[CubaNews] Prensa Latina - Direct from Havana- AM, July 3, 2008

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

DIRECT FROM HAVANA, CUBA
LATIN AMERICAN NEWS AGENCY, SA
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Morning Transmission
Thursday, July 3, 2008

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CUBA-NATIONAL NEWS CUBA
Cuban FM for New Information Order
Cuba Parliament for Society, Economy
Solidarity Caravan to Cuba
Cuban Students Discuss Medical Programs


INTERNATIONAL NEWS

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
NonAligneds for South Communication
Bolivia to Create Ministry of Autonomies
Venezuela Hopes for Colombia Peace
Justice on Posada Trail, Lawyers
NAM for Balanced Information
Guatemala Rains Kill, Cause Floods
America Forum for Food Autonomy
Bolivians Denounce Vote Challenges
CARICOM Defends Sovereignty of Foreign Policy
Thousands of Dominican as Sex Slaves
Bolivia Announces Economy Surplus
Peru's Stand on Bolivia Questioned

US, CANADA, EUROPE
Spanish Troops Quiet in Afghanistan
France Awaiting Ingrid Betancourt
Prague Rejects French Treaty Push
Spain Admits Economy Worse
Britain Eyes 8th Place in Beijing Olympics
UK to Build 2 Aircraft Carriers

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Angola, Venezuela Boost Cooperation
Zambia Denies President's Death
Zimbabwe Opposition Demands Cabinet
Attacks Target Iraqi Forces
Angola Hosts Trade Fair
Israel Should Commit to Ceasefire, Says Hamas

ASIA AND AUSTRALIA
Pakistan PM Threatened
Islamic Leaders to Malaysia Summit

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CUBA-NATIONAL NEWS CUBA

Cuban FM for New Information Order

Margarita Island, Venezuela, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Cuban Foreign
Minister Felipe Perez Roque advocated on Thursday for a new world
information order and denounced US actions against his country.

Perez Roque told media reporting on the 7th Conference of Non-Aligned
Movement Information Ministers, that communication problems won à t
be solved with palliative measures.

He stressed that high-level experts have already approved a document
and an Action Plan to be discussed by the ministers meeting in
Margarita Island.

The Cuban minister pointed out that the declaration will include the
point of view of the 118-member NAM, and the approval of Telesur
Latin American initiative and the decision to strengthen a news
agency network and the broadcasting Bureau of the organization.

Asked about Cuba's recent denunciation of new US actions against
Cuba, Perez Roque said they are part of an attempt to create an
opposition in the island by providing them with money and
technological resources.

He also ratified that most of the funds are funneled to
counter-revolutionary groups throught US diplomats who ordered them
to provoke actions on the streets.

nm/abo/ml

Cuba Parliament for Society, Economy

Havana, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Cuban social and economic development
will be tackled by the island's Parliament in the first session of
the present legislature, slated for next week.

The aim is to systematize and expand links with voters according to
the interest of supporting deputies, to review the main programs
implemented in the country.

According to a report by Granma newspaper, the country will approve
the 12 permanent working commissions of the legislative and 85
parliamentary groups of solidarity, as well as learn the work of
several organizations and ministries.

Before the plenary session, slated for July 11, participants will
discuss specific questions of the national occurrences like problems
that affect saving and energy efficiency in the island.

Also on the list are to solve difficulties in water supply, the
production of food, the construction of houses, the coming school
year, results of the mother-child program, dentistry services,
regulated distribution of food, foreign investment perspectives and
general evolution of economy.

The analysis of the commercialization of agricultural products and
results of the 2007-2008 sugarcane harvest will be also analyzed in
this meeting.

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Solidarity Caravan to Cuba

Havana, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The 19th Pastors for Peace Caravan
expects to negotiate obstacles to cross Thursday the US-Mexican
border of Texas with humanitarian aid for the Cuban people.

Challenging the Washington policies against the island, almost one
hundred US and European convoy members assembled in McAllen, Texas,
with the aim of crossing at the Mexican city of Reynosa.

