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FBIS3-31818_7 | Sixth Installment of Moravcik's Policy Report | (IOM), retroactively from 1 January 1993. The Slovak side has demonstrated its interest in involvement in the project of monitoring migration in Central and Eastern Europe (MIU) [expansion unknown]. In October 1993 the Migration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic organized a visit by an IOM mission to the Slovak Republic. Working negotiations aimed at evaluating the migration situation on the territory of the Slovak Republic were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic and at the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and an agreement on specific cooperation within the framework of the Migration Information Program and in the area of training and educational programs and seminars was reached. The Slovak Republic expressed its interest in becoming an IOM member state. The draft of an agreement on cooperation between the IOM and the Slovak Government was presented to the Slovak side, which comprises the agreed areas of cooperation and assistance to the Slovak Republic, as well as the opening of an IOM branch in the Slovak Republic. Within the framework of activities carried out in the Council of Europe with regard to migration, the Slovak Republic participated in several meetings of working groups set up on the basis of the so-called Vienna process, which is at present the only discussion forum for countries most severely affected by the migration problem in the East-West context. Cooperation with the leadership of the CDMG -- the Council of Europe's European Committee for Migration -- also started to successfully develop in 1993. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic participates in the implementation of many projects, in cooperation with other Slovak Government departments. A delegation of the Slovak Republic also took part in a meeting of CAHAR -- the ad hoc committee of experts on the legal aspects of territorial asylum, refugees, and stateless persons. Within the framework of activity of the Central European Initiative, a meeting of the Central European Initiative Working Group for Migration took place in June 1993, in which the Slovak Republic participated. The activity of Slovak humanitarian and charity organizations (Slovak Red Cross, SHR [Slovak Humanitarian Council], Slovak Catholic Charity) in the period under review can be assessed as highly positive. Most shipments were sent to the republics of former Yugoslavia, Romania, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Slovak Republic also arranged the recreational stay |
FBIS3-31818_14 | Sixth Installment of Moravcik's Policy Report | of them in diplomatic posts and 226 as desk officers in administrative and technical jobs. In the course of 1993, 120 university graduates and 87 people with secondary and basic education took up work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Slovak Republic maintains abroad 54 embassies, 6 standing missions, and 3 general consulates, at which operate 219 diplomatic staffers (60 of which, those working at trade and economic sections, are under the methodological guidance of the Ministry of Economy, 1, working at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, under the methodological guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture, and 1, working at the standing mission at Brussels, under the methodological guidance of the Ministry of Finance) and 200 administrative and technical staff. In the course of 1993, 42 diplomats and 53 administrative and technical staffers were dispatched into foreign service. A total of 10 diplomats and 2 administrative and technical staffers are currently undergoing preparation prior to being sent abroad. A total of 26 diplomats operate in the rank of ambassador; another three diplomats have been approved as ambassadors by the government and the president of the Slovak Republic and are ready to depart for their post; two have been approved as ambassadors by the Government of the Slovak Republic and their nomination has been submitted to the president of the Slovak Republic for approval; and four proposals for ambassadorial appointments have been submitted to the Government of the Slovak Republic for approval. Building the diplomatic service of the Slovak Republic in 1994 made it necessary not only to supplement the apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with new personnel, but also to adapt its organizational structures and to draw up internal guidelines for the activity of both the Bratislava headquarters and representative missions abroad. Attention was also devoted to the problems of information flow, communications, and other technical and organizational problems of building the Slovak Republic's diplomatic service. Emphasis was placed, in particular, on the establishment of a basic technical platform for the Foreign Affairs Ministry's information system, on the drafting of a concept for the development of the telecommunications network, and on an effective substitution and completion of communications devices, including means of special communications. The set tasks have been fulfilled without any serious shortcomings, in defiance of complicated conditions caused, in particular, by the state of the installations inherited from the division [of federal property]. |
FBIS3-31842_0 | TANJUG Views Vatican Moves in Bosnia | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Dragan Milosavljevic] [Text] Belgrade, Feb 24 (TANJUG) -- Vatican's proposal to western political centres in late January that Bosnia should not be divided and that NATO steps up pressure on the Serbs, is turning into open pressure for the renewal of the Croat-Moslem coalition. Vatican's re-involvement and its pressure on Zagreb to return to the anti-Serb coalition with the Islamic fundamentalists rallied around Bosnian Moslem Leader Alija Izetbegovic, aim to oust Russia from the Balkans and give the United Nations a role inferior to NATO. Following talks with Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Toran, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic confirmed that the Holy See had assessed as positive Croatia's acceptance of its proposals, Radio Vatican reports. The turnabout of the Croatian policy in Bosnia, which is also based on the ceasefire agreement with the Moslems, could have been unreservedly accepted only by those who are poorly informed about Vatican's underlaying strategy and who see this region as the threshold of Catholicism. The unnatural alliance with the 'isle' of Islam in Europe, imposed by Vatican, is only the initial stage in pushing back the orthodox religion over the Drina river which separates the Bosnian Serbs from their brothers in the east. In view of this, it is hardly surprising that the agreement between the Serbian and Croatian presidents, Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tudjman, on the gradual normalization of relations, was strongly criticized by Vatican. The Catholic Church, and specially Cardinal Kuharic in Zagreb and Archbishop Vinko Puljac in Sarajevo, were given the task of preventing any kind of rapproachment in the interest of peace between Zagreb and Belgrade. In view of the pressure by Germany, Italy and the Holy See to freeze Croatia's military presence in Bosnia, the Serbs are still described as the aggressors and threatened with possible new ultimatums, while the Russian initiative for a summit meeting of the five big powers on the Bosnian crisis, is viewed as unfavourable. |
FBIS3-31850_1 | Editorial Warns of `Russian Encirclement' | enthusiasm among the Serbs about the appearance of the Russian troops draws our attention to a fact whose real dimension is not yet perceived by Europe and the entire world. The Russian troops came to Bosnia under the UN flag. Following Moscow's diplomatic actions, the Serbs agreed to withdraw their heavy weaponry provided that the UN troops in the area also included Russian troops. So far, this had not been possible, because the West was, naturally, afraid that these troops might become partisans for the Serbs. The only thing is that, in reality, the arrival of the Russian contingent -- through all its implications -- turned into Russia's return to former Yugoslavia. Almost half a century ago, in 1948, the Serbs were emerging from the traditional influence of their Slav big brothers -- the Russians. After a few years of hesitation, Tito, however, opted for the West. For almost half a century, Yugoslavia was, if not hostile, then at least indifferent to Russia. The arrival of the Russian troops in Bosnia was the price that the United States had to pay to come unscathed out of the mess called the NATO ultimatum. Russia's initiative solved a crisis that worried the entire globe. The Serbs withdrew their heavy weaponry. Even though NATO declared that it was going to maintain the ultimatum, it is clear that the question of air strikes is no longer valid. At least for the time being. The price that the United States have to pay for this face-saving operation is the loss of new Yugoslavia. Is it too high? Is it too low? In my opinion, for the United States this price is not as high as some people may think. First, because the Serbs were lost anyway from the very moment that the United States chose to side with the opponents of the Serbs -- Slovenia, Croatia, and the Muslims in Bosnia. Second, as I have stated before, the United States is less and less interested in Europe. In the new U.S. world plans, Europe is increasingly being eclipsed by Asia. Within this context, the loss of the Serbs does not seem to count a great deal. In exchange for this loss, the United States could win over the Muslims throughout the world. Which means not only the most attractive part from an economic point of view, but also the most aggressive part from an ideological |
FBIS3-31878_2 | Jezsensky Interviewed on Balkans, Zhirinovskiy | We will take the opportunity. [Lopez] I recall that you used to be very much in favor of strengthening the CSCE.... [Jezsensky] The CSCE is too uncoordinated. Its members are too numerous, and some of them are not actually European or, unfortunately, stable. The CSCE has shown itself unable to resolve the Balkans conflict. It has noble aims, but it is too large to guarantee European security. To some extent, when thinking about the CSCE, I recall Stalin's remark about the pope. How many divisions does he have? The CSCE has no divisions, but NATO does. That is why NATO is effective. [Lopez] Speaking of effectiveness, NATO has just taken an initiative. What will become of this current ultimatum? [Jezsensky] An ultimatum is a threat in order to try to secure something. It must be backed up by credible strength but also by common sense. NATO has this strength, and I believe that the Serbs will not venture to repeat their contempt of the ultimatum which was delivered in 1914. At least, Belgrade does not seem inclined to do so, and although everything depends on the Bosnian Serbs, I hope that they will withdraw and carry out what is being demanded, but I also hope that, even if they do not do so completely, NATO will not find itself obliged to intervene. Peace is the responsibility of all the parties involved. Responsibility for the origin of the war is a matter for an international court and history, but the most important thing now is to secure peace, even at the cost of not achieving everything that is demanded. The alternative is mutual annihilation. Feel Nostalgia for Stalin [Lopez] The Russian scene has changed substantially with the rise of opposition leader Vladimir Zhirinovskiy. What is Hungary's stance on this change of scene? [Jezsensky] Look, Zhirinovskiy does not alarm me personally or Hungary. What does alarm me is Europe's not taking him seriously. Although there is no exact parallel, it must be recalled that Hitler was not taken seriously, either. The Russian people feel that they have lost an empire. They were told for decades that everybody loved Russia because it provided security. Now, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, they find themselves abandoned by everybody and plunged into poverty. The West has done a great deal, but it must do more. It must help seek an economic solution and show |
FBIS3-31879_5 | Boross Views Elections, Media, Russia, FRY | Occasionally, astonishing news can appear in Germany, and I can read striking distortions of my words in newspapers. Similar images are shown on television, for example, on the Gypsy issue. As far as I can remember, this did happen, although it has nothing to do with the truth. We are not in a good position regarding communications. [Pozsgai] So the media war is still on. In my view, the main reason for this is that the change of the regime has not been implemented in the area of the media. The daily newspapers had largely been privatized before the change of the regime, therefore, they avoided the change of the regime. [Boross] First of all, I would like to say that I can remember that the Springer concern was a main enemy in the previous, socialist-communist system in the West because of the level of its anti-communism. Then Springer bought six communist newspapers, and these are still edited by the same people as before. I can only placet a large question mark next to this, nothing else. This kind of problem did not exist in Germany. The staff of the East German television was fundamentally changed, and the Czechs did the same. This did not happen in Hungary. There are many reasons for this, and we are now suffering the consequences. The Hungarian transformation insisted on legality and this prevailed during the changes. In fact, as opposed to the eastern part of Germany, this change actually began in the previous regime. Therefore, here, the government never made any illegal or anti-constitutional measures and was always moderate. This has many advantages, but some disadvantages too, as is shown by the media issue. [Pozsgai] The political developments in Russia understandably worry the West. What do you think about Zhirinovskiy? Can he become Yeltsin's successor? [Boross] I dare not predict this, because political personalities sometimes appear and then disappear from public life. However, I dare say that the imperialist view and the slogans corresponding to this may bring lasting popularity in Russia, and this might mean a special advantage in politics -- even its extreme version. Therefore, in Russia, the imperial mentality is stronger than the Russian mentality in people's general views. A nationalist version of communism appeared there -- I am now talking about the left wing. [Pozsgai] Was Foreign Minister Jeszenszky's visit to Belgrade unavoidable right now when the Bosnian conflict |
FBIS3-31886_1 | Mazowiecki Views Rights Situation in Bosnia | the event of such serious human rights violations. As early as August 1992, President Alija Izetbegovic told me that bombs have to be dropped if the heavy weapons are not withdrawn. At that time, this also seemed to be exaggerated to me. However, I am convinced that it would have been possible to get the weapons under control by strong political pressure as early as one and a half years ago. [Hirsch] How much is the West also to blame for the escalation of the conflict? [Mazowiecki] It started with the absence of any ideas for a global solution in the former Yugoslavia: How the rights of nations and nationalities could be preserved if Yugoslavia disintegrates. Slovenia and Croatia were recognized without clarifying what would be done with small Bosnia. The second mistake was made with the London conference or the lack of preparedness to implement its resolutions. At that time, in August 1992, all committed themselves to refrain from further "ethnic cleansing," to dissolve the prison camps, and not to prevent humanitarian help any longer. And what happened? None of the resolutions was adhered to, but the negotiations continued. When the monitoring of the embargo really began on the border between Bosnia and Serbia in the spring of 1993, the Serbs threatened to shell Rome or Paris or Vienna -- and the West yielded to the threats. All the time it was like this: First the West announced a resolute course of action and then it stated that it could not be implemented. Undoubtedly, the hesitation spurred the warring parties on. [Hirsch] How do you explain the helplessness of the West? [Mazowiecki] There is the fear that, for example, the death of every English soldier will lead to troubles in Great Britain: "We will not die for Sarajevo." I understand this fear. But can criminals be tolerated without any consequences? The situation was certainly different in 1939. But there is a parallel to that time, when nobody wanted to die for Gdansk. In addition, the "Vietnam complex" continues to be felt. On the other hand, let us not forget that the man in the street in Paris, Bonn, Warsaw, or London asks the justified question: If it was possible to intervene in Iraq, why can this not also be done in Bosnia? [Hirsch] The longer the war lasts, the more every side will make itself guilty.... [Mazowiecki] Unfortunately. [Hirsch] |
FBIS3-31887_1 | Commentary Sees B-H Aircraft Incident as Test | the no-fly zone that was imposed under the UN resolution last year, and it has no direct connection with the NATO ultimatum that, as our listeners are certainly well aware, led to the peace that reigns in Sarajevo at the moment. However, what is alarming is that the violation of the no-fly zone happened after the ultimatum. In my view, it is this aspect that transforms the violation into a deliberate provocation aimed at testing out [the no-fly zone] and establishing to what extent the international community, represented by NATO, is firm in its intention to use force in the event of an action that contravenes the categorical conditions specified in the key documents -- the UN resolution on the no-fly zone and the NATO ultimatum. The point of the sounding-out operation was to find out the following: If, in the event of a violation of the no-fly zone, the monitoring forces limited their reaction merely to a warning, then if the NATO ultimatum was breached, one might also be able to get off scot-free, speaking figuratively. It is now clear that this will not be the case, and the people who continue to look for loopholes in the firmly adopted stances should draw the proper conclusions, namely that they [the NATO forces] will act firmly, that is, use weapons, in the event of any attempted violation. Regarding the issue of the identity of the planes in question, at the moment it appears that they belonged to the Bosnian Serbs, according to NATO claims. However, the Bosnian Serbs hastened to deny that this was the case, and Belgrade also says it knows nothing. There has been no official reaction from the Croatian and Muslim sides. Accordingly, all this has to be further investigated. Nonetheless, it is most likely that the planes belonged to the Bosnian Serbs, who are in the best position to deny the fact. It is very doubtful whether anyone in Pale, or wherever else their military command is located, would allow himself to conduct such an experiment without first consulting Belgrade and without carefully considering the possible consequences if the planes were downed, as in fact was the case. Since the attempt did not come off, the position of denial or possibly shifting blame to some third-level commander is now the only possible alternative, to prevent an escalation of the international military pressure on the Bosnian Serbs. |
FBIS3-31917_0 | Minister Seeks To Avoid U.S. Retaliation Over Patents | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Article by Maria Helena Tachinardi] [Text] Brasilia -- A group headed by Ambassador Roberto Abdenur, secretary general of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, will visit Washington in early February to try to prevent the United States from retaliating against Brazil, which will probably not be able to meet the 28 February deadline to approve a bill on industrial property rights (trademarks and patents). The fatal deadline imposed by the United States is already the extension of an investigation into Brazilian industrial property law. Last November the U.S. Government decided to bring forward by three months its decision on whether to adopt restrictive measures on Brazilian exports. This subject was discussed yesterday by Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and 20 businessmen from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The minister does not think there will be difficulties in the talks with the United States, because the Brazilian draft bill being discussed in Congress "will be very similar to the intellectual property agreement" of the Uruguay Round of GATT talks which concluded last 15 December. "An action that does not take into consideration what was attained bilaterally and multilaterally would be technically precipitate and politically inopportune. If Brazil had wanted to, it would have hindered the GATT intellectual property agreement," Amorim said. The main point of controversy in the Brazilian draft bill is the requirement that pharmaceutical products must be manufactured in Brazil in order to obtain a license. The text of the GATT agreement on the subject is ambiguous, and has not yet been clarified within the Paris Convention which deals with intellectual property rights. "The text of the agreement deals with the subject indirectly. Political vision is necessary to deal with this ambiguity, which will in time be resolved," Celso Amorim said. The foreign minister also spoke with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce businessmen about the Common Market of the South, the Uruguay Round of the GATT talks, and trade problems between Brazil and the United States, such as problems in the iron and steel industry and in the shoe and tobacco sectors. |
FBIS3-31918_0 | Editorial on Importance of Nuclear, Patents Bills | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Editorial from the "Notes and Information" page: "Difficulties Ahead"] [Text] The Foreign Ministry has an almost impossible task ahead: to defend Brazilian interests without the cooperation of the Senate, which has been making decisions affecting foreign policy. In an interdependent world -- regardless of whether we agree with it -- many domestic policy decisions end up becoming part of a conflict with other nations, which are sometimes more powerful than Brazil and can impose conditions during a negotiating process. The Senate is currently debating two items that have a strong effect on our relations with the United States: 1. The approval of agreements between Brazil and Argentina and the quadripartite agreement between Brazil, Argentina, the nuclear agency created by both governments, and the International Atomic Energy Agency -- all related to the international supervision of the Brazilian nuclear program -- and 2., the approval of the law on patents. The delay in approving the agreements has produced all kinds of negative effects. Now only a very swift and expeditious Foreign Ministry action will be able to make the members of the select nuclear club believe that Brazil does not have a second purpose in developing its nuclear program. The damage produced by the delay in approving those agreements affects the image of Brazilian diplomacy, and wears out our relations with the nuclear club, but it does not produce immediate damage to the country's economic interests. The delay in voting on the intellectual property law has doubly negative effects, as it affects the image of the country's diplomacy and hurts it economically. The Senate seems incapable of realizing that the U.S. Government -- following U.S. domestic laws and subject, without the shadow of a doubt, to reasonable pressures -- has designated the month of February for verifying whether or not the legislation on intellectual property rights in Brazil contemplates certain requirements. If the answer is negative, that country will apply sanctions on Brazilian exports. The problem for the Brazilian Foreign Ministry -- which at the beginning of the month will send the Foreign Ministry secretary general to Washington to attempt, once more, to postpone a judgment on the question -- is that the U.S. position is sometimes so oblivious to reality that it is comparable to that of some Brazilian industrial groups. These national groups are blind to the fact that the economy today has a global |
FBIS3-31952_0 | `Absolute Normalcy,' Low Turnout Reported | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Guatemala City, 30 Jan (ACAN-EFE) -- Guatemalan Government Minister Arnoldo Ortiz has told ACAN-EFE that today's referendum to reform the Constitution of Guatemala is proceeding normally and added that there have been no sabotage or attacks. Three hours before the closure of voting centers at 1700 (2300 GMT), the minister pointed out that there is absolute normalcy nationwide and added that voter turnout appears to be low. Ortiz, as well as the magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), attributed the apparent abstentionism to citizens fearful of possible explosions and bomb threats, of which there were dozens in the past weeks. The police reported that a grenade, which did not explode, was found today inside an abandoned car in the capital. It is not known when it was planted there. The police attributed the explosions to the guerrillas who urged the people to abstain and boycott the referendum. Ortiz said that the police assigned to voting centers are protecting 3.4 million citizens, more than a third of the population. The Army, which stays away from voting centers, has also guaranteed security along highways and at bridges and towns, but men in uniform are virtually absent in the capital. Presidency Secretary General Hector Luna also reported absolute normalcy during the referendum that will approve or reject 43 reforms to the Constitution. Among other things, they would allow legislative elections within three months and the replacement of members of the Supreme Court of Justice. TSE Magistrate Marco Guerra told ACAN-EFE that terrorist actions promoted abstentionism, which could reach 50 percent, according to Guatemalan Vice President Arturo Herbruger. |
FBIS3-31955_1 | Vice President Herbruger on High Abstention Rate | Type:BFN [Text] Guatemala City, 30 Jan (ACAN-EFE) -- Guatemalan Vice President Arturo Herbruger ruled out the possibility that a high abstention rate at the referendum on constitutional reforms, which is being held in the country today, will weaken the government headed by Ramiro de Leon Carpio. In statements to ACAN-EFE, Herbruger Asturias indicated that a referendum is based on valid votes and not on the number of people who did not vote and voluntarily excluded themselves from participating in the solution of a national problem. Herbruger Asturias, who prior to holding the vice presidency was the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) president, pointed out that the people's abstention in the referendum "had been anticipated a long time ago" and "nobody said it would weaken the government." "We have to take into account that the electoral system gives people the option to vote as it is only a civic duty," Herbruger argued. He credited the electorate's poor response "to the people's indifference. They do not care what happens politically in their country" and not to the recent terrorist actions. "I don't believe the terrorist actions negatively affected the referendum, although this was their purpose. People vote with or without terrorism," the vice president underscored. Arturo Herbruger cast his yes vote at the Belen Institute, located approximately 600 meters from the government offices, and he showed his ballot to reporters. For this reason, the Union of the National Center requested that his vote be annulled. According to National Prosecutor Sydney Shaw, the vice president violated the electoral and political parties laws because the vote is secret. However, TSE President Fernando Bonilla indicated that the electoral law does not stipulate any penalty for citizens who show their ballots. The Guatemalans were called to a referendum today. They have to approve or reject the constitutional reforms negotiated between the deputies and President Ramiro de Leon Carpio in November 1993. The reforms include the purge of government organizations and an end to the political confrontations between government branches. The first results reported by the media indicate the victory of the "yes" vote. This victory, however, has been minimized by the high abstention rate, which, according to local politicians, could be greater than 60 percent. Important union and civic organizations, as well as the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity -- with which the government will hold peace talks in February -- had requested people to abstain from voting. |
