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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film)

A dedication to his hometown Havana (La Habana) Original lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Translation Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

A dedication to his hometown Havana (La Habana) Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film)

A dedication to his hometown Havana (La Habana) Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club

Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film)

A dedication to La Habana, Cuba Original Lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

Original Lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Translation Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film)

Original Lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Translation Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

Original Lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Translation Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops RIP Comandante

A brutal high-security prison was the last place Stephen Purvis expected to end up when he moved to Havana. Stephen Gibbs tells his story Stephen Gibbs Sunday 19 March 2017 09.00 GMT Our man in Havana: Stephen Purvis languishing behind bars. Photograph: Pal Hansen for the Observer More pics in link https://www.theguardian.com/global/2017/mar/19/life-in-a-cuban-jail-for-a-british-man

Translation I hope the leaves won't touch your body when they fall So that you won't be able to turn them into crystal I hope the rain stops being a miracle that runs down your body I hope the moon could come out without you I hope the soil won't kiss your every step (Chorus) I hope you'll stop having that constant gaze The precise words, that perfect smile I hope something that will erase you suddenly, happens A blinding light, a snow shot I hope that at least death will take me with it So I won't have to see you so much So I won't have to see you all the time Every second, In every vision I hope I won't be able to touch you, not even in songs [1] I hope the dawn won't utter screams that fall on my back I hope your name will be forgotten by that voice I hope the walls won't keep in the noise of your weary walking I hope this desire will be gone with you Towards your old reign made of dead people and flowers (Chorus) I hope something that will erase you suddenly, happens A blinding light, a snow shot I hope that at least death will take me with it So I won't have to see you so much So I won't have to see you all the time ( it seems he's symbolically referring to the continuous , in the past, , showing of Fidel on Cuban TV) Every second, In every vision I hope I won't be able to touch you, not even in songs

Translation on vid

Original Lyrics Mirando un album de fotos de la vieja capital, desde los tiempo remotos de La Habana colonial. Mi padre dej su tierra y cuando al Morro lleg, La Habana le abri sus piernas y por eso nac yo. Habana, Habana si bastara una cancion para devolverte todo lo que el tiempo te quit. Habana,mi Habana si supieras el dolor que siento te canto y no entiendes que es amor. Escuchando a Matamoros desde un lejano lugar la Habana guarda un tesoro que es difcil olvidar. Y los aos van pasando y miramos con dolor, como se va derrumbando cada muro de ilusion. Habana, Habana si bastara una cancion para devolverte todo lo que el tiempo te quit. Habana,mi Habana si supieras el dolor que siento te canto y no entiendes que este llanto es por amor. Translation Looking at a photo album of the old capital from the remote times of Colonial Havana my father left his country and when he got to the Morro Havana opened her legs and that's how I was born Havana Havana if a song was enough to give you back everything that Time took away Havana, my Havana if you knew the pain that I feel when I sing about you and you don't understand this is love Listening to Matamoros from a place far away Havana attends a treasure that it's difficult to forget And the years go by and we watch with pain how all the walls of delusion go crumbling Havana Havana if a song was enough to give you back everything that Time took away Havana Havana if you knew the pain that I feel when I sing about you and you don't understand this cry is for love

Original Lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Translation Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops RIP Comandante

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(album) Good doc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film)

Translation in vid

Original Lyrics Habana, mi vieja habana señora de historia de conquistadores y gente con sus religiones, hermosa dama... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar Lugares, destinos... el largo muro del litoral, el capitolio y prado con sus leones, sus visiones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Habana, mi gran habana Costumbre de darle una vuelta a la ceiba de noche Y fiestas en casas de barrios modernos y pobres de gente noble... Habana, si mis ojos te abandonaran... si la vida me desterrara a un rincon de la tierra yo te juro que voy a morirme de amor y de ganas de andar tus calles, tus barrios y tus lugares... Virgen del camino, nuevo vedado residencial lugares, destinos... Faro del morro y la catedral Barrios pequeños y llenos de tradiciones y emociones... Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Sabanas blancas colgada en los balcones Translation Havana, my old Havana Lady of History, Conquerors and People with its religions, beautiful Lady Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Cuatro caminos, virgen de regla, puerto de mar places, destinations.... the long shoreline wall, the capitol and the Prado with its lions, its visions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops Havana, my great Havana habit to walk around the ceiba ( tropical trees?) at night and parties in homes of modern and poor neighborhoods of noble people Havana, if my eyes should abandon you if Life should confine me to a corner of the Earth I swear I'm going to die of Love and Desire of walking your streets, your neighborhoods, your places Virgin of the path, nuevo vedado residencial ( neighborhood) places, destinations The Morro lighthouse and the Cathedral small neighborhoods and filled with traditions and emotions white sheets hanging from the rooftops white sheets hanging from the rooftops