Andres Luis Morejon, representative from the Cuban Institute of
Friendship with the Peoples, said the project disobeys US
restrictions of traveling to this nation.

He said "The group is led by the Interreligious Foundation for
Community Organization, Pastors for Peace, a US ecumenical
institution created in 1967 to fight for social justice."

Morejon told the National News Agency that the aid includes some 100
tons of medical, education, artistic and sports equipment, as well as
eight buses.

The shipment was collected passing through 12 Canadian cities and 125
of 47 US states.

Pastors for Peace leader Reverend Lucius Walker stated that this is
the true face of the US people, and termed ignorant policies
implemented by the US government to Cuba.

Since 1992, the group has condemned the economic, trade and financial
blockade against Cuba, which has caused losses valued at over $90
billion in almost 50 years.

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Cuban Students Discuss Medical Programs

Havana, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Members of the University Students'
Federation (FEU) discussed education quality and its compliance with
school program to train new physicians in Cuba.

Participants in the National Council of the organization ratified the
State's support due to the need to train health professionals for
Cuba and the World.

In that regard, it was learned that more than 27,000 health
professional will graduate on August 2 throughout the country,
including 1,500 physicians, 580 dentists, more than 11,000 nurses and
about 11,200 health technicians.

The Cuban university students also analyzed the results of the
vanguard moment in medical science schools and of the
recently-concluded academic year, the newspaper Juventud Rebelde
reported.

Several students agreed that medical ethics is not conceived without
cultural and political education. Others suggested that more
gynecologists and geriatrists must be trained, as Cuba's elderly
population is growing.

The newspaper noted that participants insisted on the urgent need to
make changes in the training of medical professionals to struggle for
ethics in the health sector and for excellent services.

Regarding education, they noted the importance of training competent
professors, as sophomore students teach in classrooms and have the
same responsibilities of graduate teachers.

nm//jg/crc

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

NonAligneds for South Communication

Margarita Island, Venezuela, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Experts of the Non
Aligned countries promoted communications proposals by countries of
the South, such as Telesur, in search of a new world order of
information.

During the inauguration of the first section of the 7th Conference of
Ministers of Information, directed by Cuban vice chancellor Abelardo
Moreno, the experts decided to recommend an analysis of the issue in
a meeting at ministerial level.

With the only reservation of the Colombian delegation,
representatives of Cuba, Surinam, Iran, Algeria, Democratic Popular
Republic of Korea and Nicaragua, among others, supported the proposal
that aims to democratize information.

Telesur was created two years ago with a multi-state character to
contribute a greater flow of information, an action that was already
recognized in the 14th Summit of the Non Aligned Countries in Havana,
2006.

At the time the heads of delegations also expressed their opposition
to discriminatory and distorted reports of events in the countries of
the South.

Other proposals of the current summit of ministers of information and
communication is the consolidation of a network of news and the
establishment of a network of media of the Non Aligned to promote an
exchange of radio and television programs.

The meeting also analyses means to take more advantage of new
information and communication technologies and tools to confront
poverty, illiteracy and exclusion.

The 7th Conference of ministers of information of the Non Aligned
began with the presence of delegation from 85 countries, 34
represented at the ministerial level and will continue until July 4
in Margarita Island.

nm/mgt/ml/avp/mf

Bolivia to Create Ministry of Autonomies

La Paz, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian government plans to create
a ministry for departmental autonomies, in addition to the 17
ministers that already exist in the country, it was announced here.

President Evo Morales said the creation of the new ministry would
consolidate that kind of territorial regime, but it would respect
such principles as unity and solidarity.

In a mass rally on Wednesday to deliver machinery to repair roads in
Santa Cruz, the head of State pointed out that he plans to create the
Ministry of Autonomies, a proposal he made five months ago, but no
progress has been made so far.

Morales recalled that in July 2006, along with the referendum on the
need for a Constituent Assembly to refound the country, the
government promoted a referendum on departmental autonomies.

He added that in order to establish the autonomies in the regions,
the new Political Constitution of the State, whose draft was approved
in December 2007, must be ratified.

