Chronicle on Cuba - January
2008
Highlights
Domestic Affairs: The Cuban Catholic Church is making preparations for the visit of the Vatican Secretary of State to the island, in February. Fidel Castro is re-elected delegate to the National Assembly. Raul Castro obtains the highest number of votes in national elections. Opposition leaders denounce the increase of repression and physical violence against the dissident movement. Cuban workers protest recent government decision to make them pay income tax on hard currency bonuses.
Economy: Cuban service exports increased dramatically for the third consecutive year in 2007. For the first time, the Cuban nickel industry surpasses tourism as the country's top foreign exchange earner. Several articles in the official press criticize low agricultural production. Brazil and Cuba sign 10 agreements covering oil exploration, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Cienfuegos refinery begins processing crude oil. Cuba participates in the inauguration of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas Bank.
Exile Community: Supporters of Luis Posada Carriles confront protesters demanding the arrest of the anti-Castro militant. Raul Rivero and Hector Palacio present in Madrid the last report by the Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation.
Foreign Affairs: The president of India's Lower House, Somnath Chatterjee, visits the island. The number of Cuban illegal immigrants arriving in Honduras increases. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visits Cuba and meets Fidel and Raul Castro. Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage attends the 6th Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas in Caracas. Fidel Castro writes four articles on his meeting with the Brazilian President. A major Cuban art exhibition opens in Montreal.
Security: Cuba’s Eastern and Central armies begin military exercises.
Terrorism: Cuban Ambassador to Venezuela participates as a guarantor during the release of hostages held by the Colombian Revolutionary Army Forces.
US-Cuba Relations: The President of the Cuban Parliament says that systematic US threats against the island is one of the main reasons to vote for the slate of candidates in national elections. The US remains Cuba's main supplier of food and farm products. President Bush receives the wife of Cuban political prisoner Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet in the White House. The mother of Cuban political prisoner Normando Hernandez joins Laura Bush during the president’s State of the Union address. In one of his Reflections, Fidel Castro harshly criticizes President Bush’s State of the Union address.
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