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Cuba Blasts Mexico Over U.N. Aid Summit [Excerpt]

"The United States put a price on the Monterrey Summit, and the Mexican government accepted the deal. The money of exchange was Fidel," said a front-page editorial Sunday in Cuba's state-run Juventud Rebelde newspaper.

Local analysts believe Castro writes or reviews all editorials published by Cuba's official media.

Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox, the summit host, have denied pressuring Castro to leave.

"I know of no pressure placed on anybody. Fidel Castro can do what he wants to do," Bush said at a joint summit news conference with Fox.

Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon, who remained in Castro's place at Monterrey and was denied entry to some events where Bush participated, disagreed.

Mexican officials "with great authority, transmitted the message and specifically asked us, given they could not prevent Fidel from coming, that he leave immediately after lunch," Alarcon said.

'PAINFUL'

"It is painful that this happened in Mexico, because if there was at least one thing you could say about the country in the past, it was that it had an independent foreign policy," Sunday's editorial said of the incident. [End Excerpt]

Cuba Blasts Mexico Over U.N. Aid Summit [Excerpt] HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters) - Cuba accused Mexico on Sunday of selling out Cuban President Fidel Castro to the United States at last week's U.N. aid summit in Mexico, as a diplomatic spat over the country's marginalization at the event heated up. Castro abandoned the summit in Mexico's northern city of Monterrey Thursday, shortly before President Bush arrived. Senior Cuban officials later charged that Castro, Latin America's symbol of rebellion against Washington, was asked by the summit host to make himself scarce. Mexico has been a close ally of Castro's government since he took power in 1959. But relations have been... [End Excerpt]

Despite strict government control, clever Cubans still get bootleg Internet**** In a country where the average monthly government salary is about $9, post offices sell $4.50 cards that provide three hours of access to international e-mail plus access to domestic Web sites, including those of official media. But even monied Cubans cannot legally buy a personal computer. Nor can they sign up for one of several full access Internet services available to foreigners at around $60 a month. Garcia said access is even more difficult for dissidents, who are more closely monitored than average citizens. "If you aren't integrated into the political system, there are no other possibilities" for computer access, he said.****

A great information source! Freedom AdvocacyPromoting freedom and human rights around the world, beginning with Cuba.

Cuba Turns on 'Diabolical' Mexican Foreign Minister [Excerpt] "The man guilty for what happened in Monterrey is called Jorge Castaneda," said a red-letter, front-page banner headline above the statement in the party's official newspaper Granma. Castro normally writes such statements.

"Mexico's extremely strange policy over the incident has a diabolical and cynical architect -- Jorge Castaneda," it added of the former communist who is now a member of President Vicente Fox's right-leaning Mexican government.

Castro eventually attended the development summit, but, after a typically fiery, anti-capitalist speech, created a diplomatic flurry with a dramatic walkout. He returned to Cuba alluding to a "special situation" created by his presence in Monterrey.

Cuban officials later alleged Castro was pressured by Mexico, on behalf of the United States, first not to attend, then to leave before the arrival of Bush, whom they said was threatening to boycott the summit if Castro was there. [End Excerpt]

Cuban spy passed polygraph at least once *** WASHINGTON - Even though confessed Cuban spy Ana Belen Montes already outwitted a lie-detector test, the government plans to rely on polygraph exams to check her honesty as they debrief her about her 16-year spying career while working for U.S. military intelligence. Montes took a polygraph examination at least once during her career as an analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, her attorney says. ''At the time she was polygraphed, she passed it,'' said prominent Washington attorney Plato Cacheris, who added that he did not know when the exam was given.***

Mexicans Want Answers From Castro - Castaneda [Excerpts] MEXICO CITY (AP) - Alarmed by Cuban President Fidel Castro's sudden departure from a U.N. summit last week, some Mexican lawmakers are demanding explanations from Foreign Secretary Jorge Castaneda.

Castro suddenly left the U.N. development summit in the northern city of Monterrey on Thursday, citing "a special situation created by my participation in this summit."

……… A large group of legislators representing all of Mexico's political parties - except President Vicente Fox's National Action Party - held a news conference Monday demanding Castaneda's resignation and announcing plans for a protest in front of his office.

The controversy has dominated radio talk shows and newspaper headlines for days in Mexico, which has long been Cuba's closest friend in the hemisphere, and where many see that friendship as proof that Mexico doesn't always bend to American wishes.

But Castaneda, once a member of Mexico's Communist Party, has become a prominent critic of Cuba's socialist system in recent years and has repeatedly wandered into the eye of political hurricanes involving the island nation.

Mexico abstained from a resolution before the U.N. Human Rights Commission last year that condemned human rights in Cuba. Still, Cuba's foreign minister accused Castaneda of trying to persuade other countries to back a condemnation.

Castaneda was then publicly chastised in Mexico for commenting that the Cubans were getting "hot under the collar" over the issue. [End Excerpts]

Cuba's beauty still off-limits to Americans (Sally Grooms Cowal's sales pitch)

Relegated to history**** On Jan. 1, 1979, following a dramatic and unexpected move by President Carter, formal ties between the United States and Taiwan were officially terminated in favor of diplomatic relations with communist China. Mr. Carter's surprise announcement was immediately denounced in Washington, not only by centrist and conservative Republicans, but Democrats who were not consulted.

