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Latin American nations fail to reach
an agreement on Cuba
BRASILIA, Brazil, 20 (AP)- Latin American
and Caribbean foreign ministers on Friday
wound up a two-day meeting in this city
without an agreement on the best way to
break Cuba's isolation from the rest of
the region.
The foreign ministers of the 19 countries
that make up the Group of Rio began meeting
on Thursday to prepare the groundwork for
the Group's presidential summit, which is
scheduled for November in Rio de Janeiro.
According to Brazilian Foreign Minister
Celso Amorim, who on Thursday said Brazil
wanted Cuba to rejoin "the Latin American
family,'' the ministers failed to reach
a "consensus on how to begin a dialogue''
to achieve this objective.
The consensus was not reached because some
ministers "consider this to be a very
sensitive topic that requires consultations
with their respective governments.''
"We cannot discuss Cuba in Cuba's
absence,'' Amorim said.
"What we did discuss was an eventual
dialogue between the Group of Rio and Cuba.''
The initiative to establish this dialogue
came from Brazil and has received the backing
of Argentina and Peru, Amorim said.
Cuba is not a member of the Group, which
meets on a regular basis to discuss the
region's foreign policy stands, nor of the
Organization of American States.
Some of the other topics discussed during
the meeting included ways to combat hunger
and misery and multilateralism, according
to the Agencia Brasil, the government's
official news agency.
Formed in 1986 in Rio de Janeiro, the Group
of Rio includes: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana (representing
the Caribbean Community), Honduras, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican
Republic, Venezuela and Uruguay.
Cuban fighters win some more in Olympic
boxing
ATHENS, Greece, 20 (AP) - Cuban fighters
continued to roll in Olympic boxing Friday,
winning three more fights to improve to
14-1.
And 17-year-old Amir Khan of Britain, the
only member of his country's boxing team,
was impressive for a second time with a
37-21 win over Dimitar Stilianov of Bulgaria
at 60 kilograms.
Khan got inside and landed big right hands
against the Bulgarian to advance to a quarterfinal
match.
"I was boxing someone 10 years older
who was the European champion but I wasn't
as nervous as my first contest," Khan
said. "I'm just taking things step
by step. My real aim was the next Olympic
Games, so being here is a bonus for me."
Cuba's Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa, Luis
Franco Vazquez and Guillermo Rigondeaux
Ortiz all added wins for Cuba.
Rigondeaux, who beat Mehar Ullah of Pakistan
in the 54-kilogram class, let his opponent
come to him.
"Ullah has very long arms and that
is why I chose a more defensive tactic,"
Rigondeaux said. "When I noticed that
he was tired, I became more aggressive and
won the bout."
Mexican newspaper publishes photos of
Maradona allegedly snorting cocaine in rehab
MEXICO CITY, 19 (AP) - A Mexican newspaper
published photos Thursday of Argentine soccer
great Diego Maradona allegedly snorting
cocaine in a drug rehabilitation clinic
in Cuba.
The grainy photos, taken off video allegedly
filmed during Maradona's wild rehab parties,
showed the soccer legend walking around
naked among friends, inhaling cocaine off
a plate and having sex with his girlfriend.
The Record newspaper said the footage was
recorded in March, shortly before Maradona
left for Argentina. It also reported that
his girlfriend was pregnant and expecting
a baby in November.
Dr. Alfredo Cahe, Maradona's personal physician,
did not immediately respond to calls by
The Associated Press in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
seeking comment.
Maradona, an admitted cocaine addict, has
been receiving drug treatment in Buenos
Aires since early May, after he was rushed
twice to a clinic for heart and lung problems.
He is prohibited from abandoning his rehab
program after several family members sought
a legal injunction preventing him from leaving
Argentina without their consent.
Maradona's former wife and parents have
reportedly urged him to remain at home,
but he and his medical team have expressed
interest in continuing his treatment in
Cuba or Switzerland.
