|
Yahoo!
May 27, 2002.
Castro to Americans: Don't Fear Cuba
Sat May 25, 1:37 Pm Et . By Anita Snow, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro told Americans on Saturday that they should never
fear an attack by Cuba and can always count on this communist country's support
in the war against terrorism.
In his first public comments since President Bush 's tough Cuba speech on
Monday, Castro told a rally of several hundred thousand people that Cuba does
not fault Americans for their government's restrictions on the communist island
and recognizes that many U.S. citizens support improved relations.
"Our struggle is not and never will be against the people of the United
States," Castro said during the morning rally in the provincial capital of
Sancti Spiritus, about 215 miles southeast of Havana.
"Cuba will never place blame or sow hate against the people of the
United States for the aggressions that we have suffered because of their
governments," Castro told a crowd the government estimated at 300,000 —
a figure impossible to verify independently.
Americans should never fear that Cuba would attack their country, Castro
said in a 20-minute speech that he said was aimed largely at U.S. citizens.
Rather, he said, "In their current difficulties and in the struggle against
the scourge of terrorism, the people of the United States can count on our
friendly, united and generous people."
Castro's speech seemed designed to engage Americans who support changes in
U.S. policy toward Cuba. It also seemed aimed at assuaging any fears Americans
may feel about Cuba after recent charges by the Bush administration that the
communist island sponsors terrorism and could be developing germ warfare.
In Bush's speech Monday, he said that trade sanctions against Cuba would not
be lifted until Castro agrees to free all political prisoners, allow
independently monitored elections and agree to a series of other conditions for
a "new government that is fully democratic."
Castro said he was "hurt" to think Americans would believe that
Cuba supported terrorism or could be involved in any way with weapons of mass
destruction.
"A single drop of blood has never been shed in the United States, nor
has an atom of wealth been lost there in the 43 years of the Cuban Revolution
due to terrorist actions launched in Cuba," Castro said, speaking before a
wooden lectern in his traditional olive green uniform.
As for suggestions by the Bush administration that Cuba has transferred
bio-warfare technology to "rogue" nations, Castro said: "In our
country, no one has ever thought of developing such weapons. Our scientists have
been educated for the sacred mission of protecting life and not for destroying
it."
Bush's decision to keep up the pressure on Castro comes amid growing moves
in the opposite direction by Americans who want the embargo to be eased or
lifted. Farm lobbying groups, many members of Congress and a growing number of
Washington policy groups have come out against the sanctions in recent weeks.
During his visit to Cuba earlier this month, former President Jimmy Carter
also called for an end to the restrictions, saying that over more than four
decades they have failed to force a change in the Cuban government and have only
made life tougher for the Cuban people.
Castro said that Americans' changing attitudes toward Cuba became evident
during the custody battle over young Elian Gonzalez, the young castaway boy who
returned to Cuba from the United States in 2000.
Polls at the time had showed most Americans favored returning the boy to his
father in Cuba. Elian was then staying with relatives in Miami after being
rescued at sea.
Related links
Cuba
and terrorism
U.S. to
fall, Castro says / Miami Herald / Net for Cuba
"The
people and governments of Cuba and Iran can bring the United States to its
knees." / Iranian Mania News
Fidel Castro heads government rally protesting decades of violent
attacks against Cuba
Sat May 25,10:29 Am Et . By Anita Snow, Associated Press
Writer
HAVANA - Responding for the first time to U.S. President George W. Bush 's
tough declarations on Cuba, Fidel Castro told several thousand people gathered
on Saturday that his country has never opposed the American people, but rather a
series of U.S. governments.
"Our struggle is not against the American people," Castro said
during the morning rally in the central-east provincial capital of Sancti
Spiritus.
The Cuban leader offered a "clarification," saying that not just
he "but all of us" would respond to Bush's declaration on Monday that
the four-decade-old U.S. trade embargo will not be lifted until Castro meets
tough conditions for changes on the island.
Castro said Cuba will respond "one by one" to Bush's points, "a
task that will take time and we are just beginning."
The government called out 300,000 people for the morning rally to protest
more than four decades of violent attacks on the island by this communist
government's enemies. The government's estimate of the crowd size was impossible
to verify.
As the rally got under way, a live television broadcast of the event showed
Castro standing in the front row of the crowd, dressed in his typical olive
green uniform and waving a small red, white and blue Cuban flag.
The rally comes a few days after the U.S. State Department released its
annual terrorism list, naming Cuba along with countries such as Iran, Syria and
Libya as sponsors of state terrorism.
Cuba greatly resents being included on the list and insists it opposes all
forms of terrorism.
