From mail.infocom.etecsa.cu!radiohc@mail.infocom.etecsa.cu Mon Apr 14 17:07:23 1997 Return-Path: mail.infocom.etecsa.cu!radiohc@mail.infocom.etecsa.cu Received: from dns2.infocom.etecsa.cu ([169.158.64.1]) by nyxfer.blythe.org (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id RAA15094 for ; Mon, 14 Apr 1997 17:07:12 -0400 Received: by dns2.infocom.etecsa.cu (Smail3.1.28.1 #3) id m0wGsxa-0001tMC; Mon, 14 Apr 97 17:06 EDT Received: from manati.in.etecsa.cu by dns2.infocom.etecsa.cu with SMTP id XXXXXXXX-Xa00510; Mon, 14 Apr 97 17:06 EDT Received: by manati.in.etecsa.cu (Smail3.1.28.1 #3) id m0wGsxY-0002A8C; Mon, 14 Apr 97 17:06 EDT Message-Id: Subject: RHC news stories, April 11, 1997 To: reg.cuba@conf.igc.apc.org Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 07:38:54 -0400 (EDT) From: "Lic. Jorge L. Ruiz" Cc: nyt@blythe.org, cubaseccion@igc.apc.org X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL13] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 8704 CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA Friday, April 11, 1997 The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Friday, April 11, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA AND MALAYSIA ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 2.- WASHINGTON AND EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCE POSSIBLE LAST- MINUTE AGREEMENT IN HELMS-BURTON DISPUTE AT WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 3.- CLINTON'S CONTRADICTIONS CONCERNING CUBA 4.- CUBA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS DRUGS ARE NOT A PROBLEM ON THE ISLAND 5.- CUBA IS DOING ITS BEST TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF AIDS 6.- WARM FAREWELL TO CUBA'S CONSUL GENERAL IN BRAZIL 7.- CUBA CHOSEN AS TAKE OFF POINT FOR FRENCH EASTERN ISLANDS TOUR COMPANY CUBA AND MALAYSIA ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS Kuala Lumpur, April 11(RHC)-- Cuba and Malaysia have announced they will soon establish diplomatic relations. The announcement was made during an official visit to that Asian nation by Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina. Robaina arrived in Malaysia last Wednesday for a five-day visit -- the third leg of an Asian tour that has taken him to Singapore and India. The Cuban foreign minister was received today by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Muhammad, who expressed appreciation for an invitation to visit Cuba sent by President Fidel Castro. Muhammad said that he would travel to Cuba sometime this year. Robaina has also met with numerous high-ranking government officials, including his counterpart, Abdulah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysian government officials highlighted the Cuba-Malaysia investment promotion and protection accord currently being prepared. The Cuban foreign minister also met with the Malaysian press, which expressed interest in Cuba's strategy to maintain an independent economic growth despite the tightening of Washington's blockade. WASHINGTON AND EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCE POSSIBLE LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT IN HELMS-BURTON DISPUTE AT WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION Brussels, April 11(RHC)-- European Trade Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan, has announced a possible agreement with Washington that would allow the European Union to suspend its anti-Helms-Burton claim in the World Trade Organization -- at least for the short-term. Brittan said the agreement represents a path towards a long-term solution by modifying the extraterritorial nature of Helms-Burton through dialogue. Brittan insisted, however, that the European Union would reserve its right to reintroduce its demand in the World Trade Organization if European businesses interests are affected by the U.S. legislation. Meanwhile, it is rumored in Washington that the European Union has agreed to put on hold its criticism of Helms-Burton for a six-month period and to discourage European firms from investing in U.S. properties nationalized by the Cuban Revolution, if Washington modifies the law. U.S. President Bill Clinton, however, reiterated today that this Cuba policy was not going to change -- implying that neither would Helms- Burton. The European trade commissioner has convened a gathering early Monday morning of the EU ambassadors to discuss the possibility of accepting the agreement. The meeting will take place just hours before the EU was to present a 150-page document in the World Trade Organization, containing its