FBIS3-31986_3 | * Sintura Discusses Use of Sentence Negotiations | as direct." According to Sintura, the early verdict procedure has enabled society to convict a number of criminals against whom the state had no evidence. The Ochoas and Urdinola Of the 12,000 hearings held by the Office of the Prosecutor General, the deputy prosecutor's office has handled the eight most sensitive cases. Sintura conducted the sentence negotiation procedures with Ivan Urdinola Grajales, Gonzalo Mejia Sanin, Fabio and Jorge Luis Ochoa Vasquez, and some others as well. "In some of these cases we had no solid evidence, and if not for the criminals' confession, which grants them some benefits, it would not have been possible to win a conviction," said the official. "This office has conducted eight early verdict hearings. The most difficult to date was Urdinola's case, as we knew that the automatic sentence reductions provided by the law would not let us put him away for many years, and second, because the evidence we had against this man was quite rudimentary," added Sintura. Sintura says that the sentence of four years and seven months (the actual time) that Urdinola has to serve was "essentially based on his own confession and on some documents U.S. officials provided. If we had taken this case to court without his confession, we could not have gotten a verdict." He explained that a negotiated penalty also offers the prosecutor's office the advantage of the possibility of conducting other investigations against persons with whom penalties are being or have been negotiated. "We conduct very specific negotiations with very well-circumscribed charges so that we can pursue other investigations; for example, Jorge Luis and Fabio Ochoa confessed to cocaine trafficking between 1974 and 1990." "If the prosecutor's office demonstrates that between 1991 and 1993 they distributed more cocaine, we can bring another case against them that has nothing to do with the negotiated penalty," says Sintura. "In Urdinola's case," he added, "charges and penalties were arranged for drug trafficking, and he was told that a homicide charge against him was not included in this negotiation." "He obviously always wanted the homicide charge to be included in the negotiation. But the position of the Office of the Prosecutor General was clear: homicide charges were not negotiable unless he made a confession; as he did not confess to the homicide charges and claimed to be innocent, we are now moving forward with that case," said the deputy prosecutor general. |
FBIS3-31993_0 | Congress Urged To Reject U.S. Military Presence in Country | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] The U.S. Government offer to build roads, schools, and health centers in the interior of the country will reportedly be definitively rejected by President Juan Carlos Wasmosy. He is reportedly being influenced by the local military leadership who has been purportedly left out by the "Yankees," who fear the Paraguayan military will mistakenly get the credit for the work. Sources contacted yesterday said that Wasmosy met with members of the Permanent Commission of Congress, who were asked to reject the U.S. Government offer because it will result in a national political-military dispute that can be avoided by rejecting the offer. Several deputies held negotiations yesterday to avert the loss of important aid because of squabbles among national political sectors. To get the offer rejected, Wasmosy reportedly met members of the Permanent Commission of Congress at the presidential residence to ask them for their "support." Congressional sources have told NOTICIAS that Wasmosy asked the legislators to reject U.S. Ambassador Jon Glassman's offer because of the privileges the Americans want to build these installations. The same sources added that Wasmosy is refusing the offer in view of a political-military problem which arose because the U.S. Embassy demands that no Paraguayan military be involved in the project. According to these sources, Wasmosy already gave his approval to Glassman at the beginning of January, but the president changed his mind after consulting the military commanders. It has been learned that the president is looking for a dignified way out. In view of this, he is meeting legislators so that Congress, not he, will "supposedly" be the one to reject the offer. The same sources added that the problem is that the Paraguayan Army has already promised "to build one school per year." It has been learned that legislators are studying the issue closely because the Paraguayan military law does not allow the Armed Forces to discredit politicians by committing themselves to build schools. Moreover, they said, this is not an Armed Forces task. The 14-point agreement to be signed by the two governments establishes that the U.S. contingent will be relieved of some chores. Moreover, it will be provided with transportation. The agreement specifies that all privileges will apply only for the fulfillment of the mission. Deputy Blas Llano was among those who, led by Congressional Permanent Commission Chairman Juan Carlos Ramirez Montalbetti, attended the meeting with Wasmosy on |
FBIS3-32011_0 | U.S.-Somali Shootout in Southern Mogadishu Reported | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] According to figures obtained by AFP from the city's hospitals today, at least five people died and 15 were wounded in a shootout between Somalis and U.S. soldiers in southern Mogadishu. The shootout occurred as two U.S. diplomatic cars were driving along the avenue that links the U.S. Embassy to the Mogadishu airport, when their escorts opened fire on a crowd. The soldiers fired -- even using heavy-caliber weapons -- because they thought the Somalis were trying to block the road along which the caravan was to pass, when in reality the crowd was just waiting in front of a food distribution center. The massacre followed statements by the general undersecretary for UN operations in Somalia, (Kofi Annan), who criticized Washington's decision to withdraw its troops before 31 March. The UN official said he considered that decision a mistake because it might encourage violent actions aimed at sabotaging the peacekeeping operations. |
FBIS3-32018_0 | Massac Criticizes Former, Current U.S. Administrations | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Text] Father Yvon Massac, Fermathe Parish priest, denounces the exterminating maneuvers by the former and current U.S. Administrations aimed at ruining little countries. The Fermathe priest thinks President Clinton and the U.S. State Department want to reduce President Aristide's power because they fear his popularity. Father Massac adds that the U.S. Presidents are more concerned with U.A. interests in all their relations with the little countries. [Begin Massac recording, in Creole] The U.S. Presidents have closed their eyes to the sufferings of the poor countries to consider first the interests of the United States in all their relations with those peoples. In Haiti, for instance, everybody can see that the cause of the sufferings of all Haitians, who cannot live at all at this time, is the willingness of President Clinton and the State Department to prolong the crisis in order to weaken Aristide's power because they fear his popularity. It is time for Americans to stand up to protest the policy of their rulers who are weighing down several little countries. What happened in Los Angeles may be a [word indistinct] warning from God so they will be more caring about the sufferings imposed on deprived peoples by the United States. It is time for President Clinton to release the refugees who are in jail, to stop sending them back to the Haitian hell of the coup d'etat. [end recording] |
FBIS3-32026_4 | Presidency Minister on U.S. Mission | The attorney general also referred to that situation as meddling or interfering in our affairs. What we ought to do here is apply the country's laws. When we believe some action is against the laws of the Republic, we must apply the law. We should not evade that responsibility. We must guarantee respect for the country's institutionality. We believe in other cases when the aid is conditioned, it will depend on what the donor country or the country giving the assistance determines. We do not know whether the conditions are right now for establishing quotas or not. Generally, U.S. commercial policies in some areas are based on quotas. I do not know if this was the case. Maybe the economy minister could clarify this point. The truth is that within the framework of normal relations among countries and within the principle of respect for the sovereignty of each country, relations must be based on mutual respect. That is what our country has always demanded in its international relations with all countries. In no way will we act differently. [Moderator] Guillermo Valencia, of EL NOTICIERO. [Valencia] I understand that [words indistinct] a report on the possible admission of former Treasury Police [PH] and National Guard [GN] agents directly into the PNC without a previous evaluation. I would like to know if this report was completed and presented to Onusal [UN Observers for El Salvador] and if the report was confirmed or not. [Santamaria] Well, first of all, I must clarify that it was not as you said. We are working with Onusal on compliance with the peace agreements on aspects related to the incorporation of the UEA into the PNC, in other words the Drug Interdiction Executive Unit, and the CIHD, the Commission to Investigate Criminal Actions. The decrees for the transfer and merger were already issued and approved by the Legislative Assembly, and therefore they became laws of the Republic. What is still pending is the government's compliance with an aspect concerning an evaluation of the members based on the agreements reached on 22 December 1992 between the government and the FMLN in the presence of the United Nations. The government, however, does not handle this unilaterally. It is handled based on agreement between both sides in the presence of the United Nations. Both parties agreed on what the evaluation would consist of, and on a course that members of |
FBIS3-32028_0 | Update on Student Protests; Unions Announce Strikes | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [From "The Voz Andes" newscast] [Text] A report indicates that various student groups have engaged in confrontations with riot police in several neighborhoods in Quito during the fourth day of demonstrations to protest a 71.2-percent price increase in fuel prices. The government announced the increase on 28 January. However, disturbances began on the eve of the announcement when the media leaked the news. Between 27 and 28 January at least four policemen and an undetermined number of students were injured during riots, while over 20 students were arrested. Union leaders and other important Ecuadoran leaders announced that they will promote a national strike and demonstrations this week to protest the increase in fuel prices. They have not specified dates yet. Edgar Ponce, the president of FUT [United Workers' Front] -- the largest workers' organization in Ecuador -- said that the government must understand that the people cannot take any more price increases. Ponce anticipated that the government's economic policy will trigger social explosions in Ecuador, such as the recent conflicts in Chiapas, Mexico, and Santiago del Estero, Argentina. In the public markets the prices of many basic necessities have begun to increase as a result of the increase in fuel prices. The government ordered a 71.2-percent price increase for the fuel with the highest demand and argued that this measure was necessary in order to counter the fall of international oil prices. Oil is the source of half of the government's revenues. An increase in the prices of basic necessities was confirmed in the markets yesterday. The price of milk, for instance, increased by 150 sucres compared to a week ago. In addition, food stores and supermarkets altered their prices eight days ago, without any response from Quito's Police Intendancy. Meanwhile, union leaders said that Ecuadoran workers unions were calling for a 24-hour general strike on 3 February to protest the economic adjustment measures implemented by the government. Edgar Ponce announced that FUT urged all organizations to participate in a preventive strike to request that the government reconsider its decision to increase fuel prices. On 28 January the government announced a 70.2-percent increase in fuel prices to counter, according to the government, a fiscal deficit estimated between $200 and $500 million. Ponce added that the strike is considered as a preventive measure, but it could become a progressive one if the government does not withdraw its |
FBIS3-32030_2 | Foreign Minister Views Policy | regional and subregional level. We have sought to promote the role of a supplier of goods and services at a regional level, which our country might play because of its privileged geopolitical location as the natural exit port of Latin America's richest and most densely populated basin. Among the specific actions that have been undertaken we mention: - Improvement of the navigability of Uruguay River, which was jointly arranged with the Argentine Government. This action is particularly important for the development of our ports and for the waterway project because it allows better ship access from Nueva Palmira to Salto, thus promoting the revitalization of the ports on the lower Uruguay River. - Actions, also with the Argentine Government, to dredge, place buoys, and maintain the River Plate channels, for which an agreement has been reached. - the impulse toward concluding an agreement for the Colonia-Buenos Aires bridge project, which for Uruguay will be the first stretch of the Highway Axis. This emphasizes the position of our country as a key area for land transportation between the region's large urban and industrial centers. - The steps taken for granting institutional status to the negotiations for constructing the Highway Axis joining Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Uruguay, and Argentina, a project that is specially significant for Uruguay and that will promote integration of the economies of the three countries. - The development of the Cuareim River basin, including the enforcement of the Statute of the Uruguayan-Brazilian Mixed Commission for that basin. - The promotion of development in areas along the Brazilian border, through the activities of the binational commission and through the strengthening of the importance of the existing border committees. Such activities fall within the framework of the border policy, which is a priority among our major foreign police objectives, aiming at consolidating national culture and national identity in border areas in conjunction with economic development, which is being jointly promoted with neighboring countries. - The actions aimed at enforcing the multilateral agreement on the Paraguay-Parana Waterway (Puerto Caceres-Nueva Palmira) and, considering the importance of the project's work schedule, the promotion of joint actions by the five countries to agree on the implementation of the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed with the IDB [Inter-American Development Bank], which seeks to determine the feasibility of this river way. - In turn, political relations with our main neighbors have been strengthened through reciprocal visits of |
FBIS3-32032_2 | * Lacalle on Mercosur, Military, Constitutional Reform | will take advantage of this occasion to underline its significance and the need for the Argentine Congress to approve it. Mercosur [Puig] On 1 January 1995--barely one year from now--Mercosur should be in full operation. Meanwhile, in the countries which will be members of it there are inflations ranging from a single digit, at best, to 50 percent annually, to 50 percent monthly. How will all of that fit together? [Lacalle] Making it fit together will be difficult. I know that Mercosur will not be easy to handle, but there is no other choice. If we cut off our legs to avoid losing our way on the road, we would not have signed the Treaty of Asuncion, because Argentina was in too strong a financial position. Brazil has major problems, but it also has a major potential. I think that the economic plan which it has adopted for 1994 will be an effective one. The proposal made by the Brazilians themselves to study some way of linking our currencies demonstrates the will to deal with these matters. [Puig] Uruguayan and Paraguayan industrialists have just asked their Argentine and Brazilian opposite numbers to request their governments to agree to a delay in the implementation of Mercosur. [Lacalle] I think that a delay is about the only thing that we could not agree to because, since we know what kind of people we are, an extension would be continued forever. Therefore, I consider that the major advantage of Mercosur is that, because the date for its entry into effect cannot be changed, it has caused a major industrial renovation program. Military Concern [Puig] I would like to change the subject: 1993 was a year which was characterized by concerns about the military. Let us not go into them in detail, but they are clear enough. There is the case of the Chilean, the case of the microphone, some transfers, the restructuring, and even the matter of pensions. What is the situation now? [Lacalle] I would not call them concerns. I would call them problems, which is a different matter. We have asserted our position as the supreme authority of the armed forces. We have not seen acts of disrespect, as unfortunately happened a few years ago in the history of our country. There has been continuing respect for duly constituted authority. In our country legal authority over the military hierarchy is fully |
FBIS3-32033_6 | * Social Security Bill Sponsor Discusses Reforms | better health services and a substantial growth in savings. [Sarmiento] The administration says that in adopting the reform it was thinking more about our poorest citizens. How will it affect these segments of society? [Uribe] The reform provides a very important instrument for the members of the informal economy and poor peasants: the possibility that the family allowance funds and the cooperative sector can organize themselves as health promotion enterprises. As family-allowance funding is rechanneled to bring health care to these groups in our large cities and on small peasant farms, we are going to make headway in extending services to people who have long been ignored. [Sarmiento] How would you convince the country that the law is not a bad one, when some think that the next administration's first task will be to reform it? [Uribe] I believe strongly in the practical effects of the reform. We have altered 50-year old social security legislation that had brought us to very low levels of coverage. It is only fair to call for a reasonable period of lead time before evaluating the practical results. [Sarmiento] The academic sector feels that in seven years or so the pension contributions will have to be increased again because the reform was an equation that Congress broke because hiking the contributions was not enough. [Uribe] Congress was conservative in tightening the requirements, to the extent that a pluralistic Congress could do so. Many people there said that raising contributions meant that requirements did not have to be tightened or certain benefits cut. The projections of the actuaries tell us that this equation improves into the future and that the ISS and the system in general may make it to the year 2020 with a large cushion of reserves. [Sarmiento] In the final accounting, who does this law cover? [Uribe] The main dividing line in the reform is, by and large, age, with exceptions. A minimal part will apply to males over 40 and females over 35. Everyone will have to make larger contributions, however. [Sarmiento] In one sentence how would you describe the social security reform? [Uribe] As a reform with major challenges. [Sarmiento] We are about to have a change in administration. Is there any guarantee that the next one will implement the reform? [Uribe] I do not think that President Gaviria's reformist spirit, which was a fundamental factor in this reform, is going |
FBIS3-32046_0 | De Leon Interviewed on Referendum Results | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Interview with Guatemalan President Ramiro de Leon Carpio by unidentified reporter at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal facility at the Industrial Park in Guatemala City; from the "Telepress" newscast -- live] [Text] [Reporter] Mr. De Leon, do you believe the country's institutional problem has been resolved with the victory of the yes vote? [De Leon] I think the yes vote has resolved the institutional problem we had been experiencing since 25 May. The very fact that a popular consultation was held is an advantage for the Guatemalan people. The very fact that it happened in spite of the obstacles [word indistinct] and terrorist acts consolidates the process, because in the eyes of the Guatemalan people and the world, we resolved a problem that had existed since 25 May through peaceful, constitutional, and democratic means. What events? The people wanted a purge, and with the victory of the yes vote over the no vote, they managed to purge three branches of state. The deputies will go and there will be a new Congress and a new constitution. Therefore, the branches of state will be reorganized. But to answer your question, I say yes, the institutional problem has been resolved because there was an impasse. The solution came late, because the people wanted this situation to be resolved earlier. But today the Guatemalan people can have peace of mind because we have turned this page of Guatemala's history and we can now deal with profound issues such as the country's economic and social problems. [Reporter] Did the abstention say anything to you? [De Leon] Yes, of course. First I must point out that today's electoral event was marked by some very special characteristics that led to abstention. I am not making excuses, but the situation must be examined. This was a very special, unprecedented event in Guatemala. From the electoral standpoint, no local authorities were being elected. Residents of municipalities, for example, are interested in electing their mayors, deputies, and president. In this election they were voting for something that was not clearly understood by everyone. There was a lot of confusion, misinformation, or a shortage of information. In other words, the circumstances surrounding the event were adverse. If we couple that with the terrorism, blackmail, and numerous obstacles confronted by the voters, abstention was to be expected. In any electoral event anywhere in the world, abstention is natural |
FBIS3-32046_1 | De Leon Interviewed on Referendum Results | resolved because there was an impasse. The solution came late, because the people wanted this situation to be resolved earlier. But today the Guatemalan people can have peace of mind because we have turned this page of Guatemala's history and we can now deal with profound issues such as the country's economic and social problems. [Reporter] Did the abstention say anything to you? [De Leon] Yes, of course. First I must point out that today's electoral event was marked by some very special characteristics that led to abstention. I am not making excuses, but the situation must be examined. This was a very special, unprecedented event in Guatemala. From the electoral standpoint, no local authorities were being elected. Residents of municipalities, for example, are interested in electing their mayors, deputies, and president. In this election they were voting for something that was not clearly understood by everyone. There was a lot of confusion, misinformation, or a shortage of information. In other words, the circumstances surrounding the event were adverse. If we couple that with the terrorism, blackmail, and numerous obstacles confronted by the voters, abstention was to be expected. In any electoral event anywhere in the world, abstention is natural and was to be expected in Guatemala. Nevertheless, the Guatemalan people should acknowledge the high rate of abstention and should be concerned about it because, in my opinion, it shows that the democratic system is somewhat exhausted. [Reporter] Do you dismiss the possibility that it was a form of protest against the format of the consultation? [De Leon] I do not think it was precisely against the format of the consultation. I tend to think that on one hand it shows the Guatemalan people's exhaustion, and on the other their rejection of the (?democratic) system. The Guatemalan people are tired and indifferent, and that is dangerous. That is why I say we should all be concerned about the democratic system's failure to give the people the answers they wanted. We have had this system since 1986 when the first constitutional period began following a constituent assembly, and Guatemalans still have not seen an improvement in the situation. On the contrary, in some ways the situation has grown worse. Herein lies the danger, and that is why I believe we should be concerned over today's abstention rate. We must think about the congressional elections that will be coming up within five |
FBIS3-32047_0 | Gives News Conference | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [News conference by Guatemalan President Ramiro De Leon Carpio with unidentified reporters at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal facility at the Industrial Park in Guatemala City; from the "Telepress" newscast -- live] [Text] [Reporter] [Question indistinct] [De Leon] Regarding the results, as I said a moment ago, results are what matter in politics. Here the results are that the yes vote won over the no vote; that is what matters. What is worrisome, not just for the government but for the entire country, is the high abstention rate. We must strengthen the political parties system through a purge and a reorganization. We must think about this situation because it means that somehow the system may be exhausted or that many Guatemalans may feel that it is. However, we must also take into consideration the fact that the consultation was an unprecedented electoral event marked by a number of very special situations. No local authorities were elected. Voters usually pay more attention when they are electing a mayor, deputy, president, or vice president. Added to this are the vicissitudes that preceded today's electoral event as well as the terrorist incidents the day before the consultation. Abstention exists in Guatemala and anywhere there is an electoral event, but in this case it was rather justified. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that the abstention rate was too high. We should all be concerned about this because, in my opinion, it is either a sign of exhaustion in the democratic system or of the Guatemalan people's desperation because they have yet to see any positive results since 1986, when the democratic process in Guatemala began with a number of problems and attempts to disrupt institutional order, and the actual disruption of that institutional order on 25 May. So we should be concerned. Every leader, every person who represents some level of power should take action so in five months the congressional elections will not see such a high rate of abstention, much less the general elections to be held within the year. It would be even more serious if that were to happen in a general election. [Reporter] [Question indistinct] [De Leon] The people's clamor began with the 25 May events. We managed to meet some of their demands by purging the executive branch and appointing a new president, vice president, and ministers. We are still working on the purge. Much remains |
