CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA August 19, 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 Tuesday, August 19, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA BLASTS WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBA PRESSURES AGAINST CARIBBEAN NATIONS 2.- JAMAICA ANNOUNCES PLANS TO EXTEND MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LINE OF CREDIT TO CUBA 3.- PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN FULL SWING 4.- HUGE PRODUCTION DRIVE IN CENTRAL VILLA CLARA PROVINCE PAYS TRIBUTE TO COMANDANTE ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA 5.- CUBAN-HISPANIC CULTURAL FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY 6.- CUBAN SINGER/SONGWRITER PABLO MILANES ARRIVES IN PUERTO RICO CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA BLASTS WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBA PRESSURES AGAINST CARIBBEAN NATIONS Havana, August 19(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said that recent efforts by ultra right-wing U.S. legislators to pressure the Caribbean concerning its relations with Cuba "is another example of the desperation of those who must daily take some kind of anti-Cuba action in order to please the Miami mafia." In an interview with Havana's Prensa Latina News Agency, Robaina accused U.S. lawmakers of "threatening and intimidating sovereign governments in their zeal of vengeance against Cuba." The Cuban foreign minister's statements were in response to the initiative spearheaded by Cuban-American congressional Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who recently threatened the Caribbean Community with economic sanctions if Cuba is granted membership in the regional organization CARICOM. On Monday, all of the Caribbean ambassadors accredited in Washington signed an open letter to the U.S. government, denouncing Ros-Lehtinen's threats. Robaina also took the opportunity to criticize Washington's double standard with respect to terrorism, pointing to the recent acquittal of four Cubans who hijacked a plane to the United States, while a Palestinian hijacker was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison. JAMAICA ANNOUNCES PLANS TO EXTEND MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LINE OF CREDIT TO CUBA Kingston, August 19(RHC)-- While Washington steps up pressure on the Caribbean, Jamaica has announced plans to step up exports to Cuba by extending a 5 million dollar line of credit to the island. Pamela McLean, Executive Director of Jamaica's Export-Import Bank, said today that the institution has already received authorization from the foreign ministry and is waiting for the `green light' from Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson. Patterson is president of CARICOM and an outspoken critic of Washington's blockade of Cuba. The Jamaican prime minister recently led a high-level delegation that visited the island, during which a series of bilateral agreements were signed. The line of credit would increase sales to Cuba of transformers, paint, fertilizers and food commodities, among other products. PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN FULL SWING Havana, August 19(RHC)-- Nearly eight million Cubans will cast ballots for their delegates to the local municipal assembly next October 19th. More than 150 polling stations will be opened all across the island. This is the first stage of the electoral process that will conclude in January next year with the election of Provincial and National Assemblies. The National Assembly or Parliament is then in charge of electing the Council of State, the highest representative body of the Cuban government. The electoral process will begin in September with neighborhood meetings, where nominees receiving the most votes will become candidates to the island's 169 municipal assemblies. HUGE PRODUCTION DRIVE IN CENTRAL VILLA CLARA PROVINCE PAYS TRIBUTE TO COMANDANTE ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA Santa Clara, August 19(RHC)-- The leading Mechanical Plant in Central Villa Clara Province is involved in a huge production drive to honor Heroic Guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara on the 30th anniversary of his death in combat. Workers have pledged to produce millions of pesos worth of equipment and spare parts for local industries. The production drive includes the commitment by workers to complete two fourteen-ton oil pumping stations, equipment for several airports and supplies for other industrial sectors. Villa Clara's Mechanical Plant -- founded by Che in 1964 -- will also increase exports to the Central American region with an estimated 200,000 dollars worth of equipment. CUBAN-HISPANIC CULTURAL FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY Havana, August 19(RHC)-- Cuban and Spanish cultural traditions will be in the spotlight this week as the Cuban-Hispanic Cultural Festival gets underway on the island. More than 70 Cuban and Spanish artists are taking part in the Festival that ends on Saturday. The central region of the island, with the largest community of Spanish immigrants and descendants, is the site of the Cuban-Hispanic Festival. Literary workshops, art exhibits, theater performances and concerts will be presented as part of the Festival. Aimed at promoting the exchange of ideas between Cuban and Spanish artists, the Festival will also allow for an exchange between Cuban and Spanish cultures. CUBAN SINGER/SONGWRITER PABLO MILANES ARRIVES IN PUERTO RICO San Juan, August 19(RHC)-- Internationally renowned Cuban composer and singer Pablo Milanes has arrived in Puerto Rico, where he will perform in concert on Saturday, the 23rd. Upon his arrival, reporters asked Pablo about recently announced boycotts against musicians and artists who have performed in Cuba. Recent boycotts have been launched against Puerto Rican signer Andy Montanez and Cuban-American singer Celia Cruz. Andy Montanez' scheduled performance recently at the 8th Street Carnival in Miami was canceled -- allegedly punishing him for embracing Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez during his last concert in San Juan earlier this year. In retaliation, a San Juan radio station began encouraging boycotts against Cuban-American salsa singer Celia Cruz, who was forced to cancel her performance at the Salsa Festival in Puerto Rico last week. Pablo Milanes told journalists gathered at San Juan's International Airport that he was firmly against such boycotts and hoped they would soon end. He also said that he was pleased to be back in Puerto Rico, following ten years of continual denials of entry visas by the U.S. State Department. [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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