Cuba´s Mandate as NAM Chair Acknowledged at Ministerial Meeting

HAVANA, Cuba, April 29 (acn) The role played by Cuba as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during nearly three years was acknowledged today by participants at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Third World Organization.

UN General Assembly President Miguel D´Escoto that the foundational principles of the Movement, such as fighting imperialism, neo- colonialism, apartheid, Zionism and its position against all form of discrimination, are still valid, particularly amidst the current world crisis.

D´Escoto recalled Fidel Castro´s words when addressing the UN General Assembly 30 years ago as he demanded a new world order that would eliminate the huge gap standing between rich and poor nations.

The UN official expressed his acknowledgment to the Cuban leader and his people for their solidarity. He also invited Cuban president Raul Castro and the other heads of state and government of NAM to attend the next UN conference, in which the world crisis will be discussed, so that they express their hopes and principles.

NAM must fight so that justice will be made in the case of the five Cuban antiterrorists incarcerated in US jails, for the lifting of the US blockade of Cuba, for the defense of the Palestinian and Puerto Rican peoples´ rights to self-determination.

Other speakers at the opening session were Al Samani Al Wasila, Sudan Foreign Minister and president of the Group of 77 plus China, and Charles Ngakula, Defense Minister of South Africa, who is representing the African continent.

The session also heard the statements by Indonesia and Ecuador´s foreign ministers, Nur Hassan Wirayuda and Fander Falcon, representing Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, respectively, as well as Belarus´ deputy foreign minister Serguey Aleynik for Europe. All of them congratulated Cuba for its praiseworthy role as NAM Chair.

The meeting is taking place at Havana´s Conventions Center, with over 100 delegations attending. Raul Castro called on participants to work for the success of the 15th NAM Summit of Heads of State and Government, to take place in Egypt next July.

The Cuban President, who has presided NAM for almost three years, reiterated the importance of unity among all and of multiplying NAM´s presence in international forums.

(Reconocen papel de Cuba en presidencia de los No Alineados Fidel Rendn)

UNESCO Congratulates Bolivia on Educational Achievements

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 29 (acn) The 181st session of Executive Council of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) in Paris has approved a letter of congratulations for Bolivia, by virtue of its success in the battle against illiteracy taking the Cuban method Yes I Can as a starting point.

The South American nation declared itself as a Territory Free of Illiteracy in December, with the support of Cuba and Venezuela and within the context of the South-South cooperation, reads the document issued by UNESCO, Prensa Latina news agency reports.

The UNESCO body valued the Bolivian experience, which served that nation to reach one of the pillars of the Dakar Framework of Action for 2015.

Bolivian ambassador to France, Luzmila Carpio, made reference to testimonies of some of those who’ve learned how to read and write and thanked Cuba and Venezuela for their help and solidarity in the National Program undertaken by her country.

She recalled that the literacy campaign in the Andean nation was carried out in the Aymara, Quechua and Spanish languages, an unmistakable proof of the efficiency of the Cuban Literacy Teaching Program ‘Yes I Can’.

While speaking at the forum made up by 58 member nations, Cuba’s ambassador to UNESCO, Héctor Hernández, spoke about the social movement headed by President Evo Morales to face the scourge of illiteracy.

In 33 months, over 800,000 people learned how to read and write in that South American country.

On behalf of his country and especially the pedagogues that responded to the Dakar call, the Cuban diplomat expressed his satisfaction for having supported this educational feat obtained by the Bolivian people.

(Felicita la UNESCO a Bolivia por logros en educación)

Efficient Potato Harvest in Cuban Province Backs National food Programs

HAVANA, Cuba, April 29 (acn) With a record yield of produce like potato and tomato, agricultural workers in the central-eastern of Ciego de Avila support national food plans amidst the current world economic crisis.

Reports say that private and state-owned farms in the territory collected over 110 million pounds of potatoes, considered the highest production over the past five years. The goal was reached thanks to good planning and appropriate availability of resources before the start of the
campaign.

The availability of necessary chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other expendables in sufficient amounts as well as the appropriate performance of watering systems made it possible to reach the record production, which also included a record yield of tomatoes (more than 50 million
pounds), similar to high levels collected in the 1980´s, Agriculture Ministry sources reported.

Part of the produce was preserved in cold stores to guarantee a steady supply to the local market, while the surplus was transported to the eastern provinces of Holguín, Las Tunas, Camagüey, Granma and Santiago de Cuba.

In order to get the most out of the collected produce, all five processing plants in Ciego de Avila are working at full capacity to produce different derivatives like tomato paste and pure.