FBIS3-32049_0 | Electoral Tribunal Declares `Yes' Victory in Referendum | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Guatemala City, 31 Jan (NOTIMEX) -- The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) today confirmed victory for the "yes" vote in Sunday's referendum with 83.95 percent of the votes cast by 15.87 percent of Guatemalan voters. When the count was finished in the 5,897 polling stations in 330 municipalities, the TSE confirmed high abstentionism which reached 84.13 percent in the referendum on 30 [number as received] constitutional reforms. There were 370,044 "yes" votes; 70,761 "no" votes; 97,107 annulled ballots; and 7,982 blank ballots. Of the ballots that were to be handed out to 3.4 million Guatemalans eligible to vote, 2,890,533 were not used. The results confirmed the predictions of political analysts about the people's indifference to the referendum, which favored the "yes" vote. The TSE indicated that Sunday's abstentionism was the highest ever in any general election or referendum in this country, whose history is marked by dictatorial regimes and traditional electoral apathy. |
FBIS3-32050_2 | De Leon Remarks on Human Rights | human rights. At this phase and given that the former human rights ombudsman is now the president of the Republic, we cannot be satisfied that quantitatively we are better off than last year. Now is the time to consider the issue qualitatively. One cannot say human rights are being violated more or less; this is why we must prepare the necessary measures this year, after having consolidated the nation's institutions, after having consolidated the democratic system, which is still fragile. Nevertheless, we have made great progress. For example, one of these is the return of Communities of Resistance People under commissions that will be made public to you subsequently. Another example is the peace agreement that will be signed this year, in keeping with the framework agreement signed in Mexico. In this agreement both parties have agreed to sign a peace agreement this year. This demonstrates the political willingness that has to be made reality. We must eliminate the main source, something I always mentioned as human rights ombudsman; that is, the internal armed conflict which has been ongoing for more than 30 years. Once this armed conflict ends this year, fulfilling our commitment, the main cause, the main source of human rights violations will disappear. This is particularly true of the violations of the right to life, integrity, physical integrity, dignity, liberty, security and so on; therefore, there is progress. Yesterday you witnessed the fulfillment of another commitment: the departure of the military detachment from Tercer Pueblo. They departed from the urban area, leaving it for those who returned after being refugees for so many years in Mexico; that is, we are progressing, fulfilling our commitments. This does not mean we are not objective, that we do not accept the reality that exists in Guatemala. I reiterate: I am pleased with the report. We will analyze the report, read it more carefully; nevertheless, in principle, given the quantitative data, we are satisfied. This does not mean we do not have to initiate many actions and efforts so that Guatemala is not only analyzed if human rights are respected more or less here. Qualitatively, the situation should reach a level of absolute respect; this respect first should be of individual human rights, followed by the respect of economic, social, and cultural human rights. This is more difficult and does not depend totally on the government's political willingness, as their violations |
FBIS3-32050_7 | De Leon Remarks on Human Rights | their respective municipalities on Monday, in addition to celebrating the yes vote. [passage omitted] [Reporter] [Words indistinct] that you have been in direct contact with President Salinas. We want to know if there has been an official communication; if the Guatemalan Government has offered military help, in this case [words indistinct] in Chiapas? [De Leon Carpio] The relationship between President Salinas de Gortari and myself has always been very direct. This situation was strengthened even more at the meeting we held in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, at the Ibero-American presidential summit. Given the situation the Guatemalan, sorry, the Mexican people are suffering, I immediately contacted him to express my solidarity, to express through him to the Mexican people, the Guatemalan people and their government's grief. We know about this because we have been suffering these consequences for more than 30 years and we believe it is regrettable and unfair that the Mexican people now must endure the consequences of an insurgent force, of an armed conflict that only leaves behind widows, orphans, destruction, death, desolation, hate, and hostilities. We think it is unfair that the Mexican people should endure this, as in the end it is the people who suffer the greatest consequences. Therefore, we have been in contact; we have indicated to him that we have full faith in his capacity, we have faith in his government's ability. We hope that shortly, through dialogue and measures taken by the government, those who have mistakenly taken up arms will reconsider their position and realize that road is obsolete here, in Mexico, and in any part of the world. The road for changes, the peaceful, silent revolution, is that of the struggle, although no longer between brothers. Rather, now it is the struggle against corruption, the struggle against poverty, the struggle for economic and social development, and the struggle for an overall peace with social justice for all. We hope that this road can be reached. In this regard, there is a close relationship. There is no offer on the part of the Armed Forces or of the government to participate. We are very respectful of nations' sovereignty; in this case, a neighboring, friendly nation such as Mexico. What is certain is that we are prepared on our side of the border, on the Guatemalan side, to avoid any incursions by the subversive groups that have sprung up in Mexico. [end recording] |
FBIS3-32053_0 | Suit Filed Against U.S. for Restrictions on Tobacco Imports | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Guatemala appears on a list of nations that have filed suits against the United States before GATT for imposing restrictions on its tobacco imports, causing serious distortions to the economies producing that agricultural product. It was reported that after two days of discussions in Geneva, the GATT signatories said they will form a panel to debate U.S. protectionism for the tobacco market. The long dispute initiated by Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Thailand, and Zimbabwe is aimed at modifying U.S. legislation regarding the use of imported tobacco by domestic industries. At this moment, 75 percent of the tobacco that is used for U.S. cigarette production comes from U.S. suppliers. |
FBIS3-32057_2 | Foreign Minister Views Policy | regional and subregional level. We have sought to promote the role of a supplier of goods and services at a regional level, which our country might play because of its privileged geopolitical location as the natural exit port of Latin America's richest and most densely populated basin. Among the specific actions that have been undertaken we mention: - Improvement of the navigability of Uruguay River, which was jointly arranged with the Argentine Government. This action is particularly important for the development of our ports and for the waterway project because it allows better ship access from Nueva Palmira to Salto, thus promoting the revitalization of the ports on the lower Uruguay River. - Actions, also with the Argentine Government, to dredge, place buoys, and maintain the River Plate channels, for which an agreement has been reached. - the impulse toward concluding an agreement for the Colonia-Buenos Aires bridge project, which for Uruguay will be the first stretch of the Highway Axis. This emphasizes the position of our country as a key area for land transportation between the region's large urban and industrial centers. - The steps taken for granting institutional status to the negotiations for constructing the Highway Axis joining Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Uruguay, and Argentina, a project that is specially significant for Uruguay and that will promote integration of the economies of the three countries. - The development of the Cuareim River basin, including the enforcement of the Statute of the Uruguayan-Brazilian Mixed Commission for that basin. - The promotion of development in areas along the Brazilian border, through the activities of the binational commission and through the strengthening of the importance of the existing border committees. Such activities fall within the framework of the border policy, which is a priority among our major foreign police objectives, aiming at consolidating national culture and national identity in border areas in conjunction with economic development, which is being jointly promoted with neighboring countries. - The actions aimed at enforcing the multilateral agreement on the Paraguay-Parana Waterway (Puerto Caceres-Nueva Palmira) and, considering the importance of the project's work schedule, the promotion of joint actions by the five countries to agree on the implementation of the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed with the IDB [Inter-American Development Bank], which seeks to determine the feasibility of this river way. - In turn, political relations with our main neighbors have been strengthened through reciprocal visits of |
FBIS3-32059_2 | * Lacalle on Mercosur, Military, Constitutional Reform | will take advantage of this occasion to underline its significance and the need for the Argentine Congress to approve it. Mercosur [Puig] On 1 January 1995--barely one year from now--Mercosur should be in full operation. Meanwhile, in the countries which will be members of it there are inflations ranging from a single digit, at best, to 50 percent annually, to 50 percent monthly. How will all of that fit together? [Lacalle] Making it fit together will be difficult. I know that Mercosur will not be easy to handle, but there is no other choice. If we cut off our legs to avoid losing our way on the road, we would not have signed the Treaty of Asuncion, because Argentina was in too strong a financial position. Brazil has major problems, but it also has a major potential. I think that the economic plan which it has adopted for 1994 will be an effective one. The proposal made by the Brazilians themselves to study some way of linking our currencies demonstrates the will to deal with these matters. [Puig] Uruguayan and Paraguayan industrialists have just asked their Argentine and Brazilian opposite numbers to request their governments to agree to a delay in the implementation of Mercosur. [Lacalle] I think that a delay is about the only thing that we could not agree to because, since we know what kind of people we are, an extension would be continued forever. Therefore, I consider that the major advantage of Mercosur is that, because the date for its entry into effect cannot be changed, it has caused a major industrial renovation program. Military Concern [Puig] I would like to change the subject: 1993 was a year which was characterized by concerns about the military. Let us not go into them in detail, but they are clear enough. There is the case of the Chilean, the case of the microphone, some transfers, the restructuring, and even the matter of pensions. What is the situation now? [Lacalle] I would not call them concerns. I would call them problems, which is a different matter. We have asserted our position as the supreme authority of the armed forces. We have not seen acts of disrespect, as unfortunately happened a few years ago in the history of our country. There has been continuing respect for duly constituted authority. In our country legal authority over the military hierarchy is fully |
FBIS3-32061_1 | Foreign Minister Notes U.S. Approval of Plane, Radar Sale | older than the Phantoms, must be equipped with ultra-sophisticated radars in order to be effective. The British conservative government repeatedly has opposed Argentina's rearming, even though the current rapprochement policy made their position more flexible. "The news is still too fresh. We still have not heard of any reaction from the British Foreign Office," Di Tella said. "Any way we look at it, the sale of the planes and the radars is a show of trust in our country and, therefore, I do not think there will be any problems." Di Tella admitted that the Argentine Government "was anxiously waiting" to learn about the U.S. decision, and that England "has slowly changed its opinion about us and I am sure they will understand the situation." "I do not want to look victorious in front of England, nothing of the kind, but I repeat that the sale of the planes and radars as well as the possible invitation to join NAFTA are indications of a lot of trust in our country," Di Tella stressed. Referring to NAFTA, Di Tella said: "We should wait until we receive the formal invitation. Then we will stop and think about it carefully to see if it is advantageous to us." Di Tella said Argentina's possible entry into NAFTA "will not imply a 10-page treaty. The treaty will need hundreds of pages. Argentina must not separate itself from Mercosur [Common Market of the South]. Argentina must add Mercosur to NAFTA." The minister then talked about the possibility of U.S. investments and the increase in Argentina's exports. He said: "We will not see sharp increases because the U.S. economy is slowly changing." Di Tella then returned to the issue of the planes, saying "the political impact of the U.S. decision will undoubtedly help the investment process." Regarding opportunities for the Argentine "Pampa" advanced training plane, Di Tella said the U.S.' purchase of the plane "does not have any political component. It is a bidding and only technical questions matter." Defense Minister Oscar Camilion revealed two weeks ago that the "Pampa" plane "has been classified for the finals" among the foreign bids. On that occasion Camilion did not reveal what other country is also in the finals to sell the training plane. On 25 January, Di Tella travelled to the United States, where he met Secretary of State Warren Christopher, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Kantor, and security representatives. |
FBIS3-32083_0 | CTC Warns of `Traumatic Consequences' of Payroll Cutbacks | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Havana, 31 Jan (EFE) -- The Cuban Workers Federation (CTC), which is the sole union in the country, today warned that the payroll reduction required at many work centers "should be done gradually to avoid traumatic consequences." An editorial published by the "TRABAJADORES" weekly, which is the CTC mouthpiece, asserted: "We have to end the negative situation of inflated payrolls." Nevertheless, it added that factors other than excess personnel have a greater impact on the inefficiency of firms. The weekly said: "The payroll is certainly an element to be considered in the search for efficiency, but it is not the only one. Currently, it is quite possible that it is not the most important one in many places." In this way, the newspaper referred to the future reorganization of the government system, which will include ministries as well as firms. The reorganization, which was announced at least three months ago and still has to be implemented, would leave thousands of workers without a job. With this editorial, the union seems to be distancing itself from top government officials who have publicly expressed that the problem of excess personnel has to be given foremost attention because it is the key to improving productivity and profitability. According to the CTC, more damaging than excess personnel are "the huge shortages" experienced in several firms. This includes thefts, the squandering of raw materials and fuel, the low quality of various products, and employee absenteeism. The editorial concluded by saying: "We cannot streamline any process without the unions. They are a requirement and a condition for the process to be implemented effectively, especially if it is to be an orderly and well-handled process." Payroll reductions and other pending economic reforms will be debated at some 80,000 assemblies called by the CTC all across the nation starting today. The main issues to be discussed at these assemblies are: the creation of a tax system, the elimination of a number of gratuities and subsidies to unprofitable firms, formulas to reduce the surplus of currency in the people's hands, and ways to get the peso to recover its buying power. However, according to an official poll, what worries CTC members most "is the future of the superfluous workers who could be fired when the payrolls are streamlined." Once the assembly debates end, it is expected that a special National Assembly meeting will be |
FBIS3-32083_1 | CTC Warns of `Traumatic Consequences' of Payroll Cutbacks | that the payroll reduction required at many work centers "should be done gradually to avoid traumatic consequences." An editorial published by the "TRABAJADORES" weekly, which is the CTC mouthpiece, asserted: "We have to end the negative situation of inflated payrolls." Nevertheless, it added that factors other than excess personnel have a greater impact on the inefficiency of firms. The weekly said: "The payroll is certainly an element to be considered in the search for efficiency, but it is not the only one. Currently, it is quite possible that it is not the most important one in many places." In this way, the newspaper referred to the future reorganization of the government system, which will include ministries as well as firms. The reorganization, which was announced at least three months ago and still has to be implemented, would leave thousands of workers without a job. With this editorial, the union seems to be distancing itself from top government officials who have publicly expressed that the problem of excess personnel has to be given foremost attention because it is the key to improving productivity and profitability. According to the CTC, more damaging than excess personnel are "the huge shortages" experienced in several firms. This includes thefts, the squandering of raw materials and fuel, the low quality of various products, and employee absenteeism. The editorial concluded by saying: "We cannot streamline any process without the unions. They are a requirement and a condition for the process to be implemented effectively, especially if it is to be an orderly and well-handled process." Payroll reductions and other pending economic reforms will be debated at some 80,000 assemblies called by the CTC all across the nation starting today. The main issues to be discussed at these assemblies are: the creation of a tax system, the elimination of a number of gratuities and subsidies to unprofitable firms, formulas to reduce the surplus of currency in the people's hands, and ways to get the peso to recover its buying power. However, according to an official poll, what worries CTC members most "is the future of the superfluous workers who could be fired when the payrolls are streamlined." Once the assembly debates end, it is expected that a special National Assembly meeting will be called to start approving measures -- most of which will have a negative impact on the people -- that had been announced since last summer. |
FBIS3-32084_0 | Roundup of Economic Activity Reported 27 Jan to 1 Feb | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] The following is a compilation of fileworthy reports on economic developments in Cuba carried on Havana radio and television in Spanish between 27 January and 1 February. Radio Reloj at 1500 GMT on 27 January reports that Isle of Youth investors have drafted their main investment goals for 1994. Maintaining the current construction projects and completing projects under way are among the main objectives. Food production, tourism, and defense programs are among those with greater impact on the economic and social development of the island. Basic services to the people will also be improved. Radio Reloj at 2054 GMT on 27 Jan reports that approximately 2,600 housing units were completed in Pinar del Rio in 1993. Of the 14 municipalities, 13 built more housing than in 1992. The province has a 600-house plan for 1994, and is seeking to build in materials-efficient ways. Cuba Vision Network at 0100 GMT on 28 January reports that miners in Moa received a donation from British miners of shoes, shirts, and gloves valued at $15,000. Radio Rebelde at 0000 GMT on 28 January reports that the Bio- Alimentos research center in Moron, Ciego de Avila, has developed a new high protein feed for pigs and chickens; production will begin soon at the 1 January center in Moron Municipality. Radio Rebelde at 1800 GMT on 29 January reports that Valencia and Havana City have signed an agreement for a supply of Pegasus buses as a cooperative gesture of solidarity to improve transport in Havana. Garbage collectors, street cleaners, containers, spare parts, and specific tools for the repair of these vehicles will also be provided. Pedro Chavez, president of the Provincial Assembly of the People's Government, stressed the importance of the agreement and announced that 30 garbage collectors, 10 street cleaners, and some 4,000 containers will begin arriving in February. Radio Rebelde at 1800 on 29 January adds that the Carisol and Los Corales hotels were officially dedicated this morning in Santiago de Cuba and Varadero. The exploitation of these hotels, considered symbols of Cuban tourism development, will be shared by Cubanacan and the German chain LTD. Tele Rebelde and Cuba Vision Networks at 0100 GMT on 31 January report that the Che Guevara Plant in Moa, Holguin Province, has saved more than 1.7 million pesos since September by burning oil instead of coal. This was achieved through the research carried out |
FBIS3-32089_2 | Regional Economy Suffered Despite Global Reversal | depreciation of their currencies in relation to the United States dollar, and their own problems with the global recession, did not provide the Caribbean with many visitors. As well, Sir Neville explained that "some of the countries in the region, particularly Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, are suffering from what can best be termed as foreign-debt overhang." A substantial proportion of their financial resources, especially with their earnings of foreign currency, continues to be spent on servicing foreign indebtedness. Another problem for these countries is that manufacturing entities are beginning to feel the effects of trade liberalisation. This in turn has resulted in reduced output and increased unemployment. "This is in many respects an inevitable process that is taking place. The trend towards liberalisation of trade is a worldwide one and our countries, this region, is finding it increasingly difficult to protect their industries, particularly manufacturing industries, from competition from outside," Sir Neville told reporters at a news conference. The overall position with most of the major economies of the Caribbean is a relative shortage of foreign exchange. "Once you have that situation," Sir neville said, "governments find it virtually impossible to stimulate the economy because of the shortage of foreign exchange." An analysis of the main performing sectors of the region's economy offers some hope contingent upon a resumption of sustained growth in the global economy, and on restructuring of individual economies to enable them to respond competitively to the new situation they face. In tourism, for example, figures show that the number of stopover arrivals and cruiseship visitors in the tourism- oriented BMC's increased in 1993. Sir Neville explained that "as would be expected, consequent upon the recovery in North America, tourism growth was strongest in those economies which traditionally get the overwhelming majority of their tourists from North America." As far as the banana industry was concerned in 1993, a number of factors adversely affected it. Principal among these was the exchange rate of sterling which depreciated, giving producers less in domestic currency for every pound sterling earned. The bank president said: "Moreover, uncertainty about the future deepened as a result of significant changes in the arrangements for marketing Caribbean bananas in the European Union." Belize and Jamaica had offsetting effects of the lower prices by expanding output through production efficiencies. Although like Jamaica, Belize experienced a fall in unit earnings, it nonetheless was able to |
FBIS3-32110_1 | Dissident Colorado Deputy Favors U.S. Military Aid | Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Dissident Colorado Deputy Walter Bower yesterday harshly criticized President Juan Carlos Wasmosy, and warned that it would be "a crime against the fatherland" for us to reject "this type of aid, in a country like ours, which is in dire need of everything" (alluding to the offer for U.S. military engineers to build schools, roads, and a clinic in San Pedro). Bower was thus criticizing Wasmosy for planning to reject the offer made by the United States, which in turn has asked to be allowed to stage long-range military deployment exercises in our country. Bower said: "In a country in dire need of everything, where the people lack basic standards of living and where any handout can bring relief, it would be absurd and extremely foolish for us to pointlessly indulge in the luxury of turning down this type of aid." Bower added: "Formal topics (regarding the Paraguayan-U.S. draft agreement) may be resolved, and questions may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy. We cannot, however, deprive our people of $12 million in aid, which would bring education, water, and health to them." "It would be a crime against the fatherland to reject this aid from the American people. Congress has the moral obligation to make this aid possible, because it would bring relief to those fellow countrymen who are living under inhuman conditions." Deputy Bower is a notary public who is a member of the Luis Maria Argana-led Colorado faction. He dismissed rumors that either alleged intelligence work or a drug enforcement operation would be surreptitiously conducted during the deployment of the U.S. forces. Bower said: "There is nothing behind this. What could 600 men do there, except work? If some people are afraid of the U.S. presence here, it is perhaps because they have something to hide." Bower also reported that he and other lawmakers had talked to some senior officers who conveyed their support for Washington's request. Boser said: "We have talked to several senior officers who fully endorse this operation. In this case we cannot even raise the issue of violation of sovereignty, because we are not at war with the United States." He added: "And if they want to snoop around for drugs, let them do so. We are tired of wearing the label of drug traffickers only because of two or three criminals who act as though they own this country." |
FBIS3-32113_12 | `Secret' Shining Path Document Released Imperialism is Slowly But Inexorably Agonizing -- Third Plenary Session (III SP) | that is from the year 2010 to the year 2060; therefore, a new wave is developing. It must be understood within the framework of the development of the contradiction between Restoration and Counter Restoration. We must consider the historical background, the Development of the Class Struggle Law. It took the Bourgeoisie Revolution 300 years to take hold. In the 16th Century the Revolution took hold in Holland. It was later crushed by Spain in the 17th Century. In England the victory of the Bourgeoisie Revolution was achieved in two stages: The Revolution led by Oliver Cromwell in 1640 (he failed); and in 1688 the "The Glorious Revolution" was victorious: Just 48 years separate the first revolution from the second. In the 18th Century, there was the U.S. Independence in 1776; in France the revolution succeeded in 1789. England became the First Power of the World after the defeat of the "Invincible Armada" (Naval Battle); It took almost 90 years for the bourgeoisie to impose and consolidate itself in England. If it took the bourgeoisie 300 years to conslidate itself as a class power, the proletariate cannot be expected to do the same in the 66 years (two-thirds of century) that it has exercised its dictatorship over the state through the Socialist Revolution. The difference with the RGR [General Withdrawal of the Revolution] of 1891 should be noted (Engels made the balance). The current RGR stems from the process of restoration, because an unfavorable public opinion has developed about this stage of the revolution (140 years). Three years have already passed since RGR. From the point of view of Maoism -- which is a decisive, key factor in designing the strategy of the RPM [World Proletariat Revolution] in the New Great Wave -- we understand why this period is the transition between the crowning point of one stage of the RPM and the future Great Wave of the RPM. This is the foundation of the general political withdrawal, among other things. Lenin: "Karl Marx taught us to analyze tactical problems." To dare to think, to dare to act, to dare to decide. Going against the stream is a Marxist principle. Does everything we have been analyzing oppose what we have maintained, that "The Revolution is the Main Trend!?" One should see the difference. 1.- TREND. It is unquestionable and inexorable that, from a historical viewpoint, the revolution is the main trend. |
