Cuba News articles from August 2000

Cuba News archives from August 2000

US embargo springs Canadian leak, Flood may be coming.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The US embargo against Cuba has sprung a small leak that Cuban officials hope will turn into a deluge. Under current law, US citizens and residents are barred from paying for all transactions, even licensed transactions, with credit cards...

US companies seek resumption of direct banking with Cuba.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON -- A number of US companies have asked the Treasury Department to authorize direct banking services between the United States and Cuba. The Clinton administration in 1994 eded direct commercial bank transfers between the United...

Over objections of US claimants, House votes to unfreeze Cuban assets, Senate may follow.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON -- Over the objections of several large US certified claimants against Cuba, the House approved a measure that would prevent the president from protecting the frozen assets of Cuba and other nations that are subject to court...

Clinton suspends Helms-Burton provision again.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON -- President Bill Clinton in July suspended for another six months enforcement of a law that would allow US citizens whose property was confiscated in Cuba to sue foreign investors who use those assets in business. The right to...

Auditor recommends expansion of Helms-Burton grant program.
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON -- An independent audit of a US government program that gives grants to groups seeking to democratize Cuba determined that it was "satisfactory and effective" and recommended an expansion of the program. The independent auditors also...

Canadian firm signs letter of intent to move into wireless communications.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Canadian firm Finline Technologies and Cuba's Grupo de la Electronica have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture to market and operate multipoint multichannel distribution (MMD) systems for the provision of broadcast...

Cuba on alert as a result of insect infestation.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... HAVANA -- Cuban officials have declared an emergency in an effort to fight an infestation of the pink flour bug, a pest that attacks a wide range of plants. The insect, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, attacks the soft tissues of plants. It has...

Honey production expected to yield increase in exports.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... HAVANA -- Honey production is expected to jump nearly 20% this year to 8,300 tons, compared to about 6,900 tons in 1999, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The increase may not benefit most Cubans, however, as nearly 90%, or about 7,400...

Cuba-Brazil expected to sign agriculture agreement by year end.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... HAVANA -- Cuban agriculture officials say they expect to sign an agreement with Brazil by the end of the year that will pave the way for expanded imports of Brazilian rice, chicken, corn and soy beans. Cuba imports 300,000 to 400,000 tons...

Cuban conglomerates setting the pace for island's business.
August 1, 2000... In the 1970s, the Soviet Union began to pressure Cuba to become more efficient and to support a greater share of its own costs. In response, the Cuban government began experimenting with different legal structures intended to create entities...

US Interests Section told to avoid reporting illegal travelers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON -- The State Department has instructed the US Interests Section in Havana to adopt a "don't ask, don't tell" policy when it comes to suspected violators of US restrictions on travel to Cuba. Traveling to Cuba is not against US...

Cacsa signs aircraft maintenance deal with Spain's Iberia.(Cuban Aeronautic Corporation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... HAVANA -- The Cuban Aeronautic Corporation (Cacsa) has signed an agreement with Spanish airline Iberia to form a joint venture to handle maintenance of Cuban aircraft manufactured in the United States and Western Europe. The deal will...

Cuba hopes to exploit the Internet to hold virtual conventions.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... HAVANA -- The Latin Caribbean Bureau and the Cuban Convention Bureau are planning to create a database and space for electronic trade on the Internet to promote conventions in Cuba. The director of the Cuban Convention Bureau, Eulogio...

Chile approves trade pact.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... SANTIAGO -- The Chilean Senate has ratified a treaty with Cuba intended to protect direct investments in the two countries. The accord was approved by a 29-12 vote over the strenuous objections of right-wing supporters of former dictator...

GOP House members support anti-embargo measures by wide margin.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON -- The surprise House approval of two anti-embargo measures revealed, for the first time, that there is clear majority support in both chambers of Congress to ease sanctions against Cuba. But GOP leaders continue their strong...

Cuban-Italian citrus venture nears completion.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... A Cuban-Italian joint venture to produce citrus concentrates, juices and other products hopes to begin operations in September. The start-up cost for the new company, called Caribe and based in Pinar del Rio province, is about $8 million. ...

Guatemalan textile firm opens Cuban office.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... HAVANA -- Guatemala City-based textile company Serpro has opened an office in Havana, hoping to increase sales in that country as well as expand exports to other Caribbean nations. Serpro, a fairly new company, specializes in uniforms and work...

COMMODITY EXPORT MARKETS.(sugar, nickel)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Sugar Sugar has staged a strong rally since spot prices bottomed out at 5.17 [cts.]/pound in February. Just five months later, on July 28, prices were more than 118% higher. Gains showed a monthly average pace of nearly 24% during this...

FACTS AND STATISTICS.(Cuba)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... Passengers on Havana's urban transport 600,000 system per day Number of houses rehabilitated through 2,165 June in Havana Total planned for 2000 5,200 Number of crews working to refurbish...

Fidelismo.(quotes from Fidel Castro)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... A monthly report on Cuba's maximum leader Longest Meeting A 10-hour marathon on July 17 with US senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI). Said Roberts, "He was articulate, very charming, very...

Fidel turns 74.
August 1, 2000... Cuban leader Fidel Castro turned 74 on August 13. The day was marked by laudatory speeches by other Cuban officials, including student leader Hassan Perez, who said," On a day like this 74 years ago a universal man was born... I'm sure you...

RUMOR OF THE DAY.
August 1, 2000... Early preparations for the VI Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba scheduled for 2002 have raised a number of problems, especially with regard to a growing conflict between the central government and the increasingly autonomous provincial...