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Castro Raps US Over FTAA
Cuban President Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that the United States will annex Latin America's economies with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), whose inauguration is planned for 2005.
In a 40-minute speech on the occasion of the International Labor Day, Castro warned that it is suicidal for Latin American countries to take part in FTAA, which was described by the Cuban leader as being compelled by the United States.
"Let's stop annexation, demand that no government may sell a nation behind a nation's back," said Castro, who proposed to carry out plebiscites in nations that are negotiating to join FTAA.
"Today we'll make the first Latin American protest march against FTAA with the slogans 'annexation no, plebiscite yes'."
Castro, dressed in his habitual olive green uniform and wearing sports boots, then joined thousands of people in marching from the Revolutionary Square to the interests office of the United States in Havana.
Cuba is excluded from FTAA due to its political differences with the United States. Other political leaders in Cuba also affirmed that with FTAA, the United States is imposing its hegemony in the area.
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