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BY JOAQUIN RIVERY TUR
—Granma daily staff writer—
PRESIDENT
Fidel Castro affirmed that developed capitalism,
imperialism and neo-liberal globalization have
been imposed on the world, as has the lack the
basic principles of justice.
Fidel was
speaking at the closure of the 5th
International Conference of Economists on
Globalization and Problems of Development, on
Sunday (February 16) at the International
Conference Center. The conference took place over
five intense days of productive work.
After a
brief review of history, he noted that today,
sights have been set on the WTO and the IMF, the
control of the world’s financial resources,
privatization, patents monopolies and the pretense
of demanding debt payments impossible to recover
or pay.
Referring
to the probable war against Iraq, Fidel pointed
out that no one can say beforehand what the Iraqi
people’s reaction or resistance will be like, how
long the war might last, how many deaths and how
much destruction it might cause once it develops
into a patriotic war for the country under
attack.
The
President began by asking: Where are the minimal
conditions of equality for development? In whose
hands lie the international financial
institutions? Who pays attention when a country’s
population decreases and when its health indices
worsen? Who destroys others’ national cultures?
plus other similar questions.
The leader
also noted that the current world order is neither
sustainable nor endurable and that neo-liberal
globalization is the most shameful re-colonization
of the Third World.
Later,
when referring to the invention of free currency
exchange that sucks the lifeblood out of poor
countries, Fidel praised the Venezuelan people and
their brave leader who recently established a
currency exchange control mechanism, thus putting
an end to disorder.
Likewise,
in midst of such a convulsive situation, Fidel
confirmed that we are privileged to be living in
the most extraordinary time in the history of the
humankind, reiterating that Cuba lives and will
continue to live in socialism. (Granma) February 17, 2003 | 
