Posted 8-1-06, 1:15 pm
From Monday, July 31 , 2006 NEWS—CUBA—NEWS
MERCOSUR-Cuba Deal Transcends
Buenos Aires, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Carlos Alvarez, chair of MERCOSUR Commission of Permanent Representatives, said Monday that South America should not implement the US policy toward Cuba. In an interview over the importance of an agreement between that bloc and the Caribbean island inked July 20, Alvarez stressed that Washington´s blockade is an obstacle that MERCOSUR nations should avoid.
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Media Hushes Miami Scandal
Havana, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) The silence of the Miami media and passivity of the police over the freshest scandal among leaders of anti-Cuban groups, expose the reputation of US authorities, according to local Granma daily. The paper analyzes details of that event after Jose Antonio Llama, former head of the Cuban-American National Foundation (CANF), denounced members of the ultra-right wing Cuban exile groups for fraud and other crimes related to terrorism on the island.
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Cuban Ballet will Dance in Japan
Havana, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Important figures of the Cuba National Ballet (BNC) like Viengsay Valdes and Romel Frometa will act in the celebration for the 30th Anniversary of the Tadatsugu Sasaki World Festival Ballet, from August 3, 2006. Jose Manuel Carreño, another artist from the Cuba National Ballet who will represent the New York American Ballet Theatre, will be among the performers, Granma newspaper published.
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Cuba Books Wanted at Guatemala Fair
Guatemala, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Cuba´s stand at the Guatemala International Book Fair has been well attended, with over one thousand titles by eight publishers. 'We welcomed a huge crowd of readers this weekend,' Carlos Ariel Hernandez, assistant commercial manager of Abril Publisher told Prensa Latina. Books dealing with the life and work of guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara, and speeches by Cuban President Fidel Castro for children and youth have been among those mostly sold. NEWS --LATIN AMERICA-- NEWS
Panama Recalls Omar Torrijos Legacy
Panama, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) With several political and cultural activities, Panamanians recall Monday General Omar Torrijos, on the 25th anniversary of his death. As part of these activities, there will be a photo display on the late Panamanian leader and a cultural gala in his honor.
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CentAm Solving Organized Crime
Tegucigalpa, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Regional governments must solve structural problems that enable organized crime in the area, a text from the Central American Council of Human Rights Attorneys stated Monday in this capital. 'We call for the United States to pay attention to criminal actions carried out by organized groups, which on the fringes of the law, worsen Central America's crisis of violence,' pointed out the document.
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Barbados Joins CR-CARICOM FTA
San Jose, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) The free trade agreement between Costa Rica and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will enter into force in Barbados Tuesday, the foreign trade ministry announced Monday. Costa Rican Foreign Trade Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz revealed they already exchanged the related notes with Barbados´ Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Billie A. Miller.
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Nica Economists Flunk Bolaños
Managua, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Six months before Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños concludes his five-year term of office, independent economists agreed on Monday in this capital that his performance has been a failure. The opinions of three experts were published on Monday in El Nuevo Diario newspaper, which said the president obtained the 'disapproved' category in the assessment of his performance.
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Costa Rican Greens Slam US-FTA
San Jose, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Some 60 Costa Rican ecologist organizations protested Monday against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Central America and the United States, due to its risk for the environment. The groups, which announced peaceful demonstrations on Independence Day - September 15, urged regional nations not to ratify the agreement, as its mercantilist vision sees nature as only exploitable raw material.
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Chavez Leads Electoral Race
Caracas, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela is gearing up Monday to begin the electoral campaign defined by leading President Hugo Chavez over the fragmented opposition, which has a scarce 19 percent support. Chavez´s followers are estimated at 55-60 percent although some of his campaign coordinators say it's about 70 percent and aspire to a ten-point rise by the December 3 elections.
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Chile Looks to Pacific
Santiago, Chile, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Alejandro Foxley reasserted the determination of his country to foster a more effective projection to the Pacific Ocean and economic integration with Asian markets. In a meeting with foreign press correspondents Monday, Foxley said that this policy is not addressed to form any bloc or group outside of those such as MERCOSUR.
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Lat Am Holds Regional Unity Seminar
Montevideo, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) The Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) announced a seminar on Regional Integration, International Trade, Services and Multilateral Negotiations from August 1 to 4, with officials responsible for regional negotiations, and the Dominican Republic. The event is part of a regional project of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to strengthen trade and services negotiation abilities of Latin American countries.
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Peruvian Cardinal Called “Inhuman”
Lima, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Peruvian sculptor Victor Delfin called Peruvian Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani the most awful representative of the Catholic Church and said the prelate´s public opinions on human rights violations were “inhuman”. In declarations to the media, Delfin responded to Cipriani´s criticism of the work of the dismantled Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR).
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Bolivian State Oil Co Arraigned
La Paz, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Bolivia´s Congress summoned the chairman of the state-run oil company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos, Jorge Alvarado, to inform on controversial oil sales. Oil Council Chairman Hugo Sainz claims 38.5 million dollar losses with the cheap-oil-for-diesel barter through Ibero-Americana Trading company. Sains called off the deal last week due to its harmful terms way below current world oil prices, so Congress and the Economic Development Commission will announce the date of the hearing.
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Chile Denies MERCOSUR Rumors
Santiago de Chile, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Chile has refuted speculations that it will revise its participation in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) due to its gas dispute with Argentina and rapprochement with the Andean Community of Nations (CAN). 'Chile has had a global integration policy of open regionalism,' affirmed Minister Secretary General of Government Ricardo Lagos Weber.
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Uruguayan Cold and Hunger Cause Deaths
Montevideo, Jul 31(Prensa Latina) Low temperatures and hunger caused the deaths of three extremely poor Uruguayans, who slept on the streets. Tabare Vazquez government has tried to temporarily resolve the issue by offering people a place to spend a night and hot food. The administration has around 600 beds for the poorest people, but these are not enough to assist all those in serious need both in Montevideo and the country´s interior.
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Bolivia Opposition 'War of Attrition'
La Paz, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian opposition is intensifying a sort of 'war of attrition' Monday aimed at blocking the Constituent Assembly, with actions hindering the meeting scheduled for August 6. Without any chances to be a majority at the meeting, traditional parties are trying to avoid that the ruling majority MAS (Movement towards Socialism) exert the power it won by a wide margin in the polls. --END-- Note: If you wish to receive more details on any of the stories that are reported here, or if you would like information on another subject not included in this cast, let us know via e-mail:
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