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03/18/13 - Prensa Latina (Habana) - DIRECT FROM HAVANA, AM

LATIN AMERICAN NEWS AGENCY, SA
P R E N S A   L A T I N A
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Morning Transmission
Monday, March 18, 2013
plingles@pera.prensalatina.com.mx

CUBA NEWS
Danzon Dancers will Gather in International Festival in Cuba
Colombian Gov't, FARC-EP Dialogue Recesses Today
Raul Castro: Happiness of Children, A Cuban Revolution's Priority
World Baseball Classic Recalls Deceased Cuban Pitcher Pedroso
Raul Castro: More Discipline, Efficiency for Sustainable Development
Cuba: Council of Ministers Debate Changes in 2013 Economic Plan

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN STORIES
Intense Rains Caused Three Dead in Rio de Janeiro
Venezuelan Architect Speaks About Chavez Mausoleum
Venezuelan Electoral System Transparency

OTHER INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Sri Lanka Promotes Tourism Destinations in Russia and Ukraine
Egyptian President to Visit Pakistan, India
UN Dedicates Week to Victims of Slavery   
Vietnam Boosts Extraction of Tree Resin
India, Egypt Boost Trade and Investment
Car Bomb Kills Eight in Somali Capital
Russian Delegation in Damascus Backs Political Solution to Conflict
University of Central Florida Evacuated Due to Bomb Threat
Crucial Debate at UN on Weapons Trade
Rajoy Defends Madrid-2020 Olympic Candidacy
Malaysia Suspects Philippine Opposition Behind Sabah Crisis
Obama Nominates Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary
Russia Reiterates Rejection the U.S. Missile Shield
Pope Francis Receives President of Argentina in Private Audience
Palestinian Prisoner Arrives in Gaza after Long Hunger Strike
United Arab Emirates Launches World's Largest Solar Power Plant
France Signs Record Aircraft Sale Contract
India Withdraws Italian Ambassador ó s Diplomatic Immunity
U.S. Adds Tension on Korean Peninsula
Annual Trade Deficit Within Eurozone Falls Due to Rise in Exports
Woman Gives Birth to Quintuplets in Vietnam
Migration in Focus at Toulouse Latin American Film Festival

FULL STORIES
CUBA NEWS
 Danzon Dancers will Gather in International Festival in Cuba

Havana, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Danzon Lovers from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba will gather here in the international Festival of that gender, celebrated in honor of the first song composed by Miguel Failde in 1879 on the island  ó Las Alturas de Simpson ó  (Simpson heights).

 Havana Danzon also pays tribute to Consejo Valiente Robert (Santiago de Cuba, 1899), better known as Acerina, who was percussionist and drummer and led the Cuban Danzon to Mexico, on the centenary of this event.

 Sponsored by the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, the event, to be held from March 27 to 31, is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the orchestra Siglo XX.

 Speaking on television, the president of the organizing committee, the Cuban musician Jose Loyola, said the event is a tribute to the traditional Cuban music genre and that the festival is one way to keep it alive.

 Concerts, conferences and dance competitions that include performances of new generations are among the proposals.

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Colombian Gov't, FARC-EP Dialogue Recesses Today

Havana, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The talks between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) and the Colombian government are taking a break in talks today, after the guerrilla mentioned some advances in the current sixth cycle.

 Before starting the talks at the Havana's Conference Center yesterday, the member of the FARP-EP delegation, Ricardo Tellez, told reporters that some progresses in the issue of agrarian development has been achieved, which leads a six-item agenda that guides the negotiation talks began on November 19.

 Other issues include the guarantees for political participation, the end of armed conflict, the solution to the problem of illegal drugs, care of victims, and the verification and countersignature of the agreement on the negotiation table.

 Tellez stated that  ó we have advanced and we have advanced enough. This is a  moderate optimism for us. ó  

On the other hand, the guerrilla insisted on claiming the presence of Simon Trinidad in dialogue process. He is serving a 60-year prison sentence in the United States.

 Since the beginning of talks in which Cuba and Norway act as guarantors, the FARC-EP has consistently demanded the participation of Trinidad, because of his experience as part of the insurgent organization.

 During the six days of talks of the current cycle, the guerrillas also called the government of Juan Manuel Santos to turn the express will of dialogue at disposal to implement policies for change.