legal arguments against Helms-Burton. If the document is presented, Washington would have one week to present its defense. It's not certain, however, if Washington would attempt to legally defend itself or wold reiterate its non-recognition of the World Trade Organization's jurisdiction in the matter. When the European Union insisted on setting up a WTO disputes panel last February, U.S. authorities said they wouldn't recognize any WTO ruling on Helms-Burton. CLINTON'S CONTRADICTIONS CONCERNING CUBA Havana, April 11(RHC)-- The Prensa Latina News Agency pointed out today that President Clinton fell into a trap in efforts to explain his Cuba policy compared to Washington's policy with respect to China, Vietnam and North Korea. Responding to a question during a speech before the National Association of U.S. Writers, Clinton said that he had signed the Helms-Burton Law "because Cuba killed four U.S. citizens" -- in relation to the Florida-based aircraft downed by Cuban MIGs after two years of violating Cuban airspace. The U.S. president said "the other communist countries" hadn't carried out similar actions. Prensa Latina said that Clinton apparently forgot about the nearly 60,000 U.S. citizens killed in the Vietnam War and the 55,000 killed in the Korean War -- in which China was an ally in both conflicts. And, if that contradiction were not glaring enough, Clinton later reiterated his demand for the establishment in Cuba of a so-called Western-style democracy -- which, of course, does not exist in China, Vietnam or North Korea. CUBA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS DRUGS ARE NOT A PROBLEM ON THE ISLAND Havana, April 11(RHC)-- Drugs are not and will not be a problem in Cuba, says Attorney General Juan Escalona. Escalona made the statement Thursday during the 2nd International Meeting on Law in the Caribbean held in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba -- some 861 kilometers east of Havana. Escalona warned, however, that authorities must be alert in order to prevent international drug dealers from using the island as a springboard from which to introduce drugs into third countries. Cuba's Attorney General stressed that though Cubans have historically not been major drug-users, the government is aware of the dangers drug trafficking represents for the people and is working hard to ensure that drugs do not become a problem on the island. CUBA IS DOING ITS BEST TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF AIDS Havana, April 11(RHC)-- Cuban health officials are working together with the community to reduce the spread of AIDS. At the closing ceremony of the 2nd Congress of the Caribbean Medical Association held in Havana, Cuban doctor Rigoberto Torres said that the increase in AIDS cases is not a consequence of the development of tourism but rather the lack of a true understanding of the risk among the Cuban population. The expert asserted that sexual transmission remains the principal way AIDS is spread in Cuba. Since 1986, 547 people have reportedly tested HIV-positive, 564 have contracted AIDS and 408 have died to date. Dr. Rigoberto Torres of the Center of Health Education said that the community is the main target of education measures implemented to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. WARM FAREWELL TO CUBA'S CONSUL GENERAL IN BRAZIL Sao Paulo, April 11(RHC)-- Over 200 personalities attended a farewell reception given for Cuba's General Consul in Brazil, Armando Suarez, who concluded his diplomatic mission in the South American nation. Politicians, intellectuals and friends of Cuba crowded into the Cuban Consulate in Sao Paulo. Theologians, Leonardo Boff and Frei Betto as well as the President of the Latin American Memorial, Fabio Magallaes, were among the guests. CUBA CHOSEN AS TAKE OFF POINT FOR FRENCH EASTERN ISLANDS TOUR COMPANY Havana, April 11(RHC)-- Sixty passengers of the French Luxury Sail Boat of the Eastern Islands Tour Company, have chosen Havana as the departure point for their sailing tour. The travellers will stay two days in Havana and then set sail on the luxury craft for several tour destinations on the island and in the Caribbean. The sail boat will touch Cuban shores on Saturday. The beautiful Cuban beach resort, Varadero and a number of keys on the island's north coast are part of the boat's itinerary. The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are the next stopovers for the French luxury sail boat. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba, P.O. Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007