• NATALIE Blanc from Argentina’s Revista Veintitrés writes to ask us about the repercussions in Cuba (in the press, on the streets and on television) to the photos published in a Mexican daily in which Diego Maradona is allegedly seen in La Pradera clinic in compromising situations; that is to say, with evidence of sex and drugs. In truth, there have been no repercussions. In Cuba, we have become accustomed to whatever pretext is used in an attempt to malign us and our press chooses not to repeat the accusations.

Jorge Elías Murillo - a Panamanian who feels extremely ashamed of that nation’s president who, as he remarks, is gone down on her knees before the empire - has sent us a long message in which he angrily condemns President Mireya Moscoso for pardoning the four Cuban international terrorists who were imprisoned in that country. Likewise, a student named Kuala from the Law Faculty at the University of Panama, is calling for Posada Carriles and his accomplices to face the firing squad.

Charles Cossou from Martinique tells us that in July two journalists from his country reported that President Fidel Castro was on the point of announcing the discovery of an important oilfield in Cuba, and that he is still awaiting the statement. I think it is more appropriate to ask those reporters, than to ask us. Cuba has signed exploration contracts in the Cuban bloc in the Gulf of Mexico with oil companies from several nations, but as yet there have been no concrete results.

Carlos Botella from Spain wrote to us with his views on athletes who change their nationality in order to earn money, referring to an article on the subject that appeared in our weekly. You are right Carlos. We also condemn this practice without bothering ourselves with "Money is power."

Mauricio Otero from Osorno in Chile asks us if we can publish the number of medals that Cuba won in the Olympics, in comparison with Latin America and the rest of the world. We have passed your request on to our colleagues in the sports section.

Claudia Camba from Argentina has sent us a extensive report on the agreement signed between the municipality of Córdoba with the Latin American and Caribbean Pedagogical Institute (IPLAC) in Cuba to eliminate illiteracy in that region, using the "Yo sí puedo" (I Can Do It!) one-year program, starting September. There are 120,000 illiterate people in Córdoba.