FBIS3-32122_2 | Gore's Call for Americas Presidential Summit Viewed | trade potential. NAFTA, in its present form, has a joint GDP of $6.5 trillion. When extended it will have a joint GDP of nearly $7.3 trillion, and will be bigger than the EEC ($5.8 trillion), and practically equal to the GDP of all the other countries in the world together ($7.6 trillion, excluding EEC countries). This does not mean Brazil should abandon its multilateralism, which was reinforced by the Uruguay Round of talks and the efforts to create Mercosur [Common Market of the South]. If Brazil looks the other way at Gore's proposal, it will be turning its back on a market that is 12 times larger than Mercosur without holding links to any bloc of any importance at a time when we still do not know which model will prevail in international economic relations in the long run. The risk of this lack of participation is aggravated by the notorious fact that some or our neighbors, including and above all Argentina, our main Mercosur partner, aspire to join NAFTA and are taking steps in that direction. Turning our back on eventual hemispheric integration is not advisable for a country that needs and is making every effort to attract productive investments. From the point of view of investors, a refusal to work for integration would increase risks at the time of investing resources in Brazil because it will reinforce the threat of commercial isolation in case multilateral relations deteriorate and economic blocs become fortresses closed to the outside (a risk we cannot rule out in any way, particularly in the case of the European bloc, because of a complicated integration process, and possible steps backward in the former Soviet Union). It is obvious that the search for accelerated integration at any cost is silly and harmful to national interests. It probably will result in the destruction of entire Brazilian industries that today are in no condition to compete with U.S. manufacturing production. But today's decisions will condition the future and it is necessary to look at the problem from a dynamic perspective. If our house is cleaned up this year and the process of constitutional revision ends with positive results, the country will have everything to start an age of sustained growth as of 1995. And growth and the possibilities of improving Brazil's social problems will increase if the country improves its prospects for joining other dynamic and broadened markets. |
FBIS3-32132_6 | _o_ * Bolivia: Economic Briefs | Ministry of Human Development's statistical analysis unit, UDAPSO, to demonstrate the depth of Bolivian poverty and condemn the government's indifference to it. He also said that in a democracy, social statistics should be "available to all" and not just to a "technocratic elite" that "stresses only what is convenient" and suppresses anything that "threatens its interests." - 70 percent of Bolivians are poor. - Of the 2,725,946 Bolivians who live in rural areas, 95.14 percent are poor. - As of 1991, 73.8 percent of the 2,488,800 Bolivians living in major cities were of working age. Of this total 36 percent were employed, the others were unemployed, or "inactive." - Mortality rates have decreased--75 per thousand in 1992 from 151 per thousand in 1976. - Fertility rates have also gone down--5 births per woman in 1992 from 6.5 in 1976. The commentator laments Bolivia's status as a "subworld of the Third World." "We extend our hands to receive charity from other countries calling it donations or nonreimbursable aid because we are unable to pay anything back. That is what we have been reduced to. Bolivia survives." [Cochabamba LOS TIEMPOS 6 Dec 93] The same concerns are further addressed in reports by the Pastoral and Social Episcopal Commission's Department of Research and Analysis and the Ministry of Human Development. - Infant mortality remains at 126/1000, mainly in rural areas. - Over half of Bolivian children are malnourished, especially those between six and 24 months of age. - 30.6 percent of Bolivia's work force are children between the ages of seven and 19. - Approximately 40,000 children enter the work force each year, according to the 1992 Population and Housing Census. The reports conclude that the main challenges facing the government in its fight against poverty are increases in child and peasant woman labor, and in malnutrition and infant mortality. [La Paz PRESENCIA 7, 24 Dec 93] SANTA CRUZ GROWTH PATTERNS--The National Population and Housing Census reports that Santa Cruz Department's 4.4 percent population growth rate is the highest in the country and that the population has reached 1.359 million. Unlike other Bolivian departments, the population--living in the province where the departmental capital of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is situated--is mostly urban (71.9 percent). Other data reveal that the average age of a resident of Santa Cruz is 22 years, infant mortality has been reduced from 120 per thousand in 1976 to |
FBIS3-32149_1 | Pedro Ross Discusses Worker Contributions to Efficiency | that the 1 million retirees in Cuba can join former workplaces to participate in the assemblies. Ross reiterates that management's reports to the assemblies must be clear, concise, and to the point, noting the exemplary report presented by the manager of La Corona Cigar Factory at its ongoing assembly. At this point, Ciego de Avila correspondent Fernando Sanchez states that approximately 120,000 workers will participate in the provincial workers' assemblies which began 1 February. Sanchez says that Ciego de Avila's Central Construction Enterprise workers called for increasing efficiency and cost reduction and discussed excess currency, unjustified sick leaves, confiscation of the money of the so-called macetas, and the need to increase production by increasing efficiency in the commerce and food industries. Santiago de Cuba correspondent Carlos Zanabria praises the concept of the workers' assembly as brilliant. When Ross interjects that it was President Fidel Castro's idea, Zanabria adds: "Brilliant, as is every idea of our commander in chief who has always helped us overcome highly complex national difficulties and thus enjoys such extraordinary admiration and the unlimited trust of the Cuban people." Zanabria stresses the need to make profits by producing with quality and efficiency, following the collapse of the socialist markets. Ross announces that on 10 February he will be at Palma Soriano's Abel Santa Maria Printing Enterprise in Santiago de Cuba Province because it is an outstanding example of how production and workers' efforts can be realigned. This industry has sought ways of employing workers usefully instead of releasing them from their posts; it has also added surplus workers from other workplaces to its personnel roster. Ross tells La Corona workers that he will visit the factory later in the day to discuss their efficiency and the issue of the 1 million cigars not produced. In response of a question by the host, Ross notes that "the workers' main suggestions have to do with increasing efficiency in the workplace" and gives examples of effective implementation of suggestions at the National Hospital, the Regla Fish Distribution Center, cigar factories, and the Finlay Research Institute. Pedro Ross adds that the key is efficiency, citing the sphere of sports, which is contributing to the economy in addition to having become self-financing. He has visited a milk complex that is producing a good quality soy yogurt through its workers' efforts. Those workers discussed at length how to make the most of available |
FBIS3-32154_8 | * BNDES Head on Stabilization Plan, Privatization | the approval of the fiscal adjustment a race against time? [Persio Arida] No question. The sooner it passes, the better. [O GLOBO] If it is passed, will this country get the URV the following month? [Persio Arida] The URV is a complex mechanism--the details are still being discussed within the administration. The basic concept was developed within a principle of flexibility. The stabilization process is like a game of chess. In that sense, no matter how well a good player can anticipate some of the moves, there is always the imponderable. That is why it is important that the mechanism be flexible enough to open up a range of possibilities. [O GLOBO] Let us anticipate just one move: will the exchange rate between the new currency and the dollar be a fixed rate? [Persio Arida] That question of the exchange rate has been framed as the biggest doubt about what will happen in the third phase. [O GLOBO] In the Cavallo phase of the Brazilian plan? [Persio Arida] You said that; I didn't. Any discussion of the third phase would be premature at present. I am not trying to evade the question, but there is something wrong with the Brazilian monetary system today. There needs to be an institutional change in this area. In Argentina, they established a fixed rule, an automatic rule. In Brazil, changes often require changes in laws. [O GLOBO] How will it be possible to privatize 34 companies this year, as planned, if only one has been privatized in the four months since you took office? [Persio Arida] The privatization process has a long gestation period. We will not be starting from zero in all 34 companies; many have already been appraised. Of course there are problems. It is easier to sell off a steel mill than an electric power company, which involves a public utility concession. [O GLOBO] Even if it is technically possible, is there the political will to privatize 34 companies in the final year of an administration? [Persio Arida] Privatization is an integral part of any stabilization process. It is a contradiction in terms to pursue a stabilization program without making progress in privatization. The state still has a regulatory and indicative role. The electric utility sector in the United States is completely private, but it is also completely regulated. Having state ownership is extremely costly. Look at the question from the |
FBIS3-32158_1 | Economy Minister Interviewed; Criticizes Opposition | opposition congressmen over their "double discourse." He said that the promoters of the interpellation had "political intentions," particularly Senator Hugo Batalla, and added that they had thus been trying to "recover a lost role as protagonists." De Posadas held the Broad Front, the New Sector coalition, Crusade 94, and the Batalleist Forum responsible for increasing the expenses approved by Congress during the debates for the approval of the last national budget. The minister emphasized the "contradictory position" adopted by these parties and said that, while proposing a constitutional reform to allow a more smooth administration, they "prevent the administration from governing the country, and paralyze the Executive Branch." After pointing out that despite the unfavorable international situation the national employment and salary indexes are acceptable, the minister criticized the opposition's "refusal to accept the government achievements, and their drastic attitude in calling for an interpellation." The minister said this attitude is motivated by political reasons. Regarding the industrial area's situation, the minister admitted that several industries are facing hard times, and said that these difficulties are "normal in a process of transformation." He denied the need to protect the industries, and pointed out that Uruguay has the largest list of exceptions in the Mercosur [Common Market of the South] customs fees reduction process, as well as several mechanisms -- such as the minimum export prices, reference prices, and a board to evaluate imported products -- to protect its industry. He said there are some 50 such measures. "No administration can guarantee economic welfare; this does not exist. It is senseless and entirely absurd, in addition to harmful, to ask the government to say which economic sector will survive and which will not," he said. He deemed the Chamber of Industries document analyzing the situation of the industrial sector "slightly inconsistent." He said the Chamber "criticizes the idea of reducing customs fees, and says that this has not been reflected in the economy or forced prices down, because the middlemen keep the difference. If this were true, however, the industries would still have no reason for concern, because any other effective protection is similar to what we had previously." He also refuted the assertion that the government is not stimulating the productive sector. As an example, he said that the tax exemption granted to the companies deemed of national interest represents a $50 million to $60 million drop in government revenue. |
FBIS3-32169_11 | President Delivers State of Nation Speech | in all areas. These significant transformations could have affected its political life in the recent elections. Dr. Rafael Caldera enjoyed the support of a group outside the traditional majority parties, and at Congress there is now a balance of four and not only two coordinated groups. The democratic model mentioned in the Constitution and the pact that strengthened it have become limited, while civilian awareness and the people's participation in the continuous exercise of democracy have matured. The people no longer comprise a more or less passive body that is only evident at election time. Rather, the population now is the direct promoter of public activity, as well as a not very reverential critic. This is why we cannot postpone decentralization, the development of the electoral system, promotion of greater democratization of parties and unions, drastic reduction in government size, and fostering complete honesty in administrative and judicial procedures. This profound change coincides, and not by chance, with a weakening of the protectionist, profit-oriented [rentista], and inward-growing model based on petroleum and of a spendthrift state that ended up pouring on that complex process of transformations the fuel of inflation, deterioration of services, and insecurity. Though these may be growing pains, which when handled in an enlightened fashion may lead us to higher stages of development and higher levels of life, it has not been easy to make people understand the need to establish an austere system -- not a patronage system -- based instead on productive work. The excessive custodianship of the state and the unproductivity hidden by massive official aid have been ruinous practices that have structurally weakened the treasury and tend to give the deficit a chronic nature. The worrisome events of February 1989, as well as those that took place in February and November 1992, are manifestations that, although unusual, brought to light before the December elections the major changes many of us had foreseen -- seen through the naked eye, without pessimistic considerations. Those threats that seemed a thing of the past in our political life may prove beneficial to democracy, with all the violence in which they took place. If we succeed in understanding them, they add pressing reasons for the need for a national consensus to change. The process of decentralization. That process of in-depth political change that has been taking place in the country has been fundamentally manifested in the direct election |
FBIS3-32169_24 | President Delivers State of Nation Speech | we should have learned to maintain them instead. This is a cultural reality of the utmost importance. Social segments behave that way because they do not maintain what they have in their own personal lives but seek to replace them with new and costlier products. Anyone who throws away a personal possession just because it has some minor damage cannot have a clear awareness of how to maintain public goods. People demand that the state eliminate the fiscal deficit, but often those who propose this desirable goal are the same ones who do not hesitate, even under the difficult situation we are experiencing, to pressure the state to increase its spending to resolve a problem. Those who on the one hand criticize increases in spending yet reject the government's actions to obtain more resources are the same people who on the other hand repeatedly demand the enforcement of actions that generate further spending. [applause] At the same time, we are facing just demands for pay increases, better social security, and programs to protect the most vulnerable segments of society. These demands lay permanent siege to the public resources, and the state can no longer face it. Administrative problems. Compounding all these conditions is another dramatic one: Public administration is practically useless. It was an adequate structure for managing a country of 10 million people with a budget that barely exceeded 10 billion bolivares almost 20 years ago. That same apparatus tried to manage a nation of 20 million people with a budget of over 1.2 trillion bolivares. That change of scale has turned public administration into a monster barely able to meet its obligations. The presidency of the Republic, regarded by the collective imagination as the center of power and favors, is a precarious management office upon which an unbending social pressure is exerted. We have a presidency that uses 19th century methods, but we need one that meets the needs of the 21st century. The president no longer has the power he once held. Society has become more complex. There has been progress in decentralization. New factors of social power have emerged. Citizens have their own means of administering themselves. Economic activity is taking a private course. The traditional government dues are disappearing. The people, however, view the presidency and the president as the deciding factor in all the country's benefits and ills. If this view of the president's |
FBIS3-32171_1 | Government's Insolvency Blamed on Foreign, Social Debts | sustained manner, the "middle class," which does not receive any food stamps or other state subsidies, is becoming ever smaller. The middle class only has a salary, from which growing amounts are being deducted for taxes, social security, and the housing fund without receiving any benefits in exchange. The Venezuelan "middle class" is one that does not illegally hook its homes into the electric power grid but, rather, pays its entire bill, including monthly "adjustments," and accordingly, the bills for other services -- if they work -- such as water, gas, telephone, and garbage collection, which also have extra charges. The middle class comprises those Venezuelans who can no longer afford a car, not only because a car is now as costly as a luxury home used to be, but also because they cannot pay for insurance to protect themselves from a very high theft risk. It includes those who had to stop dreaming about owning a decent home of their own because they had to give up their hopes for credit because of rising interest rates. The middle class also includes those who this year will have to forget about providing a better future for their children because they have no access to private schools or private medical attention, needless to say a well-balanced diet. The middle class also comprises those who today, in addition to witnessing a decline in their purchasing power, must face losing their savings if they had an account with Banco Latino or are afraid of losing them if the crisis spreads to other institutions. The middle class comprises professionals, technicians, and office clerks who, regardless of having a professional background, see their hopes disintegrating. Venezuelan society was always an open society where, with work and effort, the poor had the hope of becoming a member of the middle class. Leaving the shack was an achievable goal. Currently, the poor feel as though they will never leave the shack, while the middle class feels increasingly pushed toward the shack. The middle class builds the country. In Venezuela, these builders are being destroyed. It is important that the national leadership and, especially the new government, understand that that social debt is much greater, and that it cannot be paid with petty grants or food stamps. The solution to this problem lies in an open and valiant fight against inflation, which is impossible without a deficit reduction. |
FBIS3-32183_2 | Defense Minister Reacts to U.S. Human Rights Report | in Colotenango, which fortunately is already being handled by the court. There have been other cases, like the regrettable case of Jorge Carpio Nicole. Although those responsible have not been fully identified, we strongly condemn these actions, which should not occur in Guatemala. There have also been cases of military policemen involved in bank holdups and national policemen who have made mistakes. There really have been very few violations of human rights in the past year. What has increased is the number of cases reported. I believe 13,000 cases were reported, but there is no evidence in these. We are aware of the situation. We deeply regret the case of Jorge Carpio Nicole; we want to find out who was responsible, so the weight of the law will fall on the culprits. We suspect this was done the [word indistinct] because they have killed many people. There are still many doubts, but we believe the case will be resolved. The case of the PAC in Colotenango has already been settled. Now that the human rights meeting in Geneva is coming up, some groups are trying to revive cases that occurred in 1989-92. But the truth is that there has been significant progress in Guatemala with regard to respect for human and individual and political rights. Now there is more awareness of the people's social and economic rights, but this will take time, and violations will cease as Guatemalans' standard of living improves. It will not be easy. The police, the Army, the government, the PAC are the ones usually accused because in the opinion of many statesmen and according to, let's say, ideas held in common all over the world, only the state can violate human rights because it is the guarantor, it is responsible for guaranteeing respect for human rights. But at the last two meetings in Geneva the URNG [Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity] was also condemned because blowing up electricity towers is indeed a human rights violation, blowing up bridges is indeed a human rights violation. That is sheer ingratitude; this is a poor country with many infrastructural needs, and they carry out those attacks to the detriment of the right to free movement and against life, by preventing the supply of electrical energy. I know of the problems and the torment the hospitals ensure with those sudden blackouts, during which some people have even died. [end recording] |
FBIS3-32199_0 | Cuban Vice President Comments on Economic Opening | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN ["Excerpts" of interview with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage by Maria de Fatima Rodrigues; answers were sent in writing from Havana; date not given] [Text] [Rodrigues] What are the difficulties facing Cuba as a result of the suspension of Soviet aid and the U.S. economic embargo? [Lage] The adverse situation we have been facing ever since the collapse of the socialist bloc and the Soviet Union's disintegration is not a result of the suspension of Soviet assistance in itself, but the result of the loss of markets, the lack of fair prices, and the lack of mutually favorable economic and trade exchange conditions. Today we must face major disadvantages in our relations with the world. The hardening of the U.S. blockade and the pressures of all types applied by the United States against companies and governments make our access to credits difficult and undermine our efforts in the areas of trade and capital investment. [Rodrigues] What is the country doing to survive? [Lage] We are seeking new markets, new sources of capital, new technologies, and new paths for development conceived in the context of a community of nations that will disappear as a community, and in some cases nations that will disappear as nations. Meanwhile, we took some measures anticipating a virtual dismantling of the USSR even before it collapsed, such as increasing our exports and the replacement, as much as possible, of imported products by national products. We also gave incentives to savings in all fields and we urged a more rational use of available resources, particularly in the area of energy. [Rodrigues] What are the embargo's most visible results? [Lage] This will give you an idea of the sanctions' impact. In 1989 our imports totalled $8.2 billion. Three years later they were only worth $2.2 million [figures as published] and today they continue shrinking. We had to reduce our imports 70 percent in only four years. And ours is an economy that depends on foreign trade to develop. We had to reduce the importation of vital products such as oil. [Rodrigues] Cuba has not implemented such a deep program of changes in its economic structures as is being planned today since the transformation that accompanied the 1959 revolution. Is there a model that is being used as a basis? [Lage] It is being mistakenly said abroad that Cuba must present a program of economic |
FBIS3-32205_1 | Raul Castro Tours Las Tunas, Praises Agricultural Efforts | against marabu with the double goal of preserving the pastures and collecting kitchen firewood for workers' dining halls and homes. The report on defense is very encouraging. Colombia was the first municipality of the Eastern Army area to achieve Ready for Defense in the Second Phase status and its 17 defense zones are attaining higher levels of readiness. In Jobabo, we meet with Norge Rodriguez, first secretary of the PCC. We proceed directly to the pride of the locals: the Loma Alta state farm. This farm has 200 workers mobilized for two years from the municipality -- population 50,000 -- and the provincial capital. The 60 narrow-furrow caballerias of plantain yielded 253,000 quintals in 1993. This year they expect to surpass the 300,000 mark. The production of this, another state farm, and eight farming cooperatives is enough to distribute 40 pounds of vegetables per capita a month to every person in the municipality. The goal is to attain 1 million tubers, vegetables, and grains in 1995 to meet the people's needs and help supply the provincial capital. Rodriguez, proud of the accomplishments of the municipality, shows us the local wine factory which produced 189,000 bottles in 1993 and plans to produce 300,000 in 1994. He spoke with enthusiasm of the local food production and its highly diverse service facilities. On the outskirts of Las Tunas City is something new: modest minidairy farms -- perfect to supply milk for children and the elderly of nearby communities. There are 45 of these farms on the periphery of the city. Horse-drawn carts distribute the milk early in the morning. Housewives boil the milk as was customary before the widespread implementation of centralized pasteurization. Raul congratulated Misael Enamorado, first secretary of Las Tunas Municipality, for this accomplishment, trusting that shortly the other five communities will have their own minidairy farms. Windmills are becoming a common feature in the profile of Las Tunas City. The goal is to supply water, without using electricity, to the organic gardens of various sizes appearing in empty lots in the city. Because of the lack of resources to build every windmill needed, locals have made use of old-fashioned wells to draw water and irrigate the gardens by hand. These lots provide fresh vegetables and direct sales to the neighbors at standard prices. The vendor estimates the weight, since they lack scales. This is a practical antibureaucratic measure by the |