  ó If we are going to move forward on the negotiation table, a rule of change, reform, solution to problems of the people demanding for those things on the streets should also be expressed in the national environment, the team's member Andres Paris emphasized.

 The FARC-EP also paid tribute to late Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, and recognized its contribution to the realization of the process of talks, which seeks to end an armed conflict in Colombia with more than 50 years.

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Raul Castro: Happiness of Children, A Cuban Revolution's Priority

Havana, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President Raul Castro said here that the smile and happiness of children has focused the efforts of the revolutionary process started in this country on January 1, 1959.

 "If there was one single reason to justify the struggles we have had for more than fifty years, that would be the happiness of you, only that would pay so much effort," the statesman said after attending the presentation of the play  ó Y sin embargo se mueve ó  (And yet it moves), by Cuban children theater company La Colmenita.

 According to a note published by Granma newspaper, Raul Castro said that  ó If the only result of all we did was the smiles of our children, we would be satisfied. ó  

In his conversation with the children, the statesman recalled a recent encounter with a little girl living in the eastern Cuban mountains.

  ó Before the Revolution reached those mountain ranges, children died of different diseases, lived in appalling poverty, they were illiterate, and covered their eyes as a sign of sadness when any stranger approached to them. That's why, if we had to start all over again, we would do it, ó  the Cuban head of State said.

 Raul Castro also recalled his assistance in January 2011 to the performance of La Colmenita in the piece Abracadabra.

 During an expanded March 15 Council of Ministers meeting, Raul Castro invited the ministers, the members of the State Council, the Political Bureau, and the Secretariat of the Communist Party's Central Committee to attend the play.

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World Baseball Classic Recalls Deceased Cuban Pitcher Pedroso

San Francisco, United States, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The organizers of the third World Baseball Classic (WBC) recalled today the career of the Cuban pitcher Yadier Pedroso, who died last Saturday in a traffic accident in his country.

 The WBC website evoked the performance of the stellar pitcher in two editions of the Classic, the first one with only 19 years in 2006 and his last appearance in the current edition.

 In addition to the world title in 2005 and the second place in Olympics Beijing-2008 with the national team, Pedroso accumulated a balance of 76 victories and 45 defeats, with ERA of 3.15.

 On Sunday, before the first World Baseball Classic semifinal Puerto Rico and Japan (3-1), was recalled the pitcher of 26 years at AT & T Park Stadium.

 An image of the Cuban pitcher was placed on the giant screen of the facility, while the public and the players of both teams were silent for a minute in memory of the Cuban player and as a posthumous tribute.

 The player died after crashing the car he was traveling against a truck on the road leading to Artemisa, capital of the province of the same name. In the accident also died two other people.

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Raul Castro: More Discipline, Efficiency for Sustainable Development

Havana, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) At the expanded Council of Ministers meeting held in Havana, Cuban President Raul Castro called for continuing to work with discipline and efficiency to achieve sustainable development, according to reports published by national press today.

 "We must be systematic in confronting problems and controlling them before they arise, when they first begin to be noticed so they do not proliferate with impunity before our eyes," the statesman said.

 Held on Friday, March 15, and presided over by Raul Castro, the meeting discussed several issues of vital importance for improved economic development, such as institutional organization, recovery and development of the railway system, and the 2013 economic plan, Granma newspaper reported.

 Leonardo Andollo, deputy chief of the Standing Commission for Implementation and Development, outlined the main results from a study on the structural organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in consonance with the effort to improve the agencies within the State's Central Administration.

 According to Andollo, the proposed changes contribute to a more precise definition of the functions of this body and facilitate their compliance, causing greater integration and coordination of activities within that entity.

 Minister of Industry Salvador Pardo Cruz, referred to the defined policy for the development of packaging industries, a sector whose domestic production covers only 36 percent of demand, obliging the rest to be imported.

 Another issue analyzed during the Council of Ministers meeting was the recovery and development of the railway system, in which Raul Castro stated that despite some progress, there are still plenty of problems to overcome due to lack of demanding oversight.

 Transport Minister Cesar Arocha Macid said that railway cargo transportation exceeded plans by 4 percent and passenger transport reached 97 percent of the plan, with around 352.6 kilometers of railroad track having been repaired, representing 104 percent of the scheduled plan.

 Since the creation of the Import Distribution Chain, costs due to delays in the operation of ships and containers have decreased significantly, from more than 37 million in 2005 to just over one million in 2012.

