Chronicle on Cuba - September 2006

Terrorism

September 12: Converging on Fidel Castro's communist Cuba for a summit this week, members of the Non Aligned Movement complain of a double standard: powerful nations like the United States and Israel decide for the world who the terrorists are, but face no punishment for their own acts of aggression. A Cuban official said sarcastically that the US could one day accuse the entire Non Aligned Movement of supporting terrorism. "Reading some news reports (…) I'm left to believe that the axis of evil is growing," said Abelardo Moreno, Cuba's vice foreign minister. "Soon, the (axis of evil) will be made up of 118 countries." NAM’s final draft could be muted during the debate. A North African diplomat described the section on terrorism as "alphabet soup," because it tries to include all members' perspectives. Debate is expected to get particularly lively after the arrival of outspoken anti-American leaders including presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Bashar Assad of Syria, and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. North Korea is sending its No. 2 leader, Kim Yong Nam. (AP, 12/9/06)

September 20: The Red Cross expects to meet for the first time 14 high-level terrorism suspects who were recently transferred from CIA secret prisons to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, at a visit to the camp, a spokeswoman said. Antonella Notari, chief spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said officials will arrive at Guantanamo for a scheduled two-week visit. The ICRC is the only neutral agency with full access to Guantanamo detainees. (AP, 20/9/06)