FBIS3-32217_0 | Exporters To Retain 20 Percent of Coffee Exports | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Article by Tania Malheiros] [Text] Rio de Janeiro -- National Coffee Council, CNC, President Manoel Bertone on 2 February said the government decision to transfer the national coffee retention program to the private sector has advantages and disadvantages. "The main disadvantage is that Brazilian producers will lose competitiveness regarding their international competitors because our export costs will increase," Bertone said. However, he estimates that this system gives the retention program greater credibility and is not as strong an interference as a confiscation system would be. According to a decision by the Industry, Commerce, and Tourism Ministry, as of 1 March the government will transfer to exporters the job of retaining 20 percent of the volume of coffee exports. In Bertone's opinion, the government's decision is the closest to a market solution. The CNC president said Brazil knows that its competitors also are facing an identical situation. "This has led our competitors to seek new methods to raise coffee prices, as in the case of the minimum registry system adopted in Colombia," he said. |
FBIS3-32219_8 | * BNDES Head on Stabilization Plan, Privatization | the approval of the fiscal adjustment a race against time? [Persio Arida] No question. The sooner it passes, the better. [O GLOBO] If it is passed, will this country get the URV the following month? [Persio Arida] The URV is a complex mechanism--the details are still being discussed within the administration. The basic concept was developed within a principle of flexibility. The stabilization process is like a game of chess. In that sense, no matter how well a good player can anticipate some of the moves, there is always the imponderable. That is why it is important that the mechanism be flexible enough to open up a range of possibilities. [O GLOBO] Let us anticipate just one move: will the exchange rate between the new currency and the dollar be a fixed rate? [Persio Arida] That question of the exchange rate has been framed as the biggest doubt about what will happen in the third phase. [O GLOBO] In the Cavallo phase of the Brazilian plan? [Persio Arida] You said that; I didn't. Any discussion of the third phase would be premature at present. I am not trying to evade the question, but there is something wrong with the Brazilian monetary system today. There needs to be an institutional change in this area. In Argentina, they established a fixed rule, an automatic rule. In Brazil, changes often require changes in laws. [O GLOBO] How will it be possible to privatize 34 companies this year, as planned, if only one has been privatized in the four months since you took office? [Persio Arida] The privatization process has a long gestation period. We will not be starting from zero in all 34 companies; many have already been appraised. Of course there are problems. It is easier to sell off a steel mill than an electric power company, which involves a public utility concession. [O GLOBO] Even if it is technically possible, is there the political will to privatize 34 companies in the final year of an administration? [Persio Arida] Privatization is an integral part of any stabilization process. It is a contradiction in terms to pursue a stabilization program without making progress in privatization. The state still has a regulatory and indicative role. The electric utility sector in the United States is completely private, but it is also completely regulated. Having state ownership is extremely costly. Look at the question from the |
FBIS3-32236_0 | Inquries Show `No Evidence' of Human Rights Abuses | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [From the "Good Morning From Mexico" newscast] [Excerpt] Since the start of the Chiapas conflict, complaints have been filed accusing the Army of human rights violations. Although there is no evidence of it, the complaints are being investigated and have resulted in a discussion of the Army's function and responsibility. [Begin recording] [Deputy Commander Marcos, identified by caption] Until now, war was just for them and peace for you. Now, war will be for the two of us. Before, war killed them and not you. Now, it could kill anyone from either side. [video shows Deputy Commander Marcos from his waist up wearing a ski mask then cuts to recorded interview with 31st Zone Commander Miguel Anel Godinez, identified by caption] [Godinez] The only thing the Army has done is defend itself from attack. We were attacked. We did not attack anybody. We did not leave our garrison to seek out these people. They came to our garrisons to attack us. Who is the bigger criminal, the soldier who shot a man carrying a wooden rifle, when he saw him at a distance of 100 meters at night and did not realize it was a wooden rifle, or the person who brought that individual with the wooden rifle? [end recording] Today, alleged human rights violations by the Army in Chiapas State have become a matter to be judged by segments of society. Moreover, the issue has been raised in U. S. Congressional committee meetings. As yet, there is no evidence these rights were violated. The inquiries begun by the National Human Rights Committee and the Attorney General's Office have not yielded results yet, but some insist on discrediting the country, without even asking what is the Army's constitutional duty. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-32239_1 | Falkland Islanders Question Purchase of U.S. Skyhawks | Argentina [with the United States] on the purchase of [Skyhawk aircraft fitted with] state-of-the-art radar. A Kelper told LA PRENSA that "we do not understand the rationale behind Argentina's decision to buy the Skyhawk planes -- unless it is seeking to attack the islands." Another islander, who is very close to the islands' government, added that "we do not trust Argentina, and even though it is terrible for us, we are not afraid because here we have the Royal Air Force to defend us." The Malvinas Islands' representative in London, Suky Cameron, reported that the islands' government -- through the United Kingdom -- had lodged a strong protest before the Clinton administration about the sale of the U.S. Skyhawk aircraft. Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister Fernando Petrella told LA PRENSA that "Cameron's remarks have caused a great disappointment in the Argentine Foreign Ministry, because it seems that she has not taken note of the fact that Argentina will continue to press its claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas by diplomatic and peaceful means, as it has every right to do." "It Reached Clinton's Ears" For his part, Defense Minister Oscar Camilion has disclosed that the dispute arising from Great Britain's opposition to that business transaction "even came to President Bill Clinton's" knowledge. As the defense minister pointed out: "It is my considered opinion that the stance taken by the British is totally groundless and anachronistic. If this were not so, we would not have this favorable outcome now." Camilion further stated that it was not possible that while Argentina was aligned with the UN Security Council, two of its leading members -- the United Kingdom and the United States -- "should be enforcing an arms embargo against Argentina." He also said that "this is why this means that the arms embargo on Argentina has been raised by all the countries in the world except for Britain, until it decides to the contrary." He likewise denied that Argentina was interested in buying F-16 fighter planes, noting that "our budget possibilities would never allow it; it would be impossible to find someone willing to sell them, and it would logically cause a regional imbalance." In its 1 February edition, the FINANCIAL TIMES reports that the sale of the U.S. planes to Argentina represents "a severe blow" for the UK Government led by Prime Minister [John] Major and its relations with the United States. |
FBIS3-32242_0 | Roundup of Economic Reports Through 3 Feb | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] The following is a compilation of reports on economic activities in Argentina monitored through 3 February. A study by the Foundation for Latin America Economic Research shows that Argentina's industrial production has increased more than 40 percent since Argentine currency was pegged to the U.S. dollar at one-to-one parity in March 1991. Industrial production surged in 1991 and 1992 and leveled off in 1993, when it expanded only 3.5 percent. Industry's good performance is due mainly to the growth in manufacturing, which accounts for 27 percent of the GDP, especially car manufacturing, which grew 460 percent in that period. (Buenos Aires NOTICIAS ARGENTINAS in Spanish 1106 GMT 25 Jan 94) Argentine and Brazilian officials on 27 January signed an agreement establishing a maximum of 340,000 metric tons of Argentine wheat exports to Brazil. The agreement will take effect in April and expires 31 December, the government reported. The Agriculture Secretariat said Argentina still can export 215,000 metric tons of wheat to Brazil left over from the 1993 agreement. This will bring total 1994 exports to 550,000 metric tons. (Buenos Aires BUENOS AIRES HERALD in English 28 Jan 94 p 6) Economic Programming Secretary Juan Llach on 31 January reported that the consumer price index increased 0.3 percent and the GDP 7.6 percent in January. He noted that investment rose 22.5 percent, and 85 percent in the past three years. A Programming Secretariat report shows that gold and foreign currencies reserves went from $4.855 billion in 1990 to $15.1 billion in December 1993, an increase of 211 percent. Imports of capital goods and spares totalled $15.05 billion in the past three years. It notes that 673,000 new jobs were created from October 1990 to October 1993. (Buenos Aires NOTICIAS ARGENTINAS in Spanish 2307 GMT 31 Jan 94) The consumer price index increased 0.3 percent in January, while wholesale prices fell 0.1 percent, Economic Planning Secretary Juan Llach said on 31 January. This brings inflation in the last 12 months to 6.8 percent for consumer prices, while the wholesale index has fallen 0.8 percent. (NA) (Buenos Aires BUENOS AIRES HERALD in English 1 Feb 94 p 3) With an 11,000 metric ton increase in the Hilton quota, Argentina will be able to export 32,000 metric tons of duty-free beef to the EEC this year. This translates into an additional $100 million in foreign sales, Agriculture Production Under Secretary |
FBIS3-32254_0 | Violence Reported | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [From the "Telepress" newscast] [Text] The strike announced by the National Transportation Coordinating Board [CNT] is starting to lead to violent incidents promoted by angry travelers, particularly those living in and around the capital where people have had to resort to riding in pickups, cargo trucks, and other types of vehicles that are not considered safe for passengers. At the entrance to Villanueva, groups of people stoned several buses as a way of protesting against the strike called by the owners of intercity buses, which has left hundreds of passengers on the streets. These people were unable to reach their workplaces because of the lack of mass transit buses. At the time of the attack on the buses, which were severely damaged, several people were injured, including children who were assisted by municipal and volunteer firemen who quickly arrived at the scene. Policemen at the scene arrested three men caught stoning the buses. The detainees were taken to the National Police station in Villanueva and turned over to the courts. Similar incidents of violence were reported in Boca del Monte, Villa Canales, San Miguel Petapa, and other municipalities that were adversely affected by the transportation strike. We can also report that a bomb threat took place at La Quinta Shopping Center this morning in Zone 7 of the capital. The offices of the CNT and other associations are located in this shopping center, and it is believed the false bomb threat was aimed at the bus owners who decided to go on strike starting on 1 February. Firemen and National Police patrols arrived at the scene where they proceeded to search the place very thoroughly without finding anything. Normal activities at the shopping center were suspended while the authorities conducted the search. As is already known, the CNT, among other requests, is demanding that the government enact an intercity bus service law, approve a law to regulate the operation of shipping companies that operate in the country, approve an increase in cement transportation fares, authorize higher fuel transportation rates, and keep border customs offices open at night. CNT President Miguel Angel Luna said the strike currently has the support of 80 percent of the CNT's members. He added that some attacks against several members of the transportation sector have already occurred, especially in Villanueva. |
FBIS3-32289_12 | President Fujimori Interviewed | during 1993, and it had practically disappeared by the end of last year. There are only two leaders at large, but I am quite sure that sooner or later I am going to capture them. Meanwhile, with regard to the Shining Path, they have surrendered for all practical purposes, and this has brought about massive desertion. I hope the Shining Path will have been routed by 1995. [Amoretti] What role do you assign to the Peruvian Armed Forces in that war? [Fujimori] Well, the Peruvian Army is a victorious force. When I ascended to the presidency, I found that the Army's morale had been totally undermined, it lacked motivation, it was disoriented, on the defensive, and nearly defeated. The military had retreated to its barracks. Now things are different -- this is a new Army. People have changed their opinion about the Army. [Amoretti] Owing to the fight against guerrillas? [Fujimori] Not only on account of that, but also because the Army is driving tractors; it is collaborating with the population, opening roads and highways, repairing homes and schools razed by terrorists; it is engaged in community service. The Peruvian Army not only serves to combat violence, it also has been raised for times of peace. [Amoretti] Terrorism has left in its wake thousands of orphans who lack family values and the basic necessities of life. This is especially true in some regions of the country. What do you feel every time a citizen asks you to meet one of these children during your frequent trips to the interior? [Fujimori] It makes me feel indignant and sets me pondering about those children's human rights. Who ever spares a thought for children's human rights? [Amoretti] Do you still believe in the death penalty for terrorists? [Fujimori] Yes, I do. I think capital punishment ought to be meted out to those who murder others without a motive. [Amoretti] Isn't that, in a way, a return to the principle of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth"? [Fujimori] No, I do not think so. I am in favor of the death penalty for top leaders. Were a new Abimael Guzman to emerge as leader he would have to be eliminated at once. [Amoretti] Since you dissolved Congress, several international organizations have criticized you for making that decision. Much of the criticism has come from the United States, where economic |
FBIS3-32289_14 | President Fujimori Interviewed | aid to Peru has been time and again blocked because it is considered there that there is no unrestricted respect for human rights in your country. Would you admit to charges that excesses have been committed in the war against terrorism? [Fujimori] Yes, I admit to that. There have been isolated cases of excesses. Human rights are always violated in a war against terrorism. The war has been waged here with a great deal of intelligence and, naturally, with force. There have been isolated cases because human rights violations had preceded this war. The Army used to act in a certain way, and we can see that it continued to mechanically follow the same behavior in some isolated cases. [Amoretti] Well, are human rights being respected now? [Fujimori] There is unrestricted respect for human rights. [Amoretti] Then how would you justify a statement made by Alexander Watson -- a U.S. Government representative who came to Peru to inspect the progress made in human rights -- to the effect that although some progress has been made, much remains to be improved? [Fujimori] Look, Peru has been the target of disproportionate criticism. It has not been taken into account that terrorism has claimed the lives of 25,000 people in Peru. After hearing this figure, one may wonder: What would have happened in the United States had anyone killed 250,000 people? Would the U.S. Government have allowed the death of 250,000 people? [figures as published] Certainly not. It would have certainly adopted special measures. [Amoretti] Do you believe the United States is being unfair to Peru on the subject of human rights? [Fujimori] Human rights have been violated everywhere in the world in the fight against terrorism. These violations have not been limited to isolated cases, but rather have been systematic. Human rights also have been violated through the bombing of entire cities. [Amoretti] Your latest remark seems to be alluding directly to the U.S. policy of military intervention in the world. [Fujimori] What about the bombing of the Russian Parliament? How could a parliament building have been bombed? What would they have said had this happened in Peru? What about U.S. intervention in Vietnam, Iraq, and in many other places, shouldn't these actions be regarded as human rights violations? Look how damaging those wars were. [Amoretti] You are saying that the United States has a double standard for judging, for instance, what |
FBIS3-32296_0 | 160 Arrested in Demonstrations | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [From "The Voz Andes" newscast] [Text] The National Police have confirmed that 160 people, mainly students, have been arrested since the protests against the government began. A bulletin issued by the police states that the detainees are being held at the Quito Regiment and at OID [expansion unknown] facilities. The report adds that 36 people were arrested in Quito during yesterday's nationwide strike. |
FBIS3-32307_0 | Foreign Aid Helps Offset Effects of U.S. Embargo in Havana | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] The Secretariat of Overseas Cooperation (Secretaria de Colaboracion del Exterior) of the Provincial Assembly of the People's Government in Havana reported that last year the Cuban capital received more than $4 million from foreign nations and international organizations. The report adds that in this context, the Secretariat maintained relations with more than 300 cities from different countries of the world. Outstanding among these was Spain, where 200 towns contributed support. Buses, street cleaning equipment, ambulances, and school and automotive equipment were part of the donations made in 1993 in an effort to alleviate the shortages prompted by the U.S. blockade and the demise of the international socialist community. |
FBIS3-32343_0 | 10 Killed; 20 Seriously Wounded | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Mexico City, 5 Feb (AFP) -- The private radio station Radio Red has released a first account of the explosion on Saturday afternoon at a state-owned Mexican Petroleum (Pemex) plant in the southern State of Tabasco. The explosion killed at least 10 people, and 20 were seriously wounded. The causes of the explosion at the Ninive Plant of the oil company and a fire between the towns of Gregorio Mendez and Rancho Nuevo, Cunduacan Municipality, approximately 660 km southeast of this capital, are still unknown, the radio station reported, adding that one of the plant's internal pipelines is what exploded. So far 10 people are known dead, four of who were passing in front of the Pemex installations in a particular vehicle, inside which "they were carbonized." The other six dead were workers of the enterprise who formed part of a team of 26 workers who were working at the site at the time of the explosion. The remaining 20 are seriously wounded, the radio station reported. The area Red Cross has confirmed to AFP some of the wounded were taken to Pemex's hospital located near the oil plant, others to medical centers located in the city of Villahermoza, capital of Tabasco State. The gas pipeline explosion occurred in a 200-meter stretch and left a crater seven meters deep, the radio station reported, adding that "more than 100 trees were blown down" by the concussion of the blast. Firemen controlled the resulting fire, although it prompted the immediate evacuation, by the Red Cross, of at least 800 people who inhabit the town of Gregorio Mendez. Pemex personnel were trying in the afternoon to prevent contact between gas and crude oil circulating in the different petroleum pipelines in the area by injecting water into the plants near the Ninive Plant, where there are several ejidos (communal lands). Radio Red stated Pemex concentrates most of its drilling and production activities in the Cunduacan area, where there is a vast oil-drilling infrastructure. |
FBIS3-32351_0 | Cuban Official Discusses U.S. Embargo, Succession | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Interview with Carlos Lage, vice president of the Cuban Council of State, by unidentified O ESTADO correspondent, "this week" in Riberao Preto] [Text] [O ESTADO] The United States is about to lift the 20-year-old embargo on Vietnam. Does Cuba see any indication that the embargo against it may be lifted in the short or medium term? [Lage] We do not see that possibility nor any indication that the United States will lift the blockade against Cuba in the short term. That is an ignorant and criminal policy that cannot be maintained indefinitely while there increasingly are forces that express their rejection of the blockade. [O ESTADO] The names of Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina and Raul Castro are mentioned as the strongest candidates to replace Fidel. You allegedly also are on the list. [Lage] No. Raul Castro is on the list. He is vice president of the Council of State and second secretary of the party, and the one who would replace Fidel. Why think of his successor if the two are alive? [O ESTADO] The Cuban regime seems to be implementing a transition rhythm different from that preferred by the United States and Cuban dissidents. Could you explain how this transition works and where it will lead? [Lage] We are not engagin in a transition to capitalism. We are adapting our socialist economy to conditions abroad. [O ESTADO] How are subjects like a multiparty system being dealt with? [Lage] Our concept is of a single party. In Cuba, a party is not an electoral party that organizes itself to win or to participate in an election and then lacks power to organize or conduct society. From our point of view, a single party is more democratic. There are multiparty elections in many countries but barely 30 or 40 percent of the people participate in the elections so the winners have barely 30 or 40 percent of the votes. [O ESTADO] Is it true that Fidel admires former President Collor? [Lage] The truth is that Collor, while he was president, had a positive attitude toward Cuba and resisted U.S. pressures. We do not forget that. |
FBIS3-32361_0 | PLN's Figueres Promises To Support Production | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Report by Jose Luis Fuentes] [Text] In addition to explaining that in the next elections voters have to choose between two platforms, Jose Maria Figueres, presidential candidate for the National Liberation Party [PLN], during a rally held last night in a public square in Parrita de Puntarenas, has promised to support production, tourism, and housing. When talking to the crowd, which area residents said was much larger than the one that came to hear Oscar Arias Sanchez during the 1986 campaign, Figueres said: "The PLN platform is much different than the other party's." The PLN platform, a platform by which our standard of living has increased, puts us back on the course of progress and development, but theirs (Social Christian Unity Party) is the neoliberal platform, a platform by which the government has concentrated wealth and increased poverty," he said. According to the PLN candidate, the Social Christians are talking of social programs due to the campaign, but the first thing they did was to dismiss cooks from school lunchrooms, because saving a few colones is more important to them than feeding hundreds of thousands of children." He has told the area residents he would stimulate tourism, rectify the housing problem, and amend import rates to boost the productive sector, because "an economy car should not pay higher taxes than a luxury car." Others to speak at this rally were Mario Alvarez, Parrita candidate for deputy; Mario Charpentier, former public security minister; and Luis Paris, former campaign chief for Jose Miguel Corrales. Paris has referred to the unity within the PLN, saying differences were a thing of the past. "Today, our party is united to face the neoliberal politics that are threatening Costa Ricans, politics that have lowered our levels of health, education, and raised the cost of living." Figures has said the current government closed 68 health centers in the last year alone, which led to a strong decline in health in rural areas. For that reason, old diseases, such as dengue, measles, and malaria, have reappeared, and we have new ones, such as cholera, he has said. |
FBIS3-32383_0 | Havana Notes Lifting of U.S. Embargo Against Vietnam | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] U.S. President William Clinton announced on 3 February the lifting of the economic embargo against Vietnam imposed during the war in 1964. Clinton announced the decision to revoke the measures blocking economic ties with Vietnam a week after the U.S. Congress' approval of a resolution calling for the end of the sanctions. Clinton cited Vietnam's cooperation to solve the issue of the 2,000 U.S. soldiers listed as missing during the war. |
FBIS3-32385_0 | Argentine Embassy Denies VOA Report on Selling Arms to Bosnia | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Belgrade, 4 Feb (EFE and TELAM-SNI) -- The Argentine Embassy in Yugoslavia has denied that Argentina sent weapons to the Bosnian Muslims, as charged by the Serbian press, which, in turn, based its information on a VOA broadcast. "The Committee for the Control of Sensitive Exports and Weapons has never permitted the sale of weapons to the countries of the former Yugoslavia based on the fact that Argentina strictly respects the UN resolution that prohibits such activities," states the communique from the Argentine Embassy in Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). To avoid the spread of war in the Balkans, the United Nations prohibited, in September 1991, the sale of weapons to the parties at war. However, during the eight months of the war in Croatia and the 22 months of confrontations in Bosnia, the Croatian forces and the Bosnian Muslims have clandestinely obtained weapons to fight against the powerful Army of Yugoslavia, a country which is currently made up of the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, and which inherited the military arsenal from the government of Belgrade when the Republic of Yugoslavia was dismembered. The Argentine Embassy note refers to a commentary by U.S. military expert Paul Beaver transmitted by the U.S. radio station which included Argentina in a list of countries that supplied weapons to the Muslim forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, openly violating the embargo imposed by the United Nations to prevent the worsening of the Balkan conflict. |
