Leaders of Brazil, Cuba Sign Accords

[Say_What]

<clips>

HAVANA - After embracing his longtime ally, Fidel Castro (news - web sites), at a welcoming ceremony in Havana, Brazil's president began laying the groundwork for future business relations during a visit that pointedly avoided Cuba's human rights record.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to Cuba more than 20 times as a labor leader and icon of the Latin American left, but Friday's visit was his first time here as president of the region's largest nation.

Silva has toned down his once-radical image and wants to maintain good relations with Castro without antagonizing his country's most important trading partner, the United States.

International concerns about Cuba's human rights record were not on the agenda as the two men oversaw the signing of accords on health, education, agriculture and fishing.

<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030927/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_brazil_030926204916>

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Brazilian (news - web sites) President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and Cuban President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) listen to their national anthems at the Jose Marti monument in Havana, September 27, 2003. Lula is in Cuba on an official two-day visit and is scheduled to return to Brazil later this afternoon. REUTERS/Claudia Daut

[Mika]

1. The Bush cabal will be all over Lula for this

The anti Cuba cabal will not approve of the 'axis of good' making independent moves like this.

[Say_What]

9. Brazil And Cuba Cement Ties

<clips>

Havana — Linked for decades as fellow icons of Latin America's left, Brazil's president and Fidel Castro cemented their relationship Saturday as they talked business and ignored Cuba's human rights record. Presiding over the signing of $200 million in new business deals in Cuba by private Brazilian enterprises, the Cuban leader put his arm around President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as they talked about future trade between their nations. “This is an exceptional step for Cuba and Brazil,” said Silva. “In a globalized world, we must join together ... so we can compete one-on-one with developed nations,” he said. “Cuba is very honored,” Castro told reporters.

<http://www.theday.com/eng/web/newstand/re.aspx?reIDx=50B50331-0423-4B05-B008-9E03DF87CE3F>

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Brazilian (news - web sites) President Lula Da Silva, left, and Cuban President Fidel Castro (news - web sites), walks from Castro's Presidential car, at their arrival to the Havana's International Airport to say farewell to Lula, on Saturday, September 27, 2003, in Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/ Cristobal Herrera)

[Judi Lynn]

2. Hi, Say_What! Great to see your post.

It's about time the _Bush people started treating the leaders of other countries with a little civilized respect. They really can't rule the entire world, YET, 'though it appears they damned well hope to.

Lula seems very serious about this trip. I think it's excellent that he keeps his own council, and doesn't feel so insecure he needs to curry favor with the U.S.

Hope _Bush will use his remaining time to learn to act like a decent pResident, rather than a childish brat, and allow Lula da Silva to go about his business without butting in, or seeking some kind of nasty revenge because no one asked him for his two cents.

While you were away,

Senator Max Baucus and Rep. Rehman from Montana have been to Cuba, sucessfully, making a complex contract with Alimport's Pedro Alvarez, and Norm Coleman went there, pretending to be looking out for Minnesota's business interests, and announced in a truly STUPID move, that he is suddenly changing direction (Rove told him to) and he thinks there should be NO trade with Cuba, and NO change in the travel ban! Also, House of Representatives passed three amendments to end the travel ban, to diminish the embargo, and to remove restrictions on amounts of money sent to Cubans (for Cuban-Americans, of course).

Next to find out what the Senate can do on their part, coming up soon.

Here's another article on the conference with Presidents Lula da Silva and Castro. Great photo, by the way, with your post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(snip) Last Updated: Saturday, 27 September, 2003, 03:13 GMT 04:13 UK



Fidel Castro and President Lula are old friends

"If I can solve a few of the problems I have, I will be doing a great service for humanity," President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Lula visits Cuban friend Castro


Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has overseen the signing of a number of co-operation protocols on the first day of his visit to Cuba.
The president, who is known as Lula, was greeted on the tarmac by Cuban leader and friend Fidel Castro but insists the 24-hour visit is for official talks between two heads of state.

The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Havana says that a visible warmth between the two leaders was visible after their meetings on Friday. (snip)

(snip) A business agenda is expected to dominate the visit. Brazil is currently a small investor in Cuba, but is keen to expand its involvement.

