CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA August 14, 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 Thursday, August 14, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA ACCUSES U.S. LAWMAKERS OF POLITICAL TERRORISM; NEW THREATS AGAINST CARIBBEAN NATIONS FOR TIES WITH CUBA 2.- CUBA'S INFANT MORTALITY RATE IS THE LOWEST IN HISTORY 3.- CUBA AND LAOS AGREE TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS 4.- CUBA SETS UP JOINT VENTURES IN UGANDA AND VIETNAM 5.- CUBAN EXPERTS WILL TREAT CHILDREN AFFECTED BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS ON THE ISLAND OF MONTSERRAT 6.- CUBA PLANS BIG EXHIBIT AT WORLD EXPO '98 IN LISBON 7.- CAUSEWAY TO LINK MAINLAND WITH QUEEN'S GARDENS CUBA ACCUSES U.S. LAWMAKERS OF POLITICAL TERRORISM; NEW THREATS AGAINST CARIBBEAN NATIONS FOR TIES WITH CUBA Havana, August 14(RHC)-- The Cuban Foreign Ministry has described new crusades by U.S. lawmakers to tighten the economic screws on Cuba as "political terrorism." At a news conference in Havana, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marianela Ferriol referred to recent moves by legislators on Capitol Hill to threaten Caribbean countries that have economic relations with its island neighbor. Washington lawmakers, led by Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida, warned Caribbean leaders that any moves to expand economic relations with Cuba will be considered a hostile act against the U.S. and would be taken into consideration when studying future economic ties with Washington. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that "Cuba categorically rejects the policies of political terrorism by a group of U.S. legislators against Caribbean nations that are merely exercising their sovereign rights." These new threats against Cuba's Caribbean neighbors come at a time when the region's leaders are calling for the recognition of Cuba has a key player in the process of regional integration. At a recent meeting of CARICOM in Lima, Peru, the 14 member- nations of the Caribbean Community called on the Organization of American States to allow for Cuba's return to the regional organization. During that meeting, Jamaican Foreign Minister Ben Claire -- along with his colleagues from Guyana, Belize, the Bahamas and Trinidad-Tobago -- stated that "Cuba forms an integral part of the Caribbean region" and openly advocated Cuba's incorporation into CARICOM. CUBA'S INFANT MORTALITY RATE IS THE LOWEST IN HISTORY Havana, August 14(RHC)-- Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres has reported the lowest infant mortality rate in the island's history -- with 7.6 deaths for every one thousand live births so far this year. At this same time last year, Cuba reported a rate of 8.2 per thousand, which dropped to 7.9 by year's end. Dotres also reported a decrease in the death of pre-school aged children and in the index of low birth weight. Cuba's current infant mortality rate places the country on a par with industrialized nations. The Cuban health minister added that in 1998, Cuba will have an integrated emergency treatment system which is also only enjoyed by the residents of developed countries. The difference in Cuba is that health care is universal and free. Dotres said that by the end of this year, the integrated emergency system will be extended to half of Cuba's 14 provinces. The system will be completed by the end of 1998, with the resources provided by the export of Cuban medical services, health tourism on the island and international solidarity. CUBA AND LAOS AGREE TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS Havana, August 14(RHC)-- Cuba and Laos have decided to ratify a Cooperation and Friendship Agreement. Laotian parliament leader Kambou Sounixay signed the accord on behalf of his government at the Havana-based Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples -- ICAP. Sounixay -- a special invited guest at the recently held 14th World Festival of Youth and Students -- noted the success of the event and said that "the defense of Cuba is the defense of all peoples of the world." On Wednesday, the Laotian guest met with the Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Jose Ramon Balaguer. The two leaders discussed the traditionally strong links between Cuba and Laos. CUBA SETS UP JOINT VENTURES IN UGANDA AND VIETNAM Havana, August 14(RHC)-- Cuba's Biological and Pharmaceutical Laboratory -- LABIOFAM -- has announced the creation of two joint ventures in Uganda and Vietnam. According to FABIOFAM's Executive Manager Ruben Miranda, the investments are the first of this company abroad. Miranda told journalists in the Cuban capital that the investments are part of a strategy to find market opportunities for their products. In Uganda, Cuba owns 40% of the shares of the joint venture that will produce medicines for human and animal use. In the case of Vietnam, Cuba shares capital with Great Britain to produce biological pesticides, primarily the Cuban rodenticide known as "Biorat." CUBAN EXPERTS WILL TREAT CHILDREN AFFECTED BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS ON THE ISLAND OF MONTSERRAT Havana, August 14(RHC)-- Fifty children from the Caribbean island of Montserrat - victims of recent volcanic eruptions - will receive medical treatment in Cuba this summer. The patients will be hospitalized at the Tarara Beach Resort, just outside of Havana. The resort is famous for accommodating and providing specialized treatment to more than 12,000 Ukrainian children affected by the nuclear accident at Chernobil in 1986. The Cuban Red Cross -- in conjunction with the Regional Red Cross, the Red Crescent Federation and the British Red Cross Branch in Montserrat -- will be responsible for the program, aimed at alleviating physical and mental stress which has affected Montserrat's inhabitants for the past two years. For three weeks, fifty boys and girls -- ranging in age from ten to 16 -- will enjoy a comprehensive health and mental relaxation program, including sports training and competitions, dance, visual arts, theater workshops and -- of course -- the beach. A highly-qualified Cuban medical and psychological team of experts will handle rehabilitation of the little ones from Montserrat. CUBA PLANS BIG EXHIBIT AT WORLD EXPO '98 IN LISBON Havana, August 14(RHC)-- The world will learn about Cuba's latest advances at the last World Exhibition of the 20th century, set for May of next year in Lisbon, Portugal. "The Ocean: A Future Heritage" will be the theme of World Expo '98. The Cuban exhibit will display achievements in the area of marine research and preservation of the environment, the promotion of nautical tourism as well as the development of fishing over the past three decades. CAUSEWAY TO LINK MAINLAND WITH QUEEN'S GARDENS Havana, August 14(RHC)-- With the construction of a super highway linking Providencia Key -- located south of eastern Ciego de Avila province -- with the mainland, tourism authorities are planning a promising future for the Queen's Gardens Keys. Located in the middle of a gulf of turquoise and quiet waters, the Queen's Gardens Keys offer what is hard to find anywhere else in the world: beaches untouched by human hands (or feet) and exotic terrain. Experts say the keys are ideal for water sports such as underwater fishing and diving. The initial construction project in Ciego de Avila calls for 20 kilometers of causeway, which will link Providencia Key with the mainland. [c] 1997. 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