 As for changes in the Economic Plan for 2013, Minister Adel Izquierdo emphasized that these are being undertaken with the premise of attending to the investments that have guaranteed technical preparation, certified reconciliation from builders, guaranteed financing and the real possibility of receiving imports within the year.

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Cuba: Council of Ministers Debate Changes in 2013 Economic Plan

Havana, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) At a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Cuba ó s Minister of Economy Adel Izquierdo reported on the modifications made to the Economy Plan for 2013, mainly focused on investments, according to the national press.

 During the meeting chaired by President Raul Castro, Izquierdo noted the changes which began on the basis of criticisms issued by the head of State regarding the lack of integrity in the investment process 

The main premise of the modifications is taking into account that investments include technical preparation, certified reconciliation, guaranteed funding and the real possibility of receiving imports within the year.

 Attention will also focus on the construction of houses in Havana and in the provinces where Hurricane Sandy caused the greatest damage, such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguín and Guantánamo, as well as others previously damaged by tropical storms.

 According to Izquierdo, priorities include investments in tourism, biotechnology, renewable energy, water supply, city cleanup, irrigation systems, sustainable electric power generation and communications.

 Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca debated the consequences for Cuba of irregularities in foreign trade.

  ó The damages has been caused by different factors, and although largely related to external causes, most are brought about by deficiencies in our work and difficulties that persist in the productive basis of exportable goods and services, particularly imports, ó  the minister underlined.

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LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN STORIES
  
Intense Rains Caused Three Dead in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, Tue 18, (Prensa Latina) The intense rains of the last hours caused the death of tree people, floods and landslides in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, southwest of Brasil.

 The Secretary of State of Civil Defence Sergio Simoes confirmed that tree people died at dawn because of the rains in the city of Petropolis, in the mountains region of Rio ó s State.

 Simoes met this Monday with the Mayor of Petrópolis, Rubens Bontempo, with whom he examined de critical situation due to the overflow of the rivers Quintadinha and Piabanha and the landslides in slopes of mountains.

 He pointed out that the current government ordered the transfer to the territory of machinery and trucks to move the land that block the roads, and back other works.

 Streets of neighbourhoods Quintadinha, Independencia, Morin and Alto da Sierra are flooded and the situation was described as very serious, because of the amount of houses damaged.

 In just 24 hours 300 millimeters of rain were registered in Petropolis, he emphasized when recalling that the expected for a month is 270 millimetres.

  ó The rivers return to their courses, but the rains will continue all day  ó , he said and called the people to remain in their homes.

 Besides the three deaths, for causes still undetermined, there are three people missing, he said noting that several tourists remain sheltered in the cathedral of Sao Pedro, as the historical center is flooded.

 In other jurisdictions as Xerém, Duque de Caxias and Angra dos Reis, the heavy rains also caused flooding, landslides and partial collapses.

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Venezuelan Architect Speaks About Chavez Mausoleum

Caracas, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Architect Fruto Vivas said today that the design and construction of the Four-part Flower Mausoleum at the Cuartel de la Montaña (Barracks of the Mountain), where the remains of President Hugo Chavez lie, "has been a beautiful experience." 

Vivas told the Venezolana de Television station that the project involved a great deal of hard work with a team of designers and workers.

 The design, which shows a flower, where the coffin was placed, on a mirror made of water, was conceived during "sleepless" days said the expert, recognized for his work on behalf of the Caracas urban environment.

 According to Vivas, the original project called for a glass chalice, but that idea did not materialize due to the new criterion of embalming the president's corpse.           The architect also said the current project includes a roof of stained-glass windows with the colors of the Venezuelan flag, but this part is yet to be realized, due to the haste in which the whole work is expected to be finished.

 In the opinion of the prominent professional and revolutionary activist, Chavez was the only Venezuelan head of State that resumed Bolivar's work and confronted imperialism.

 With a view to the future of this nation, Vivas said consolidating the people's unity and taking advantage of the Venezuelan oil wealth are challenges.

 Jose Fructoso Vivas (1928) was member of the Venezuelan Communist Party and is regarded as one of the most influential and internationally recognized architects in this South American country.

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Venezuelan Electoral System Transparency

Caracas, Mar, 17 (Prensa Latina) The Venezuelan electoral system guarantees the transparency of the process and respect for the sovereign decision of each citizen when they vote, say authorities on the subject.