Morales added that he was confident that Bolivians would go to the
polls in 2009 to ratify or reject the new Constitution.

The Bolivian president insisted on the need to create departmental
legislative assemblies through voting, so that they would be the
institutions in charge of drawing up their autonomic statutes.

nm/jg/ga

Venezuela Hopes for Colombia Peace

Caracas, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela expressed hope Thursday that
the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt and another 14 detainees by the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) begins a definitive
peace process in the latter country.

According to a release from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the
Venezuelan government and people desire the reunion among Colombians,
which probably will expand the country's extraordinary peaceful
potentials.

The text recalls the intensive efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, to favor a humanitarian accord in the neighboring nation and
the statesman's mediation that released the first Colombians from the
hands of the guerrilla movement.

The document also states the Venezuelan request to the FARC was made
public so that the insurgent group free all prisoners still under its
power.

"We hope this fact paves the way towards the humanitarian accord, the
dismantling of war and the extraordinary peace achievement," states
the release.

Chavez congratulated Wednesday his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe
for the release of 15 detainees, Venezolana de Television channel
reported.

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Justice on Posada Trail, Lawyers

Panama, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) A Panamanian team of lawyers will find
the way for justice to be served to Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada
Carriles and his three accomplices, free in United States but guilty
here of dangerous crimes.

Attorneys will announce today at a national news conference their
strategy for the four criminals to fulfil their sentences in Panama
of eight years imprisonment.

The Supreme Court of Justice termed unconstitutional three days ago
pardons granted in August 2004 by the then President Mireya Moscoso,
which benefited 183 prisoners, among them Posada Carriles and his
accomplices.

"We are going to ask for immediate extradition of the Cuban-origin
terrorists who came to subvert order in our country," Julio Berrios,
one of the lawyers of the case, said.

Berrios explained that the request is based on the Extradition Treaty
inked by the two countries in 1904, which is in force and rules
bilateral relations in that matter.

He noted that other legal actions will be carried out so that Posada
Carriles and his followers give an explanation to the Panamanian
justice, frustrated by President Moscoso's irregular pardon.

Posada Carriles and his accomplices were detained in the Panamanian
capital in November 2000, during the 10th Ibero-American Summit,
where they conspired to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro at a
public appearance.

After the pardon, they were transferred on August 26, 2004 in a
private plane to the US city of Miami, where the main bases of
anti-Cuban terrorist groups are located.

nm/iff/rl/mf

NAM for Balanced Information

By Miguel Lozano

Isla Margarita, Venezuela, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Almost one hundred
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries start Thursday the ministerial
segment of a conference aimed at seeking new spaces and balance of
world information.

Top-level experts opened Wednesday the Seventh Conference of NAM
Information Ministers with a series of proposals to be analyzed today
by heads of delegations.

The aim is to adopt concrete programs, as of experiences of the
Movement and some members, to face the dominion of Northern countries
and large companies in communication.

This is part of a process to develop freedom of the press that in the
past was identified with the right of media owners to decide
editorial guidelines.

That principle implied any state attempt to control was a violation
of the right to inform.

Even within extensive positions of NAM, with 117 members throughout
the world, there is an appreciable advance in criteria for a new
world information order, a concept limited to theory few years ago.

An initiative for the ministers' analysis is the Latin American
multi-state Telesur channel, an example most of countries attending
the meeting consider can be extended throughout the continent.

The July 2-4 meeting on the Venezuelan island of Margarita coincides
with a period of reactivation of the NAM, to search for balance to
northern developed nations.

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Guatemala Rains Kill, Cause Floods

Guatemala, Jul 2 (Prensa Latina) At least four dead, several people
missing and dozens of isolated communities were the aftermath of
heavy rains in Guatemala.

Authorities and relief bodies said that a baby, two women and one man
died in Teleman village, Alta Verapaz Department, when the
JocochiquÃn River washed away their car.

Hamilton Rummler, coordinator of Pazoz municipality planning office,
reported the rescue of two people but 13 remain missing.

