CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA August 1, 1997 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Friday, August 1, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- ANTI-IMPERIALIST TRIBUNAL BEGINS HEARINGS DURING 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS 2.- MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO MARCH IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 3.- DELEGATES TO YOUTH FESTIVAL VISIT ISLAND'S PROVINCES 4.- MORE ON THE 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL AGENDA... 5.- CUBA REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION AGAINST NEOLIBERAL POLICIES AT OPENING SESSION OF THE SAO PAULO FORUM 6.- GRANMA ARTICLE BLASTS STATEMENTS BY U.S. OFFICIAL 7.- RAUL CASTRO INAUGURATES TRAIN STATION IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 8.- NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION REVIEWS PREPARATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ANTI-IMPERIALIST TRIBUNAL BEGINS HEARINGS DURING 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS Havana, August 1(RHC)-- During the fifth day of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, the international tribunal "Youth Accuses Imperialism" began its sessions with more than 70 testimonials from some 30 countries at Havana's Convention Center. Several judges -- one from each of the world's regions as well as from the World Federation of Democratic Youth and Cuba's Popular Supreme Tribunal Judge -- are hearing the evidence, presented by delegates and guests from around the world. Witnesses from Belize, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Cuba and the United States have accused imperialism of being the main source of aggression in the world -- causing economic, social, political and cultural problems for young people and of being the world's principal human rights violator. Among the personalities who offered testimony are former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D'Escoto, Hebe de Bonafini, President of the Argentinean group "Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo", which has fought for two decades for information on Argentina's disappeared as well as former-CIA officer Philip Agee. MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO MARCH IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, August 1(RHC)-- The internationally-known Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo marched through the Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana on Thursday. For the past 20 years, the courageous Argentinean mothers have met every Thursday at the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, demanding information on Argentina's disappeared -- as well as to honor the memory of the more than 30,000 forcibly disappeared by the military dictatorships of the 1970's and 80's. On Thursday, at the exact same time, dozens of Argentinean delegates, accompanied by Festival participants from other countries and Cuban mothers, held a march through Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion to call attention to the plight of the disappeared throughout Latin America and the Third World, demanding the release of all political prisoners, respect for human rights and calling for an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba. The procession was led by the President of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Hebe de Bonafini, who is attending the Festival as a special invited guest. DELEGATES TO YOUTH FESTIVAL VISIT ISLAND'S PROVINCES Havana, August 1(RHC)-- Cuba's 14 provinces and the Special Municipality of the Isle of Youth are hosting delegates to the 14th World Festival of Youth Students. Following debates by the main commissions, some 3000 delegates boarded trains, buses and airplanes to travel outside of Havana and take a closer look at Cuba. Each province has prepared a special three-day program for the guests, who are also staying with local Cuban families. In Santa Clara, delegates first headed to the Ernesto Che Guevara Plaza de la Revolucion to pay homage to the Heroic Guerrilla. A mausoleum is currently under construction there to house the remains of the Argentinean-born, legendary fighter and his comrades, who fell in battle in Bolivia. In October, the remains of Che and his comrades will be taken to the mausoleum, commemorating the 30th anniversary of their death in combat. Meanwhile, the Cuba Pavilion in downtown Havana saw the launching Thursday of a special issue of Tricontinental magazine. The issue is entirely devoted to the memory of Ernesto Che Guevara. In presenting the magazine, Armando Hart, member of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, offered an analysis of Che's ideals and encouraged the world's youth to study the philosophical and historical causes that inspired Ernesto Che Guevara. MORE ON THE 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL AGENDA... Havana, August 1(RHC)-- The fourth day of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students saw the conclusion of debates on the six topics of Permanent Commissions at Havana's International Convention Center, the Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kouri