In Taiwan, an angry mob of thousands of students went so far as to attack a U.S. motorcade, slightly injuring Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher, head of the U.S. mission. While at the U.S. Embassy in Taipei, Ambassador Leonard Unger stood silently as the flags of both nations were simultaneously lowered and ties severed. There hasn't been a U.S. ambassador in Taipei since, and if one should decide to go back anytime soon, he had better first find a place to live.

We read in the Taipei Update that the former U.S. ambassador's residence has now been designated a "historical landmark," reopening this summer as the "Taipei House," a space for public exhibitions. The building came under the custody of the Taipei city government in 1997 when it became clear the U.S. wasn't coming back. John Tkacik, the Heritage Foundation's Chinese authority, told us Friday that he hasn't heard from Mr. Unger since running into him about a year ago. Mr. Tkacik recalls the termination of ties with Taiwan - when Mr. Unger walked away from the embassy "with the flag under his arm," so to speak - as "a period of intense uncertainty and low morale" among the U.S. Embassy staff.****

Some peg hopes on a Carter visit to Cuba****Carter would be the first American president to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution. But the pseudo-diplomatic visit would not be a new experience for Carter. For 20 years, the Carter Center at Emory University in Atlanta has mediated conflicts, observed elections and worked to eradicate diseases throughout the world. Carter has made trips to nations such as Haiti, North Korea and Bosnia. "President Carter ... believes that in order to resolve a conflict, you need to be in dialogue with all parties involved and that you need to be neutral," said Deanna Congileo, a spokeswoman at The Carter Center. Congileo said Carter and Castro first spoke about a visit at the funeral of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in October 2000, during which both served as pallbearers. Castro sent Carter a formal invitation in January.****

Castro's gone, but not forgotten - PRI rattled as President Fox pushes democracy **** But many here fear the clash could lead to a severing of ties with Cuba. "We're up against a serious matter that has never before existed in Mexico's foreign policy," said Gustavo Carbajal Moreno, a congressman from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). In last week's congressional sessions, other lawmakers even called for the resignation of Castañeda, who in the past decade abandoned a long-held sympathy for Cuba's socialist government. Some also charged the foreign minister violated the constitution, threatened Mexico's hands-off policy toward Cuba and was becoming a servant of the United States.****

Save us all from Jimmy Carter's next misstep--What is certain is that the idea of Carter's going to Cuba is as welcome at the White House as a call by him on Moammar Gadhafi or Saddam Hussein would be.

Globaphobic Vote in Brazil could alter political map of region**** If you think that the Bush administration has problems in Latin America with the latest crises in Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, think about what it may face if Brazil's leftist candidate Luiz Inacio ''Lula'' da Silva wins this year's presidential elections in the region's biggest country. For starters, a Brazilian move to the left could pave the way for a South American nationalist-populist bloc -- that could also include Venezuela and Argentina -- that would strongly oppose the U.S.-backed plan to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005. Conceivably, the new ''globaphobic'' bloc could strengthen ties with Cuba, and with Colombia's Marxist guerrillas.****

US Food Cos. Hope for Sales to Cuba - Bush adm. denies visas---LINK to Otto Juan Reich's remarks at his swearing in ceremony.

Cuba (Castro) Protests 'Subversive' U.S. Radio Handouts*** *Alonso and other state commentators on the "Round Table" program said American diplomats had for several months been carrying out a more aggressive policy toward Cuba at the behest of President Bush's government. The diplomats, Alonso said, had been "going around various provinces to organize, finance and instruct little counter-revolutionary groups, and hand out clandestine publications and contraband items.****

Paul Greenberg: Fidel and friends**** The problem is that, like any other economy that's been run into the ground by some Communist caudillo, F. Castro and brutal company are a little short of cash just now and always. Cuba is already some $11 billion in debt, it defaulted on its international loans years ago, and so it can't get any more money from the World Bank. Or any other lending agency that has this thing about being repaid. In short, Fidel's is a typical Communist economy, that is, bankrupt -- and not just morally. That's where American banks and credit and you, the American taxpayer, come in. Because all the loans and grants that Cuba's sordid little dictatorship would need to buy our rice and shore up its own power would have to be backed some way by the U.S. government. That's the dirty little secret none of those pushing for an end to this embargo emphasize. They see trade with Cuba as still another farm subsidy.****

Cuba Backs Canadian Convicted Over U.S. Embargo**** In a case likely to widen the dispute between Washington and Ottawa over ties with Cuba -- Canada opposes the embargo and is one of Havana's major trade partners Sabzali was convicted on 20 counts of violating the U.S. Trading With the Enemy Act and one count of conspiracy****

