HAVANA, Cuba (AP) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro opened a conference of
                  lawmakers from around the world, warning them of the possibility of a new
                  Cold War.

                  In a 10-minute speech late Sunday, Castro told more than 1,300 parliamentarians
                  from 120 countries that their greatest responsibility was to help achieve "the
                  survival of our species, today threatened by global risks never before imagined."

                  "Once again, you must closely watch the horizon for the possibility of another
                  Cold War," Castro said.

                  Referring to the U.S. government's plans for a U.S. missile defense shield,
                  Castro cautioned that with "the start of a desperate arms buildup, no great nation
                  or group of nations without the necessary scientific and technological measures
                  will remain resigned in the face of a frightening, aggressive and insatiable
                  adversary."

                  Castro has repeatedly warned in the past of the risks that he believes the plan
                  could cause to world peace.

                  Noting there were no American lawmakers were attending the conference here,
                  Castro said that there are some members of U.S. Congress he considers to be
                  "sincere, intelligent and realistic." Members of U.S. Congress stopped attending
                  the Interparlimentary Union conferences in 1994.

                  The union was formed in 1889 and now is affiliated with 140 parliaments around
                  the globe. The conference will be held in Havana through Saturday.

                  Copyright 2001 The Associated Press.