 President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena, pointed out that the integrity of the mechanism used is supported by a program of audits for the different phases.

 As an example she mentioned that 52 percent of the voting machines are being audited, along with the extension of the operational hours at voting centers in order for people to cast their votes.

 Lucena also expressed that the CNE in Venezuela has the legal authority to invite international observers, as it has planned for the elections on April 14th.

 This was Lucena's response to the recent statements by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson, who said it was going to be difficult to have transparent elections in Venezuela.  In this regard, Lucena established the difference with United States where audits of the voting system are prohibited.

 Venezuela will begin its elections in April, in which seven candidates are competing for the presidency.

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OTHER INTERNATIONAL STORIES
  
Sri Lanka Promotes Tourism Destinations in Russia and Ukraine

Colombo, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The Tourism Promotion Office of Sri Lanka launched a three weeks campaign in Russia and Ukraine to encourage the visit of tourists from these promising markets.

 The entity said in a statement here that on Sunday began the Tourism Road Mega Show in the Russian cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, and in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.

 Major exhibition spaces of these countries showed the charming of the Indian Ocean Island through photo exhibitions and traditional products, videos, cultural performances, workshops and conferences.

 Tour operators, travel agencies, airlines and other Sri Lankan tourism stakeholders will participate also in three important international fairs to promote the leisure industry that these days will have its seat in those cities.

 Last year the number of visitors from Eastern Europe to Sri Lanka rose 43.6 percent, with Ukraine on top (124.2 percent growth) and an encouraging upturn in Russia (32.8 percent).

 In a process of recovery since the end of the civil war in May 2009, the Sri Lankan tourism figures marked record in 2012 with over a million foreign visitors and a billion dollars in revenue.

 Important publications described the island as a trendy destination this year.

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Egyptian President to Visit Pakistan, India

New Delhi, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) President of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi, will be on official visit to Pakistan and India as part of a foreign policy aim at having more presence in the eastern countries.

 The dignitary arrives in Islamabad on Monday and that day he will meet with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari.

 Morsis ó s visit, the first by an Egyptian head of state to the South Asian nation in decades, aims at boosting bilateral relations in all fields, said the spokesman of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry. It is expected that the two leaders sign several agreements.

 On Monday night Morsi will fly to neighboring India, and on Tuesday he will have a tight schedule that includes separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the Indian President and Vice President, Pranab Mukherjee and Hamid Ansari, respectively.

 He will also meet with the foreign minister, Salman Khurshid, the president of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and the leader of the opposition in the lower house of Parliament, Sushma Swaraj.

 According to the official program circulated by the Indian foreign ministry, the respective delegations will sign several agreements, but the nature of these was not specified.

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UN Dedicates Week to Victims of Slavery   

United Nations, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The United Nations will begin Monday a week dedicated to the International Day of Remembrance of Slavery Victims and the Transatlantic Traffic of Slaves marked each 25th March since 2007.

 The program will start with the arrival at UN  s headquarters of copies of the Proclamation of the Emancipation of the United States signed by Abraham Lincoln and the 13th Constitutional amendment on the abolition of slavery.

 After that there will be a panel session titled Free Forever to celebrate the emancipation and on Tuesday there will be a videoconference with students of Denmark, France, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and the United States.

 There will be a book presentation on the end of slavery in the United States, a cultural and culinary night and a concert to end next Monday with an oficial ceremony.

 The solemn session will have speeches by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the president of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremi and representatives of the regional groups at the UN.

 This year marks round anniversaries of slavery abolition in Haiti (220), Canada, British West Indies and the Cape of Good Hope (180), France (165), Argentina (160), Dutch colonies (150) and Brazil (125).

 The UN plans on building a memorial in its headquarter grounds to pay tribute to the victims of slavery at a cost of 4.5 million dollars.

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Vietnam Boosts Extraction of Tree Resin

Hanoi, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) A mountainous district in Vietnam has taken advantage of its rocky, rough and dry nature by planting trees that produce resign, thus improving the local economy.

 In the district commune of Binh Thuan, in central Binh Thuan province, which reports the country's lowest rainfall average, local residents have planted trom trees, an autochthonous tree that has easily adjusted to such natural conditions.

 In 2006, the National Agricultural Extension Center planted the first 11 hectares with such trees, with the goal of reforesting the area and extracting resin in commercial volumes, using easy procedures.