Disaster Reduction National Coordinator (CONRED) says dozens of
communities in the north are affected by floods.

In Peten Department, river overflow washed away two bridges,
isolating 35 communities and ruining their crops, with hundreds of
houses threatened.

CONRED says residents at Motagua river bank, east Guatemala, and on
the banks of several tributaries running south towards the Pacific
Ocean are also jeopardized.

Since it has been raining over Guatemala for several days, CONRED has
issued a national yellow alert and mobilized personnel and resources
to the affected areas.

Weather forecasts indicate that the situation may grow worse due to a
depression coming from the east.

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America Forum for Food Autonomy

Guatemala, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The need to achieve food sovereignty
to face the current hike in prices of basic grains and fuel will
center the America Social Forum to take place October 7-12 in
Guatemala.

The event will be held at the historic University of San Carlos, and
between 15,000 and 20,000 representatives of indigenous communities
and social organizations from the entire continent are expected to
attend.

"The analysis of the excessive rise in the prices of the most
consumed products such as corn and wheat will be one of the most
important topics," the member of the organizing committee, Juan
Tiney, told Prensa Latina.

Participants will also discuss alternatives to increase local
production to avoid depending on international markets.

The irrational exploitation of natural resources by mining
transnationals, which poses a threat for the life of indigenous
peoples, will be in the center of attention as well.

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Bolivians Denounce Vote Challenges

La Paz, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Different groups in Bolivian society
increasingly denounce the obstacles the opposition is trying to put
on the August 10 recall vote.

Farmers, MPs and the National Election Court (CNE) show their
rejection to maneuvers promoted by groups opposing President Evo
Morales' administration.

According to Fidel Surco, leader of the Union Confederation of
Colonizers of Bolivia (CSCB), which is made up of farmers with
limited resources, opposition Congress members want to modify the
poll's regulations.

The Union leader emphatically criticized the pretensions of
introducing changes in the percentage of votes required by the
president, vice president and eight departmental governors to
continue their term of office.

The opposition wants to modify the vote to 50 percent plus one for
all authorities to be dismissed.

"We only want modification in Chuquisaca and the recently elected
governor Savina CuÃllar. The other eight country departments would be
subject to the vote of confidence," stated Surco.

In the upcoming elections, Bolivians will define whether or not the
two main political figures of the country and eight regional leaders
will remain in office.

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CARICOM Defends Sovereignty of Foreign Policy

By Elsy Fors Garzon

St.John à s, Antigua, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) An Antiguan over a radio
talk-program voiced Thursday what Caribbean heads of government are
discussing in their conference here, defending sovereignty over the
foreign policy of their nations.

Relations with the European Union, pending the signature of the
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) is one of the topics on the
agenda of the summit às second journey.

>From their initial statements, Guyana às president Bharrat Jagdeo
and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph
Gonsalves, were very clear to warn their peers about the risks of the
EPA.

Jagdeo said Guyana would not sign EPA until there was a popular
consultation on the issue, and the European Commission stop its bully
tactics by seeking to impose tariffs on our exports.

Guyana às president also argued for a renegotiation of the
agreement, saying the Caribbean should argue for preferential
treatment.

Meanwhile, Patrick Manning, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago
said he is ready to sign the EPA and so is Bruce Golding of Jamaica
with some reserves and proposals of improvement.

Antigua and Barbuda às Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort recently
expressed resignation to the agreement as it currently stands and
commented that negotiators had done their best, recalls the Antigua
Sun today.

Caribbean leaders also discuss rounding up resources for a CARICOM
Development Fund that is to be launched at this meeting.

Jamaica made its first contribution of US$8 million to this Fund, as
announced the island às Finance Minister Audley Shaw. The fund is
supposed to round up around US$120 million.

On the priority issue of education, Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of
Education, Bertrand Joseph has joined the group of Caribbean
Community Ministers who are calling for greater collaboration and
pooling of resources within the Community.

In that sense, the local media, like ABS television network,
highlighted again today the CARICOM awards bestowed on Jamaican
former Prime Minister Percival Patterson and Cuban leader Fidel
Castro for his outstanding personal and government contribution to
the development of the Caribbean nations and, in particular, to the
formation of human resources for the region.

