CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA August 25, 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 Monday, August 25, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA DENOUNCES WASHINGTON'S BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS IN GENEVA 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA RIDICULES "MOCK TRIAL" OF CUBA IN FLORIDA COURT 3.- WASHINGTON GIVES SPECIAL PERMISSION TO MIAMI ARCHDIOCESE TO SAIL CRUISE SHIP TO CUBA DURING POPE'S UPCOMING VISIT 4.- MODERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH EXPECTED FOR THE ISLAND IN 1997 5.- CUBAN PENAL CODE REFORMS GO INTO EFFECT TODAY 6.- SCIENTISTS STUDY CUBA'S LARGEST BIOSPHERE RESERVE 7.- GHANA HONORS CUBAN PHYSICIAN FOR WORK ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY 8.- CAMPSITES CONTINUE ATTRACTING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE 9.- CUBAN SINGER PABLO MILANES IN CONCERT AT LINCOLN CENTER CUBA DENOUNCES WASHINGTON'S BIOLOGICAL WARFARE BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS IN GENEVA Geneva, August 25(RHC)-- Cuba has formally denounced U.S. biological aggression against the island before the International Convention on the Prohibition of Biological Weapons. Two closed-door sessions wound up in Geneva without a verdict or an agreement. Sessions will continue tomorrow and perhaps Wednesday. In statements to journalists both before and after the sessions, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores -- who is heading the Cuban delegation in Geneva -- said her country was convinced that last October, a U.S. State Department aircraft overflew western Matanzas Province and unleashed an unidentified liquid substance, preceding the appearance of the Thrips Palmi insect. The U.S. delegation admitted that the flight took place, but denied any connection between the aircraft and the plague. De los Angeles Flores reiterated Cuba's insistence on an investigation into the matter to establish exactly what occurred and said that, in her opinion, those were also the sentiments of the Convention's signatory nations. This is the first time that a signatory nation uses the Convention's mechanisms to accuse another nation of biological aggression. CUBAN FOREIGN MINSTER ROBERTO ROBAINA RIDICULES "MOCK TRIAL" OF CUBA IN FLORIDA COURT Havana, August 25(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina has ridiculed what he called "the mock trial in a Miami court," accusing Cuba in the February 1996 downing of two pirate U.S. aircraft violating Cuban airspace. In an interview with the Cuban weekly Juventud Rebelde -- published Sunday -- the Cuban foreign minister said "it is the U.S. government that should be on trial for having allowed U.S. citizens to violate that country's Neutrality Act." Robaina recalled that on numerous occasions, Cuban authorities warned Washington of the provocations by Brothers to the Rescue -- whose airplanes went as far as to buzz Havana and drop anti-government leaflets on the Cuban capital. Robaina said that the U.S. government "should have first put a stop to the provocations." He added that they refused to do so in order not to upset the ultra right-wing Miami mafia. The Cuban foreign minister said "the second thing Washington should do is place on trial the war criminals and torturers responsible for killing 20,000 Cubans in the late 1950s -- many who are still walking the streets of that country." Roberto Robaina said that if it is a question of trials, "charges should also be brought against all of those who staged armed infiltrations into Cuba from U.S. territory since 1959 and all those who planned hundreds of assassination attempts against leaders of the Cuban Revolution." In the introduction to the interview, Juventud Rebelde mentioned the press coverage that the Miami mock trial has received, while comparing it to the virtual news black-out concerning the International Tribunal that condemned the crimes of imperialism during Havana's 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. WASHINGTON GIVES SPECIAL PERMISSION TO MIAMI ARCHDIOCESE TO SAIL CRUISE SHIP TO CUBA DURING POPE'S UPCOMING VISIT Havana, August 25(RHC)-- The U.S. State Department announced over the weekend that Washington would give special permission to a cruise ship chartered by the Catholic Archdiocese of Miami to sail to Cuba during the visit of Pope John Paul II. The permission constitutes an exemption to the current travel restrictions on U.S. citizens to Cuba. State Department spokespersons were quick to add that this exemption will not change Washington's policy of isolation toward Cuba -- saying that the more than one thousand followers who wish to visit Cuba during the Pope's visit will not be allowed to spend money in Cuba, part of the U.S. restrictions which fall under the so-called "Trading with the Enemy Act." That law -- which goes back to 1917 -- prohibits spending U.S. currency in territories the United States considers its enemies. The State Department's announcement was warmly welcomed by the Catholic Church in the United States, but not so warmly welcomed by the minority making up the ultra right-wing Cuban- American community in Miami. The Cuban-American National Foundation has announced that they will discourage travel to Cuba during the Pope's visit, scheduled to take place in January next year. Earlier in the week, before making the official announcement, Washington revealed that it was seriously considering the Miami Archdiocese's