 Six years later, the district has 400 hectares planted with trom, 50 percent of which are bearing fruit already, according to the local Chamber of Agriculture and Rural development. A local company is processing the resin to make beverages.

 Trom, the so-called blue dragon fruit and rubber are the most popular trees at present in the province, where agricultural authorities are replacing low-yield crops that cannot adjust to the environment easily.

 Many peasants now gain steady incomes and have a regular job, thanks to the profits from selling resin, the newspaper Thanh Nhien reported.

 The secretary of the Communist Party in the district, Ho Trung Phuoc, pointed out that those trees have become the spearhead of new economic development in the region.

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India, Egypt Boost Trade and Investment

New Delhi, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi starts on Monday a three-day official visit to India to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the fields of trade and investment.

 After a stopover with similar objectives in Pakistan, Morsi, who is heading a delegation of ministers and entrepreneurial leaders, will arrive in this capital at night.

 His official agenda will begin on Tuesday with separate meetings with Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh, President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari.

 He will also will meet with Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, the vice president of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and the opposition leader in the lower house of Parliament, Sushma Swaraj.

 According to the official schedule released by the Indian Foreign Ministry, the two countries will sign several agreements, whose nature was not explained.

 On several occasions, Morsi has expressed the will of his party, the Muslim Brotherhood, to expand the scope of Egypt's foreign policy, particularly by increasing its presence in eastern countries.

 In India's particular case, the results of those efforts materialized last year, when bilateral trade increased from 3.2 billion dollars to a record of 4.5 billion dollars.

 Cairo has also attracted large Indian investments, which exceed 2.5 billion dollars at present.

 Egypt is also interested in receiving India's assistance to put a nano-satellite into orbit and creating a state-of-the-art center for information technologies at the University of Al Azhar, in Cairo.

 Morsi and his delegation will also meet with representatives of India's main chambers of commerce and industry on Wednesday, shortly before returning home.

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Car Bomb Kills Eight in Somali Capital

Mogadishu, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) A blast caused by a car bomb near the National Theater, downtown the capital, killed eight people today, informed Somali Chief of Police Mohamed Duale.

  ó It is too soon to know the exact death toll, but at least eight people died ó , noted Duale.

 This is the deadliest attack that has taken place in Somalia since September 2012, according to the press.

 A witness, Hasan Salad, underlined that some of the victims were traveling aboard a small bus that was hit by the blast.

 He attack has not been claimed by any group, but official sources believe it could be an operation carried out by Al Shabab, which executes guerrilla actions and attacks, mainly in the capital, from where its members were expelled in August 2011 by troops of the African Union Mission.

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Russian Delegation in Damascus Backs Political Solution to Conflict

Damascus, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) A Russian delegation of political analysts and journalists, visiting this capital, confirmed its support for a political solution to end the conflict shaking the nation, the Syrian official news channel reported.

 The visitors, who were welcomed by the information minister, Omran al-Zoabi, were informed of the confrontation ó s nature, which is fueled by Western countries by supporting armed gangs seeking to overthrow the government, said the broadcaster.

 During the talks, members of the Russian representation reaffirmed Moscow's official stance of rejecting foreign intervention to resolve the conflict, and any kind of interference in Damascus ó  internal affairs.

 They also advocated the need to define a solution based on political action in order to build a new country with the participation of all political parties and currents.

 The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Damascus, the source added.

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University of Central Florida Evacuated Due to Bomb Threat

Washington, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The University of Central Florida (UCF), in Southern U.S., cancelled classes on Monday after authorities found a man's dead body, guns and explosive devices at a students   dorm.

 Federal agents investigate today the death of an unidentified man, in an apparent suicide, inside the dorm on Tower 1 of the campus that has about 500 students.

 According to Orlando Sentinel daily, police said the man allegedly died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Various homemade explosives and a rifle were found near the man's body.

 A bomb squad, sent to the campus to investigate the incident, ordered the evacuation of the students due to the suspicion that the deceased had accomplices or could be a conspiracy for a large-scale attack against the university.

 UCF spokesman Grant Heston said the first fire alarm went off shortly after midnight, and confirmed that the the deceased is a young Caucasian man, but it is not clear if he is a student of the university.