The meeting will continue to lay out the Caribbean strategy to
minimize the negative effects of the rising oil and food prices, as
well as the hazards posed by climate change, all factors affecting
their first income-earning activity, tourism.

There is also expectation on the arrival of Cuban Prime Minister
Felipe Perez Roque, who will exchange views with the 11 heads of
government meeting here.

nm/ef

Thousands of Dominican as Sex Slaves

Santo Domingo, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Discriminated, deprived from
medical services and abused, 20,000 Dominican females are working as
prostitutes in seven Caribbean islands.

A research conducted by the Centro de Orientacion e Investigacion
Integral does not mention where, but it says the women confront
severe hardships.

The report adds they are moved through routes that prevent them from
asking for help.

They are made to believe they will get handsome economic
opportunities and are often deprived of their passports.

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Bolivia Announces Economy Surplus

La Paz, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian economy registered a
commercial surplus of 803 million dollars in the first five months of
the year, the National Statistics Institute(INE) highlighted
Thursday.

According to INE, exports rose about 2.62 billion dollars until May,
930 million more than in 2007, accounting for nearly 55 percent.

In the case of imports, the report clarifies, they registered 541.5
million dollars over the same period last year. Brazil stands out as
the country with which Bolivia has increased exports, amounting to
approximately 1.10 million dollars until May, the INE noted.

A surplus was also reached in commercial relations with Korea (291.5
million dollars), Venezuela (25.8 million), and Colombia (26.8
million).

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Peru's Stand on Bolivia Questioned

Lima, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Two renowned Peruvian analysts criticized
their government's position towards Bolivia, and agreed such policy
is aimed at serving US interests.

The issue was raised by the director of La Primera newspaper Cesar
Levano and commentator Carlos Reyna, amidst an intensive controversy
around the alleged intention of the US government to establish a
military base in Peru.

Such possibility is denied by President Alan Garcia's government.

Levano wrote in his daly column that what Bolivian President Evo
Morales has denounced was of common knowledge in Peru and abroad.

It is quite suspicious the Peruvian President has taken it out on a
head of state who has been targetted by sectors wanting to divide
Bolivia, he added.

He also emphasized the fact that the center of that attack is the
Bolivian city of Santa Cruz where the Peruvian banker Dionisio
Romero, a very close friend of Garcia, has big business interests.

He also compared Garcia's virulence against Morales with the silence
observed when the Chilean official newspaper La Nation accused the
Peruvian president of corrupt and murderer last April.

Levano said Garcia's attack was targetting a country with which Peru
has to cultivate more friendship ties due to historical, diplomatic,
military and political reasons.

However, Reyna consider Garcia's position against Morales radical and
directed to please the US government.

He also said that the government of Peru has had an excessive
reaction and fall into a big lie by saying that Bolivian President is
encouraging a national strike for July 9.

Meanwhile the Political and Social Coordinator, organizing this
protest, has accused the government of lying by charging Morales of
promoting the strike and ratified rejection to a possible
installation of a US military base in Peru.

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US, CANADA, EUROPE

Spanish Troops Quiet in Afghanistan

Madrid, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Spain denied involvement in operations
of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in west
Afghanistan.

The Spanish Defense Ministry said its 778 soldiers in Herat and Qala
i Naw were not involved in Lasting Liberty Operation with US special
units, the Afghan Army and ISAF in Muqur, Badghis.

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France Awaiting Ingrid Betancourt

Paris, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) French authorities confirmed Thursday
they are looking forward to Ingrid Betancourt's visit, after the
former Colombian presidential candidate was released yesterday.

Though the date of the visit is still to be fixed, Paris is waiting
for the announcement of the French-Colombian citizen, rescued by
Colombian military forces Wednesday, along with another 14 FARC
hostages, French Foreign Ministry's spokesman Eric Chevallier said.

After her release, Betancourt thanked the French government and
several organizations who tried to help in the process for peace
negotiations in Colombia during her six-year imprisonment.

