News Archives - Page 1301 of 1377

Coup Leaders Sign Accord under Pressure

Pressure over the last few days by the international community seems to have forced the de facto government in Honduras to sign the final point of the agreement to request that country’s congress to reinstate ousted president Manual Zelaya. Contributing to this development was the presence in Honduras of the US undersecretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Thomas Shannon, as well as a new delegation from the Organization of American States (OAS).

Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism?

“Wisdom removes hate,” said US Congressman Bobby Rush, noting that US citizens have been denied the truth about today’s Cuba. The representative spoke on Capitol Hill where he, along with the Center for Democracy in the Americas, hosted a panel to discuss the appropriateness of Cuba being included on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Honduras Accord Bodes Well for Obama

The deal, which is still subject to the approval of the Honduran Congress and a non-binding opinion from the country’s Supreme Court, finally resolved the one issue on which talks had stalled the past several weeks – the restoration of ousted president Manuel Zelaya to the presidency for the remaining two plus months of his term.

Amnesty Repeats Call to US over Cuba

Amnesty International responded to the resounding United Nations vote this week calling for an end to the US blockade on Cuba, requesting that the Obama administration stop putting Cuban lives at risk with the time-worn policy.

Obama Stands By Cuba Blockade

The administration of President Barack Obama, which has vowed to improve relations with sanctions-hit Cuba, refused to break away from the traditional stand taken by successive U.S. governments and voted against a U.N. resolution calling for an end to the 47-year-old U.S. economic, commercial and financial embargo against the Caribbean island nation.

New Round of Honduras Talks

At the urging of a high-level U.S. government mission, the negotiating teams of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and de facto leader Roberto Micheletti restarted talks Thursday to find a solution to the four-month political crisis. The U.S. delegation is headed by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon.

Cuba Pushes for Food Security

“Thanks to the joint work of the international community, the United Nations and the Cuban government, we have been able to provide more assistance in such important areas as food,” the United Nations resident coordinator in Cuba, Susan McDade, told IPS.

Cuba Wants its WBC Baseball Bucks

Cuban baseball authorities are negotiating with the United States to receive the million dollars due the team for its participation in the second World Baseball Classic last March.

WHO Director Meets with Fidel Castro

Margaret Chan, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) met for more than two hours this week with former Cuban President Fidel Castro. “The comprehension of the Fidel Castro on public health is impressive, as is his commitment with the health of the Cubans,” said Chan after the meeting.

Cuba Policy Ridiculed by UN

The UN General Assembly voted 187-3 Wednesday in support of Cuba’s resolution calling for an end to the US blockade on the island. Even conservative countries that detest Cuba’s economic and political system and criticize it for what they consider human rights violations consistently oppose the US stranglehold.