydney games. At the end of a patriotic ceremony late on Wednesday to honor Cuba’s Olympic squad, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque exhorted the athletes to resist monetary and political temptations in Australia to abandon their communist-run nation.

 

08/03/2000      FAMILY OF CUBAN PRISONER SAYS CONTACT CUT

Reuters-Miami-Cuban authorities have cut off family contact with Patricio de la Guardia, one of Cuba’s most prominent prisoners who was jailed as result of the so-called Ochoa affair, his niece said on Thursday.

 

 08/03/2000     Cuba SEEKS FULL ACP MEMBERSHIP DESPITE EU DISPUTE

Reuters-Havana-Cuba expressed hope on Thursday that it will be a full member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of developing nations despite refusing to join an ACP trade and aid pact with the European Union. After meeting a high-level ACP mission in Havana, Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque said and he trusted “that in a relatively short time fra