04-25-06,10:31am
Havana, April 19 (Prensa Latina).- Cuban Alimport and the US State of Nebraska signed several agreements on Wednesday for the purchase of 2.8 million dollars worth of food as part of an import deal worth 30 million dollars.
Previously, Nebraska Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy referred to the importance attached by Nebraska farmers and cattle breeders to relations established with Cuba.
The visiting official read a letter by Governor Dave Heineman highlighting that this is the largest delegation to travel to Cuba, 31 representatives including farmers, cattle breeders, cooperative members, as well as representatives of local press and of the US Department of Agriculture.
In a phone contact with the Nebraska delegates attending the signing ceremony, Heineman said that Cuba is a new, important market for Nebraska farmers and pleaded for strengthened links.
He also indicated that since December 2001, Cuba has imported 1.69 billion dollars worth of US food.
Cuba Summons US to Act on Terrorism
Havana, April 22 (Prensa Latina).- Cuban media condemned US judicial authorities Friday, for not bringing charges against Cuban-born citizen Roberto Ferro, who was recently arrested in California with a cache of more than 1,000 weapons.
Under the banner headline, 'What will the FBI do now?' Granma pointed out that members of the Alpha66 'Cuban-American Miami-based terrorist group with a large dossier of criminal attacks against Cuba' have not been investigated.
Ferro, who was part of that group, and an ex member of the US Army Special Forces, with a long personal arrest record, was also arrested in November and presently faces eight charges for that arrest.
He was also accused in 1990 of directing a paramilitary camp in Pomona, where five pounds of C-4 explosives were confiscated.
At that time, Ferro was convicted to two years in prison, but no action was taken against the terrorist group, which continued operating freely in Miami, although Ferro confirmed that Alpha 66 paid for the weapons.
Granma daily condemned the unexplainable stance by the FBI, which has so far done nothing to find out what happened.
Current Alpha66 chief Ernesto Diaz Rodriguez 'continues promoting terrorism from his office at 1714 W Flagler Street, Miami, and the FBI remains quiet, it editorialized.
Alpha66 planned to murder Cuban President Fidel Castro, has attacked Cuban fishing boats, and threatened to kill people friendly to Cuba in the US, Canada, Mexico, and in Latin America.
The current US administration has excellent relations with Alpha66 (President George W Bush met with eleven Alpha66 cronies on May 20, 2003), despite Miami police documents considering it 'one of the most dangerous organizations' in Miami.
While this happens, five Cuban men: Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramon Labanino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando Gonzalez, who monitored terrorist activities of these criminal groups, have been unfairly imprisoned in the US since 1998, the daily contended.
Africa Asia LatAm Solidarity Leader
Havana, April 18 (Prensa Latina).- The Organization of Solidarity with Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAL) presented on Tuesday its next General secretary Alfonso Fraga.
Fraga will replace Alfredo Leon Alvarez in his position, and he will hold other tasks, according to Granma newspaper.
On the occasion of Fraga's swearing in, there was a meeting in this capital of the Secretarial Executive of the Solidarity Entity, with the presence of Fernando Ramirez de Estenoz, head of the International Relations of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee.
The current OSPAAL General Secretary acted as the Cuban ambassador to the Republic of Chile until his appointment.
Playa Giron: Goals of the Mercenary Invasion
Havana, April 17 (Prensa Latina).- The smoke of the battle of Playa Giron dissipated 45 years ago when the Cuban people defeated the mercenary attack concocted by the US to destroy the then-emerging Cuban revolution.
The goal of the mercenary brigade, trained and armed by the White House to invade Cuba, was to make a beachhead and install a counterrevolutionary government in three days, composed of people from the US military base of Oppalocka, FL.
That puppet government, following its recognition by Washington and the Organization of American States, would request direct US military intervention in Cuba, disregarding the number of people probably killed or the international laws violated.
The General Staff and then President John F Kennedy approved the invasion and planes camouflaged with Cuban flags took off from Central American nations on April 15, as Operation Puma to destroy Cuba´s air defense, bombing the airports in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
The CIA called that plan 'Operation Pluto' and the 1,400 mercenaries who invaded the Island were backed by 30 planes, a tank company, ten trucks with machine guns, 19 mortars, 18 cannons, rifles, bazookas and ammunition.
The fleet included five gunboats, two war units, three landing craft, tanks and trucks with artillery emplacements and four vessels to transport troops. Marine units made up of at least two destroyers and an aircraft carrier also backed a battalion of parachutists dropped at three points to consolidate control of the beachhead.
At the UN, the US claimed the invasion, of US-armed, trained and transported mercenary brigade 2506 that landed in the Zapata Swamp on April 17, was a local uprising against the revolution.
The invaders were made to believe they would be warmly welcomed in Cuba, although the leaders knew most Cubans supported the Revolution, and the bravery of Cuban militiamen gave a quick revolutionary victory and shattered the plans.
In only 66 hours the Cubans, led by President Fidel Castro, defeated the invaders who surrendered at Giron Beach on April 19, 1961.
The first program of State terrorism the US elaborated against Cuba was thus destroyed.
Cuban Province Attracts Tourists
Havana, April 23 (PL).- Cuban eastern Granma province offers a particular choice for travellers from all over the world, giving the chance of interacting with its well preserved nature and local history.
The number of tourists that after a short stay in Havana look for a site with natural attractions is growing daily. Granma province is becoming a well-known spot for its nature, sea, mountains and history.
Bayamo is the provincial capital and the most visited city. It was one of the Island´s first villages, founded in the 16th century and burnt down by its residents in 1869, to counter an attack by the the Spanish colonial troops during the Cuban war of independence.
A fresh and varied green vegetation is the main feature of the region. The natural colors dazzle many Europeans who enjoy long walks along mountain trails.
Experts have highlighted the mix of warm weather in the valleys and cool temperatures in the mountains, with exuberant vegetation and springs.
As a distinguishing touch, Granma has two national parks: Desembarco del Granma and Pico Turquino, where the flora and fauna are rigorously preserved for people from all over the world to enjoy them
Cuba, Ghana Share Health, Sports
Havana, April 20 (Prensa Latina).- Cuban and Ghanaian parliamentarians are strengthening relations even more with the visit Thursday to this capital of Ghana´s legislative Speaker Ebenezer Sekyi Hugues, invited by the Cuban parliament.
The African leader´s agenda includes laying a wreath at the Jose Marti Monument, meeting with Cuba-Ghana Friendship Parliamentary Group president Roberto Leon Richard, as well as visiting the Latin American School of Medicine.
In statements to Prensa Latina, the visitor highlighted the work of Cuban physicians in Ghana and added that one of the reasons of his trip is to increase that medical support.
Sekyi Hugues, who came accompanied by presidents of permanent working commissions of the Ghanaian parliament, met with the Permanent Commission of Health and Sports of the Cuban Parliament, expressing his interest in the island nation´s achievements in these fields.
Cuba and Ghana established diplomatic relations in December 1959. Nearly 193 Cuban collaborators are working in the African country, among them, 151 are physicians, 38 technicians and four professors at a local university.
