PRESIDENT Raúl Castro Ruz received June 17 Manuel Pinto da Costa, President of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, during the latter’s official visit to Cuba.

The two leaders reviewed the friendly and cooperative relations existing between the two countries and expressed their interest in strengthening bilateral links. They also discussed issues on the international agenda.

President Manuel Pinto da Costa was accompanied by Natalia Pedro da Costa Umbelina Neto, Minister of Foreign Business, Cooperation and Communities. Council of State Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla were present on the Cuban side.

ROME, June 16—.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today recognized 18 countries for their exceptional results in combating hunger, among them various Latin American nations.

These were Cuba, Venezuela, Guyana, Nicaragua, Peru and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, which have reduced by half or more the estimated figures of undernourished persons in 1990-92.

Milagros Carina Soto, Cuban ambassador to Italy and Rome-based international bodies affirmed to Prensa Latina that the prize is in recognition of the Cuban Revolution’s policy for the well-being of the population. For the Cuban people it is an incentive in terms of the effort and decisiveness with which they have worked for decades toward a more just country, in spite of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States. The ambassador also noted that it is in recognition of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, “who has given so much attention to agricultural development to ensure that we are better and share what we have.”

PRESIDENT Raúl Castro received June 12 Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

During the meeting, Cousin expressed her satisfaction at the progress of WFP-

Cuban cooperation projects, and confirmed the international organization’s will to support the country’s efforts in the context of economic and social development.

The WFP director was interested in the updating of the Cuban economic model, specifically within the food sector, and was given a broad explanation of its progress.

The World Food Programme is a United Nations institution specializing in food aid.

Also present at the meeting were Laura Melo, WFP representative in Cuba, and Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz.

GENEVA.—Addressing the Human Rights Council, Cuba condemned continued Israeli acts of aggression against the Palestinian people and the illegal construction of new settlements in the occupied territories.

"Acts of violence and provocation against the Palestinian civilian population on the part of colonizers have increased without the occupying power taking any steps to prevent them, or appropriate legal measures to try those responsible," stated Vilma Thomas, the Cuban representative.

During the general debate on the Palestinian issue, the delegate also spoke of continuing arbitrary detentions, maltreatment of detainees, and military aggression, such as Operation Pillar of Defense.

"Once again, utilizing its technical and military superiority to brutally repress the Palestinian population, Israel has killed innocent civilians and caused enormous material damage, thus aggravating the already precarious living conditions of the population," Thomas noted.

The Cuban representative denounced Israel’s refusal to respect Human Rights Council decisions and to cooperate with international missions established by the United Nations.

During the session, Richard Falk, UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, revealed that during its 46 years of occupation, Israel has detained 750,000 Palestinians, and 5,000 of these are still in prison.

Falk expressed his concern at the arrest of minors, in violation of Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention against Torture.

Presenting his report, the rapporteur condemned continued abusive nocturnal arrests, arbitrary detention, torture, solitary confinement and other forms of inhuman and humiliating treatment in the prisons.

Falk noted that the Israeli occupation is not static, but involves the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes, the construction of Jewish colonies on Palestinian land, the appropriation of resources and excessive violence implemented on a grand scale. (PL)

RENÉ González, one of the five Cuban anti-terrorists prosecuted in the United States, described the trial he faced with Gerardo, Antonio, Fernando and Ramón as "an act of vengeance."

Participating in the June 3 videoconference between Havana and Washington, he recalled the many irregularities which occurred during the legal proceedings.

"This is not a case in which someone made a mistake in the application of the law," René said, "We are talking about a deliberate, methodical, calculated effort to violate the entire justice process."

"We won the trial," he affirmed, "Every one of the appeals were won and those who were responsible for their application have made a mockery of their own laws, of the evidence and the facts, time and time again."

The decorated Hero of the Republic recalled that, during the trial, journalists were paid to not only manipulate the truth but to act as spokespersons for the prosecution.

"The use that was made of the press in our case is something never before seen. The journalists even attempted to threaten the jury, filming their automobile license plates. The jury made complaints that they were afraid of the press," René reported.

At the same time he explained that U.S. journalists have been given orders to avoid talking about the Five. "It is shameful that within a society that talks so much about freedom of the press, orders have been given not to mention the case, a case in which we all know generals and presidential advisors testified, in which terrorism and U.S. national security were discussed."

