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November 5, 2002
Spielberg Criticizes Cuba Embargo
Mon Nov 4, 7:20 PM ET
HAVAVA (AP) - American director Steven Spielberg (news) criticized the U.S.
trade embargo against this communist-run island after arriving here to meet with
young Cuban cinematographers and attend a festival showing eight of his films.
"I personally feel this embargo should be lifted," Spielberg told
a news conference at a Havana hotel. "I don't see any reason for its
existence beyond grudges carrying into the 21st century."
Spielberg said he had seen several Cuban films in the past and found their
scripts to be "interesting and passionate."
"I am here to meet a very rich and varied culture," he added,
before he was swept away for a tour of architectural renovation projects in Old
Havana.
The Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Arts and Industry invited Spielberg
to Cuba, where he will meet with Cuban filmmakers and visit the International
School of Film and Television, which trains students from around the world in
the moviemaking arts.
On Tuesday night, Spielberg will launch the festival of his films by
attending the Cuban premiere of his most recent film, "Minority Report."
Other films to be presented during the festival at four Havana theaters and
in video salons across the island are "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Raiders
of the Lost Ark," "Jaws," "Schindler's List," "Saving
Private Ryan," "Empire of the Sun" and "Duel."
Other events on his schedule include a visit to Havana's main synagogue to
meet the Jewish community and a reception with U.S. diplomats and their families
stationed in Havana.
Accompanying Spielberg on the trip are his wife, actress Kate Capshaw
(news); cinematographer Janusz Kaminski; and television director Jake Paltrow.
Organizers say the trip has been authorized by the U.S. government under a
license for noncommercial film-related cultural exchange and exhibition
activities.
Under a four-decade-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, most Americans must
obtain a special license to spend money in the Caribbean country.
Japan's Dragons traveling to Cuba for friendly games
Mon Nov 4, 2:30 PM ET
HAVANA - The Dragons baseball team of Japan was traveling to Cuba this week
for two friendly games against a Cuban all-star team to celebrate a century of
diplomatic relations on the eve of the Intercontinental Baseball Cup.
The Dragons of Chunichi, one of Japan's top professional baseball teams,
will play a selection of Cuba's best players on Wednesday night and Thursday
night at Havana's Latinoamericano Stadium.
The Intercontinental Cup opens on Friday night at the same stadium and will
run through Nov. 20. The series of games will be held both here and in the
central provincial capital of Matanzas, about an hour's drive east of Havana.
The friendly games with the Dragons "will help us prepare because it is
very high quality club," said Humberto Rodriguez, president of Cuba's
Sports Institute.
Japan and Cuba established diplomatic relations in December 1902, a few
months after this Caribbean country's independence from Spain.
Missing from the Dragons' lineup roster will be several of its best players,
including Fukudome Kosube (.343 and 19 home runs), and Kazuyoshi Tatsuami (.302
and 16 home runs). Also absent will be pitchers Kenshin Kawakami (12-6) and
Kenta Asakura (11-11).
Those four will be playing in an annual competition between Japanese and
American professional all-star teams.
Japanese ball players who are coming include left-handed pitcher Shigetoshi
Yamakita (1-4), catcher Fumihiro Suzuki and shortstop Hirokazu Ibata.
Those three players will also play for Japan in the International Baseball
Cup. The other national teams participating will be Brazil, China, South Korea
(news - web sites), Cuba, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic,
Taiwan and Venezuela.
Cuba, an international baseball powerhouse, has won eight past
Intercontinental Baseball Cup tournaments. Australia, which won the last
tournament, and the united States, opted not to attend this year's competition.
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