<a href=reuters.com>Reuters Fri April 4, 2003 07:13 AM ET By Tom Ashby

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell four percent on Friday on expectations that the U.S. advance on Baghdad and capture of the international airport would herald a swift return of Iraqi exports, while Nigerian supplies recovered.

Oil has lost 25 percent of its value in the last month as Western military advances in Iraq brought closer the prospect of extra supply to ease thin stocks in the West.

Benchmark Brent crude oil dropped 96 cents to $24.54 per barrel by early afternoon in London, while U.S. crude futures fell 91 cents to $28.06.

"Every thrust forward suggests an end to the conflict is closer which means a return for Iraqi crude, and that is bearish for prices," said David Thomas of Commerzbank Securities.

U.S. forces said they seized Baghdad international airport, leaving the capital in range of U.S. rockets and artillery which have driven over 300 miles from Kuwait.

A U.S. spokesman said about 2,500 Republican Guards had surrendered. U.S. oil company ChevronTexaco said it was gradually restarting Nigerian production on Friday that it was forced to close down 12 days before because of ethnic clashes in the delta region.

Nigeria had shut about 40 percent of its output because of the political violence ahead of elections later this month.

The surprise Nigerian stoppage had fueled concern about world oil supplies after Iraq, the world's seventh largest exporter, stopped selling oil in the week leading up to the first U.S. attacks on March 20.

Analysts expect Iraqi exports to resume within three months, and any delays in this timetable could still drive prices higher.

Southern fields which pump about half the country's oil are already under control of U.S. and British troops, but the northern oilfields near Kirkuk are still in Iraqi hands.

OPEC AT FULL STRETCH

Other Middle Eastern oil producers have hiked output sharply to cover for the lost Iraqi supplies, although stocks in the West are still below normal because of earlier disruptions from Nigeria and Venezuela.

"If Iraq's production outage extends beyond the second quarter, OPEC would not be able to meet market requirements," said Mike Rothman of Merrill Lynch.

Most members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are now pumping at full capacity.

"The underlying supply/demand pressures in the global oil balance do not support the notion of prices falling much from recent levels," Rothman said.

"Storage remains well below normal levels and that deficit is expected to persist into the back half of the year, and OPEC's spare capacity remains limited," he added.

