CUBA: Castro condemns attacks on US

BY SEAN HEALY

Cuban President Fidel Castro has condemned the terrorist attacks on Washington, DC, and New York, but has warned that "there are possibly dangerous days ahead for the world" unless the government of George W Bush realises that "None of the world's problems, including terrorism, can be resolved by force".

In an official communique, Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Roque extended his country's condolences to the people and authorities of the United States for the loss of life and offered air and medical facilities to help.

"The Cuban government heard news of the attacks with pain and sadness", the communique said. "At this bitter time, our people express solidarity with the US people and express total willingness to cooperate, as far as our modest possibilities allow."

"We deeply regret the loss of human life, and our position is of total rejection of this sort of terrorist attack", Perez later told reporters.

"Our people have had to suffer 40 years of acts of terrorism, so we know the consequences of this type of action", he added.

Speaking in the evening of September 11 at the inauguration of a school, Castro said: "In part, these tragedies are a consequence of having applied terrorist methods — against Cuba for many years, and in the case of other countries — because they have spread the idea of terrorism."

Castro said the attacks had thrown the world into uncertainty, and urged restraint from the United States. "It's very important to know what the US government's reaction will be. There are possibly dangerous days ahead for the world", he said.

"If on one occasion it is permissible to make a suggestion to the enemy ... we would urge the leaders of the imperial power to be calm, act with equanimity, and not be dragged by moments of anger or hatred ... into wanting to hunt people, tossing bombs all over the place."

From GLW issue 464