Experts debate taking Cuba off terrorism list****A State Department spokesman indicated such assertions are nonsense. So did Florida's senior senator, Bob Graham, who, as chair of the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence, is regularly briefed on Cuba. He said Cuba is still providing assistance, particularly medical assistance, to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and is the Latin American headquarters for the Irish Republican Army. "All that is on top of a long history of active promotion of instability in the region," Graham said.****

Cuba's Last Gamble? - Debt defaults**** As Cuba's economy weakens further and its foreign debt soars, U.S. industries increase the push for trade and the extension of credit to the island. After years of steady -- if slow -- recovery from its collapse in the early 1990s, Cuba's economy is now stalled amid a fall in tourism, a post-Sept. 11 drop in remittances, hurricane damages and low export prices. Last year, Cuba devalued its currency by 18 percent, defaulted on some $500 million in loans and reportedly closed 12,000 hotel rooms. Last month it restricted the ability of some foreign investors to pocket their profits.****

Castro, who extended the invitation to Carter in January, has publicly stated that the former president is free to ``make all the criticisms he wants to.'' In preparation for the trip, Washington is sending a State Department official to the Carter Center to give a briefing on Cuba.

''Now that he is going, we hope that he will take a message supporting democracy, human rights and freedom,'' said a White House official. ``President Bush hopes that message will be taken directly to Fidel Castro.''

President Bush, meanwhile, is expected to unveil the administration's revised policy on Cuba later this month. Plans also are under way for Bush to visit Miami in May to commemorate Cuba's independence from Spain. Carter, Castro to meet in Cuba: Visit scheduled for next month***

July 1, 2000 Lott vows to fight Cuba trade legislation---"I oppose both, and if I can find a way to kill them, I will," Lott said. The legislation is "not just about Cuba" but also about getting food and medicine to Libya, Iran and other countries "that are tyrannical, do horrible things to their people and in some cases are even a threat to world peace," he said.

JUAN MIGUEL GONZALEZ REQUESTED ASYLUM THREE TIMES AND WAS DENIED BY RENO!!!!

INS Lawyer: Meissner Ordered Elian Evidence Destroyed

Top Cuban spy defects, comes to U.S. for debriefing[Full Text] A top Cuban spy who defected in Panama last month has been brought to the United States for debriefings by CIA officials on Havana intelligence operations in Canada, the U.S. and Panama, U.S. officials say. Orlando Brito Pestana was expelled in 1994 from Canada, among Cuba's top intelligence outposts because of its access to the unguarded U.S. border. He was later vetoed by the FBI when Havana tried to appoint him to the Cuban Interests Section in Washington in 1996, the officials said. Brito was working undercover as Cuba's commercial attache in Panama when he defected with his wife and two daughters on March 27. He was flown to the United States two days later, Panamanian security officials said. U.S. officials said Brito could provide a wealth of information on Cuban intelligence operations in Canada, including those aimed at the United States, and Havana efforts to dodge the U.S. trade embargo by buying U.S. products through front companies and independently owned firms in Panama.[End]

Update: Cuban spy in U.S. for debriefings*** But an FBI official who has handled Cuban spy cases warned that Brito may also be a double-agent sent by Havana to misinform. ''Cuba has one of the most aggressive intelligence operations in the world, and until we know more he will probably be treated as a potential double agent,'' the official said. A State Department spokesman said he could not confirm Brito's presence in the United States. The usual CIA procedure is to keep foreign defectors under wraps while they are debriefed in isolation.***

Cuba, Russia in dock at rights meet, China escapes *** China had been widely expected to avoid official criticism in the absence of the United States, which failed to win re-election to the 53-nation Commission in an upset vote in New York last autumn. In past years, the United States had always sponsored a motion critical of Beijing for its policies towards Tibet and religious minorities, but no other country had been willing to take over the role in the absence of Washington.

Human rights activists lashed out at the European Union in particular for its reluctance to take China to task. "The EU clearly neither possess the courage or political will to make an objective defence of the Tibetan people's rights," said Tsweang Lhadon of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. But diplomats said that Washington still made its diplomatic weight felt when Latin American states agreed to bring a motion attacking the rights record of the government of Cuban President Fidel Castro. ***

Clinton and Castro on Bosch and Bush: Coulter slams the left for treatment of anti-communist Cuban*** In the honest reporting Americans have come to expect from the mainstream media, Newsweek went on to explain that Bosch - quote - "blew up an airliner in 1976, killing 73, and was freed from jail in 1990 by then-President Bush under pressure from his son Jeb and Cuban exiles." On the basis of the Newsweek account, one might think that Bosch blew up an airliner in 1976, killing 73, and was freed from jail in 1990 by then-President Bush under pressure from his son Jeb and Cuban exiles. In fact, Bosch was cleared of any connection to the airline bombing. Twice. In Venezuelan courts.***

Venezuela President Resigns in Tumult - asks for exile in Cuba

Cuban Embassy in Venezuela Besieged

Cuba Says Carter Visit Shows Will of U.S. People

Cuba protests ouster of Venezuela's Chavez*** Rodriguez criticized the United States for not condemning Chavez's overthrow, saying that "the Yankees are almost always behind coups ... and install dictators."***