Oil exploration is one key area for increased co-operation. Brazil recently agreed to start prospecting for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and split the proceeds with Cuba if it struck lucky. (snip/)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3143108.stm

[Say_What]

11. Hi Judi--Brazil is investing heavily in Cuban tourism industry

Thanks for update on what's been going on. Good to be back but have to return to work on Wednesday--BUMMER--not really ;-)

I read that Lula said in a speech, "it's time we call democracy by what it really is: SOCIAL JUSTICE" something the USSA knows little about. Brazilian friends living here are very proud of their new President.

<clips>
Brazil invests in Cuban tourism industry

Brazil has taken a major stake in the Cuban tourism industry after a meeting between Brazil's President Lula da Silva and Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Tourism is becoming a major business in Cuba and is about to get bigger.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has announced Brazilian companies will invest $US165 million in 2,500 hotel rooms.

There could also be ethanol plants and Brazilian buses on the streets of the capital Havana.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s955179.htm

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Brazilian (news - web sites) President Lula Da Silva, says good bye from the gate of his plane, after his visit to Cuba, on Saturday September 27, 2003, in Havana, Cuba. Cuban President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) attended the farewell ceremony of Lula. (AP Photo/ Cristobal Herrera)

[Judi Lynn]

12. This is going to be a shot in the arm for Cuba

Noted that they are getting buses, finally.

They had made an arrangement to buy used buses from either Bermuda, Bahamas, Barbados, or some Caribbean nation, and our own ambassador somehow got in there and terminated the deal, and the would-be seller continued to have its used buses, and Cuba continued to do without. Wish I could remember the island so I could find the information.

So, since they had to wait it out, they are going to be rewarded with NEW ones, anyway. Their hardship got a break.

Hotel rooms, as well. This is quite a boost for Cuba. It's probably good to see other countries stepping forward at this time, especially. Hmmmmm.

I'm sure President Lula da Silva has been completely informed he needs super security now!

[Say_What]

13. and more: Business worth $53 million dollars finalized

you probably read this already--I'm catching up on Cuba News and found these two:

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<clips>
Business worth $53 million dollars finalized

FOR almost a week, the 7th International Transport Fair (FIT) transformed Havana into the venue for important business agreements in diverse branches of this important sector. The benefits of the event are undeniable for representatives of more than 200 firms – 137 with official representation – from 16 countries who closed deals worth more than $53.9 million.

Amongst the myriad of business activities carried out or considered by various firms was a contract worth $2 million with the Rusia Automotriz S.A.(RASA) firm, manufacturers of the modern Lada and Niva automobiles.

... The Cuban organization Obras Marítimas signed an eight million dollar contract with Karen Smith to carry out canal dredging work on the island of Andros. Other contracts were signed between BDC and Tecnotex for purchasing 15 service elevators and electric trolleys; Transtur bought another 375 vehicles; Calsa closed a deal with Corporacion Cimex to acquire 600 Toyota cars destined for the rental industry.

Meanwhile, Mercedes Benz and the Marco Polo organization continued negotiations over manufacturing buses on the island. The German firm and Cuba’s UNECAMOTO embarked on talks aimed at improving the country’s fleet of ambulances.

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2003/septiembre03/lun22/38feria-i.html

<clips>
Railroad improvements under negotiation

FROM day one at the PABEXPO exhibition area in Havana, the International Transportation Fair has been bringing dividends to the Cuban economy and to entrepreneurs from various countries who are displaying their last technology.

That is the case with directors of Cuban rail transportation enterprises (Union de Empresas de los Ferrocarriles) and representatives of the Mexican company Alston, who are advancing in negotiations for an agreement to increase the availability of engines principally for the national network and thus the quality of the railroad service on the island.

Ramón Oquendo, strategic planning director of the Cuban corporation, said that in the first year after signing the agreement the availability and reliance of traction equipment in the western area should increase to 68% (currently at 40%) and to 90% in the fourth year.

The contract covers production administration through which Alston is responsible for locomotive maintenance and repairs and the national network contracts them locomotive availability. “We hand over a park of locomotives and contract them as to availability,” Oquendo explained.

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2003/septiembre03/jue18/38negoc-i.html

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[jiacinto]

3. Oh Great

The Castro apologists now come en masse to post.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Haven't read very many of your posts, Jiacinto

So you may have covered this before, and I wouldn't know.

Are you a Cuban-American?

The movement to end the embargo, end the travel ban is comprised of Democrats AND Republicans, in case you've not noticed in the last few decades.

[Mika]

6. jiacinto

Carlos--> "The Castro apologists now come en masse to post."