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Crucial Debate at UN on Weapons Trade

United Nations, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Representatives of the 193 member States at the United Nations are beginning a crucial negotiation today that will decide whether the world can count on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), after almost seven years of discussions.

 This is supposed to be the final U.N. conference related to the treaty, and will be opened by the U.N. General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, in the context of a marked uncertainty about the outcome of these ten days of discussion.

 The negotiations will take place around a treaty project that was elaborated in previous sessions, the last of them in July of 2012, when the final text was expected to be concluded.

 The objective is to regulate the trade of several categories of weapons; from the smallest to the largest, including tanks, warships, fighter planes, missiles and rocket launchers.

 Last Friday, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, said that Washington will not support an agreement that is contrary to domestic laws in his country regarding the trade and exportation of weapons.

 For its part, at the beginning of this month, Russia insisted on measures that would put the arms trade under the responsibility of authorized state agencies in order to avoid having these weapons reach terrorist and criminal hands.

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Rajoy Defends Madrid-2020 Olympic Candidacy

Madrid, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) President of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, defended here today Madrid's aspiration to host the 2020 Olympics.

 During the opening of the presentations to endorse Madrid ó s aspiration, which will be submitted to the evaluation commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the chief of the executive highlighted the high percentage of infrastructure already built.

 Rajoy welcomed the members of the commission, who until Thursday will analyze the possibilities of the Spanish capital to successfully organize the Games in seven years and, at the same time, will compare its choices with those of its rivals, Tokyo and Istanbul.

 In his opinion, the main city of this European country can be the venue of an event of this nature.

 Rajoy specially stressed that 80 percent of the facilities are already raised, and also made reference to the wide experience of the city and Spain to organize large events and receive many visitors.

 He recalled that Spain is the third nation in the world by number of foreign tourist arrivals per year (almost 58 million in 2012). The country has a pleasant climate and has good international connections and a well equipped transportation network.

 Among the attributes he also mentioned Spain sporting tradition and excellent athletes.

 He added that he considered the Spanish society hopes to achieve its objective, after two failed attempts in 2012 (won London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro).

 We are ready and willing to host the Games and we would be very proud to do it, said the President of the Spanish Government .

 The IOC group led by the British Sir Craig Reedie, tries to find out in just four days the chances of Madrid to successfully organize the Games in seven years.

 The decision on the city that will host the Olympics will be announced on September 7, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 After visiting Tokyo, the commission will end in Istanbul (from 24 to 27 March) its tour of the three candidate cities.

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Malaysia Suspects Philippine Opposition Behind Sabah Crisis

Kuala Lumpur, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Malaysia suspects that armed groups who illegally entered  Sabah territory, causing a crisis yet to be resolved  were linked to opposition leaders in the Philippines.

 Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that if some of the reports on the matter are true, the Philippine government must carry out appropriate actions against those involved in the incident.

 At a public event, Muhyiddin Yassin read a statement from Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who met with his counterpart in Manila, Voltaire Gazmin, last weekend.

 Muhyiddin stressed in a press conference that Malaysia expects to obtain detailed information on the matter and understand the situation behind the incursion carried out by the armed groups.

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Obama Nominates Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary

Washington, March 18 (Prensa Latina) U.S. President Barack Obama formally nominated today Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez as the next Labor Secretary, the first selection of a Latin American to occupy the second cabinet of the U.S. Executive.

 Perez, 51, has Dominican roots and is the former council of Montgomery county and also advised the civil rights division in the Department of Justice since 2009, recalled Boston Herald newspaper.

 If the Senates confirms him, he will replace Hilda Solis, who resigned from her post in January, a month when several officials also resigned during the second presidential period of the Obama administration.

 Press analysts describe Perez as a pragmatic and consensus builder among the mass. He already worked as labor secretary in Maryland under the command of Governor Martin O ó Malley from 2007 to 2009.

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Russia Reiterates Rejection the U.S. Missile Shield

Moscow, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Russia will keep its stance to U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in Europe, despite the program adjustment announced by the Pentagon, the Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said today.

 "This is not a concession to Russia and we do not see it as such." "Our objections remain, ó  Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Kommersant business daily regarding the changes made by the Pentagon the final phase of its missile shield for Europe.

 The Pentagon announced on Friday plans to strengthen the shield in the region of Alaska and California with additional deployment of 14 interceptor missiles and a second radar in Japan in order to counter an alleged potential threat from Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

 Ryabkov said that Russia believed that extra U.S. interceptors in Alaska "significantly expand U.S. capabilities in the area of missile defense." 

