Cuba summit sends strong message

[Neil D]

By Stephen Gibbs

BBC News, Havana

Mr Castro ® only met a handful of dignitaries

The summit of the Non-Aligned Movement being held in Havana has ended with delegates agreeing a final statement.

The movement consists of 118 countries, mostly from the developing world.

Several of the more than 50 heads of state and government attending the meeting are known for their strong criticism of the United States.

The host, Cuban President Fidel Castro, understood to be recuperating from a gastric illness, did not make a public appearance during the event.

The delegates representing almost two-thirds of all the countries in the world gave their approval to a document which spells out the points they agree on.

There is strong condemnation of Israel's recent intervention in Lebanon, a call for the United Nations to be more representative of smaller nations, support for Iran's nuclear energy plans and implicit criticism of much of US foreign policy.

Conspicuous absence

Many of the world leaders attending the summit used their seven allocated minutes at the podium to vent their anger at the Bush administration.

The senior North Korean delegate said that American threats had forced his country to arm itself with nuclear weapons.

The most significant agreement occurred at the summit sidelines - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan announced that they would re-start stalled peace talks and co-operate in the fight against terrorism.

Conspicuous by his absence throughout this event was its host, Fidel Castro.

He was only able to greet a handful of visitors from his hospital room.

But he was duly elected chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement for the next three years.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

The senior North Korean delegate said that American threats had forced his country to arm itself with nuclear weapons.

So much for Madilen Albright and Clinton forgien policy.

[Neil D]

Quote:

So much for Madilen Albright and Clinton forgien policy.

As usual, you are just eight years behind in your politics.... :yawn:

[Dr. Shane]

The Bush Administration inheritted the problem from the Clinton Administration. The Bush Administration has done nothing about it becuase it is insisting on multilateral talks. Right or wrong, the problem cannot be blamed on the Bush Administration.

However the anti-Bush crowd will blame anything and everything on Bush. They even blame Bush for high gas prices.