[Marxism] ACN: Cardinal Bertone Meets With Cuban Foreign Minister

[Walter Lippmann]

While US presidential candidates argue over whether or not they should
even speak, without conditions, with the Cuban government, the Vatican
travels to the revolutionary island, meets with the government, unveils
a statue of Pope John Paul II, and makes plans to meet with Cuba's new
President, Raul Castro. It demonstrates the utter silliness of the US,
a giant with feet of clay, petulantly refusing to meet with the govern-
ment of its longest-standing adversary. I say that because today the
government of the DPRK is hosting the New York Philharmonic, so Cuba
remains the one government on earth with which Washington petulantly
refused to meet. The people of Cuba, and the people of the USA, to the
extent the even hear about such things, can learn a great deal about
the foreign policy of this country, the REAL face of U.S. foreign
policy, through this crucible.


Walter Lippmann
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Cardinal Bertone Meets With Cuban Foreign Minister 

Havana, Feb 25 (acn) Secretary of State of the Vatican Cardinal Tarcisio 
Bertone and Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque met Monday to talk 
about the bilateral relations between the two countries, among other  
international and local issues. 

In a press conference after the meeting, Bertone said relations between 
the Vatican and the island country are excellent. He said the Catholic 
Church and Cuba’s new council of state coincide among other opinions on 
the willigness to boost the development of the Cuban people and added 
that such progress has been halted by the economic, commercial and 
financial blockade of the U.S government against the island. 

In that respect, the Cardinal confirmed the Holy See's position 
expressed by Pope John Paul II in his visit to the island, when he said 
the American blockade is unfair and ethically unacceptable and that it 
is a violation of the independence of the Cuban people. 

The Vatican has encouraged the U.S to lift the blockade, Bertone said, 
and added that he himself has asked Washington to put an end to family 
visit restrictions. 

Cardinal Bertone thanked the Cuban authorities for allowing him to visit 
several places throughout the country, including Havana, Santa Clara, 
Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. He also appreciated the opportunity to 
unveil a monument to the memory of John Paul II in Santa Clara city. 

The Cuban Foreign Minister referred to the meeting previously held with 
the Vatican’s authority. He said the encounter was held on a friendly 
and franc environment and that they talked about important international 
issues and about the bilateral relations between Cuba and the Vatican. 

In addition, the two authorities discussed the bonds between the 
Catholic Church and the Cuban government. Perez Roque explained that the 
Cuban government is willing to continue working to foster communication 
with the Church. 

Bertone told the press that he will meet with Cuban President Raul 
Castro tomorrow February 26. 


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     WALTER LIPPMANN
     Los Angeles, California
     Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
     "Cuba - Un Paraíso bajo el bloqueo"
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