FBIS3-32389_3 | Paper Analyzes Leading Parties' `Propaganda' | reported by the PUSC. The PLN launched a series called "We cannot vote for Miguel Angel," recalling alleged irregularities in the distribution of taxi license plates, the sale of high school diplomas, and the use of construction material. Nevertheless, the analysts believe these actions have no influence on voters and they claim those were "isolated events" of no importance that "will not directly affect the party or the candidate." In fact, when comparing the type of charges made by the PUSC and the PLN, Flury, Ramirez, and Rodriguez say those of the latter will have a lesser impact. The two parties are criticized because they planned propaganda messages in a general way, without taking into consideration the characteristics of the press or television. The TSE [Supreme Electoral Tribunal] deserves a special mention in all this. Ramirez believes it played an exaggerated role that was totally uncalled for. One specific example: its fruitless efforts to stop the parties from attacking each other. Analysts believe the TSE's frequent prohibitions have limited the debate and confrontation of ideas. Generally speaking, the three specialists believe the PLN strategy mainly intends to depict Miguel Angel as a threat by stereotyping him as a neoliberal. They think the concept is not necessarily understood by most of the population. Social Democrats will reportedly offer the voters a party with experience, achievements, and a security tradition that, according to them, is guaranteed by every PLN government. Likewise, they predict that, in the end, undecided voters will give more importance to issues such as a government team and party tradition rather than honesty. It is believed the green-white party's strategy is guided by the incentive-reply concept given the Social Christians' actions. In addition, the analysts emphasize the fact that, even though Carlos Espinach is in charge of the PLN campaign, he is unknown by voters, reticent, and totally out of contact with the media. Referring to the PUSC's strategy, experts observe a tendency to present its candidate with more vehemence and firmness than in the recent past. Furthermore, they say Social Christians will try to send voters the message that Figueres is a person who cannot be trusted to rule a country, particularly due to the moral and business charges he has faced. The ruling party's strategists also believe undecided voters will eventually choose the most honest candidate rather than the one who offers more benefits to the people. |
FBIS3-32403_3 | * Attitudes Toward Gaviria, Country's Problems Surveyed | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unemployment |15 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Violence |14 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Guerrillas/Public Order |10 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Corruption |9 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Drug Trafficking |7 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Poverty |4 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Economy |3 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Drug Addiction |3 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cost of Living |3 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Education |1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Foreign Debt |1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Waste Disposal |1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Other Problems |5 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is interesting to note that insecurity is currently considered the most serious problem by far, having displaced the guerrillas and violence combined, which had traditionally led in this ranking. The higher ranking of the corruption problem is also significant, now registering 9 percent, compared with only 1 percent the previous year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |In your view, which is more serious at present: the guerrillas or drug traff-| |icking? (figures are percentages) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Guerrillas |34 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Drug trafficking |20 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Both equally serious |43 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Don't know |3 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |In your view, which is most serious at present: the guerrillas, drug traffic-| |king, or corruption in the public sector? (figures are percentages) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Corruption |46 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Guerrillas |11 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Drug trafficking |9 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |All three equally |33 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Don't know |1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just as last year, the guerrillas are being regarded as a more serious problem than drug trafficking. However, when corruption is included among the options, it wins by a wide margin: something that never happened in the past. Guerrillas and Armed Forces What should the government do about the guerrillas? (figures are percentages) Combat them Hold dialogue Both Don't know/no militarily with them opinion Dec 1992 53 38 6 3 Dec 1993 39 51 6 4 When this question was asked at the end of 1992, the cruel guerrilla offensive that had begun with a massacre of policemen in Putumayo was just being unleashed. This could explain why, last December, that question again produced the traditional results, showing that Colombians favor dialogue with the guerrillas. Nevertheless, this 51 percent supporting dialogue falls far short of the 72 percent obtained by the National Consulting Center in a poll taken during December 1991 in the five major cities. Do you think that the Armed Forces' ability to defeat the guerrillas is better, equal to, or less than it was a year ago? (figures are percentages) Better Equal Less Don't know Dec 1992 41 30 23 6 Dec 1993 |
FBIS3-32403_6 | * Attitudes Toward Gaviria, Country's Problems Surveyed | those polled declared themselves "very happy," compared with 63 percent a year before. The November 1990 figure, which revealed a high rate of unhappiness, should be read carefully, because it relates to a poll taken in 20 large, medium, and small cities, and is not readily comparable to a poll taken in the four capitals. Nevertheless, it indicated a very high degree of dissatisfaction among Colombians with their lives. Would you say that your life, compared to that led by your parents, is better, the same, or worse? (figures are percentages) Better Same Worse Don't know Nov 1990** 49 10 39 2 Dec 1991* 72 12 15 1 Dec 1992 44 19 36 1 Dec 1993 53 19 26 2 * National Consulting Center poll in the five major cities ** National Consulting Center poll in 20 cities In this question, one can see the same positive state of mind in December 1993 as in previous years. The difference from 1992 (the year of Escobar's escape) is considerable. Do you believe that your children's lives will be better than, the same as, or worse than yours? (figures are percentages) Better Same Worse Don't know Nov 1990** 39 11 44 6 Dec 1991* 45 13 38 4 Dec 1992 31 10 53 6 Dec 1993 41 11 40 7 * National Consulting Center poll in the five major cities ** National Consulting Center poll in 20 cities Just as at the end of 1991, the optimism regarding the lives that the children will lead is slightly greater than the pessimism. Again, one notes a significant difference from the previous year, when the degree of pessimism among Colombians appeared high. Economic Situation and Openness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Compared with a year ago, do you feel that your economic situation is bett-| |er, the same, or worse? (figures are percentages) | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Better |Same |Worse | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Dec 1992 |33 |35 |32 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Dec 1993 |46 |36 |18 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The difference between the end of 1992 and that of 1993 is appreciable. Nearly half of those polled admit that their economic situation has improved. Only 18 percent claim that it has worsened. How good or bad do you think economic openness has been for the country? (figures are percentages) Very Rather Totally Rather Very Totally Don't good good good bad bad bad know Dec 16 39 56 15 20 35 10 1992 |
FBIS3-32406_0 | Editorial Views Lifting of U.S. Embargo on Vietnam | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [From the "Notes and Information" page: "The End of the Vietnam Era"] [Text] The U.S. Senate last week approved a resolution urging President Bill Clinton to normalize economic ties with Vietnam. The proposal was submitted by a Vietnam war veteran and prisoner of war, and supported by other senators who are also Vietnam war veterans. Because the resolution was a mere recommendation, it was believed that it would be merely another step in the process of normalizing U.S.-Vietnamese ties, which has been dragging since 1991. Extremely propitious conditions -- particularly the insignificant opposition of groups demanding the identification and location of those soldiers missing in action in Vietnam -- allowed President Bill Clinton a few days later to lift to commercial embargo in force for 19 years. In fact, the timetable established by the Bush administration to normalize U.S.-Vietnamese diplomatic ties is being fulfilled. One year ago, Vietnamese authorities helped to locate those missing in action and as a result of the Vietnamese troops withdrawal, Cambodia was able to hold elections. Thus the international and domestic prerequisites the U.S. Government announced as essential for normalizing its ties with Vietnam were met. The process was delayed because of the action of outspoken veteran groups, which have important electoral clout, that were dissatisfied with the almost insignificant progress to locate the almost 2,300 soldiers missing in action. One of the remaining myths of the war is that U.S. prisoners are still kept in concentration camps, which is like saying that the fictitious Rambo films are true. Once the precautions of election year were left behind, reason and business prevailed. Vietnam is a rapidly growing market of 70 million people offering good business opportunities that were previously denied to U.S. manufacturers. The Vietnamese market grows 8 percent per year and the socialist rigors applied to the economy have almost been nonexistent since the end of the 1980's. These considerations weighed heavily on President Bill Clinton's decision. It is true that Clinton can only lift the embargo now that the painful "Vietnam drama" -- the feeling of self-inflicted defeat that undermined U.S. pride for two decades -- is already part of the past. By allowing the normalization of business ties -- diplomatic ties will be restored shortly through which Vietnam will have a more favorable status which in turn will promote trade -- President Clinton ends a stage in history |
FBIS3-32416_1 | Views Current Migration Policy | newspaper TRABAJADORES published a lengthy article in today's edition by reporter Carmen R. Alfonso on migration policy, entitled: "Open or Closed Doors." Following are some of its most important aspects. Stating that migration laws are customary, and more than that, necessary in any contemporary state, she notes that these laws vary according to political, economic, social, military, and other interests, and that Cuba is no exception to these general conditions. Carmen Alfonso states in her analysis that our case cannot be ignored when analyzing the migration issue and its complexity within the Cuban-U.S. conflict, taking into account that a large number of Cubans have traditionally migrated to the United States because of its geographic proximity and economic development. In addition to those who travel to other nations for work or for other official reasons, there are also those who travel for personal reasons. Among them, we can mention three categories: those who wish to leave and return; those who definitely want to reside in another country; and those who request residence authorization abroad. At present, temporary leave is authorized for those over 20 years of age, although men up to the age of 26 or 27 years old who wish to reside abroad must first fulfill their military obligation. Minors under 18 must be authorized by one of their parents. It is appropriate to mention that last year, Cuba authorized temporary leave for 100,000 people, but only 40,000 managed to leave the country because the others had their requests denied, usually by the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. There are also conditions for Cubans who already left the country. Those who left before 1959 must use the consulate of the country in which they are residing, and those who left after 1959 also have the chance to return to their native country through various programs devised for that purpose. However, U.S. Immigration policy toward Cuba has an essentially political nature, which justifies the exceptionally privileged treatment of Cuban immigrants, especially those who violate the laws that are in effect in our country. Nevertheless, an agreement signed in 1984 provides for the annual granting of up to 20,000 visas for those who wish to live in the United States. But the failure of the U.S. to fulfill this agreement has been notorious. Paradoxically, the TRABAJADORES article notes, risky, illegal departure is facilitated without exception or restriction of the number of immigrants. |
FBIS3-32419_2 | Bank of Cuba Official Optimistic About Talks With Creditors | this time we are working primarily with private banks, things are not done that way, although private banks are sometimes subjected to political pressure. However, I do not believe this pressure comes from either the IMF or the World Bank but from certain governments, the governments of third countries. Bank members may eventually hold important positions in the United States, and they fear jeopardizing those positions by granting loans to Cuba. There are, unquestionably, countries with which we have debts, but in spite of this they have still granted loans to Cuba and have kept open certain lines of credit to the island. They are aware of our position, but they have political resolve. There are countries in Europe and on other continents that have done this and they are worthy of praise. In my opinion, their conduct constitutes a declaration of independence as far as their relations with Cuba are concerned. In general, the issue of financial markets is a complicated one for Cuba at this time because of the many problems the country is facing, but we have had some success. We are trying our best to repay the new loans we have received. We are paying to the extent that we can, and we are being very careful not to request loans that we know we cannot repay. This, of course, restricts us because, as you know, our exports have decreased considerably. I have remained optimistic throughout 26 years at the bank, and I believe that as of 1994, or rather 1995, we are going to be quite successful in some areas. We will improve our overall image on the market, which is very important. Loan payments, first of all, are very important, and our possibilities and prospects are very important as they pertain to the analyses conducted by banking and financial institutions when they are considering loans for countries. [end recording] To conclude, I discussed with Amado-Blanco the loan of $10 million granted by a Chilean bank to finance the exportation of food products from that South American country to the island. Amado- Blanco said an institution takes such a step only when it has confidence in a country, adding that a loan will not only allow Cuba to import food, which is quite positive, but to intensify its relations with a country like Chile, with which it maintained excellent relations until the 1973 military coup. |
FBIS3-32421_0 | Roundup of Economic Activity Reported 1 Feb to 4 Feb | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] The following is a compilation of fileworthy reports on economic developments in Cuba carried on Havana radio and television in Spanish between 1 and 4 February. Radio Reloj at 2030 GMT on 1 February reported that an agreement of cooperation was signed between the Cuban Ecumenical Council and the Sugar Industry Ministry to build a biogas plant in Matanzas to reprocess residues of other industries into cooking gas. The agreement establishes that German churches will finance the project while the Cuban Government will be responsible for the construction and technological assembly of the plant, which will also eliminate an important source of environmental pollution. Radio Reloj at 2030 GMT on 1 February adds that the Agriculture Ministry phytosanitary board saved $800,000 last year by conducting a biological control program in Matanzas. The program succeeded in controlling the spread of plagues and diseases, thereby saving money spent in the past to purchase pesticides. Tele Rebelde and Cuba Vision Networks at 2320 GMT on 1 February report that 11,000 people are self-employed in Santiago de Cuba Province with positive results for the economy of that province. According to estimates by the state labor committee, approximately 2 million pesos were collected during the last quarter of last year through registration fees. Drivers, craftsmen, tailors, and handicraft vendors are the services most in demand. Special studies are being carried out in Santiago de Cuba better to control and organize the self-employment jobs. Radio Rebelde at 1000 GMT on 2 February reports that Matanzas Province's farmers planted 330 caballerias of tubers, vegetables, and grains in January, the highest figure for a similar period in the cold-season planting campaign in the past 10 years. At the end of January, Matanzas farmers had planted a little over 810 caballerias of miscellaneous food crops in the cold-season planting, which includes 162 caballerias of potatoes that are looking good. Radio Progreso at 1200 GMT on 2 February reports that the Ministry of the Sugar Industry [Minaz] has announced that, nationwide, sugar sector workers planted a total 863 caballerias of cane in January, exceeding the month's plan by 48 percent. Minaz reports that all provinces except Villa Clara, Las Tunas, and Granma met their schedule for the month. This is a good beginning for the spring planting, which takes place "from January to 30 June," by which time 18,090 caballerias of cane are to have been |
FBIS3-32421_2 | Roundup of Economic Activity Reported 1 Feb to 4 Feb | planted. Radio Reloj in Spanish at 2030 GMT on 2 February reports that electricity supply to the eastern region has been increased by approximately 100 megawatts with the establishment of modern Russian-made equipment at the Vicente Substation in Ciego de Avila. Several towns between Ciego de Avila and Guantanamo will receive the benefits of this equipment. Radio Progreso at 1200 GMT on 3 February reports that the Claudio Arguelles Bicycle Factory in Havana has held a Parliament in the Workplace. During the discussions, one participant noted that no one wants Cuban bicycles "because they are very bad. They have no quality whatsoever, none whatsover." Another noted that the cost of producing a bicyle in 1993 was 140.95 pesos, and that the bicycle sold for 95 pesos; therefore, these bicycles were subsidized to the tune of "some 2 million pesos." A third participant pointed out that the poor quality was not the fault of the assembly plant but lay, instead, in the poor work done by the workshops that produce the parts assembled at the Claudio Arguelles plant. Havana Tele Rebelde and Cuba Vision at 0100 GMT on 4 February report the following: Three new 15-megawatt turbogenerators were installed at the Panama agricultural complex in Vertientes Municipality in Camaguey. In 1993, the Department of Transit in Havana City reported 1,825 traffic accidents, in which 348 people died and 1,605 were injured. Comparison to 1992 figures shows a 40-percent drop in the number of accidents and 16 percent in injuries. In 1992, one person died in every nine accidents; in 1993, one person died in every five. The Comandante Pinares General Hospital in Pinar del Rio Province benefited from a donation by the German Government to the Cuban Red Cross of 12 tons of food valued at $100,000. The German company, Mercedes-Benz, also donated an intensive care ambulance valued at $50,000 to the Cuban Red Cross. Radio Progreso at 1200 GMT on 4 February reports the following, citing the 4 February edition of GRANMA: Cuba had 6.644 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoirs at the end of January 1994, 74 percent of their potential. Cuba has almost 4,000 minidairy farms. Import costs of $5 million dollars were avoided in 1993 by practicing recycling. Of the over 800 Basic Cooperative Production Units in the agriculture-livestock sector in Cuba, 238 are in miscellaneous crops and 431 in commercial cattle-raising. The rest are |
FBIS3-32421_3 | Roundup of Economic Activity Reported 1 Feb to 4 Feb | on 2 February reports that electricity supply to the eastern region has been increased by approximately 100 megawatts with the establishment of modern Russian-made equipment at the Vicente Substation in Ciego de Avila. Several towns between Ciego de Avila and Guantanamo will receive the benefits of this equipment. Radio Progreso at 1200 GMT on 3 February reports that the Claudio Arguelles Bicycle Factory in Havana has held a Parliament in the Workplace. During the discussions, one participant noted that no one wants Cuban bicycles "because they are very bad. They have no quality whatsoever, none whatsover." Another noted that the cost of producing a bicyle in 1993 was 140.95 pesos, and that the bicycle sold for 95 pesos; therefore, these bicycles were subsidized to the tune of "some 2 million pesos." A third participant pointed out that the poor quality was not the fault of the assembly plant but lay, instead, in the poor work done by the workshops that produce the parts assembled at the Claudio Arguelles plant. Havana Tele Rebelde and Cuba Vision at 0100 GMT on 4 February report the following: Three new 15-megawatt turbogenerators were installed at the Panama agricultural complex in Vertientes Municipality in Camaguey. In 1993, the Department of Transit in Havana City reported 1,825 traffic accidents, in which 348 people died and 1,605 were injured. Comparison to 1992 figures shows a 40-percent drop in the number of accidents and 16 percent in injuries. In 1992, one person died in every nine accidents; in 1993, one person died in every five. The Comandante Pinares General Hospital in Pinar del Rio Province benefited from a donation by the German Government to the Cuban Red Cross of 12 tons of food valued at $100,000. The German company, Mercedes-Benz, also donated an intensive care ambulance valued at $50,000 to the Cuban Red Cross. Radio Progreso at 1200 GMT on 4 February reports the following, citing the 4 February edition of GRANMA: Cuba had 6.644 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoirs at the end of January 1994, 74 percent of their potential. Cuba has almost 4,000 minidairy farms. Import costs of $5 million dollars were avoided in 1993 by practicing recycling. Of the over 800 Basic Cooperative Production Units in the agriculture-livestock sector in Cuba, 238 are in miscellaneous crops and 431 in commercial cattle-raising. The rest are in activities related to coffee, rice, and forestry. |
FBIS3-32434_0 | PRD Presidential Candidate TV Interview | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] Panama City Circuito RPC Television in Spanish at 0200 GMT on 2 February broadcasts its regularly scheduled 60-minute weekly "Democracy 94" program which this week consists of a live interview with Ernesto Perez Balladares, presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Democratic Party, PRD, by "Democracy 94" host Hugo Enrique Famania. Famania begins by giving the following resume: "Dr. Ernesto Perez Balladares has a Ph.D. in Economics and Business Administration from a U.S. university. He was born in Panama City on 28 June 1946 and spent most of his youth in Chiriqui Province. He was Citibank's corporate credit manager for Panama and Central America in 1971. He entered public life as a member of the Legislative Commission in 1975. Perez Balladares was minister of finance and treasury and of planning and economic policy during President Basilio Lakas' administration; President Aristides Royo kept him as minister of planning and economic policy; and President Ricardo de la Espriella appointed him general manager of IRHE [Institute of Hydraulic Resources and Electrification]. He also stands out as member of the negotiating team for the 1977 canal treaties. His political life began when the PRD was founded in 1979. He rose in this organization, which was the political arm of the military regime, and went from grass-roots group president -- the lowest echelon in the party's organizational chart -- to PRD general secretary in 1982. His estrangement and reserve with the party's line goes back to when Manuel Antonio Noriega was made commander of the then National Guard in 1983. His coolness increased after the 1984 elections. This attitude, however, contrasts with his decision to accept the appointment to be the campaign manager for Colina [National Liberation Coalition] presidential candidate Carlos Duque Jaen in 1989. After the 20 December 1989 U.S. military action, he assumed a more critical and active position in the PRD. He actively participated in the party's internal reorganization and won the PRD internal election to again occupy the post of general secretary in 1992. He was elected presidential candidate for the May 1994 elections at the PRD convention held on 31 July 1993, and thus became the first elected citizen to run for this position. Since then, the polls indicate that his popularity ratings have increasingly expanded and currently place him as the front runner." After this profile, Famania asks Perez Balladares why he distanced himself from the PRD |
FBIS3-32442_1 | PRI's Colosio: 21 Aug Elections Threatened | central Mexico. The presidential elections assumed a new meaning after the Indian uprising that took place on 1 January in Chiapas State, southeastern Mexico. The Zapatist National Liberation Army (EZLN) declared war on the government to demand solutions to poverty and other matters of political concern related to the presidential elections. In the 21 August elections, approximately 42 million registered Mexican voters will elect the president, 300 deputies, and 126 senators among the candidates of nine political parties. Alfonso Ramirez Cuellar, spokesman of the third parliamentary bloc, the opposition PRD [Party of the Democratic Revolution], told EFE today the electoral environment "is weak, given an outdated legislations was enacted to favor the government party." Ramirez added: "The current legislation approved in 1993 allows electoral manipulation by the government and its party." The spokesman has reiterated the need to convene the Mexican Congress to special sessions to revise the rules on which the elections are based and to sign an agreement that will guarantee calm elections. According to Ramirez Cuellar, the financial ceiling set for the electoral campaign, fixed at $40 million for each candidate, "is still too high; besides, there is no strict control" of this. Another aspect that contributes to the weakening of the electoral environment, he said, is the media's partiality "to the extent that we want the media to be regulated so that equal access" is allowed to all political parties. PRD President Porfirio Munoz Ledo has said the debate on political reforms would help the negotiators in Chiapas achieve true and lasting peace, based on clear and open elections. Meanwhile, PRI Deputy Juan Ramiro Robledo says his party is willing to discuss the possibility of holding special sessions, because "we have a responsibility, and we must find points of consensus." The deterioration of the electoral environment increased after the daily LA JORNADA received anonymous threats from an anticommunist front for being considered an EZLN mouthpiece. After the threats, Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari expressed his solidarity with the daily. The Mexican presidential candidates are Luis Dolando Colosio, PRI; Diego Fernandez de Cevallos, National Action Party; Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, PRD; Pablo Emilio Madero of the National Opposition Union; and Cecilia Sot, of the Labor Party; Rafael Aguilar Talamantes, Cardenist Front for National Reconstruction Party; Jorge Gonzalez Torres, Mexican Green Ecologist Party; Marcela Lombardo Toledado, Popular Socialist Party; and Alvaro Perez Trevino, Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution. |