request. Speaking to the issue, Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marianela Ferriol said that any decision on Cubans coming to Havana from southern Florida would have to be jointly analyzed by all sides involved in the preparations of the Pope's visit. She stressed that what is now in force is the decades' old U.S. government prohibition on its citizens travelling to Cuba and a more recent ban by U.S. President Bill Clinton on family trips to Cuba by Cuban- Americans. The Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that this decision by Washington will not fundamentally change its position toward Cuba. The U.S. government is still diametrically opposed to the island's sovereignty and self- determination. MODERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH EXPECTED FOR THE ISLAND IN 1997 Havana, August 25(RHC)-- Cuban experts predict a mild economic growth for the island this year. Cuba's Economic and Planning Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez told journalists that the island is in a position to face present and future economic challenges. He noted that Cuba's international prestige in the field of financial transactions is based on the non- cancellation of its debts, on its political stability and on the absence of corruption in government levels. The Economic and Planning Minister said they are in the process of automating the planning system at all levels. Once it is up and running, the automated network will allow for a speeding-up of data procedures and bank transfers. CUBAN PENAL CODE REFORMS GO INTO EFFECT TODAY Havana, August 25(RHC)-- With a major emphasis on both more severe sanctions and crime prevention, reforms to the Cuban Penal Code go into effect today. Legislation Decree Number 175 includes amendments such as pimping, corruption and the use of children to beg. In the case of corruption, the penal code establishes a punishment of up to 20 years in prison. Child abuse will be punished with the most severe sanctions. Foreign investors charged with illegal businesses will be forbidden to operate on the island. In the view of specialists from the Cuban Ministry of Justice, reforms to the Penal Code are aimed at preserving a sound society that is not weakened by crime and at the same time focusses on crime prevention and the social rehabilitation of offenders. SCIENTISTS STUDY CUBA'S LARGEST BIOSPHERE RESERVE Havana, August 25(RHC)-- Cuban scientists are conducting multi-disciplinary studies on flora, fauna and the environmental impact of mining on the island's largest biosphere reserve. Studies have stressed the high ecological significance of the Alexander Humbolt Natural Park, the core of the island's biodiversity. Experts from the National Botanical Gardens, the Institute of Ecology and the Institute for the Protection of Flora and Fauna took part in the scientific expeditions. Scientists took a profound look at the island's Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve, with the island's richest animal and forest reserves. Descriptions of herbal formations, flora and fauna reserves and studies on mammals and reptiles are some of the results of the research. GHANA HONORS CUBAN PHYSICIAN FOR WORK ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY Havana, August 25(RHC)-- The government of Ghana has honored Cuban physician Carlos Beyra with the "Great Medal," commemorating the 40th anniversary of the independence of that African nation. Dr. Beyra is the first Cuban to be distinguished with the honor, presented to him by Ghana's President Jerry Rawlings. The award was given in recognition of Dr. Beyra's devotion to his work "while providing services in a region plagued with highly dangerous ethnic conflicts." According to the government of Ghana, Dr. Beyra risked his life on numerous occasions. Dr. Beyra is currently the head of Surgical Services at a local hospital in the province of Camaguey, some 570 kilometers east of Havana. CUBA'S CAMP SITES CONTINUE ATTRACTING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE Havana, August 25(RHC)-- While the island is a major tourist attraction for foreign visitors, Cubans themselves are taking time from their busy schedules to enjoy the beauty of the island. More than 250,000 Cubans have enjoyed the amenities of 74 campsites which opened this summer all across the island. The camping facilities on Havana's northern coast alone received more than one-quarter of that figure. The ten camping sites located near the capital hosted 13,000 visitors last weekend alone -- a total of 74,000 during the entire summer. Those installations will remain open through September in order that more people will have the opportunity to take it easy and have some fun. CUBAN SINGER PABLO MILANES IN CONCERT AT LINCOLN CENTER New York, August 25(RHC)-- Renowned Cuban composer and singer Pablo Milanes takes to the stage of the Lincoln Center in New York City this evening. The performance follows concerts in Puerto Rico over the weekend -- described as "mesmerizing" by critics. Pablo promised to give another performance in San Juan next Saturday, the 30th. This was Pablo's first public appearance in Puerto Rico in ten years, following continual denials of entry visas by the U.S. State Department. Pablo Milanes will release his latest CD entitled "Despertar" in the Spanish capital of Madrid on September 9th. [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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