Maradona led Argentina to the 1986 World
Cup championship and 1990 final, and retired
in 1997. In 2000, FIFA chose him and Pele
as the greatest players in soccer history.
Siegfried and Roy Present "Havana
Night Club-The Show''
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2004--After
a long and arduous plight, the cast of "Havana
Night Club-The Show" has triumphantly
arrived in Las Vegas for its historic United
States debut performance, Saturday, August
21, 2004 at the Stardust Resort and Casino.
"Havana Night Club-The Show" represents
the largest production to emanate from Cuba
and perform on United States' soil in more
than 50 years. Tickets for "Havana
Night Club-The Show" can be purchased
at the Stardust Resort and Casino Box Office
and by calling 1-866-525-2077 for show ticket
reservations.
"I was determined to show the United
States the unbelievable untouched talents
of Cuba and not even Hurricane Charley could
stop it," exclaimed Nicole Durr, producer,
creator and artistic director of "Havana
Night Club-The Show." "Every beat
and every note is filled with vitality and
unbridled energy. The audience is invited
to a party made up of glorious colors, rhythm,
dance and music."
Since its worldwide debut in 1999, "Havana
Night Club-The Show" has performed
in 16 countries, for more than two million
fans and become a critical and commercial
phenomenon. On July 31st, U.S. audiences
will finally have the opportunity to witness
firsthand the show that has broken boundaries
and excited fans around the world.
"Havana Night Club-The Show"
presenters and associate producers Siegfried
and Roy commented, "We've witnessed
the magic of this show and felt compelled
to bring its electrifying energy to Las
Vegas. This is one party you can't miss!"
"Havana Night Club-The Show"
will take U.S. audiences on a journey into
the legendary nightlife of Havana by showcasing
dancers adorned in extraordinary costumes
and an award-winning Cubaximo band and singers
in a unique interactive theatrical production.
The show evokes the cultural riches of the
magnificent island of Cuba by showcasing
its rich musical versatility with modern
dance in an explosion of energy and originality.
The creative and influential team of legendary
illusionists Siegfried and Roy, Emmy award
winning director and choreographer Kenny
Ortega and international producer Nicole
"ND" Durr were instrumental in
bringing the Cuban cast of dancers, musicians
and singers from "Havana Night Club-The
Show" to the United States.
Nicole "ND" Durr joined forces
with presenters and associate producers
Siegfried & Roy, who began their careers
in Las Vegas on the same stage at the Stardust
over 28 years ago, along with Emmy-Award
winning director and choreographer Kenny
Ortega (Barbra Streisand, Cher, Madonna,
Opening Ceremony/Salt Lake 2002 Olympic
Games) and set designer Michael Cotton,
(Gloria Estefan, N'Sync, Michael Jackson
and Aerosmith) who designed each of the
show's 16 elaborate scenes.
Keith Smith, Chief Operating Officer of
Boyd Gaming, which owns the Stardust, commented
on the announcement, "We are very excited
to host such an exciting international production
at the Stardust and welcome Siegfried &
Roy back to their original Las Vegas home."
Websites: http://www.havananightclub.com
and http://www.stardustlv.com
14 Cuban migrants arrive on Puerto Rican
island
The Associated Press, August
20 2004.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Fourteen Cuban
migrants traveling on a wooden boat landed
on Puerto Rico's Mona Island, officials
said Friday.
The six men and eight women arrived Thursday
and turned themselves in to Puerto Rican
rangers who patrol the island, said Leila
Andreu, spokeswoman for the Department of
Natural and Environmental Resources.
The Cubans arrived hours after another
group of eight Cubans landed on Mona on
Thursday. They were waiting to be picked
up by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The 14 were traveling with an unknown number
of Dominican migrants who kept going toward
Puerto Rico's main coast after dropping
them off on Mona, Andreu said.
Also Friday, authorities detained about
20 more Dominican migrants who arrived in
a group of more than 135 in northern Puerto
Rico on Thursday. Authorities said 97 have
been detained so far.
