AT CUBA SUMMIT 50 WORLD LEADERS DISCUSS POLICIES AMONG 'NON-ALIGNED NATIONS'
IRAN, VENEZUELA TO FORM SPECIAL JOINT FUND TO PROMOTE STRATEGIC COLLABORATION
18 September 2006

More than 50 heads of state have gathered in Havana, Cuba, for a summit meeting to organize a geopolitical policy that would resist unipolar US control of economic and strategic affairs. The summit is a prelude to the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, this week. The summit placed strengthening of diplomatic institutions and promotion of economic development in poor regions as priorities.

Among the first to arrive was Iran's pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who met with Cuban officials and greeted a convalescent Fidel Castro. Venezuelan pres. Hugo Chávez has said his nation will respond if Iran is attacked by the United States over its uranium enrichment program, and Chávez and Ahmadinejad reached agreement on several projects to strengthen a burgeoning strategic alliance, based on petroleum exports and resistance to Washington's actions in their respective neighborhoods.

Chávez and Ahmadinejad, representing their governments in Caracas and Tehran respectively, have reached no fewer than 86 bilateral accords, many of which are designed to allow for cooperative projects, including enterprises using Iranian technology. The growing alliance is seen as one that stresses Washington's interests in both regions, but which is explained by that very fact, as a means to achieve greater strength in collaboration.

Fidel Castro also received Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, thanking him for attending the summit of non-aligned nations. The Non-Aligned Movement is comprised of 118 countries, many of which have publicly criticized the US and the UN for not considering or prioritizing the interests of smaller and poorer nations.

The BBC reports "There is strong condemnation of Israel's recent intervention in Lebanon, a call for the United Nations to be more representative of smaller nations, support for Iran's nuclear energy plans and implicit criticism of much of US foreign policy."

The Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani pres. Pervez Musharraf reached agreement to re-commence peace talks, an important breakthrough between two nuclear powers who also might cooperate to resist terrorist activities suffered by both states. Brazil and India have also agreed to lobby for new permanent positions on the UN Security Council, seeking to provide representation for their regions and wide populations in the developing world. [s]

• BBC: "Cuba summit sends strong message"
• El País: "Chávez y Ahmadineyad deciden crear un fondo de 1.500 millones para financiar proyectos conjuntos"
• La Vanguardia: "Castro recibió a Annan en La Habana tras su llegada a la Cumbre de No Alineados"
• Reuters India: "Cuba summit presents awkward moments for U.S. friends"
• Reuters: "US and UN bashed at Cuba summit"
• Wash. Post: "Anti-U.S. states try to cement accord at Cuba summit"