Ryakov insisted that there are no connections between Russian objections against the shield and the recent announcements, while the Russian arguments about the strategic aspects of the U.S. system (DAM), assumed as their own by the Treaty Organisation (NATO), keep updated.

 The deputy foreign minister added that Russia will continue the dialogue in order to get from Washington legal guarantees that the DAM is not directed against Russia's nuclear potential.

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Pope Francis Receives President of Argentina in Private Audience

Rome, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) Pope Francis met with Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez at the Vatican today, in the first private audience of the new Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church with a head of State.

 According to the Vatican ó s press director, Federico Lombardi, the Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope on March 13, had a face to face dialogue with Fernandez for about 15 minutes, after which he greeted the accompanying delegation, and the two lunched at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

 According to Lombardi, an official statement on the meeting is not expected because it was both private and informal.

 Tomorrow President Fernandez will attend the inaugural Mass along with delegations from 150 countries that include heads of State and government, ministers, ambassadors and religious leaders.

 The Argentine delegation includes Foreign Minister Hector Timerman; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Ricardo Lorenzetti; the head of the Deputies Chamber, Julian Dominguez; and representatives of Argentina ó s Episcopal Conference and various political parties.

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Palestinian Prisoner Arrives in Gaza after Long Hunger Strike

Gaza,  Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) A Palestinian inmate who was in hunger strike for eight months at an Israeli prison has arrived in this city, where he was welcomed by hundreds of demonstrators, Palestinian sources announced here on Monday.

 According to Maan news agency, Ayman Sharawna reached an agreement with the Israeli occupation authorities for putting an end to his hunger strike. He will live in Gaza Strip for the next 10 years.

 Palestinian deputy minister of prisoner affairs, Ziad Abu El Ein, said negotiations for a similar accord are under way with Samer Issawi, who has been in hunger strike for 228 days and has refused to drink water since last week.

 The Palestine National Authority's (PNA) Minister for Prisoner Matters, Issa Qaraque, condemned the conditioned releases to exile and called them political blackmail by the Israeli Government.

 The prolonged detentions of Palestinians without charges, based on an Israeli law, has unleashed violent protests in West Bank in the last few weeks, which worsened after Arafat Jaradat, 35, died due to tortures suffered during his arrest.

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United Arab Emirates Launches World's Largest Solar Power Plant

Abu Dhabi, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The world's largest solar power plant began serving here today with a capacity of 100 Mw, official media reported today.

 The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bins Zayed al Nahyan, inaugurated the facility that was built at a cost of $ 600 million USD.

 Covering an area of 2.5 square km, he plant is capable of delivering green electricity to 20,000 homes, the official news agency WAM reported.

 The facility, named Shams 1, was described by bin Zayed al Nayahn as a major milestone in the country's economic diversification and a step toward long-term energy security.

 The project has advanced technology of the parabolic type, includes more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 collectors and concentrates the heat from sunlight in tubes why synthetic oil.

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France Signs Record Aircraft Sale Contract

Paris, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) French President Francois Hollande presided today at the Elysee palace over the signing of a contract with the Airbus aircraft manufacturer and Indonesian ó s Lion Air, for 234 airplanes.

 According to the French president, this is a historical commitment, both because of the financial transaction amount, valued at 18.4 billion euros ($24 billion USD) and for its positive effects on the French economy.

 Hollande said that the deal will allow for 5000 guaranteed jobs in France over the next 10 years, which he said is good news in times of crisis in the labor market.

 After the signing of the agreement, the French president called Airbus the pride of France and Europe, and a pillar of the French economy.

 The purchase includes 109 aircraft from the A320 Neo line, 65 from the A321 Neo line, and 60 A320 jets. Most will be manufactured at the Airbus plant in the southern city of Toulouse, as well as in other branches established in various European countries.
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India Withdraws Italian Ambassador ó s Diplomatic Immunity

New Delhi, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The Supreme Court of India withdrew today diplomatic immunity for the Italian ambassador here, Daniele Mancini, and has forbidden him to leave the country until April 2 at least.

 The court will rule on the matter at that time, when it will hold a new hearing on the Italian government's decision not to return to the Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, accused of killing two fishermen from Kerala whom they mistook for pirates.