<a href=www.thisisexeter.co.uk>Express 7 Echo 12:00 - 04 April 2003

There's a perception that Devon has some of the most expensive petrol prices in the country and uncertainty about how the Iraq conflict would affect oil supplies saw pennies regularly being added to the price of a litre of petrol over the winter. Rob Sims discovers if we are getting a raw deal Fears that a long and bitter conflict in Iraq could interrupt the smooth supply of oil has contributed to a steep rise in the cost of fuel at the pumps in recent months. Rises of up to three pence a litre have led to the growing suspicion that while petrol companies are quick to increase prices during times of crisis, there is always less haste to lower them again. Devon - which was at the centre of nationwide protests about the price of fuel in September 2000 - is particularly vulnerable to rising prices. The rural economy is dependent on the car and parts of Devon pay some of the highest prices in the country. Recent research from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council revealed that prices could vary by as much as seven pence a litre at urban and rural garages owned by the same companies. In some more remote areas motorists are paying more for their fuel than at any time since the fuel protests, with a litre of unleaded petrol priced at more than 80 pence. The cost of a barrel of oil has fluctuated widely in recent weeks and fears over a long conflict in Iraq led to prices creeping up. Its wasn't the only factor. At the end of last year crude oil shortages caused by a general strike by workers in Venezuela caused prices to soar. Pump prices rose by 2.5 per cent in the month before the Iraqi conflict began, hitting a two-year high of 80p for a litre of unleaded fuel. At the start of the current conflict the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) predicted a rise in the cost at the pumps followed by a gradual fall. Once military action was launched and the conflict looked like it would come to a swift end, it said prices would drop rapidly. Now that the bid to remove Saddam looks like it may be more protracted, the situation is less clear. Ray Holloway, director of the PRA said: "In the coming weeks the price of crude will be going up and down like a yo-yo. "Prices are now beginning to come down and I think they will come down more the closer we get to Easter. "BP announced a penny cut last week and I expected the others to follow. I have begun to notice the pennies coming off. I think we have already seen the effects of the war, which pushed up prices between December and the end of February. "Although the Iraq conflict will keep the cost of crude high, other factors, like seasonal demand, will help to keep prices down. "People always say that prices go up quickly when there are rises in crude oil but are slow to come down again when prices fall. But there isn't really much of a lag." Mr Holloway denied claims that prices were higher in Devon than elsewhere and said rural areas shouldn't have to charge more than urban locations. The price of fuel fluctuates because oil is a commodity traded on international stock markets and its price is affected by confidence over supply. Anything that could affect the smooth supply of oil - especially conflict in a major oil-producing country like Iraq - means motorists are likely to take a hit at the pumps. Dr Simon James, a lecturer at Exeter University's economics department, said motorists shouldn't panic about the current crisis - as long as it doesn't last for too long. He said: "In the longer term there is not too much to worry about because the cartels have never been able to keep oil prices high for long - there are too many countries producing oil for that. "As long as the conflict is confined to Iraq and doesn't spread to countries like Saudi Arabia, there is no reason for prices to stay high for long. A lot of short-term rises in the cost of petrol are based on speculation - that is quite normal. "If you think that the wheat crop is going to fail then the price of wheat will rise well before it actually does. "Motorists are not allowed to stockpile fuel; they have little choice but to pay the prices at the pumps. There is plenty of oil in containers around the world that could be used if the need is there. "I don't think motorists really have much of a cause for concern at the moment." Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, accuses the big petrol companies of exploiting local motorists. Mr Jones said: ""Rural areas get a bad deal. The same petrol companies continue to charge four pence a litre more within a 30 mile radius. "In particular, the major petrol companies are exploiting main road sites, where people have no choice but to buy petrol from them. The tourism season is about to start and we need to show that we can offer fuel at reasonable prices, especially as train services are poor." The business leader said fears of big price rises following the start of hostilities had so far proved unfounded. He said: "They have managed to take control of some of the big oil wells in the south so supply is no longer a problem. "Things should be looking quite rosy, but that is not always reflected at the pumps. "There should be a downward spiral in prices now. "If the supermarkets can maintain prices throughout all their stores, I don't see why petrol companies can't. "Not only are rural businesses and households paying dearly for their petrol anyway, but they do not have a choice - for the majority of people in rural areas there is no train and no bus unless you want to wait for a day. The whole of the rural economy is totally dependent on cars." A spokeswoman for BP said the company considered a whole range of criteria before setting the price of its fuel. She said: "Oil prices have been fluctuating a lot in recent weeks. "It is something we look at on a daily basis so that prices reflect the current market." There is little alternative for motorists but to pay the prices that are fixed by the big companies. Last month the pumps at one of the last remaining independent petrol stations in Devon ran dry. The Harris Motors garage at Nomansland, near Tiverton, stopped selling fuel after owners Bev and Fred Harris - who ran the petrol station for 18 years - were unable to compete with supermarkets and oil firms. While Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has yet to take off, the market for diesel is growing all the time. Two years ago diesels took 15 per cent of the new car market but the figure is now around 27 per cent and could reach 30 per cent by the end of the year. Some economists have predicted that conflicts in oil-producing countries could become more common in future years as precious resources begin to dwindle. The rate of new oil discoveries has slowed in recent years and, depending on who you listen to, production will begin to decline sometime between 2010 and 2025. Supplies are limited and lifestyles will have to change without the luxury of what is still, essentially, a cheap form of fuel. But for now, despite all the concerns about rising petrol costs, it remains a relatively cheap and plentiful fuel. And while many motorists will vent their frustrations at ever-changing prices, it is worth remembering that around 80 per cent of the cost of a litre of fuel in the UK is tax.