You'll fit right in, squirming with the green toothed gusanos, in your new home in Miami.
The same liquid effluvia that eminates from your anti Cuba posts spews from their lips.

[chasqui]

7. Woah there, Mika!

I am not sure I got that....elaborate, please

[Judi Lynn]

8. Speaking of Miami, Mika

Did you know that the owner of the Lincoln Marti school Elian briefly attended used school vouchers to make repairs to his buildings?

(Of course you're well aware of the 19(?) federal charges for all kinds of fraud and trickery he got when they arrested him for stealing money from his government fund supported Section 8 housing Cuban tenants a couple of years ago. Had this happened to him anywhere but in Miami, you can be damned sure he'd have been stuffed away in a prison somewhere, rather than wearing a damned ankle bracelet, and continuing to make his inane radio broadcasts from his HOME.)

Here's the little discovery I just made:

(snip) Florida
§ While public schools are graded A to F, with students at ‘F’ schools (for two of four years)
eligible for vouchers, private schools are not graded—therefore there is no way to assess
whether a student is actually entering a private school that is academically superior to the
public school they would be leaving.45 In fact, the state senate explicitly rejected an
amendment to the governor’s plan that would have graded private voucher schools like
public schools.46 Further, the state refused to release the scores of the first-year voucher
students as a group, even though one of the primary arguments made in favor of voucher
programs is that competition from private schools will improve public schools.47
§ Private voucher schools are not required to administer tests or report scores to the public.
Parents who transfer their child to a private school are responsible for ensuring that their
child take FCAT tests at a public school during appropriate years, effectively removing
accountability and responsibility from private schools.48



§ The Department of Education does not ask for an accounting of how public tax dollars are
spent by private voucher schools, so these schools can spend the money in any way they see
fit. For example, this money can be spent on renovations of rental properties or on exorbitant
rents. Demetrio Perez Jr., the founder and director of the Lincoln-Marti Community Agency
Schools, has been criticized for profiting from the voucher program. A Miami Herald
investigation found that Perez’s Lincoln-Marti Community Agency, a nonprofit agency—
which is separate from the for-profit Lincoln-Marti schools—used $413,966 of public tax
dollars to make improvements to the building the agency rents. Perez, not coincidentally,
owns the building. The agency also paid Perez more than $1 million in rent.49



§ Private schools accepting McKay vouchers have also come under fire for allegations of
misconduct that include abusing students, misappropriating government funds, hiring
unqualified teachers, and providing students with inadequate school supplies and services.
Many of these private schools were created specifically to take advantage of the state
voucher program, and while they are publicly funded, they provide no accountability to the
public.50 For example, parents with children enrolled in Bethel Metropolitan Christian
School have complained that the school has no books, no uniforms, has not provided special
education services needed by the students, has staff who have verbally and physically abused
students for misbehaving, is understaffed, and has a high teacher turnover rate. The school’s
problems got so severe that even the headmistress of the school took her own children out of
the school. She was fired soon thereafter.51 (snip/...)

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/dfiles/file_137.pdf

Aw, here's his website:

http://www.lincoln-marti.com/aboutlincolnmarti.html

Only in Miami!

On edit:

One more example of violent Miami gusano idiocy:

(snip) 1983 Miami City Commissioner Demetrio Perez seeks to honor exile terrorist Juan Felipe de la Cruz, accidentally killed while assembling a bomb. (Perez is now a member of the Miami-Dade County Public School Board and owner of the Lincoln-Martí private school where Elian Gonzalez is enrolled.) (snip/...)

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2000-04-20/mullin.html

(This man aspires to be a pillar of the community, and owner of the Cuban-American Lincoln Marti Academy schools. :silly:)

[Say_What]

10. Poor Carlitos

gusano wannabe who doesn't have a clue about anything outside of Little Havana. BORING!!! :boring: :boring: :boring:

[Judi Lynn]

5. More info. on the meeting between Brazil's and Cuba's Presidents

(snip) Specifics of the agreements were not disclosed, but included $140 million in deals with Brazilian firms to build four beach resort hotels, Brazilian officials said. Other deals included investment in Cuban sugar and transportation.

Brazilian officials said their country's development bank would provide financing for the investments. They denied earlier news reports from Brazil that the bank was negotiating a $400 million credit line for the Cuban government. (snip/...)

http://www.adn.com/24hour/world/story/1012212p-7106471c.html