Cuba calls for true integration of Latin America
Cuba supports a "true economic integration" of Latin America and favors all the integration initiatives raised by the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), a Cuban minister said here Monday.

Integration is a viable alternative for Latin America, and "If we don't do it, we will face the risk of division and the weakening of our sovereignty," said Cuban Interior Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, who is here to attend the 13th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the LAIA, which started here Monday.

Cuba supports all the integration initiatives put forward at the meeting, Cabrisas said.

"A true integration should cover all the issues affecting our nations," said the minister, adding that the LAIA must strengthen its role as the principal promoter of a legal and institutional framework as well as a permanent forum for the Latin American integration process.

Integrated development in Latin American countries should become a factor to transform the present unfair world order, he said.

Venezuela Investigates Fire in South America's Tallest Building
Venezuela is investigating to determine the cause of a fire that gutted the top 20 floors of South America's tallest building and why the sprinkler system failed, a government spokesman said.

The fire in the east tower of Caracas's Parque Central, which began early Sunday morning and was brought under control 20 hours later, may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, said Metropolitan Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno.

``We don't rule out any hypothesis about what caused the fire,'' said Communication and Information Minister Andres Izarra in a televised news conference. ``The material losses are very big.''

The building, which was built between 1978 and 1984, houses government agencies including the Infrastructure Ministry and the Civil Aviation Agency. The building's sprinkler system didn't work, leaving firemen helpless to stop the blaze, which began in the 34th floor, from engulfing the top third of the building, Briceno said in a televised interview.

``This is a particularly sad example of what can happen when you don't do maintenance,'' said Robert Bottome, an analyst with research company Veneconomy in Caracas. ``This is not just a characteristic of the current government, but every Venezuelan government in memory.''

UN nuclear experts arrive in Brazil
A team of UN nuclear experts has arrived in Brazil, hoping to break a deadlock over inspections to verify Brazil is not diverting enriched uranium to a weapons program.

Western diplomats say the International Atomic Energy Agency team hopes to ensure adequate access to centrifuges at the Resende uranium-enrichment plant in Rio de Janeiro state. Brazil, however, has argued that allowing the inspectors visual access to the centrifuges could make it vulnerable to industrial espionage, reported CCTV.com.

Enrichment is a process of purifying uranium for use as fuel in nuclear power plants or in weapons. Brazil, home to the world's fourth largest reserve of uranium, insists its enrichment operations will be entirely peaceful.
 

Bolivian protesters ask Congress to approve new oil bill
About 5,000 demonstrators gathered Monday in the Bolivian capital of La Paz to urge congress to endorse a new bill on the nationalization of oil and natural gas resources, reports arriving here said.

The protesters, which included indigenous people, peasants, miners and university students, said they will stay in La Paz until the congress approves the bill.

A draft submitted by the congressional committee on economic development calls for the nationalization of the right to exploitation, sale and transport of Bolivia's oil and natural gas.

But the government of President Carlos Mesa opposes the bill, arguing that the across-the-board nationalization of oil and natural gas resources would scare away foreign investors in Bolivia.

Mesa stressed the importance of foreign capital in shaking off poverty and improving the living conditions of Bolivians.

He threatened to resign unless the congress amends the bill.

Most Bolivians have expressed their support in a July referendum for more state involvement in the country's petroleum industry.

The referendum focused on whether the oil and natural gas resources should be exported or utilized for the internal development of Bolivia.

Bolivia boasts the richest natural gas resources in Latin America.