Cuba News articles from July 2001

Cuba News archives from July 2001

Leaders after Castro to face pressure for reform.(Fidel Castro)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA - Fidel Castro's fainting spell in late June in Havana triggered swarms of rumors about what was wrong with him and touched off speculation about what will come once the aging dictator exits the scene. Castro was two hours into one...

US government releases regulations on food sales : Rules are more restrictive than drafted but not as bad as feared.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... WASHINGTON --After months of bitter internal disputes, the Bush administration issued regulations that allow a wide range of agricultural products to be sold to Cuba - but only after a case-by-case review of shipments. The regulations will...

Petrobras to leave Cuba after well came up dry.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Brazilian state oil company Petrobras announced it will pull out of Cuba after an exploration well it drilled off the central northern coast was dry. The $15 million Felipe X-1 was completed in April and found to be dry. However,...

Recall of chief envoy to Washington highlights stagnant relationship.(Cuba and U.S.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Reflecting the deteriorating relations between Fidel Castro's government and the Bush administration, Havana has called home the high-profile head of its diplomatic mission in Washington. Fernando Remirez, Senior Vice Minister...

Bush nomination sets up fight with democrats.(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush's decision to name Cuban exile Otto J. Reich as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs likely will touch off a fierce battle with Senate Democrats. In May, the White House...

Cuba to seek partners for all major tourist hotel projects.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- The government has announced that it will no longer build and manage large four- and five-star hotels by itself, a recognition that previous efforts to do so have been inefficient and marked by projects that many tourists felt did not...

Cuba's northern coast continues to show promise for oil sector.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA --Canadian based Pebercan has made a commercial oil discovery at the Canasi 3 exploration well, the seventh well on Block 7 along the coast of Matanzas province. As with previous exploration efforts in the area, the directional well...

New hotel is latest facility on Coco Cayo.(Cuba)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- After a long delay that extended construction from a planned 18 months to 43 months, the new 5-star hotel El Senador on Cayo Coco opened its doors for its first batch of tourists on June 23. The first visitors were part of a test...

Blackouts hit island.(Cuba)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA - The government is blaming a breakdown at the Antonio Guiteras power plant in western Cuba for a series of blackouts that have hit the island. Officials said they hope the problems will be resolved within a week. However, a statement...

Housing crack down focuses on illegal remodeling and expansions.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Cuban authorities are continuing to press their campaign against illegal practices in the housing marker with an special emphasis on individuals who have expanded or remodeled their houses. Officials in particular are targeting...

Aggressive inspections of vendors draw complaints from state-sponsored unions.(food industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- An aggressive campaign to keep food prices down and prevent the sale of stolen state property at street markers has prompted complaints from union leaders that the effort is heavy handed. Government inspectors have been perusing...

Cuban looks to small cigars to boost sales.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Cuba's latest effort to expand cigar sales in Europe has debuted. Internacional Cubana de Tabacos (ICT), a joint venture formed by Inversiones Tabaqueras Internacionales of Spain and Cubatabaco of Cuba has begun selling mini cigars in...

Nestle sees higher profits for drink venture.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Officials for Swiss food giant Nestle say revenues from Cuban water and soft drink operations rose sharply in 2000 and they expect another big surge this year. Sales of water and soft drinks from the Ciego Montero line of...

Street markets offer alternative work options for Cubans.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Havana's street markets have become a haven for thousands of Cuban's looking to earn a living through free enterprise. They also provide a glimpse into the growing practices many Cubans must resort to in order to make ends meet. ...

Cuba to export digital electrocardiograph.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Officials from the Central Institute for Digital Research (ICID) say they hope to begin exporting a new digital electrocardiograph developed by institute researchers. The Cardiocid BB reportedly is more compact and cheaper than...

Bush follows Clinton lead on Helms-Burton Act.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush has followed former President Bill Clinton's lead in postponing the right of Americans to file lawsuits against foreign companies that benefit from confiscated property in Cuba. The European Union has...

COMMODITY EXPORT MARKETS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... The disappointing sugar harvest that just ended appear to have had a significant impact on overall economic performance during the first half of the year. The government announced a final tally of 3.532 million tons - a 13% decline from...

Halt in foreign real estate investment does not affect Havana's largest office development.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Construction of the huge Miramar Trade Center (MTC) in Havana does not appear to have been affected by a decision last year to halt all foreign investment in new real estate developments. The project, backed by Panamanian company...

Fidelismo : A monthly report on Cuba's maximum leader.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Longest Speech The June 24 outdoor speech attacking the US conviction of accused Cuban spies was interrupted by a fainting spell two hours into the talk. After retaking the stage for a few moments, Fidel rested several hours and then...

Group hopes to build ties via rat poison.(Cuba/America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- A humanitarian group known for sending aid to Cuba without Treasury Department licenses wants to run the embargo in reverse and import Cuban rat poison to the United States. Pastors for Peace plans to ship what it calls Cuban aid...

RUMOR OF THE DAY.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Cuban officials are becoming increasingly concerned about growing inflationary pressures in the Cuban economy. One of the main causes, say sources, has been Fidel Castro's insistence on funding pet projects in education, health...