Cuba flays US, Israel in world parliament

Cuba flays US, Israel in world parliament
Andrew Cawthorne

HAVANA, APRIL 2: Cuba upped the tempo Sunday of a world parliaments gathering in Havana with attacks on the “arrogant” United States for its absence at the forum, and a “brutal” Israel for its treatment of Palestinians.

At the start of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) annual conference attended by 1,400 members of 120 assemblies, Cuba’s veteran communist leader could not resist taking aim at his old enemy, Washington, which did not sent a delegation.

Given that a large percentage of the parliamentariansgathered in Havana “proceed from our poor, exploited, suffering Third World, the U.S. Parliament would at least have had the opportunity to find out what others think,” Castro said.

“In the Congress of that powerful country, there aresincere, intelligent and realistic legislators, but unfortunately they are in a clear minority,” he added in a speech to the inauguration ceremony. The U.S. Congress has not participated in IPU conferences since 1994.

In an apparent reference to President George W. Bush’srejection of the 1997 Kyoto pact aimed at curbing global warming, Castro also accused the United States of being blind to the needs of world development.

‘‘We are witnesses of the disparagement and arrogance with which the dominant superpower breaks accords and treaties vital not only for peace and security for all the world’s peoples, but also in the hope of sustainable development and the preservation of ecological equilibrium,’’ he said.

Castro told delegates he was a “calmer” but “more radical” man than at the last IPU conference in Havana two decades ago.

Cuba’s National Assembly President, Ricardo Alarcon, called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied territories and the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.