CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA August 13, 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 Wednesday, August 13, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA AND HONDURAS AGREE TO OPEN INTERESTS SECTIONS; FIRST STEP TOWARD ESTABLISHING FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 2.- PARTICIPANTS AT MEETING OF EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA BLAST U.S. BLOCKADE OF CUBA 3.- PANAMA-CUBA TRADE RELATIONS INCREASE DESPITE U.S. PRESSURES 4.- INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE DONATIONS FOR CUBANS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTER 5.- "CHE FOREVER" COMPACT-DISK TOPS SALES IN SANTIAGO DE CHILE 6.- UNESCO OFFICIAL PRAISES REVITALIZATION OF YOUTH MOVEMENT CUBA AND HONDURAS AGREE TO OPEN INTERESTS SECTIONS; FIRST STEP TOWARD ESTABLISHING FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS Havana, August 13(RHC)-- Cuba and Honduras have agreed to open Interests Sections in their respective capitals as a first step toward the establishment of full diplomatic relations. According to the Cuban daily Granma, the agreement will be implemented in the coming weeks. Under pressure from the United States, Honduras broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in April 1961, as did the rest of the region's nations -- with the notable exception of Mexico. Since the 1970's, Latin American governments began to re- establish diplomatic ties with Cuba. Over the past three years, Honduran and Cuban legislators have exchanged visits and the two countries have stepped-up cooperation in the fields of health and sports. Cuba now has full diplomatic relations with Panama, Nicaragua and Belize, while Costa Rica has agreed to open an Interests Section in the Spanish Embassy in Havana. Cuba currently has no diplomatic ties with Guatemala or El Salvador. PARTICIPANTS AT MEETING OF EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA BLAST U.S. BLOCKADE OF CUBA Budapest, August 13(RHC)-- Cuba solidarity activists from Eastern Europe have condemned the Washington's blockade against the island. Bulgarian, Slovakian, Italian, Polish, Yugoslavian and Hungarian delegations attended the First Solidarity with Cuba Meeting of Eastern European Nations. Actions to strengthen solidarity with the island and to fortify relations between participants were top on the event's agenda. Participants placed special emphasis on activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the death in combat of Ernesto Che Guevara. Bulgaria has offered to host the second solidarity meeting in 1998. PANAMA-CUBA TRADE RELATIONS INCREASE DESPITE U.S. PRESSURES Panama City, August 13(RHC)-- Despite Washington's pressures, trade relations between Panama and Cuba have increased over the past several years. Cuba's Ambassador in Panama, Carlos Mas Zabala, told reporters in Panama City that Washington is putting intense pressure on businesspeople not to invest in Cuba. Zabala added that the U.S. is threatening other nations as well -- trying to thwart business deals and negotiations with foreign companies. Cuba's exports to Panama include tobacco, construction materials and lobster, while the island imports fabrics, oil and vehicles from the Central American nation. INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE DONATIONS FOR CUBANS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTER Havana, August 13(RHC)-- More than 70,000 Cubans affected by Hurricane Lili -- which hit the island last October -- have benefitted from donations sent by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation. The storm caused damage in seven of the island's 14 provinces, destroying more than 5000 homes and severely damaging agricultural crops. Canada, Spain, the United States, Denmark, Great Britain and Japan have also sent humanitarian donations to the island. "CHE FOREVER" COMPACT-DISK TOPS SALES IN SANTIAGO DE CHILE Santiago de Chile, August 13(RHC)-- With songs dedicated to the Heroic Guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara, the CD entitled "Che Forever" ("Por Siempre Che") is the most sought-after compact disk in Santiago de Chile this week. "Che Forever" includes poems by Cuba's National Poet Nicolas Guillen, Uruguayan Mario Benedetti and Chilean Juvencio Valle. Che's farewell letter, addressed to Cuban President Fidel Castro shortly before Che left for Bolivia, is also included on the CD. The popular compact-disk went on sale at all of Santiago de Chile's record stores on July 26th -- marking another anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Garrison, which sparked a movement to overthrow the Batista dictatorship. UNESCO OFFICIAL PRAISES REVITALIZATION OF YOUTH MOVEMENT Havana, August 13(RHC)-- The head of Youth Affairs for UNESCO -- the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -- told journalists in Havana that the most outstanding result of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students is "the revitalization of the Festival movement." Alia Saada, currently touring the island, stated that she is studying the possibility of including youth affairs on the agenda of the world summits of Heads of State. She said that the final declaration of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students "should be studied and taken into account by all of the world's leaders." [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. 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