FBIS3-32451_0 | Explosions at Four Bank Offices Injure 6; Bombs Defused | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Lima, 7 Feb (AFP) -- At least six persons were injured Monday evening in an escalation of dynamite attacks by the Maoist Shining Path against bank offices and public entities in the Peruvian capital, police have reported. Attacks took place earlier today when Shining Path commandos detonated a car-bomb in front of the Air Force General Command, which killed two persons and injured 15 others, in addition to causing a large amount of damage. The evening attacks affected four bank offices, two of which are the Banco de Credito and Interbanc. The explosions injured six pedestrians and partially destroyed the facade of the offices. Special police units alerted by telephone traveled through different parts of Lima and defused packages containing explosives near two state banks. A vehicle was found in the populous Yerbateros neighborhood, east of Lima, with a homemade rocket launcher inside that was about to go off. At least five explosions were registered in the outskirt districts of San Juan de Lurigancho and Comas, according to police reports. Police stations increased their security in light of the possibility of Shining Path attacks and police patrols in strategic areas of the capital have been doubled. The acts of violence reported Monday coincide with leaflet advertisements, which were delivered to editorial rooms of various Lima dailies, stating that the Shining Path is preparing to launch a wave of attacks in February. |
FBIS3-32464_0 | Daily Praises Clinton Decision To End Embargo on Vietnam | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "Vietnam Year Zero"] [Text] The end of the commercial boycott against Vietnam ordered last night by the United States is one of the last consequences of the downfall of the Soviet empire. The entire huge network of influence, established when the USSR was one of the world superpowers, continues to undoubtedly collapse, little by little. The 19 years of boycott harmed the postwar atmosphere and only nourished the Cold War, contradicting the destiny of the countries that, ultimately, live to coexist and not to nourish the causes of misunderstandings. Almost two decades after the day the United States withdrew from Vietnam, with the misfortune of 58,000 deaths (compared to 1.3 million Vietnamese in the north) and trauma that still prevails, the united Vietnam still continues to be one of the poorest countries in the world, while around it noncommunist countries in Southeastern Asia are experiencing almost sustained development. The commercial rapprochement between the United States and Vietnam represents a major historic step toward their reconciliation. Talks the past few years have always been filled with passion. War veterans groups were the first to repudiate Clinton's initiative due to doubts still surrounding the fate of servicemen missing in action (the MIA's). According to the war veterans, there are still 2,200 U.S. soldiers missing in war whose fate, according to them, the Vietnamese Government has done nothing to clarify. The discord will continue to exist but efforts for an understanding have been strengthened. Since late 1986, when the Vietnamese government renewed its leadership, retiring old war heroes -- favorite disciples of Uncle Ho, Secretary General Nguyen Van Linh has made self-criticisms: "The leadership's task today has changed. The style is also changing," he said as he proposed changes that entailed dismantling the centralized bureaucracy, "based on state subsidies that only brought suffering to the people." It was quite common to find youths in Vietnam, thousands of them -- mathematicians, computer experts, engineers or specialized workers -- in other brother socialist countries who, having returned, could not find a job or were being employed to do simple jobs. Moreover, the economic crisis, also aggravated by the war against the Khmer Rouge, forced thousands of Vietnamese to seek work abroad. The rice planted in the Mekong River is not enough to supply the entire south. Vietnam survived thanks to the constant aid granted by communist countries, until the Soviet |
FBIS3-32468_5 | * Voters Define Profile of Next President, Congress | is very possible that Joao Alves' voters are not at all unhappy with the work he has done." Congressmen also feel that the voters will be split between those voting for new congressmen and those casting protest ballots. The vice president of the CPI, Deputy Odacir Klein (PMDB, Rio Grande do Sul), supports the protest thesis and predicts an increase in the number of blank and void ballots. Robson Tuma (PL [Liberal Party], Sao Paulo) disagrees, saying: "The impetus is in the direction of a general rout of the current Congress." Senator Francisco Rolemberg (PFL, Sergipe) feels that the percentage of new congressmen will be high, as in previous elections, but that this time voters will favor candidates who prove their credibility. He adds that the voters will also choose candidates who are able to sell hope: "Lindberg (former president of the UNE [National Union of Students]) has a message of hope." New Faces May Be Slightly Delayed Belo Horizonte--Historian and political scientist Lucilia de Almeida Neves, the niece of former President Tancredo Neves, does not think there will be an immediate replacement of congressmen in political terms. "The trend is toward morality, toward electing more ethical people, but that by itself is not enough to result in a new Congress," she says, emphasizing that higher moral standards in party politics are what may lead to a new profile for Brazilian politicians. Lucilia Neves points out that politics is more than just ethics: it is also a matter of intention: "What is taking place is a leap in quality: the leap toward transparency," she claims. But on the other hand, she says the switching between parties that we have seen recently, as the deadline for changing parties arrived, shows that there is still plenty of room for personalism. "I feel that the election of new congressmen ought to be more institutional in form," she adds. The historian explains that what seems to signify major chaos may actually signify a major advance. "Clearly stating the problems is a big step forward in itself," she says. In Lucilia's opinion, such things as ethics and honesty will be influential factors for some voters, but they will be especially important to the middle-class voter, who has been looking for a new kind of politician longer than anyone else. One Cycle Follows Another Sao Paulo--The profile of the new politician who will probably emerge from |
FBIS3-32471_1 | Alarcon: U.S. Strategy `Unsustainable'; Views Chinese Model | the USSR, there is no doubt that our interest is centered on Europe and Latin America. [Bonanni] Does that mean that, notwithstanding any informal contacts, you are not expecting the United States to lift its embargo in the short term? [Alarcon] I would like to point out that we do not have secret contacts with Washington. Moreover, I do not believe that the situation can be unblocked quickly: at least within Clinton's term. Logically speaking, now that the Cold War is over, and now that the East-West antagonism is over, relations between the United States and Cuba would improve. Yet, the opposite has happened. The American blockade has been reinforced. In Washington there are those who believed that, following the disappearance of the USSR, the economic problems would lead to the collapse of the Cuban revolution. Yet, we have successfully resisted for four years. Obviously the situation is difficult and the problems are serious. However, as long as we hold out, the American strategy will prove to be unsustainable. There are already American companies which are looking worriedly at our new economic contacts with Europe and Latin America. [Bonanni] Even your relations with Cuban refugees seem to have improved. [Alarcon] Yes. Even though we are not expecting an improvement in relations with the United States, it must be acknowledged that something is changing. After 12 years of very tough conservative politics, there is an administration in Washington today that has contacts with more moderate sectors of the Cuban immigrants. The Cuban far right, which dictated Reagan's and Bush's policy, was linked too much to the Republicans and it is now starting to lose influence. [Bonanni] America is changing. What about Cuba? To what extent are you interested in the Chinese model? [Alarcon] We are studying it with great interest, as well as the Vietnamese model. They too are developing countries that are following the socialist path. However, there are major economic and cultural differences. The Chinese rationalization efforts cannot be applied to us: They have a large market, great natural resources, an enormous population, and an ancient tradition of entrepreneurship. In any case, the time of models is over. Everyone must find their own road. [Bonanni] How do you respond to the European pressure for political and economic reform? [Alarcon] I would not talk in terms of pressure. Generally speaking, the Europeans understand that Cuba is in a tough situation. |
FBIS3-32472_0 | Roundup of Reportage on U.S. Lifting SRV Trade Embargo | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] As of filing time, Cuban sources monitored by Panama Bureau have not been observed to carry statements by elite Cuban figures or commentary on the U.S. decision to lift the trade embargo on Vietnam. The following is a compilation of Cuban-source straight reporting on the lifting of the embargo. Havana PRENSA LATINA in Spanish at 2249 GMT on 3 February carries its first report on U.S. President Bill Clinton's announcement lifting the trade embargo against the SRV. In the 175-word Washington-datelined report, the U.S. President is quoted as saying: "I am absolutely convinced that this decision offers the best way to resolve the fate of missing persons," adding that "nothing of what we do today is irreversible if the SRV cooperation ends." The report concludes by noting that President Clinton's decision authorizes the opening of "liaison offices" in Hanoi and Washington, which will serve as the first diplomatic representations between the two countries. Havana Radio Havana Cuba in Spanish at 0000 GMT on 4 February, during its regularly scheduled "Evening Information Review" program, carries a one-minute report citing U.S. Government sources as saying that "President William Clinton decided on Thursday to lift the trade embargo imposed 19 years ago against the SRV." The report cites an AFP report as saying that White House officials said the official announcement will be made in the course of the next few days. This report is rebroadcast by Havana Radio Havana Cuba in Spanish at 0100 GMT on 4 February. At 0216 GMT on 4 February, Havana PRENSA LATINA in Spanish carries a 350-word report on reaction within the United States to the lifting of the embargo against the SRV. The Washington-datelined report states that the business community cheered Clinton's announcement, while Vietnam war veterans criticized it. The report says that in an effort to stem criticism, "the Executive Branch warned that the elimination of the reprisal does not entail a normalization of relations between the two countries." The report concludes by citing Clinton as saying that "this measure was adopted because the SRV has cooperated favorably in the recovery of remains of U.S. soldiers." Havana PRENSA LATINA in Spanish at 1309 on 4 February carries a 550-word, Washington-datelined report on the economic benefits derived from the lifting of the U.S. embargo on the SRV. The report notes that "aside from politics, there is a potential commercial exchange of some |
FBIS3-32476_0 | Fidel Castro Closes Latin American, Caribbean Meeting | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Havana, 28 Jan (PL) -- At the closing session of the Fourth Latin American and Caribbean Meeting today, Cuban President Fidel Castro said neoliberalism is undermining the independence of the countries in which it is applied. The formal independence we still have is being taken away and even the term is outdated, he said. The president warned that all of this is neoliberalism, a conflict of interests among huge economic blocs because it is a policy that will be applied worldwide. Any country that wishes to industrialize still has, perhaps, the hope of acquiring industries that pollute the environment or require lots of cheap labor, he said. The head of state said it is unfair to make an ant compete and fight with an elephant, and he noted that developed nations have the monopoly on advanced technology, scientific research, and production automation. The Cuban president asked: The Third World asked for border openings and a lifting of tariffs, but what did it get? They want to buy everything in our countries, he warned. They want to be the owners of the principal industries, with which they would undermine our independence, not only in a real and objective manner but also in a formal manner. With the disappearance of the socialist bloc, the balance of forces in the world was lost, he said. Unipolar power is invading all fields, he said. They want us to see what interests them through the use of advertisements and commercials. They control newscasts through the use of multinational news programs, he said. They do not advertise Superbarrio (popular Mexican character present at the meeting) but Superman, he said. As for the application of neoliberal policies in the former USSR and East Europe, Fidel Castro said it has created a real disaster and people are starting to realize it was a real mistake to brutally apply IMF and World Bank recipes there. Social deterioration and increased unemployment have led to the rise of strong nationalist feelings and all kinds of reactions of the desperate people of the former USSR, according to the Cuban president, who said not everything was deficient in that economy. In another part of his speech and in response to a participant's proposal to demand the democratization of the United Nations and the Security Council, Fidel Castro said this UN organization should have at least two Latin American |
FBIS3-32487_0 | Roundup of Economic Developments | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] The following is a compilation of reports on Cuban economic developments monitored through 2 February. Officials of the Cuban National Tourism Institute (Intur) and the Gaviota and Cubanacan enterprises participating in an international tourism fair in Madrid, Spain, gave details of their work throughout 1993 to the press. They pointed out that the amount of tourists who visited Cuba in 1993 increased by over 20 percent compared to 1992. The amount of visitors increased from 500,000 in 1992 to 600,000 in 1993. The tourism sector has become Cuba's third largest source of income behind sugar and the basic industries. (Havana PRENSA LATINA in Spanish 2344 GMT 29 Jan 94) On 2 February, official sources reported the Banco Internacional de Comercio, S.A. began operating with the objective of bolstering economic exchange and development, an attempt to integrate Cuba into worldwide finances. The source added this is the second private bank to receive authorization to operate from the Cuban Government. (Hamburg DPA in Spanish 2052 GMT 2 Feb 94) |
FBIS3-32495_0 | Nongovernmental Group Supports | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [From the "Early News" newscast] [Text] A spokeswoman for the nongovernmental Salvadoran Human Rights Commission [CDHES] has said that organization shares the views on human rights in El Salvador expressed in the report presented by UN human rights expert Pedro Nikkem. [Name indistinct], a CDHES board member said the report on human rights in El Salvador presented by an international expert this week in Geneva was objective. In the report, Nikkem notes a notable increase in the number of murders in 1993. [Begin unidentified spokeswoman recording] The report discloses the latest information on human rights violations. We share Mr. Pedro Nikkem's views and think it is regrettable that he was unable to enter the country to confirm or verify human rights violations. In spite of that fact, we believe his report presents the facts objectively, and we totally agree with him. The CDHES does not believe his report is any less valid because he was unable to enter our country. If you examine the report you will see that the points Nikkem discussed are based on fact. He discussed issues such as the latest illegal executions, the [word indistinct] process, and the government's failure to fulfill its land distribution agreement. He also discussed at length the structural deficiencies of the legal system and the new group created to investigate the death squads. Regarding the human rights situation, he said the peace process has been weakened and has suffered a reversal. We agree with him because of the latest incidents in the country, particularly in mid-1993. [end recording] The CDHES board of directors believes it is necessary to redouble efforts to end the delays mentioned by Nikkem, especially the (?crimes) perpetrated by the death squads, so the peace process will not be reversed. Meanwhile, the spokeswoman announced the group investigating the death squads will soon hold a meeting with the CDHES to apprise it of the group's work. |
FBIS3-32503_2 | Cuban Assembly President Views U.S. Embargo | political liberalization by way of cautious economic reforms, nevertheless said that so far there has been no direct official contact between the U.S. and Cuban governments. [sentence as received] According to Alarcon, Havana observes "the U.S. Government's language is changing." For example, Cuban authorities have taken notice of "a reiterated statement by the U.S. State Department and Assistant Secretary of State Watson, saying that U.S. territory will not be permitted to be used for terrorist activities or violence against Cuba." Alarcon said: "This is what the American Neutrality Act states, and this is normal in international law. But the United States never said this during the past 12 years of Republican administrations. This is something we cannot overlook." He added that "the U.S. Government's position during the neuritis epidemic in Cuba" must also be considered in this regard. Washington "did not object to several U.S. scientists from National Institute of Health traveling to Cuba." The U.S. scientists "cooperated with Cuban authorities and made very unbiased remarks about Cuba when they concluded their work." The experts "returned to the United States, but kept in touch with Cuban researchers. The reason for this is still being discussed and pondered. It is interesting to note this, because the neuritis epidemic can occur elsewhere." Alarcon declined to comment on the lifting of the U.S. embargo on Vietnam after 20 years. He also elected not to imply that he can base his moderate optimism concerning Cuban-U.S. relations on this decision. The Clinton era represents for the United States a great leap ahead, since the generation that served in World War II and experienced "McCarthyism" until the time of the young men who either fought or refused to enlist in the Vietnam war. [sentence as received] The personalities who were active during the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson have disappeared or retired, while some who belonged to Jimmy Carter's time are still alive. Nevertheless, most members of the Clinton team are much younger people, unrelated to active politics since they were in the opposition during the quarter century of the Republican Party's several terms in the White House -- since Richard Nixon in 1968. All this can explain to Cuban authorities the whys and wherefores of the transformations under way today in the United States, and why the Clinton administration has established a policy allowing women and Hispanics to hold positions of responsibility. |
FBIS3-32509_3 | Increasing Prices To Absorb Currency Discussed | market. Yet there is a shortage. Way before cigarettes, I remember there began to be a shortage of rum. At the time, they claimed that there was a problem with the bottles. [Roque] That was the first problem. [Rodriguez] Yes, the first problem. Nevertheless, since then, we have seen other causes. The recent sugar harvest was a small harvest. A harvest of 4.2 million tonnes, a sugar harvest that left little molasses. When you have little molasses, you must decide whether you are going to produce more alcohol or use it for animal feed. Today, we need to recover our livestock, so the decision is obvious. Now, when you allot a quantity to the production of alcohol, you must maintain a level of supply on the world market because it is a way to generate income. It is a product that has a market, which we cannot give up. Renato [Recio] discussed this not too long ago on a program on this subject. With a bottle of rum, we could probably buy three packages of aspirin -- with just one bottle on the world market. We need that money and the hard currency. At the same time, this goes against the very production of the domestic market. The domestic market has suffered, even though the international market has also suffered because when you distill molasses, you do not always obtain alcohol at a level of quality for that international market. Then there are two or three grades. When one reduces the amount of molasses distilled, one also reduces the amount of product to be allocated for the foreign market. [Roque] In view of the fact that there is little production, there are provinces such as Havana City that maintain distribution of the regulated rum, and it becomes an obligation to the consumer having to guarantee that bottle every month. [Rodriguez] I believe this is a mistake. My personal opinion is -- and I believe we have come here to speak frankly -- that this is a mistake. When you regulate, you are obligated. The same thing happens with cigarettes because when you regulate a product, you are obliged to maintain a supply per capita. You give to the person who drinks as well as to the person who does not drink. [Roque] This creates a black market for rum and cigarettes. [Rodriguez] Of course. [Roque] This is something we discussed |
FBIS3-32509_4 | Increasing Prices To Absorb Currency Discussed | the very production of the domestic market. The domestic market has suffered, even though the international market has also suffered because when you distill molasses, you do not always obtain alcohol at a level of quality for that international market. Then there are two or three grades. When one reduces the amount of molasses distilled, one also reduces the amount of product to be allocated for the foreign market. [Roque] In view of the fact that there is little production, there are provinces such as Havana City that maintain distribution of the regulated rum, and it becomes an obligation to the consumer having to guarantee that bottle every month. [Rodriguez] I believe this is a mistake. My personal opinion is -- and I believe we have come here to speak frankly -- that this is a mistake. When you regulate, you are obligated. The same thing happens with cigarettes because when you regulate a product, you are obliged to maintain a supply per capita. You give to the person who drinks as well as to the person who does not drink. [Roque] This creates a black market for rum and cigarettes. [Rodriguez] Of course. [Roque] This is something we discussed a few days ago on this program. Nevertheless, I believe we must also seek acceptable criteria so that the new prices are reasonable, because we cannot let some drink rum and smoke while others cannot. [Rodriguez] Well, this thing about being reasonable is a bit difficult. This topic on prices is very complex. When you think that your salary is around 150 or 200 pesos and you have to face a market to satisfy a vice or addiction, as in the case of the cigarette, you need to buy it at an exorbitant price. This undoubtedly might irritate smokers. As a matter of fact, there are many smokers who are so addicted to cigarettes that they become anxious. Their nervous systems are affected. There are some who cannot even eat. it It is therefore a very delicate subject. I want listeners to understand the suggestion: If the price of cigarettes would increase -- I am not being specific because I have no idea of what the state would be willing to place as a cap, or how much the consumer would be willing to pay -- this price would effect both sides, the consumer and the seller. In the case |
FBIS3-32538_0 | Ministers To Try Preventing U.S. Trade Retaliation | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Article by correspondent Paulo Sotero] [Text] Washington -- The ministers of foreign affairs, Celso Amorim; finance, Fernando Henrique Cardoso; industry, commerce, and tourism, Elcio Alvares; and science and technology, Israel Vargas, will meet in the next 72 hours to discuss alternatives to avoid U.S. trade retaliation by the end of the month in the dispute between the two countries over the Brazilian system of protection of intellectual property rights. The meeting has become important after the failure of the fifth round of negotiations between the two countries, which ended at dawn on 5 February in Washington. It will be the last chance to prevent a new clash with the United States on a subject that has been affecting relations between the two countries for a decade and that made the Americans impose trade sanctions against Brazil in 1988. Like the first time, the latest action was spurred by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, which claims it is losing millions of dollars from the illegal copying of their formulas by Brazilian laboratories. Brazilian Ambassador to Washington Paulo Tarso Flecha de Lima, who returned to Brazil last week to attend the marriage of his son Joao Pedro, will arrive in Brasilia today to hold separate meetings with the ministers involved in the subject and he also will attend the meeting they will all hold together, scheduled in principle for 9 February. Foreign Minister Celso Amorim will personally tell Washington the final Brazilian answer after Carnival. The road to a negotiated solution is narrow but not closed, according to U.S. sources familiar with the negotiations. There are nearly two dozen points on which the two parties maintain different positions. Four of them are considered critical for Washington. Of these, "two must be resolved if the Brazilian Government wants to avoid retaliation," a source said. Two of the points refer to the clauses about "local exploitation" of patents and "parallel importation" of patented products described in Articles 27 and 28, respectively, of the text on protection of intellectual property (Tripps) [preceding word in English; expansion unknown] approved by the Uruguay Round of GATT talks, which Brazil signed last December in Geneva. The Americans allege that the draft bill of the new Industrial Property Code, which already has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and has been standing idle for months in the Senate, contradicts Tripps [preceding word in English] on |
FBIS3-32538_2 | Ministers To Try Preventing U.S. Trade Retaliation | he also will attend the meeting they will all hold together, scheduled in principle for 9 February. Foreign Minister Celso Amorim will personally tell Washington the final Brazilian answer after Carnival. The road to a negotiated solution is narrow but not closed, according to U.S. sources familiar with the negotiations. There are nearly two dozen points on which the two parties maintain different positions. Four of them are considered critical for Washington. Of these, "two must be resolved if the Brazilian Government wants to avoid retaliation," a source said. Two of the points refer to the clauses about "local exploitation" of patents and "parallel importation" of patented products described in Articles 27 and 28, respectively, of the text on protection of intellectual property (Tripps) [preceding word in English; expansion unknown] approved by the Uruguay Round of GATT talks, which Brazil signed last December in Geneva. The Americans allege that the draft bill of the new Industrial Property Code, which already has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and has been standing idle for months in the Senate, contradicts Tripps [preceding word in English] on those two points. The Brazilian draft bill requires that the patent be exploited in Brazil in order to be valid in the country. Beside that, it authorizes the importation of products patented by third parties and that manufacture them under license of the patent's owner. Washington estimated that once the Uruguay Round concluded, the Brazilian executive branch would immediately act to adapt Brazilian law to the international treaty it signed in the Uruguay Round. "Brazil never failed to observe through its laws the obligations it assumed in international treaties," states an American source. But Itamaraty, which commands the negotiations, argued that Articles 27 and 28 of Tripps [preceding word in English] "are ambiguous" and has decided there is no incompatibility between the articles and the draft bill in Congress. There clearly is concern over the industrial policy in President Franco's position, which is shared by the Ministries of Science and Technology and Industry and Commerce but not by the Finance Ministry. "The demand to locally exploit patents is important to create jobs in the country," a diplomat who participates in the negotiations told O ESTADO. "Brazil is totally isolated in its interpretation of Tripps," American sources say. "If the Brazilian Government does not comply with what it signed in the GATT, there will be sanctions." |
