From mail.infocom.etecsa.cu!radiohc@mail.infocom.etecsa.cu Thu Apr 17 17:22:41 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 RAA00417 for ; Thu, 17 Apr 1997 17:22:34 -0400 Received: by dns2.infocom.etecsa.cu (Smail3.1.28.1 #3) id m0wHycr-0002FKC; Thu, 17 Apr 97 17:21 EDT Received: from manati.in.etecsa.cu by dns2.infocom.etecsa.cu with SMTP id XXXXXXXX-Xa15246; Thu, 17 Apr 97 17:21 EDT Received: by manati.in.etecsa.cu (Smail3.1.28.1 #3) id m0wHycq-00009xC; Thu, 17 Apr 97 17:21 EDT Message-Id: Subject: RHC news stories for April 17, 1997 To: reg.cuba@conf.igc.org Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 17:21:51 -0400 (EDT) From: "Lic. Jorge L. Ruiz" Cc: nyt@blythe.org, cubaseccion@igc.apc.org, radiohc@mail.infocom.etecsa.cu (Lic. Jorge L. Ruiz) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL13] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 8192 Status: RO CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA Thursday, April 17, 1997 The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Thursday, April 17, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA'S COMMUNIST PARTY PREPARES FOR FIFTH CONGRESS 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN JAPAN 3.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS FRENCH ENTREPRENEURS 4.- LAOTIAN PRIME MINISTER KAMTAY SIPANDONE TO VISIT CUBA 5.- VENEZUELAN PARLIAMENTARIANS SET UP FRIENDS OF CUBA ASSOCIATION 6.- MEXICAN BUSINESS DELEGATION BEGINS TALKS IN HAVANA CUBA'S COMMUNIST PARTY PREPARES FOR FIFTH CONGRESS Havana, April 17(RHC)-- Preparations are underway for the Cuban Communist Party's Fifth Congress. The official Call for the Congress, slated for next October 8th through the 10th, was made Wednesday during the commemorations in central Santa Clara of the 36th anniversary of the proclamation of the Cuban Revolution's socialist character. Read by Cuban Communist Party Political Bureau member Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, the proclamation placed special emphasis on "the heroic resistance of the Cuban people during these years of hardship, economic crisis and stepped-up aggression by Washington." The proclamation recalled that the Fourth Party Congress, held in October 1991, warned of the impending hardships with the collapse of European socialism, stressing that the heroism and unity of the Cuban people -- particularly Cuban women -- "allowed the nation to successfully navigate through extremely difficult times." Today, said the Call, "Cubans are witnessing the beginning of the nation's economic recovery." The Call for the Fifth Party Congress also pointed to "the correct, enhanced and conscientious work of the Cuban Communist Party and the Cuban government's leadership as another essential factor in Cuba's survival," promising that "the Cuban Revolution will continue to be strengthened and the leadership will continue improving the mechanisms of government -- particularly its constant consultations with the masses concerning government decisions." In the keynote speech at the 36th anniversary commemoration, Cuban Defense Minister and Second Secretary of the Communist Party, Raul Castro, blasted Washington's call for a transition to capitalism in Cuba and said that Cubans "would never betray the legacy of all the patriots who have spilled sweat and blood for Cuba's independence since the first battle cry against Spanish colonialism in 1868: Viva Cuba Libre!" CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN JAPAN Tokyo, April 17(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina arrived in Tokyo today, beginning a two-day visit to Japan. Robaina met with Japanese Prime Minister Rytauro Hashimoto, giving him a personal letter from Cuban President Fidel Castro. Noting that the issue of the Peruvian hostage crisis is one of the main points on the agenda during his visit, the Cuban foreign minister reiterated Havana's offer to grant asylum to members of the Tupac Amaru commando, still holding 72 hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima. Robaina told the Japanese prime minister that Cuba will do whatever it can to help bring about a peaceful solution to the crisis, which has lasted for four months. During his first day in Tokyo, the Cuban foreign minister also met with his Japanese counterpart, Yukihino Ikeda. Robaina and the Cuban delegation accompanying him will also have the opportunity to meet with Japanese business representatives while in Tokyo and discuss bilateral relations between the two countries. Upon his arrival in the Japanese capital, the Cuban foreign minister spoke with reporters about the U.S.-sponsored resolution against Cuba, passed yesterday at the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Robaina called the resolution "yet another attempt to manipulate the issue of human rights, when there are millions of human beings in the world who have no idea what human rights are." He condemned Washington's use of the Geneva-based forum to attack Cuba and pointed to the declining support of the U.S. resolution among the international community. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS FRENCH ENTREPRENEURS Havana, April 17(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro met Wednesday with representatives of France's National Employers Council at the French Embassy in Havana. The French National Employers Council began a seven-day official tour of the island earlier this week -- aimed at strengthening trade relations with Cuba. Santiago de Cuba was the first leg of their tour of the island, where Cuban authorities announced France will participate in the refurbishing of that city's thermoelectric plant. Official sources say remodelling operations will take up to two years at a cost 16 million dollars. In the opinion of Paris' Commercial Attache in Havana, Daniel Patat, the delegation's tour reflects the two governments' interest in strengthening bilateral trade. Shortly after their arrival on the island, the French National Employers Council held talks with Cuba's Foreign Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, beginning a series of official contacts that will conclude this Saturday. LAOTIAN PRIME MINISTER KAMTAY SIPANDONE TO VISIT CUBA Havana, April 17(RHC)-- It was announced here in Havana today that Laotian Prime Minister Kamtay Sipandone will soon visit Cuba. According to an article in this morning's edition of the daily Granma, Sipandone's visit to the island will provide an opportunity to continue strengthening bilateral relations between Cuba and Laos. The Laotian prime minister will visit the island at the invitation of Cuban President Fidel Castro. In January, a Laotian delegation, headed by that Asian nation's foreign minister, held successful talks with Cuban authorities. VENEZUELAN PARLIAMENTARIANS SET UP FRIENDS OF CUBA ASSOCIATION Havana, April 17(RHC)-- Venezuela's Friends of Cuba Parliamentary Group was set up Wednesday in Caracas. More than 100 Venezuelan legislators, diplomats and other political personalities were on hand. Among the most important guests were the President of the Venezuelan Senate, Cristobal Fernandez, Vice President Pablo Medina and Cuban Ambassador to Venezuela, German Sanchez. Venezuela's Friends of Cuba Parliamentary Group is expected to push for stronger bilateral relations between Caracas and Havana. Parliamentarians from all of Venezuela's political parties and tendencies make up the friendship association. At the gathering, participants expressed their solidarity with the island and their rejection of Washington's Helms-Burton Law. MEXICAN BUSINESS DELEGATION BEGINS TALKS IN HAVANA Havana, April 17(RHC)-- A Mexican business delegation has begun negotiations in Cuba in the area of construction materials and technologies. According to Raul Abreu, Manager of the Mexican-Caribbean International Corporation. Abreu said that there are two reasons that brought the 20-member group to the island: to promote their products and explore possibilities of creating joint ventures with Cuban entities. 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