U.S. media decline to confront communist dignitaries
By I.J. Toby Westerman. © 2000,
WorldNetDaily.com, Inc.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Roque stated upon his return from the United
States that "American journalists," as well as "diverse sectors
of U.S. society, [gave] gestures of sympathy and respect" to Cuban
dignitaries recently on an official visit to the United States.
He also said that "the American people are becoming aware of Cuba's
achievements" and that "Washington's hostile policy against Cuba has
no future," according to official Cuban sources.
The U.S. press figured prominently in Roque's assessment of how his nation
is regarded in America.
"The constant barrage of questions [from] American journalists and
diverse sectors of U.S. society" led Roque to conclude that Americans have
an increased interest in his nation's accomplishments "in diverse sectors
including culture, sports and health."
Roque stated that while the entire Cuban delegation in the U.S. "received
gestures of sympathy and respect," the U.S. Cuban exile community -- to
which he referred as "Miami's Cuban Mafia" -- was a "discredited
and minority voice" which "wasn't heard."
Roque's remarks were carried by Radio Habana Cuba, the official broadcasting
service of the Cuban government.
Upon his arrival, Roque stated that Cuba "must continue its battle"
against the U.S. embargo against the island. He told the Cuban people that "Washington's
hostile policy against Cuba has no future or support inside that country (the
U.S.), or within the international community."
A delegation of six members of Cuba's parliament -- the National Assembly of
People's Power -- arrived in Havana after attending this year's annual
convention of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus.
The Cuban delegation was present at the event by invitation and "were
accorded a very warm welcome." The event included a gala final session
attended by some 4,000 individuals, including "religious leaders,
politicians, representatives of culture and broadcasters."
During the event, members of the Cuban delegation presented a proposal that
would provide 250 medical scholarships for African-American students to attend
Cuban medical schools. The offer was "very warmly welcomed."
Specific discussions about scholarships to Cuban medical schools for
African-American students, as well as other minorities in the U.S., can be
traced to the June visit to Cuba by a delegation from the Black Caucus, which
expressed admiration for the Cuban health-care system.
Cuba has also offered to send a number of their physicians to the poorer
areas of the U.S.
While "the American people are becoming more aware of Cuba's
achievements," there is no mention of the plight of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet,
the Cuban physician who has been a political prisoner since 1998. Biscet, an
anti-abortion activist, was arrested in connection with research into abortion
practices in his homeland. He has languished in prison since being taken into
custody.
Several members of the U.S. Congress and a number of organizations,
including Amnesty International and the American Association for the Advancement
of Science, have become involved in Biscet's case.
None of the journalists Roque mentioned made reference to Biscet's
imprisonment.
Nor was there any discussion of the three Swedish journalists arrested in
Cuba on charges of "encouraging subversive activities." The three --
two men and a woman -- entered Cuba on tourist visas and ran afoul of the Cuban
internal security apparatus. While detained for four days, the three were
subjected to prolonged interrogations and had to appeal to their embassy for
food and water.
Questions also could have been raised concerning the closure in May of a "subversive
exhibit [of] anti-socialist and pro-capitalist art," which was being held
on the island.
While many other questions could have been asked regarding the communist
regime in Cuba, none of them would likely be regarded as "gestures of
sympathy and respect."
Editor's note: WND's multi-lingual reporter Toby Westerman specializes in
monitoring global shortwave broadcasts and reading foreign-language news
journals for information not readily available from the domestic press. Each
month, Westerman presents a special in-depth report in WorldNetDaily's monthly
magazine, WorldNet. Readers may subscribe to WorldNet through WND's online
store.
I.J Toby Westerman, a contributing editor to both WorldNet Magazine and
WorldNetDaily.com, focuses on current events in the Commonwealth of Independent
States and the Balkans.
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