FBIS3-32539_2 | * Lula's Economic Planner Outlines Program | that it will initiate another long period in Brazil and disclose the structural characteristics that will dominate a lengthy new development process. It is only with those characteristics that we will be able to stabilize the national economy. [Alves] What would be the fundamental changes in the economy? [Benjamin] The first is the fact that with the process of industrialization to replace imports having been exhausted, we must discover a new principle of economic dynamics that will keep a long-term frontier of accumulation open in the Brazilian economy. And that new principle is the establishment of a domestic mass market. That characteristic will have to reach the point of dominating Brazilian economic dynamics, not as a short-term characteristic linked only to distribution policies but as a reorganization of the productive sector for the purpose of exploiting Brazil's domestic potential. [Alves] Who would gain and who would lose from such a development? [Benjamin] I feel that 95 percent of Brazilian society would gain. The workers would be the first to gain, but so would business sectors that are capable of adapting to that new model, which makes a rather wide scope for private accumulation possible. The losers would be the sectors that have grown accustomed to living as parasites on the national crisis over the past decade--meaning, in this case, financial capital as currently organized, the large landowners, and the oligopolies in general. [Alves] As regards the banking system, what are the premises on which you are working? [Benjamin] We will not have problems in our relations with the bankers if they show the government and society that they are capable of operating their businesses in a context of low inflation and of performing the basic function of any financial system, which is to supply credit for production. But if they insist on continuing to act as a national debt cartel and treating their agents as money stores, the relationship is going to be difficult. The current system is dysfunctional from the standpoint of the Brazilian economy, and it will have to be penalized by an adjustment which, incidentally, will also have to affect the state banks. [Alves] Will that adjustment be drastic? [Benjamin] I don't think so, because we are going to make a viable, simple, realistic, and legal proposal beforehand for extending the profile of the domestic debt--a proposal will involve losses but no foolishness. We are going to |
FBIS3-32545_1 | * Contraband Sales Cut Textile Industry Profits | money, but we still do not know how much," said Tejicondor President Abel Perez Gil in summing up 1993, a year that saw 3,000 workers laid off by the country's 500 textile companies. Perez reported that the company's sales were 18 percent lower than anticipated at the start of 1993. Last year, only 41 billion pesos worth of goods were sold, compared with a goal of 50 billion. The president of Tejicondor believes that smuggling and the government's inability to control it, despite its intention of imposing port restrictions once again, are the basic causes of the crisis we are facing, a crisis that in 1993 was merely circumstantial, but that now threatens to become structural. "How can we not need restrictions when we are drowning in textiles as a result of underbilling and money laundering?" the business executive asked. In early 1993, the lack of minimum reference prices, combined with subsidized imports and smuggling, resulted in a loss of 30 percent of the domestic market. According to Perez, "fabrics ranging from $.10 to $5.00 are entering the country and, except for Medellin, Customs is not going its job. Furthermore, any estimates of what comes in is false. In addition, the only country with money laundering is Colombia. A laundered dollar is worth only a fourth as much as an official dollar." The businessman said that while it is practically impossible to ascertain the volume of textiles smuggled in or resulting from money from drug trafficking, if Customs seized some 9 million meters of fabric in 1993 (equivalent to Tejicondor's production for three months), much more has come in through undetected operations. According to these estimates, imported textiles have garnered some 30 percent of the market, and 70 percent of all imports comprise unfair competition. Textile workers claim that such measures as minimum import prices for 31 types of textiles have not been as effective as hoped either. They say that, under the circumstances, despite the government's encouraging predictions, the sector's problems will be reflected in the coming annual balance sheets. For the time being, the textile industry knows that the new year has begun, accompanied by adjustments in investment programs, possibly more layoffs of workers, and the discussion of petitions in a number of companies. All signs indicate that any hope of recovering first semester losses during the latter half of 1993 has been thwarted or, more appropriately, unraveled. |
FBIS3-32558_0 | Five Policemen, 20 Students Injured in Street Clashes | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] Quito, 9 Feb (AFP) -- The police have reported that five policemen and 20 civilians were seriously injured today as a result of street riots by students and workers in this capital. Students and factory workers who were protesting the 71.2-percent increase in the price of a gallon of gasoline confronted Army and police units with rocks and Molotov cocktails. On Tuesday, the Confederation of Indian Nationalities of Ecuador [Conaie], to which 3.5 million Ecuadorans of the 11 million who live in this country belong, had initiated an ongoing Indian uprising. Last Thursday the powerful United Workers Front, comprised of the country's most important labor unions, held a national strike to demand that the fuel price increase decreed on 28 January be repealed. Today other popular organizations held an "empty pots and pans march" to reject the price increase, arguing that as a result of the government's measure food prices have increased. The demonstrators -- including many women carrying posters, banners, and kitchen utensils -- gathered near Central University and at El Ejido and La Alameda parks in downtown Quito and tried to march on the Presidential Palace, shouting slogans against President Sixto Duran-Ballen. Security forces, with the support of light armored tanks, fired tear gas at the crowd to scare away the demonstrators. Conaie has reported that in the Andean province of Azuay, 310 km southwest of Quito, the Army fired on a group of Indians, wounding eight. A general state of discontent is seizing the provinces of Riobamba, Imbabura, and Carchi, on the border with Colombia, according to journalists from those regions. Defense Minister General Jose Gallardo has cautioned that the public order will be protected. Official sources have reported that approximately 100 people were arrested in Quito for having allegedly participated in riots. |
FBIS3-32560_20 | Armed Forces Activities Viewed | consisting of rice, black beans, salad and either beef, fish, or chicken: It would not fair too badly in a food tasting contest with factory restaurants. The Air Force business hours start at 1300 so as to save money on meals. For lack of money for fuel, half of its pilots will not fly this year. Those who do will fly museum pieces. The Mirages are so old the manufacturer has ceased to produce the spare parts essential for their maintenance. The AMX is a good plane, but it was also conceived for the Cold War. Stigmatized The combination of low salaries and outdated equipment worthy of a scrap yard is a pothole among intense dissatisfactions. The most noteworthy fact on the condition of the military today is the feeling of loss of prestige, both socially and materially. Until recently, military men were entitled to a bonus for the number of flight hours they flew, no matter the nature of the mission or its priority. They only had to buckle their safety belts and wait for the bonus to pay their bills at the end of the month. This privilege has been cut. They were also able to transform state-run companies into beautiful job sources. A colonel went into the reserves, and in addition to his retirement pension, received a second salary running in the millions. When a general did not receive his fourth star, he was appointed vice chairman of an industry as a consolation prize. These times are over. Military men view the constitutional revision with reservation because they fear the situation will deteriorate even further. They fear their pensions will be placed under the jurisdiction of the miserable INSS [National Social Security Institute]. Although a military man's salary is bad, pensions are optimum. They receive their full salaries and a retirement bonus. When he goes into the reserves, a military man is entitled to the benefits of the next highest rank when he was on active duty. A captain becomes a major, a colonel becomes a general, and so on. Thus, the average pension of military men is about 14 minimum salaries, 10 times more than the pensions a common mortal receives from the INSS. Military men feel stigmatized by the press, disdained by a good majority of cultured people, and mistreated by the administration they serve. The majority feels that if pros and cons were placed |
FBIS3-32573_0 | Havana Cites Possible U.S. Travel Ban Changes | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] The possible decision by President Bill Clinton to eliminate some restrictions for American travel to Cuba far from implies a change in the blockade policy against Cuba. Saul Landau, specialist at the Political Studies Center in Washington, said it would be a mistake to interpret this decision as a U.S. Government change in policy toward Cuba. Washington authorizes trips to Cuba for only certain categories of travelers: reporters, researchers, scholars, government officials, and U.S. citizens of Cuban origin with relatives in Cuba, or guests whose expenses are paid by the Cuban authorities. News dispatches last week indicated that the White House is studying a Department of State proposal to broaden the scope of travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens. Saul Landau today stated that the proposal to expand the categories of American visitors to Cuba must not be viewed as a positive indicator regarding the United States' general policies toward Cuba. The measure might be a sign of flexibility regarding restriction of the rights of Americans. However, this is not indicative of a lowering of the guard against Cuba. The Department of State proposal is based on an amendment bill drafted last year by California Democratic Representative Howard Berman, opposing the travel ban. State Department specialists drafted the new proposal, which is now being studied by the National Security Council for government approval. |
FBIS3-32574_2 | Interview Conducted With U.S. Visa Applicants | of there in tears -- all emotionally upset because after all those things, to have them say to you: You cannot go! [You think:] Let's see if I get lucky tomorrow and will be able to go. And the luck (?involved in) having them say yes to me! If they say no to me, then I will have spent all those months in vain. That is not easy, [repeats] not easy. [Unidentified speaker] I plan to go in there tomorrow, to see what they tell me. (?I have no idea what will happen.) [Unidentified reporter] What if they say no? [Unidentified speaker] Huh? What am I going to do, resign myself? The thing is, he is going to die and I am not going to get to see him before he dies, because he is in bed, in serious condition. [Costales] The U.S. Government turns the matter of emigration into one more stumbling block in the already difficult bilateral relations between Cuba and the United States. But let us let the protagonists themselves express their opinions. [Unidentified speaker] (?We must) clear up one little thing: The Cuban Government gives anyone who wants to go permission to go. The whole blockage problem is here at the embassy because the Cuban Government really does not prevent anyone from going. Anybody who asks to go there and has complied with the formalities gets permission. But it is here that one is blocked. [Unidentified reporter] And what were you told at the U.S. Interests Section? [Unidentified speaker] That I could not go (?right now,) because I was too young a person. [Unidentified reporter] And what do you think of that? [Speaker] His words of hope were for me to come back next year, but I told him no, that next year I would be only one year older, that it would be the same thing, that I would still be young. [Unidentified speaker] One cannot afford to lose the hope of living, in this life! [Unidentified reporter] And what if they say no to you? [Speaker] Well, they will be forcing me to do something I would rather not do. I would like to see my grandparents and come back, but they are obliging me to do something else. [Costales] There are still many things left to resolve regarding emigration. These testimonies show that the doors in that wall are still closed. [end recording] |
FBIS3-32578_0 | Visiting French Delegation Leader Interviewed | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] The delegation of French businessmen-employers, the largest to have visited Cuba, today met with ministers and representatives of Cuban firms. A few minutes ago, journalist Jose Luis Rumbaud talked to Jean Pierre Desgeorges, who is heading this delegation. [Begin recording] [Desgeorges, in French, with superimposed Spanish translation] We set ourselves as an objective carrying out this mission in Cuba so that our firms would become fully aware of the changes in the economy and of the great opportunities for trade and industrial relations for investors in all spheres that could arise. Cuba is indeed favorable ground for French firms to come here and invest, or at least for them to come here and establish some kind of business. [Unidentified man, in Spanish with superimposed French translation] Despite the pressures to which Cuba is today being subjected, the crisis, all the structural changes being made in the country? [Desgeorges, in French with superimposed Spanish translation] Yes, but we think this crisis that you have suffered as a result of the collapse of the countries of eastern Europe is a crisis that the Cuban economy has been able to bear, if I may put it that way, and this very brutal phenomenon has been able to...[translator rephrases] the Cuban economy has been able to confront it despite many sacrifices, and has been able to resist these events, which has shown us that Cuba constitutes a solid foundation for the future. [end recording] |
FBIS3-32589_0 | Activist Blames International Community for Abuses | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Text] Over 80 persons were killed for political reasons in one month in Port-au-Prince alone, notably in the populous neighborhoods of Cite Soleil and Carrefour-Feuilles, a human rights activist told the Haitian Press Agency. This personality, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, emphasized the Cite Soleil slaughter that caused the deaths of about 50 persons on 27 December, and the murder of about 15 youths on the night of 2 February. Of these 15, 12 bodies were discovered in Sarthe, on the northern road out of the capital. About 10 more youths were shot down in Cite Soleil or its surrounding areas because of their presumed affiliation with the lavalas movement during the same period by armed civilians or men in military uniforms. The human rights activist also cited the cases of several persons killed under questionable circumstances, whose bodies were later discovered at the general hospital's morgue in Port-au-Prince. According to this human rights spokesman, political assassinations are considered casual facts in Haiti. He holds the international community responsible for the impunity with which crimes are committed daily in Haiti. He also pointed an accusing finger at a huge segment of the business community, which denounces the ravages of the embargo caused by the military coup d'etat, but considers the violent killings normal. Citing the murder of Manette Jean-Louis, a young girl in the Mahotiere area, who was shot down on 31 December by Nationalistic and Progressive Revolutionary Party of Haiti Deputy Saurel Jacinthe, the human rights defender also denounces the blocs within parliament whose members are accomplices in crimes against life. |
FBIS3-32600_1 | Editorial Compares U.S. Embargoes on Vietnam, Cuba | mainly for historical reasons. Little remains of the differences that led the two countries to war in the 1960's and 1970's. Vietnam has withdrawn its troops from Cambodia. With a single party system, and without worrying about subjects like human rights, Vietnam has gradually opened its market to the rest of the world. The truth is that Vietnam allowed itself to be contaminated by the winds of trade and prosperity that turned the Far East into the greatest laboratory of economic experiences at the turn of the century. To a certain extent the embargo created more distress for American companies than for the Vietnamese themselves. In a country where everything literally had to be constructed or reconstructed, capital from Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and from the former colonial world power, France, among other European investors, poured in. Melting the ice with the United States was more difficult, but it began in the mid-1980's when the Americans were still grieving over the humiliation of the military defeat. Curiously, there were not as many difficulties on the Vietnamese side. The economic reforms thus gained momentum in 1986. Given the events in the USSR, the failure of Communism contrasted with the bewildering acceleration of the market economies in the neighboring countries. U.S. goodwill, which Vietnam needed to gain access to international capital, was generated through a cooperative attitude over a subject that touched the heart of the Americans: The location of the prisoners of war whose whereabouts were unknown. Last year President Clinton withdrew the veto the United States imposed on help from international financial institutions. From then on, the embargo was psychological and political rather than economic. We wonder when and how the same thing will happen with Cuba. The main objective of that embargo was to combat Communist infiltration in the continent and in the direct area of influence of the United States. That motive no longer exists. The Cuban Government is in tatters and whenever they can, Cubans move from a government job to small private businesses. Paradoxically the embargo is the only way Fidel Castro can still touch the nationalist feelings of the increasingly disillusioned Cubans. It is his last chance to carry the Cuban flag. If the embargo were lifted it would be doubtful if the Cuban regime would survive the avalanche of opportunities that would be created by the arrival of capitalist agents, that is, development. |
FBIS3-32624_5 | * Industry, Business Surveyed on Production, Outlook | the outlook for businessmen improved substantially, considering the fact that, in the second quarter of last year, only 29.2 percent of those interviewed in the Economic Opinion Poll claimed that their production had risen. Another indicator that there are winds of recovery (albeit mild) relates to the performance of profits, which declined in that period for 55 percent of businessmen; whereas, during the Christmas season, they were lower for only 32 percent. However, it is still disturbing that profits should be declining for that percentage of manufacturers. One of the sectors hardest hit by the drop in profits is the textile industry. According to calculations made by the Colombian Textile Producers Association (Ascoltex), 80 percent of the companies had a negative balance last year. The textile firms, like other industries, have been hurt by contraband, underbilling, and the importing of products at prices below cost. Moreover, apertura has helped to foster the most intense specter hovering over the industry last year: low demand. The complaint from businessmen all year long was over the decline in the volume of orders, and the substitution of national products with imports. Painful Apertura Although the apertura program has enabled businessmen to reduce their modernization costs, owing to the lower taxes on machinery imports, it has been a headache for income and profits. The competition from imports has forced businessmen to moderate the increases in prices of their products, so as to be able to remain on the market. Since this belt-tightening is done by force on many occasions, and not because of a drop in production costs, earnings and income are being impaired. According to 54.4 percent of businessmen, apertura has had an unfavorable effect on their profits; and only 20.5 percent claim that it has had a beneficial effect on their earnings. As for income levels, 44.1 percent of those interviewed think that it has had a negative effect on them, whereas only 20 percent consider its effect positive. Where the opinions are divided is on the effect of apertura on employment. Half of the businessmen think that it has had no effect, whereas 31.5 percent attribute an unfavorable effect to it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Industry [figures are percentages] | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Production |Sales |Profits | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Increased |44.9 |51.2 |37.0 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Remained stable |33.9 |26.0 |28.3 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Declined |13.4 |21.3 |32.0 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Don't know/no ans-|7.9 |1.6 |2.4 | |wer | | |
FBIS3-32624_12 | * Industry, Business Surveyed on Production, Outlook | to be one of those most damaged by insecurity. This was the view of 50 percent of those interviewed. Revaluation a Worry Another problem that is still besetting the improved performance of the Colombian economy is the apertura process, which has been translated into greater competition for national products. The economy's nationalization, in effect for four years, has proven unfavorable for the agricultural-livestock sector, which has complained of unfair competition from the subsidies applied by other nations to their products. Yet another very disturbing factor is the policy of revaluation, or strengthening of the peso with respect to the dollar. It was promoted last year for the purpose of preventing a greater rise in the cost of living. The uncertainty surrounding the economic management, which had been a highly disturbing factor, moved to a secondary level. Only 10 percent of those polled claimed it to be the principal economic problem. Apparently, there is greater confidence regarding the goals proposed by the government and the direction of the monetary, exchange, and credit policies. Oddly enough, contraband appears to be a lesser problem, despite the constant complaints from businessmen of its damaging repercussions on the economy. When the problems of Colombian business firms are analyzed, the fears become reversed. Insecurity is not so important, while apertura and revaluation definitely are. The effects of revaluation are especially disturbing to the agricultural and industrial sectors. This is understandable when one considers the fact that they are receiving less income from the exports of their products. On repeated occasions, producers, and especially exporters, have insisted that the devaluation rate should be higher. In 1993, the devaluation was 13 percent, and a similar trend is anticipated for this year. Their argument is that, despite the efforts that they are making to compete, their profitability will not improve unless there is a shift in the exchange policy. Principal Problems, 4th Quarter (figures are percentages) In the economy In industry Sectors Insecurity Apertura Revaluation Apertura Revaluation Insecurity Agriculture 28.0 17.0 33.0 6.0 50.0 17.0 Mining 29.0 N.A.* 14.0 14.0 29.0 N.A. Industry 25.0 22.0 19.0 21.0 16.0 5.0 Electricity 9.0 18.0 N.A. 9.0 N.A. N.A. Construction 27.0 13.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 27.0 Commerce 24.0 14.0 14.0 8.0 11.0 16.0 Transportation 50.0 25.0 5.0 20.0 N.A. 25.0 Financial N.A. N.A 67.0 N.A. 33.0 33.0 Services 26.0 16.0 5.0 10.0 6.0 15.0 Total** 26.0 18.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 11.0 (*) |
FBIS3-32632_0 | Commentary Criticizes U.S. Immigration Policies | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Commentary by Miguel Angel De la Guardia from the "Evening Information Review" newscast] [Text] Cuba has already denounced the myth that Cubans cannot voluntarily leave their country before the United Nations and all other public forums it has access to. It is a myth created by reactionary propaganda media, both in and outside of the United States, which dissolves in its own steam while maneuvers are made to discover ways to present a twisted image of Cuba to the world. The great majority of Cubans, more than 95 percent, who have migrated to the United States and other countries, have done so by legal means, or at least with the approval of the Cuban Government. The basic reasons for these migrations has to do with the economy, given that these people did not want to resist, together with their people, the difficulties that a small country has to go through if it wants to be free and sovereign in the face of opposition by an imperial power like the United States, which is also a very close neighbor. For 35 years, the Cuban people have resisted the hostility of successive U.S. Governments, which have launched all sorts of aggressions, both overt as well as covert, against Cuba for the declared purpose of overthrowing the revolutionary government, wiping out its will for independence, and inflicting Washington's political will on this small country. The evidence behind this statement has repeatedly been given by the U.S. Government itself when it has publicly stated it will only lift the economic blockade and begin normal relations once Cuba makes the political changes the United States wants and replaces the revolutionary government, headed by Fidel Castro, with another, supposedly democratic, which will have no qualms in subordinating itself to U.S. political and economic interests. To this end, the U.S. Government has developed an immigration policy that scandalously favors Cubans who abandon their country on improvised rafts, defy the dangers of the open sea in the hope of being rescued by a Coast Guard vessel and taken to Florida where they are forced to make politically hostile statements against the Cuban revolutionary government. Only then do these Cubans earn preferential treatment by the U.S. authorities. With regards to the thousands of Cubans who wish to travel to the United States to visit their relatives and then return to Cuba, they are treated very |
FBIS3-32633_0 | Poll Reveals Change in National Currency, Taxes Favored | Language: Spanish Article Type:BFN [Text] A poll conducted by the Social, Political, and Opinions Study Center of Cuba [Centro de Estudios Sociopoliticos y de Opinion de Cuba] has revealed, in the framework of ongoing analyses to introduce economic reforms in the island, that 38 percent of Cubans favor a change in the currency to clean up the country's finances. The poll indicated that 33 percent of Cubans favor implementing these measures quickly and that 59 percent favor doing it slowly or gradually. [figures as heard] Right now, workers are meeting to discuss measures that might be discussed by the National Assembly. These measures include a change of currency, the creation of taxes, payroll reductions, and the elimination of some subsidies, although not those related to education or public health. The poll also revealed that only 0.2 percent of the people favor changing Cuba's economic system. |
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