 Mancini acted as guarantor for the return of the soldiers when they were allowed to travel to his country for four weeks to vote in legislative elections on February 23, meaning that the Indian judiciary considered that he automatically lost diplomatic immunity when his word was broken.

 "A person who comes to court, offers guarantees and then defaults on them, has no immunity," Chief Justice Altamas Kabir told a local television station.

 The Indian government has warned of "consequences" and is reviewing its ties with Italy.

 Mancini is forbidden to leave India since Italy say it would renege on its commitment to send the men back, claiming that Indian authorities ó  behavior violates international rules.

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U.S. Adds Tension on Korean Peninsula

Seoul, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The U.S will supply all necessary military resources to South Korea in order to confront its northern neighbor, adding more tension on the peninsula, as suggested by the statements of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

 Carter was in Seoul as part of a four-nation tour of U.S. allies and partners in Asia including Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

 The White House is trying to justify its decision by citing the alleged nuclear threat from the People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

 "We'll ensure that all of our resources will be available to our allies," Carter said during an interview with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-Jin.

 Carters ó  statements coincide with a joint military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea, called Key Resolve, which involves 10,500 South Korean soldiers and around 3,000 from the U.S.

 Washington has some 28,500 soldiers in South Korean territory, manning various weapons pointed toward the main points of the DPRK.

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Annual Trade Deficit Within Eurozone Falls Due to Rise in Exports

Brussels, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina)  At a time when the Eurozone is suffering its second year of recession, the trade déficit fell in January compared to the same period a year ago, reported the statistics office for the European Community, Eurostat.

 The imbalance was at 3.9 billion euros due to exports growing faster than imports.

 However, Eurostat clarified that this was just slightly better than analysts had forecast.

 Exports continue to be a driving force thanks to Chinese and U.S. demand for European autos, chemical products and medicines.

 The trade statistics are followed very closely due to the impact they tend to have on the economic situation for the bloc.

 From July to September, 2012, the Eurozone fell into recession for the second time since 2008, after a tenth of a percentage point contraction in Gross Domestic Product.

 The situation corresponded to two consecutive trimesters of losses which resulted in the major powers in the region, Germany and France, being unable to stop the drag coming from Greece, Spain and Italy.

 Analysts conjecture that this was the result of an excessive austerity imposed on the southern European countries, and the lack of willingness from the northern ones to do otherwise.

 The Eurozone was last in recession after the beginning of the global financial crisis in 2008, when it registered contraction for five consecutive trimesters, until the summer of 2009.

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Woman Gives Birth to Quintuplets in Vietnam

Hanoi, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The obstetric hospital of Tu Du in Ho Chi Minh city reported today that the first Vietnamese quintuplets have been born: three boys and two girls, who are currently in an intensive care unit, along with their mother.

 According to the Tooi Tre newspaper, which published the medical news, the mother, age 28, had undergone in vitro fertilization treatment to get pregnant, one of the services with that objective that is rendered at 15 centers established throughout the country.

 Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, member of the Reproductive Medicine Association, said that through different procedures, more than 10,000 births in the last 15 years have been successful, including those of foreign patients that applied for treatment.

 Prior to the birth of the quintuplet, quadruplet births were recorded in the province of An Giang in 2011 and in Dong Thap, in the Mekong's delta, in 2012, in addition to various cases of triplet births.

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Migration in Focus at Toulouse Latin American Film Festival

Paris, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The 25th Toulouse Latin American Film Festival presents a special exhibition today on waves of migration and the everyday lives of immigrants.

 Thousands of people leave Latin America every year for economic, political, social or family reasons, a drama that has been captured by the cinema, both in documentary and fiction films.

 The migration exhibition is part of the Film and Politics section of this festival held every year in southern France, and offers a dozen or so films, leading with  ó Stones On The Sun ó  by Haitian-American filmmaker Patricia Benoit.

 The migration section includes, among others, the films  ó Ulises ó  by Cary Fukunagua and  ó Sin Nombre ó  by Oscar Godoy.

 Meanwhile, the Argentine film  ó Habi, the foreigner ó  by Maria Florencia Alvarez will compete for the main prize in the feature film section.

 The Toulouse Latin Film Fest is also offering a discussion entitled Dictatorships and State Violence today, with the participation of Chilean filmmakers Carmen Castillo and Marco Bechis.

 The event takes place from March 15 to 24 in Toulouse, France.

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