In particular, she thanked current President Nicolas Sarkozy, his
predecessor Jacques Chirac, as well as former Prime Minister
Dominique de Villepin for their efforts to help her, and added she
yearned to go back to France.

à We do not yet know an exact date, she will decide when to come to
Paris, we understand it, Ã Chevallier stressed.

Last night, Sarkozy sent a plane to Colombia with Foreign Minister
Bernard Kouchner, Ingrid Betancourt's children, her sister Astrid,
and her nephew.

It was reported from Bogota that Betancourt asked Presidents Hugo
Chavez, Venezuela, and Rafael Correa, Ecuador, to help fostering the
peace process in the region.

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Prague Rejects French Treaty Push

Prague, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The Czech President, Vaclav Klaus,
rejected today Nicolas Sarkozy's intentions to impose a French
favored treaty on the rest of the European Union (EU) during the
six-month presidency.

Klaus said to Lidove Noviny journal that he fears Paris will exert
great pressure to put the reforms of the EU into practice before
January 1st, 2009, when the Czechs start their term of office in the
bloc.

"Our position is different and for this we shall fight, to prevent
the development of French imposed tendencies in the communitarian
body," stated the Czech leader.

The head of state expressed his hope for a Constitutional Court or
Senate declaration against the ratification of the agreement signed
in the Portuguese capital last December. The declaration would have
to be done before the end of this year.

To Klaus, the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, which amends basics of
the bloc to synchronize them with EU conditions after the entry of 12
new members into the community, will not have significance for the
Czech presidency in the first half of 2009.

The effect, if any, will be positive for the Czech six-monthly
leadership, since the Lisbon Treaty weakens my country, declared.

Klaus' position was shared by his Polish counterpart, Lech Kaczynski,
who stated that ratifying the Lisbon document makes no sense at all.

Kaczynski reaffirmed the treaty lost sense after being rejected by
one of its members, referring to the NO received in the referendum
held last June 12 in Ireland.

EU legislation demands agreement of all member states to validate a
document, which prevents Poland from ratifying it after what happened
in Ireland, he stated.

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Spain Admits Economy Worse

Madrid, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The president of the Spanish
government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, acknowledged that his
country faces a clear and rapid worsening of the economic situation,
but ruled out possibility of a recession.

Speaking in Parliament he confirmed that economic growth fell from
3.5 to 2 percent in only six months and that for the second quarter
of this year the indexes will fall 0.3 percent more.

He pointed out that the drop was also felt in public earnings, but
called to refrain from creating a drama over this problem.

A week ago the government announced a fall of 80 percent in state
surplus during the first five months of 2008 as compared to the same
period the year before.

Until last May this represented 2.722 billion euros, equivalent to
0.24 of the Gross Domestic Product as compared to 13.592 billion last
year.

Rodriguez Zapatero qualified the rapid and intense drop registered in
the construction sector and warned that it would represent a high
cost in terms of unemployment.

The Ministry of Labor, for its part, confirmed that unemployment in
June increased for the third consecutive month and now affects 2.390
billion people, 21.6 percent more than the previous year.

For the president, increased unemployment and rising inflation
estimated to be 5.1 percent, in a preliminary analysis, reflects a
clearly unfavorable economic situation that accents the
deterioration.

However, he assured that the government would maintain what he called
a high coverage of subsidies for unemployment and continue with help
for births or housing, among other benefits put in practice during
his previous mandate.

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Britain Eyes 8th Place in Beijing Olympics

London, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Great Britain is targetting to finish
eighth in the medal table of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, by winning
about 35 medals, including 10 to 12 golds, announced John Steel,
executive director of Sports.

If this goal is achieved it would represent the best results of a
British Delegation to Olympic games since Amberes-1920.

Steele explained that his nation expects to win medals in 17 of the
28 sports competing in the games with most hopes placed for six in
cycling, five in track and field, four in sailing and four in rowing.

Steele also emphasized that for the London-2012 games Britain expects
to finish fourth in medals and for this purpose will raise prizes for
the winners.