Dominican migrants are generally repatriated.
Under the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, most
Cubans who reach U.S. shores can stay in
the country and apply for legal U.S. residency
after one year. Those caught at sea are
generally repatriated.
U.S. authorities have intercepted more
than 7,000 migrants -- mostly Dominicans
-- trying to reach Puerto Rico since Oct.
1, more than double the number in the previous
12 months.
The illegal voyages have increased as the
Dominican economy has deteriorated to crisis
levels.
Cuba Tops China in Women's Volleyball
ATHENS, Greece, 18 (AP) - In women's volleyball,
Cuba topped previously unbeaten China on
Wednesday in five sets behind 24 points
from Zoila Barros Fernandez. China, Cuba
and Russia are tied for first in Pool A.
Ekaterina Gamova had 23 points, including
20 kills, to the lead the Russians past
Germany in three sets.
In Pool A, So Yun Chang had 18 points to
lead Korea to a sweep of Kenya. Tomoko Yoshihara
had 16 points to lead Japan to a four-set
victory over Greece.
Klayman Challenges Fla. U.S. Senate Candidates
to Debate Cuban Policy Issues in Miami;
Martinez, McCollum Have Dodged Prior Efforts
Contact: Gary McCullough, 904-687-9690
or 202-546-0054; or David Johnson, 786-497-2926,
both for Friends of Larry Klayman
MIAMI, Aug. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today,
U.S. Senate Candidate Larry Klayman, who
has been a strong advocate for the immediate
removal of Fidel Castro (news - web sites)
from power, and who, while Judicial Watch
Chairman, prosecuted cases against Castro
for crimes against humanity and the shootdown
of Brothers to the Rescue, challenged his
Republican Senate candidate colleagues Bill
McCollum and Mel Martinez to a debate on
Cuban policy issues prior to the primary
election on August 31, 2004.
In a letter faxed to each of the campaigns
yesterday afternoon, Klayman called for
5 p.m. deadline Thursday, August 19, to
respond to his challenge.
Previously, Klayman thought that he had
arranged for a debate on Cuban policy issues
to be hosted by the Cuban Studies Center
of the University of Miami. However, when
the Center contacted Martinez for convenient
dates to debate, he stonewalled and failed
to respond. Similarly, Martinez again failed
to respond to a debate proposed by TV Channel
41 in Miami.
The likely reason that Martinez is afraid
to debate in Miami rests on his weak policy
toward Fidel Castro, according to Klayman.
At an Associated Press Forum on January
28, 2004, Martinez stated that he is against
the forceful removal of Castro, "unless
he is a more obvious threat than he appears
today." Conversely, Klayman proposed
that the United States, with its European
allies, impose a South African style economic
embargo on Cuba as a means to oust the dictator,
and if this cannot be negotiated and implemented,
that he be removed by force. This because
Castro has assisted Middle Eastern and other
terrorist states, harbors terrorists, and
continues to terrorize his own people.
"If Castro is not removed now, then
when? He could live another 20 years and
if we are truly fighting a war against terrorism,
then he must be swiftly dealt with. He has
killed more of his own people than Saddam
Hussein (news - web sites) did," Klayman
said.
"McCollum, like Martinez, has no plan
to remove Castro any time soon; nor do the
other candidates. The likely effect of their
position is to wait for Castro to die."
"If we can bring democracy to Iraq
(news - web sites), are the Cubans any less
worthy? They have done so much for this
country that we cannot sit back and watch
another decade or more of tyranny and terrorism
on the Communist island. Castro must be
removed for the good of all Americans, the
Western Hemisphere and the world. The time
has come.
"Let the debate begin," Klayman
said.
Note: A copy of the letter challenging
the other U.S. Senate candidates to this
debate is available online at http://www.Klaymansenate.com
Paid for by Friends of Larry Klayman
-- PO Box 310777, Miami, FL 33231.
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