Cuba, Russia promote
aeronautical cooperation
Cuba
and Russia seek to promote
aeronautical cooperation as
indicated by a recent visit to
Moscow by President of the Cuba
Civil Aeronautics Institute (IACC)
Rogelio Acevedo.
Acevedo met with heads of the
Federal Agency of Civil Aviation
of Russia during the visit,
Cuban newspaper reports said on
Wednesday.
Both parties discussed
agreements on personnel
training, modernization of the
Cuban fleet, hydrometeorological
research and environmental
monitoring.
They also called for a
continuation in extending the
range of exchange in training
crews and scientific
cooperation.
The Cuban civil aviation
development programs are among
the priority issues during the
6th session of the Bilateral
High-LevelI ntergovernmental
Commission slated for March 2005
in Moscow.
Bolivian gov't cuts diesel price
to defuse tension
Bolivian President Carlos Mesa
announced a 13 percent cut in
the diesel price Wednesday night
in a bid to end massive protests
against fuel price hikes decreed
late December, according to
reports from Bolivia.
Mesa said in a speech to the
nation that the decision was
made after consultation with
various parties involved, and he
hoped the compromise could win
back people's understanding.
"We are capable of listening and
compromising," he said, adding
that he was glad that so far
protests have not spiraled into
violent conflicts.
The government decreed a 10
percent increase in the price of
gasoline and a 23 percent rise
in diesel price on Dec. 30 to
balance the budget. The move
triggered a wave of protests in
major cities and paralyzed the
capital La Paz and the eastern
department of Santa Cruz, as
streets were blocked and public
transport was grounded.
Demonstrators occupied three
local government offices
Wednesday in Santa Cruz,
Bolivia's richest department.
The main road to the Santa Cruz
airport have been blocked since
early last week, when big
protests started. Some people
even went on a hunger strike.
Protest organizers welcomed
Wednesday's announcement. "It's
a good sign. It shows a
different attitude of humility
and flexibility," said Carlos
Dabdoub, spokesman for the Santa
Cruz civic group.
But the group said it will not
call off protests immediately
because it needs more time to
watch the government's next move
and judge the whole situation.
Wednesday's announcement is the
second time Mesa gave in to
demonstrators' demands. Last
week, Mesa canceled a
foreign-run utility concession
which protesters said did not
provide good services.
Mesa has accused certain groups
of trying to destabilize his
government with the protests. He
said he would rather resign than
spill blood on the streets.
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Venezuela rejects Rice's remarks
Venezuela rejected Wednesday the
remarks by incoming US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice that
Venezuela "is a negative force
for the region."
Under Rice's remarks "is the
fear of this country (Venezuela)
and its leadership advancing in
the process for the integration
and formation of a regional
development pole that would
lessen the imperial power of the
United States," said Venezuelan
Communication and Information
Minister Andres Izarra.
The minister said the Venezuelan
government firmly rejects the
remarks issued by Rice, because
the "only thing they show is a
lack of comprehension and lack
of knowledge of what is
happening in Venezuela."
"The true negative force in the
world nowadays is the
administration of George W.
Bush," said Izarra.
The Venezuelan minister added if
a poll is made on what the world
perceives as the true world
threat, the United States would
be there by far.
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