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UK to Build 2 Airtcraft Carriers

London, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The United Kingdom government signed a
$6 billion contract to build two of the largest aircraft carriers
ever built in the history of the Royal Navy.

BBC Network says both 65,000 ton carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince
of Wales will be built in Glasgow, Fife, Furness and Portsmouth
shipyards.

The 280-meter-long, 70-meter-beam ships with room for 40 fighter
jets, sails speed of 25 knots and 10,000 mile autonomy, will carry
1,450 staff between sailors and pilots.

The vessels will enter service in 2014 and 2016, and are intended to
remain in the fleet for at least 30 years.

nm/emw/vc/mf

UK to Build 2 Airtcraft Carriers

London, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The United Kingdom government signed a
$6 billion contract to build two of the largest aircraft carriers
ever built in the history of the Royal Navy.

BBC Network says both 65,000 ton carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince
of Wales will be built in Glasgow, Fife, Furness and Portsmouth
shipyards.

The 280-meter-long, 70-meter-beam ships with room for 40 fighter
jets, sails speed of 25 knots and 10,000 mile autonomy, will carry
1,450 staff between sailors and pilots.

The vessels will enter service in 2014 and 2016, and are intended to
remain in the fleet for at least 30 years.

nm/emw/vc/mf

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Angola, Venezuela Boost Cooperation

Luanda, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela's Charge d'Affaires in Angola
Rogelio Mijares said bilateral exchange, namely on energy, has
increased.

On commemorating Venezuela às July 5, 1811, Declaration of
Independence, Mijares highlighted current oil negotiations.

The Venezuelan diplomat reminded his country às centennial
experience in offshore oil extraction and petrochemicals that may be
of interest for Angola.

He added that at times of change they must tighten south-south
cooperation, so Angola and Venezuela may become vital examples of
such changes.

Mijares announced a July 23 meeting of both countries à Chambers of
Commerce and the Africa-America Summit on November 6 and 8 in
Caracas.

nm/emw/arc

Zambia Denies President's Death

Lusaka, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The Zambian government denied President
Levy Mwanawasa's alleged death in a Paris hospital, as broadcast by
South Africa's Talk Radio 702.

In statements to the state-own TV chain, the government's chief
spokesman, Mike Mulonguti, said the president's death is just a
rumor, adding that the patient is receiving medical treatment in the
French capital.

Talk Radio 702 reported on Thursday morning that Mwanawasa had passed
away after he had a heart attack this week in Egypt, prior to the
African Union Summit he would attend.

The Zambian head of state was admitted with chest pains at a hospital
on Monday. Doctors diagnosed a heart attack and he was transferred to
Paris on Tuesday.

Public radio in Lusaka broadcast statements by Zambian Vice President
Rupiah Banda, who said Mwanawasa was stable, although he needed
special medical care.

The South African Foreign Ministry could not confirm the veracity of
Talk Radio 702's report.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said nothing has been
confirmed in that regard, adding that South African authorities are
trying to contact their Zambian counterpart.

nm/jg/mt

Zimbabwe Opposition Demands Cabinet

Harare, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai demanded the government install a transition cabinet for
negotiations over the political crisis gripping that nation.

The leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who sought refuge
at the embassy of Holland, requested a runoff after declaring the
June 27 presidential elections illegal.

Tsvangirai said the talks should consider shared power and
establishing a cabinet involving the MDC party.

The ex presidential candidate renounced his involvement in the runoff
although his name and picture were on the ballots.

Meanwhile the government of President Robert Mugabe agreed to discuss
any matter with the opposition but rejected the transition cabinet
idea.

nm/emw/arc/mf

Attacks Target Iraqi Forces

Baghdad, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) One Iraqi policeman died, and another
three were wounded when a bomb exploded as a patrol was moving along
a street in the capital's east, official sources reported Thursday.

One passer-by also died in the attack, while three other persons were
injured, the sources added, but gave no further details.

The incident adds to a series of attacks against the security forces,
which began increasing in June.