Emphasizing the contradiction, René mentioned a trial some years ago in which a woman was accused of killing her daughter and "people took vacation to go to court, the press was bombarding the public with the issue."

He also recalled that as an alternative to the legal process, an executive order on the part of President Barack Obama to commute the sentences is an available option. "All he needs is a little courage," René emphasized, commenting that there are forces within the U.S which hope to prolong the situation, to maintain conflict between the two countries.

"Given that this has always been a political case, I believe that it is a political decision, if they respect the law or continue to make a mockery of it," he emphasized.

René thanked organizers of the ‘Five Days for the Five’ for their efforts, saying, "It is not easy to mobilize human sensitivity in a society like that of the United States. A lot has been accomplished; we have solidarity on all continents. Now we must direct all of this solidarity toward the United States," he said.

Also participating in the videoconference from Havana were Ricardo Alarcón, member of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Political Bureau, and families of the Cuban anti-terrorists. The conference served as an opportunity to summarize activities which took place around the world during the five-day event.

Kenia Serrano, president of the Cuban Friendship Institute, reported that while initially activities were planned in 34 countries, the number had increased to 55. "There has been an international mobilization that the government in Washington can no longer ignore," she said.

Alicia Jrapko, coordinator of the U.S. committee, highlighted the participation in Washington of Latin American parliamentarians, a European Union deputy, writers, jurists, trade union leaders, artists and a delegation of Cubans resident in Miami.

"Our expectations have been surpassed," she said, "For the first time, parliamentarians visited the capitol to appeal for the freedom of the Five and were received by members of Congress."

Ignacio Ramonet, editor of Le Monde Diplomatique, also in Washington, thanked organizers for the opportunity to participate in the event and described as a "scandal" the failure of U.S. mass media to cover the activities which took place, including a demonstration in front of the White House.

He also addressed the inclusion of Cuba on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, saying this shows that the U.S. developed list "has no credibility whatsoever."

"From my point of view, the United States is isolated, just as it is in maintaining the blockade.

"This event is a way to help U.S. citizens become aware of the injustice which has been committed," he concluded.

- MIAMI 5 

A panel of eminent jurists, including attorney Martin Garbus from the team defending the Cuban anti-terrorists imprisoned in the United States, presented in Washington a detailed analysis of the irregularities which occurred during the prosecution of the Five.

The discussion took place in Georgetown University’s Legal Center and included Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General, as well as attorneys Rafael Anglada and José Pertierra, who served as the moderator, in addition to Garbus.

Comments were also made by Peter Schey, director of the Center for Human and Constitutional Rights in Los Angeles, Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice, and via Skype, Belgian human rights advocate Jan Fermon.

Garbus described payments made by the U.S. government to journalists during the trial to negatively influence public opinion and prejudice the jury against the Five. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard reported that a formal request is being made to the State Department demanding clarification of these actions.

Attorney Peter Schey refuted arguments used by the prosecution to justify the outrageous charges against Gerardo which resulted in a disproportionate sentence of two life terms in prison.

The jurists’ meeting at the prestigious university took place within the context of the Five Days for the Five event in Washington, D.C. organized by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five. • (Cubadebate)

- MIAMI 5

THE historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, received on June 7 Diosdado Cabello Rondón, President of the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

During the animated and fraternal meeting, Fidel and Diosdado recalled with emotion the legacy of Comandante Hugo Chávez Frías and discussed the objectives and challenges of this new stage of the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution, led by President Nicolás Maduro Moros.

They also addressed aspects of bilateral cooperation and the world food situation.

After the meeting Diosdado Cabello and Fidel briefly toured areas where high-protein crops for animal consumption are cultivated, to increase milk and beef yields.

PRESIDENT Raúl Castro Ruz received Diosdado Cabello Rondón, President of the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, who was making an official visit to Cuba.

The two leaders confirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations and had a fruitful discussion on regional and international issues. Raúl restated Cuba’s unvarying support for the Bolivarian Revolution and emphasized its contribution to Latin American and Caribbean integration.

The Cuban President praised the efforts of the Bolivarian and Chavista national leadership under the guidance of President Nicolás Maduro Moros in ensuring the continuity of Comandante Hugo Chávez Frías’ work and preserving the irreversible attainments of the Venezuelan people.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla also participated in the meeting.