People who have lost loved ones in bombings and other violent attacks by
Cuban exiles over the decades were featured during the rally in Sancti Spiritus,
about 350 kilometers (215 miles) southeast of Havana.
On Monday, Bush declared in speeches in Washington and Miami that the U.S.
trade embargo will not be lifted unless Castro releases political prisoners,
conducts independently monitored elections and accepts a list of U.S. conditions
for a "new government that is fully democratic."
The week before, during a visit to Cuba, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
urged the people to embrace democracy and called on the United States to lift
the 40-year-old sanctions.
Carter and other critics argue that the restrictions have failed to end
Castro's regime while making life tough on ordinary Cubans.
Report: Venezuelan oil company to stop crude shipments to Cuba
Fri May 24,12:26 PM ET
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela has told Cuba it will stop shipping oil to
the communist nation for lack of payment, El Nacional newspaper reported Friday.
Officials with Venezuela's state-owned oil monopoly, Petroleos de Venezuela,
couldn't immediately be reached by telephone for comment on the report.
Under a 2000 agreement, PDVSA supplied 53,000 barrels of oil per day,
allowing Cuba 15 years to pay at a low interest rate. Venezuela has similar
deals with other Caribbean nations.
Venezuela has sold Cuba about dlrs 700 million worth of oil, but at least
dlrs 63 million hasn't been paid, according to El Nacional, which cited company
documents.
Cuba hasn't received Venezuelan crude since Chavez was briefly ousted by
military officers April 12-14. After the coup, Chavez's government pledged to
resume shipments.
Mexico beats Cuba 5-4 to win friendly all-star baseball series
Mon May 27,12:53 AM ET
MONTERREY, Mexico - Mexico rallied in the ninth inning to beat Cuba 5-4
Sunday and win the first-ever, friendly all-star series between the two
countries.
Mexico scored two runs in the top of the ninth as fans stood and cheered,
dancing in the stands. The game was played before a crowd of 15,000 at the
Monterrey stadium.
It was Mexico's second consecutive victory in the best-of-three series,
after beating Cuba 6-2 Saturday. The final game will be played in Holguin, Cuba.
Cuba got off to a strong start, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first
inning. Center fielder Yaser Gomez hit a double to right field and later scored
on a single by third baseman Michel Enrique. Enrique went to third on a single
by second baseman Yobal Duenas and left fielder Kendry Morales smacked a single
to right field to score Enrique.
Mexico changed pitchers from starter Salvador Rodriguez to Gerardo Garcia in
the bottom of the second. Rodriguez gave up two runs, five hits and surrendered
one walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Cuba upped the score to 3-0 in the bottom of the third when Gomez reached
base on a two-base error and went on to score on a single to right by Enrique.
Mexico changed pitchers at the start of the fourth to Alejandro Romero.
Garcia pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.
Daniel Lazo added another run for Cuba in the bottom of the fourth on a
German Mesa double.
Mexico got on the board when Ricardo Saenz smashed a two-out home run in the
top of the sixth inning, sending Oscar Robles and Luis Arredondo home to make it
4-3.
Cuba replaced starter Maels Rodriguez in the top of the sixth with Jose
Ibar. Rodriguez gave up three hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings and finished
with nine strike outs.
Mexico introduced Miguel Rubio in the bottom of the eighth for Romero, who
pitched four innings, giving up four hits and one run and striking out one.
Cuba changed pitchers in the top of the 9th inning, subbing Ibar for closer
Jose Contreras who could not get the save.
Pinch hitter Roberto Vizcarra sealed the win for Mexico in the ninth with a
double to left field that scored Carlos Valencia and Miguel Ojeda.
Mexico changed pitchers in the last half of ninth, benching Rubio in favor
of closer David Sinohui, who earned the save.
Cuba interrupted its always popular baseball playoffs for six days to make
space for the series.
Line ups:
Mexico:
Catcher Noe Munoz; Designated Hitter Miguel Ojeda; 1st Baseman Cornelio
Garcia; 2nd baseman, Arnoldo Castro; 3rd baseman, Ray Martinez; short stop, Jose
Luis Sandoval; center fielder, Luis Arredondo; left fielder, Ricardo Saenz;
right fielder, Matias Carrillo; starting pitcher, Salvador Rodriguez.
Cuba:
Catcher, Eriel Sanchez; 1st baseman, Luis Rivera; 2nd baseman, Yobal Duenas;
3rd baseman, Michel Enrique; left fielder, Kendry Morales; short stop, German
Mesa; center fielder, Yasser Gomez; right fielder, Daniel Lazo; designated
hitter, Vaisel Acosta; starting pitcher Maels Rodriguez. | 