In the meantime, US soldiers found 14 bodies with shots on the head
near Samarra city, north of Baghdad, when carrying out an operation
possibly searching for insurgents in Khalam locality.

nm/dig/mt/mf

Angola Hosts Trade Fair

Luanda, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The 25th Luanda International Trade
Fair (FILDA 2008) will be attended by 25 guest countries, including
newcomers Philippines, Egypt, Singapore and Zimbabwe.

Brozas Cardoso, head of the FILDA Management Council, said the event
will host 550 companies, 50 percent of them from Angola.

The official said the fair, to run from July 15-20, celebrates its
25th anniversary with a $1.5 million investment to rehabilitate
Angola's basic infrastructure.

nm/emw/arc

Israel Should Commit to Ceasefire, Says Hamas

Ramallah, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) The Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas) conditioned today the release of an Israeli soldier captured
two years ago to Tel Aviv's commitment to observe ceasefire.

Hamas official Osama al Muzini said Israel should start by making a
commitment to thoroughly respect the ceasefire covering the Gaza
Strip but not the West Bank.

Depending on the amount of goods Israel allows into the Gaza Strip,
Hamas will assess the Jewish state's commitment to the ceasefire.

That analysis will be done in short, added the Palestine leader, who
apologized because Hamas rejects to start new discussions before the
previous understandings are applies, especially the issue of lull.

That was the Islamic Resistance's answer to Egypt's invitation to
hold indirect talks with Israel about Gilad Shalit.

Al Muzini stated the amounts of products and fuel that Israel allowed
into Gaza after the ceasefire took hold "prove that the Israeli side
still evading from implementing its obligations."

Hamas led a cross-border attack in June 2006 and captured the Israeli
corporal. Hamas demands to exchange him for 1,000 Palestinian
prisoners in addition to jailed women, children, old and patients.

Israel tightened the economic embargo on Gaza after Shalit's
kidnapping but fully sealed off the Gaza Strip a year later when
Hamas seized control of the whole territory.

nm/ycm/mt

ASIA AND AUSTRALIA

Pakistan PM Threatened

Islamabad, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani's security have been tightened and his movement restricted
following serious threat to his life.

According to the Dawn newspaper, citing sources from the Security
department, the leader has been warned to not participate in public
rallies and only meet necessary and urgent activities.

The information was published after the government launched a
military offensive against the Taliban movement in the so-called
tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

According to Dawn, strict security measures have been adopted as a
result of an intelligence report over what it considered serious
threats against Prime Minister's life.

Gilani's schedule was cancelled including the inauguration of
projects and visits to different cities.

The Security Department also asked Gilani to preside over meetings
and other functions in the building of prime minister's secretariat,
which is under intensive guarding.

Islamabad's Senior Superintendent of Police Capt (retired) Ahmad
Latif told reporters that security in and around the federal capital
had been tightened.

nm/abo/mh/mf

Islamic Leaders to Malaysia Summit

Kuala Lumpur, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) Leaders from six countries have
confirmed their participation at the 6th Summit of the eight
developing Islamic States (D-8) that will begin Friday in this
capital, sources announced Thursday.

The five-day meeting will analyze global changes of the moment like
the rises in price of oil and food, a phenomenon that has made a
great inflationary impact in many developing countries, prompting
strikes and street protests.

The D-8 was established in June 1997 by eight member states of the
Islamic Conference Organization that share development and population
similarities to boost economic cooperation in agriculture, industry,
trade and energy.

The group is made up of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Nigeria, and the last two countries have
confirmed that they will not attend the meeting in Kuala Lumpur,
noted Bernaman agency.

A proposal to establish a permanent secretariat and a Road Map of
Economic Cooperation is expected to be adopted in this occasion,
state forward the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The Host Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will open the biennial
summit on Tuesday and will receive the presidency of the group from
the Indonesian dignitary Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who held the
previous meeting in Bali.

nm/abo/sus/mf


=========================================
     WALTER LIPPMANN
     Los Angeles, California
     Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
     "Cuba - Un ParaÃso bajo el bloqueo"
=========================================

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