and the University of Havana. Thousands of delegates discussed many of the innumerable problems currently affecting the world and young people. According to observers, the multi-color scenarios of each round table, conference or solidarity meeting were only a reflection of the plurality of ideas that have prevailed during the Festival's first four days. Human rights violations around the world, family planning and reproductive and sexual health, violence and prostitution were at the center of discussions in a commission devoted to evaluating problems affecting young women. Eyewitness accounts of xenophobia and racial discrimination against minorities, the poor, women and refugee communities in different parts of the world were discussed by several round tables. Economic and social globalization, the environment and governability were also at the center of debates. CUBA REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION AGAINST NEOLIBERAL POLICIES AT OPENING SESSION OF THE SAO PAULO FORUM Porto Alegre, August 1 RHC)-- Cuba has reaffirmed its strong position against the policies of neoliberalism. Jose Ramon Balaguer, member of the Cuban Communist Party and leader of the island's delegation to the meeting, spoke at the opening session of the Sao Paulo Forum. The forum -- which takes its name from the first such meeting of progressive and Leftist Latin American political parties in Sao Paulo seven years ago -- got underway in the Brazilian port city of Porto Alegre Thursday night. Balaguer affirmed that during the meeting, Cuba will offer a thorough analysis of the negative impact of neoliberal economic policies in Latin America and the rest of the world. The Cuban leader stated that the exploitative nature of capitalism has forced the need to adopt creative alternatives socially and politically to the so-called New World Order. The Sao Paulo Forum will meet through Sunday, August 3rd. GRANMA ARTICLE BLASTS STATEMENTS BY U.S. OFFICIAL Havana, August 1(RHC)-- Cuba's daily Granma newspaper continues blasting the anti-Cuba diatribes of the U.S. government's spokespersons and officials on Capital Hill. Today's article targets the Under Secretary of State for Latin America, Jeffrey Davidow. In recent statements before U.S. business executives -- members of the American Enterprise Institute -- Davidow said Washington hopes that Latin American countries would decide to condition the enhancement of relations with Cuba to "fundamental changes on the island." He also said that non- governmental organizations are in a key position to promote what the State Department official called "the development of an independent, civil society in Cuba." Granma rhetorically wonders why Davidow chose a gathering of business leaders to give the impression that the Cuban Revolution is living its last days. "The answer is obvious: because nine U.S. administrations have been unable to even send tremors through the foundations of the Revolution; because the anti-Cuba consensus in the Organization of American States during the 1960's no longer exists; because today, Cuba is not only NOT isolated, but has diplomatic relations with more than 150 countries; because the entire world has condemned the Helms-Burton Law, following the failure of the Torricelli Law to destroy the Cuban Revolution." The article in today's Granma stated that it was not a coincidence that Davidow's comments were made before U.S. business executives, "a significant number of whom believe that Washington's failed Cuba policy is affecting their interests and that `the competition' is moving into areas of the Cuban economy that might otherwise be occupied by U.S. firms." RAUL CASTRO INAUGURATES TRAIN STATION IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, August 1(RHC)-- Cuban First Vice-President Army General Raul Castro inaugurated a modern train station in eastern Santiago de Cuba. The trains coming from Havana and the capitals of other Cuban provinces and municipalities will arrive at this new station. The construction of the facility was paralyzed during the most difficult years of the Special Period, but was resumed in 1995 due to its importance. Meanwhile, Raul Castro also inaugurated the Micara Dam in the Segundo Frente municipality in that same province. The dam is able to store nearly four and a half million cubic meters of water. The water will benefit some 17,000 inhabitants in the town of Mayari Arriba, located in the Sierra Maestra Mountains. NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION REVIEWS PREPARATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Havana, August 1(RHC)-- Cuba's National Electoral Commission today began analyzing preparations for the municipal elections scheduled for October 19th. Commission representatives headed by President and Justice Minister Roberto Dias Sotolongo will take a look at voters registries in different territories. Sotolongo told journalists that the number of polling stations has been increased this time in order to make it easier for voters. Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon reiterated that, as always, voting is noncompulsory. [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org