Original Lyrics Mirando un album de fotos de la vieja capital, desde los tiempo remotos de La Habana colonial. Mi padre dej su tierra y cuando al Morro lleg, La Habana le abri sus piernas y por eso nac yo. Habana, Habana si bastara una cancion para devolverte todo lo que el tiempo te quit. Habana,mi Habana si supieras el dolor que siento te canto y no entiendes que es amor. Escuchando a Matamoros desde un lejano lugar la Habana guarda un tesoro que es difcil olvidar. Y los aos van pasando y miramos con dolor, como se va derrumbando cada muro de ilusion. Habana, Habana si bastara una cancion para devolverte todo lo que el tiempo te quit. Habana,mi Habana si supieras el dolor que siento te canto y no entiendes que este llanto es por amor. Translation Looking at a photo album of the old capital from the remote times of Colonial Havana my father left his country and when he got to the Morro Havana opened her legs and that's how I was born Havana Havana if a song was enough to give you back everything that Time took away Havana, my Havana if you knew the pain that I feel when I sing about you and you don't understand this is love Listening to Matamoros from a place far away Havana attends a treasure that it's difficult to forget And the years go by and we watch with pain how all the walls of delusion go crumbling Havana Havana if a song was enough to give you back everything that Time took away Havana Havana if you knew the pain that I feel when I sing about you and you don't understand this cry is for love

Director-General Roberto Azevedo gestures as he is congratulated by delegates after the closing ceremony of the ninth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Nusa Dua, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali December 7, 2013. (Pic: Reuters) Randy Fabi – 07 December 2013 The World Trade Organization reached its first ever trade reform deal on Saturday to the roar of approval from nearly 160 ministers who had gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali to decide on the make-or-break agreement that could add $1 trillion to the global economy. The approval came after Cuba dropped a last-gasp threat to veto the package of measures. "For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered," WTO chief Roberto Azevedo told exhausted ministers after the talks which had dragged into an extra day on the tropical resort island. "This time the entire membership came together. We have put the 'world' back in World Trade Organization," he said. "We're back in business...Bali is just the beginning." The talks, which had opened on Tuesday, nearly came unstuck at the last minute when Cuba suddenly refused to accept a deal that would not help pry open the U.S. embargo of the Caribbean island, forcing negotiations to drag into Saturday morning. Cuba later agreed on a compromise with the United States. Speaking today on his return from WTO's 9th Ministerial Conference in Indonesia, Minsiter for Jobs Richard Bruton T.D. welcomed the historic breakthrough in world trade negotiations that has been achieved. “What was agreed in Indonesia is globally significant. It will cut customs red tape and bureaucracy, making it cheaper, smoother and quicker for exporters to sell internationally. It is highly significant for agriculture, trade facilitation and support for developing countries. It will help provide food security for billions of people, while opening new markets for less developed countries to sell more, helping their economies grow and take greater strides in tackling poverty," he said. “This clearly shows that the WTO can deliver new trade rules to bring economic opportunity and benefits to business - and ultimately jobs - in developed and developing countries alike.” But there was skepticism how much had really been achieved. "Beyond papering over a serious dispute on food security, precious little was progress was made at Bali," said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland. "Dealing with the fracas on food security sucked the oxygen out of the rest of the talks." The talks had begun under a cloud because of an insistence by India at the outset that it would only back an agreement if there was a compromise on food subsidies because of its massive program for stockpiling food to feed its poor. India, which will holds elections next year, won plaudits at home for taking a stand on behalf of the world's poor. An eventual compromise was greeted with jubilation by Trade Minister Anand Sharma. While India had insisted on a permanent exemption from the WTO rules, the final text aimed to recommend a permanent solution within four years. But the agreement is a milestone for the 159 WTO members, marking the organization's first global trade agreement since it was created in 1995. It also rescues the WTO from the brink of failure and will rekindle confidence in its ability to lower barriers to trade worldwide, after 12 years of fruitless negotiations. The deal would lower trade barriers and speed up the passage of goods through customs. Analysts estimate that over time it could boost the world economy by hundreds of billions of dollars and create more than 20 million jobs, mostly in developing countries. It still needs to be approved by each member government. "It is good for both developed and developing members alike," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said. A study by the Washington, D.C.-based Peterson Institute of International Economics estimated the agreement would inject $960bn (€700bn) into the global economy and create 21 million jobs, 18 million of them in developing nations. The deal slashes red tape at customs around the world, gives improved terms of trade to the poorest countries, and allows developing countries to skirt the normal rules on farm subsidies if they are trying to feed the poor. The ministers had gathered with a clear warning that failure to reach agreement in Bali would turn the WTO into an irrelevance and trigger a rush towards regional and bilateral trade pacts. It came almost 20 years to the day since a similar nail-biting conclusion to another marathon negotiation - the talks to agree the creation of the WTO itself, which wrapped up in mid-December 1993. That was the last global trade deal. The Bali meeting was also noticeable for its lack of anti-WTO protests compared to the street battles when ministers met in Seattle 14 years ago. The Bali accord will help revive confidence in the WTO's ability to negotiate global trade deals, after it consistently failed to clinch agreement in the Doha round of talks that started in 2001 and proved hugely over-ambitious. As the Doha round stuttered to a halt, momentum shifted away from global trade pacts in favor of regional deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership that the United States is negotiating with 11 other countries, and a similar agreement it is pursuing bilaterally with the European Union. Reuters Source: http://www.independent.ie/business/world/wto-overcomes-last-minute-hitch-to-reach-its-first-global-trade-deal-29818851.html