Alertas de Robert Alonso Robert Alonso

TODO ES MIERDA

La mayoría de mis primos jamás había probado un Alka Seltzer --- por decir algo ---cuando fue en Cuba, exagerando ahora, donde se inventó el Alka Seltzer. Los tabacos marca “Montecristo” que compré para llevárselos a mi suegro en Caracas, se los di a mis primos camagüeyanos, no porque ellos fumen tabaco y menos “Montecristos”, sino porque se los venden a los turistas y con eso obtienen dólares, que es la “moneda nacional” de la nueva Cuba de Castro y de los europeos.

    Hablé de mi difunta madre, fallecida en la cárcel de mujeres de Santa Clara. Hablamos de ella como si nada hubiera pasado.   Quería saber cómo era de niña, cómo conoció a papá.  Quería saber, también, dónde estaba enterrada.  Sabía que en Camagüey había un mausoleo de la familia Díaz.   Tal vez podría llevarle algunas flores... no sé, jamás he podido visitar a mis muertos.   Nadie sabe dónde yace su cuerpo.  Dolorosamente me enteré que los comunistas jamás le entregaron el cadáver a Papá.  Me reconforté pensando que la Biblia tiene la razón, que somos polvo y en polvo nos convertiremos.  Qué importancia tiene dónde están sus restos... o lo que quede de ellos luego de varias décadas de fallecida.

    Mis primas camagüeyanas se empeñaron en invitarme a comer unas pizzas en una pizzería de moda en el centro de Camagüey.   Todo el camino hablaron de las pizzas.  Cuando llegamos al restaurante había una cola en donde mis primas se pararon, “por defecto”,  con mucho estoicismo “revolucionario”, sin protestar ni quejarse.   Las colas en Cuba son también cotidianas.  Es lo normal.  Fidel dice que la “Revolución” trabaja arduamente para que los cubanos no tengan que hacer más colas, como si eso fuese un logro que la “Revolución” obtendrá para Cuba, sin embargo, ya nadie parece recordar que en Cuba, antes de la “Revolución”, jamás se hizo cola para nada y que fue – precisamente – la “Revolución” el génesis de las infernales colas de mil demonios que se hacen en la isla para cualquier cosa.   A nadie le importa tampoco recordar que el cubano no salía de su patria ni para hacer turismo.

Mientras estábamos parados en la cola, pasaban los turistas por nuestro lado y se sentaban en las mesas vacías. Eso es lo normal, lo “revolucionario”. Los cubanos hacen colas, los turistas no. Fidel dice que hay que dar el ejemplo. La realidad, según yo lo pensé, es que no hay otra alternativa, a menos que uno quiera que lo echen a patadas de la pizzería por “coleársele” a un turista que llegó después, mucho después que un cubano.

    Las pizzas resultaron ser como de plástico, increíblemente malas.  Algo así como las que uno come en el “timbiriche” Crema Paraíso, en Caracas, pero mucho, muchísimo, peor.  El jamón que se les pone a estas pizzas es enlatado, tipo “jamón del diablo”, ya con eso creo decirlo todo.    Por supuesto que las alabé ante mis primas para no herir sus sentimientos, pero eran poco menos que incomibles.   

    Sin embargo, lo peor de la velada no fueron las pizzas sino la humillación de sentirme un cubano de cuarta categoría en mi propio país y peor aún fue ver cómo mi familia --- y todo un pueblo --- acepta ese “karma colectivo” con la más absoluta normalidad.   La resignación, en la Cuba de hoy, es crónica.

    Todos mis primos pertenecen al Partido Comunista, pero sueñan con vivir en Miami, como si Miami fuese un paraíso terrenal.   Pertenecer al “Partido” en Cuba es como hacer cola para comprar pizzas.  Algo normal.    Si no se pertenece al “Partido” no se puede – entre otras cosas -- ingresar a la universidad.  Todos pertenecen al “Partido”, pero por alguna razón perversa piensan que es un privilegio que hay que ganárselo.  Todos, al final, son privilegiados y como “premio”, tienen que hacer trabajos comunitarios tremendamente improductivos que no benefician a nadie ni a nada.   Van a cortar caña los fines de semana, pero no cortan nada porque “echan el carro” (tiran majá) parejo y así me lo dijeron los primos con picardía.   Recogen patilla (melón de agua), por ejemplo, y la patilla se pudre al sol, porque no la llevan al centro de acopio correspondiente.   Lo importante no es producir para la “Revolución”, lo que importa es que a uno lo anoten como que asistió a la “labor comunitaria”.

