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Brazil to consider transit visas from US citizens
The Brazilian government said Thursday it would consider the possibility of placing visa requirements on US citizens in transit in Brazil.
The action is taken in reciprocity with the US demand Monday that Brazilian passengers to make stopovers in the country should have transit visas to ensure security.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry expressed its regret at the application of such a measure on Brazilian citizens, and said thatit is studying the situation while "taking into account the principle of reciprocity and the present legislation."
The US move directly affects not only Brazilian citizens, but also its national airlines, as the visa requirements would lead tothe cancellation and postponement of many flights, said the Foreign Ministry.
Brazilian citizens, who planned to travel to other countries inEast Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania with stopovers in such US cities as Los Angeles and Miami, have been forced to cancel their trips.
Some Brazilian athletes have also failed to arrive in Santo Domingo to participate in the 14th Pan American Games due to the new visa requirements and had to change their itineraries.
Brazil added that the visa requirements for transit in the United States will lead to additional expenses, such as the payment of the fees charged by the US Consulate.
Central American armies prepare laws against illegal arms trade
The Central American armies are mulling stern laws and policies to fight growing illegal arms trade in their region, a senior Nicaraguan official said here Thursday.
Inspector of the Nicaraguan army General Manuel Salvatierra, who Monday met with Honduran army leaders, said the military equipment is also an item in the policy against the exchange of arms for money with the civilians.
He refused to disclose how many weapons are currently in civilians' hands after the armed conflicts in the region in the 1980s. But he admitted that "thousands of assault-rifles" remain out of military control.
Nicaraguan authorities have confirmed that the trade of arms and military equipment has increased in their country in the past months as a consequence of Plan Colombia, an action undertaken by the United States in Colombia in the context of the so-called international war on terrorism and related conflicts.
Salvatierra also revealed that two citizens, possibly of Colombian nationality, were taken on Thursday before Nicaraguan judicial authorities. They were said to own an arsenal discovered last Tuesday in the north of this capital.
Both citizens are accused by the office for prosecuting terrorism and threatening national peace, he said.
Castro meets visiting Vietnamese parliament speaker
Cuban leader Fidel Castro met Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An on Wednesday afternoon, the local daily Granma reported Thursday.
They held a dialogue in a "friendly" atmosphere in line with the "solid and profound relations" between the communist parties, governments and peoples of their countries, said
Granma.
Nguyen stressed the importance of economic cooperation between the two nations. He said, Cuba serves as a gateway for Vietnamese products into the Latin American region.
The visiting legislator, who is a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, arrived in Havana on Saturday for a five-day visit.
He has also talked with his Cuban counterpart Ricardo Alarcon, Vice President of Cuba's Council of State, Carlos Lage, and Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez.
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