Hace años me llegó una poesía popular titulada “Todo es Mierda”, escrita en la Cuba de Fidel que ahora y ante aquellas pizzas “revolucionarias” y los cuentos de mis primos, penetró mis recuerdos:

            Todo es mierda en la tierra en que nacimos.
            De mierda somos y a la mierda vamos. 
            Mierda es el comunismo que vivimos, 
            Y en esta mierda todos nos cagamos...

            Es mierda la ilusión que nos hacemos, 
            de poder aplastar a nuestros amos. 
            Mierda es la poca mierda que comemos, 
            como mierda es también la que tomamos...

            Mierda es la radio: ¡cómo dicen mierda
            estos mierdas que en Cuba nos gastamos!
            Es la mierda más grande que recuerda, 
            esta historia de mierda que forjamos...

            Mierda es la libertad que prometieron, 
            los barbudos de mierda que se alzaron. 
            Luego a Rusia por mierda nos vendieron, 
            y los rusos con mierda nos compraron. 

            Mierda son los que siguen aclamando, 
            a esa mierda que sólo es un pillastro, 
            el mismo mierda en que estás tú pensando, 
            el más mierda de todos: ¡Fidel Castro!

Encuentro con “Paquito” y sus primos de Camagüey, Cuba

Extracto del libro de Robert Alonso “REGRESANDO AL MAR DE LA FECILIDAD”

El Hatillo, 5 de Abril de 2003 robertalonso2003@cantv.net

Nota explicativa: “Paquito” es un cubano que luego de 40 años de ausencia, la mayoría de ellos viviendo en su exilio en Venezuela, decidió regresar a Cuba como “turista”. A su regreso, luego de 15 días en ese “mar de felicidad”, me contactó para que escribiera las experiencias vividas durante su corta visita a la tierra que lo vio nacer.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: David Coleman

Two small business cooperatives have begun operations at Caracas (Simon Bolivar) international airport at Maiquetia creating 80 new jobs, mostly in terminal building maintenance and (much needed) cleaning services.

IAAIM director Jose Gregorio Vielma Mora, who is in overall charge of airport operations, says that the Guipuzcoana and 24 de Enero cooperatives bring together 17 employees assigned to service and maintenance of lawns ands green areas within the air terminal's perimeter with a further 24 assigned to collection and disposal of solid wastes from commercial concessions within the terminal itself.

Vielma Mora says that a total 10 small business cooperatives have been formed since January aimed at reducing endemic unemployment in local communities where IAAIM will contribute with democratic administration, social education and a limited amount of investment capital to each.  "Ideally, we will be able to get away from seasonal (6-month) employment contracts into a more permanent system ... we want to help small businesses with specialized courses, through the government training program INCE, to become viable year-round small businesses."

In the meantime Vielma Mora admits that authorities have activated a long-term savings program that will inevitably see a number of work contracts at the airport rescinded ... the net result is that some 50 seasonal employees will lose their jobs ... "we hope that most of them will move into the new jobs created with the new small business cooperatives."

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: David Coleman

National Guard (GN) troops have been drafted in to protect the United States Embassy in Caracas against attempts by some 50 Foro por la Vida (Life Forum) demonstrators to enter the bunker compound to protest the US invasion of Iraq.

A security cordon has been thrown up 100 meters from the embassy's front gate as demonstrators claim that GN soldiers have abused their rights to freedom of movement under articles 50 and 68 of the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing the right to free transit and to peaceful demonstration, adding a US embassy security officer is also involved.

Foro por la Vida officials say they had formally notified municipal authorities and the US embassy of their intention to demonstrate against the unilateral US invasion of Iraq.  They say they "totally reject the war-mongering actions directed against the people of Iraq by the United States with the collaboration of the Britain and Spain."

It is unclear if the demonstrators have been allowed to deliver a letter to US Ambassador Charles Shapiro presenting legal arguments against US intervention and a series of drawing by children from the Los Naranjos de La Vega school expressing their repudiation of the US war.