CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA August 28, 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 28, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- REPORTS OF FIDEL'S DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED; CUBA'S PRESIDENT ENJOYS EXCELLENT HEALTH, TO DISMAY OF ENEMIES 2.- CENTRAL AMERICAN MAYORS REJECT RIDICULOUS U.S. PROPOSAL TO CONDEMN AND ISOLATE CUBA 3.- CUBA'S ELECTORAL PROCESS IS MOVING ALONG WELL 4.- CUBAN PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY IN TURKEY AND COLOMBIA 5.- CUBA IS FAST BECOMING THE CARIBBEAN'S VACATION DESTINATION 6.- AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... SWIMMING GIVES CUBA ITS THIRD GOLD, WHILE TWO OF THE ISLAND'S TRIPLE JUMPERS FINISH FIRST AND SECOND IN SICILY REPORTS OF FIDEL'S DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED; CUBA'S PRESIDENT ENJOYS EXCELLENT HEALTH, TO DISMAY OF ENEMIES Havana, August 28(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Ministry denied rumors that President Fidel Castro is dead, blaming the `somewhat premature announcement' on right-wing extremists in Miami. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Marianela Ferriol told local and foreign journalists that the 71-year-old Cuban leader is "in excellent health" and that the recent rumor is just one of many false reports concerning the Cuban leader's alleged death since 1956 -- when he landed in Cuba at the head of a revolutionary expedition which overthrew the Batista dictatorship. In other news, Ferriol denied news reports concerning the arrest in Cuba of a Portuguese citizen suspected of being involved in terrorist activities on the island. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed the presence in Cuba of two U.S. congressional representatives -- part of a growing interest among some U.S. lawmakers to learn about Cuba first-hand. Republicans Tom Campbell, a Representative from California, and Marshall Sanford from South Carolina, met today with the President of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, Ricardo Alarcon. The two U.S. representatives have also shown an interest in social and economic aspects of Cuban society. CENTRAL AMERICAN MAYORS REJECT RIDICULOUS U.S. PROPOSAL TO CONDEMN AND ISOLATE CUBA Managua, August 28(RHC)-- Mayors of Central American countries -- gathering in the Nicaraguan capital -- have flatly rejected a proposal introduced by a U.S. observer to the meeting, designed to condemn and isolate Cuba. The proposal was made by Alex Panelas, Commissioner of Dade County, Florida. He introduced the resolution during one of the sessions of the mayoral mini-summit. Newspaper headlines and editorials throughout Central America scoffed at the idea, calling it totally out of place. Managua's daily "El Nuevo Diario" said the anti-Cuba proposal was "an attack against the principles of sovereignty and self- determination." The Nicaraguan daily "Barricada" quoted San Salvador's Mayor Hector Silva as saying that the proposal by the U.S. representative was "simply outrageous." Honduran and Guatemalan dailies also condemned the arrogant attitude demonstrated by Washington's envoy, who "should have stayed home and let the mayors of Central America take care of their own business." The Summit of Central American Mayors wrappedup in Managua on Thursday, with resolutions on ways to find solutions to the common problems of the region's major cities. CUBA'S ELECTORAL PROCESS IS MOVING ALONG WELL Havana, August 28(RHC)-- Cuba's electoral process is moving along well -- right on schedule. Public meetings to nominate candidates for the Municipal Assemblies of People's Power are scheduled for next Wednesday, September 3rd. Cuban authorities estimate that more than seven and a half million people will cast votes for their municipal representatives on October 19th. More than 31,000 polling stations will be open for Cuban citizens to cast their ballots -- ten thousand more than for the elections two years ago, in 1995. CUBAN PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY IN TURKEY AND COLOMBIA Havana, August 28(RHC)-- Cuban-made medical equipment and handicrafts are among the items attracting the most attention at international trade fairs underway in Izmir, Turkey and Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia. For the first time, Cuba is exhibiting medical technology, products and equipment at Colombia's 6th Annual Medical Fair. Visitors to the trade fair in Izmir, Turkey, will have the chance to see Cuba's exhibit of traditional handicrafts. In other news, Cuba is planning to take its latest achievements in the marine sector to Portugal -- site of a major oceanic exhibit in 1998. In what is being called the final exhibit of the 20th century, "The Ocean: A Future Heritage" is scheduled to take place in Lisbon next year. Cuba will exhibit its accomplishments in the areas of marine research, environmental protection, the promotion of nautical tourism as well as the development of fishing. CUBA IS FAST BECOMING THE CARIBBEAN'S VACATION DESTINATION Havana, August 28(RHC)-- A growing number of foreign tourists prefer Cuba as their vacation destination. More than half a million tourists visited the island in the first six months of 1997, accounting for a 15.3 percent increase over the same period last year. Tourism Ministry statistics say that by the end of this year nearly two million tourists will have spent their vacations on the island. According to recent surveys, visitors point to the island's natural beauty, culture and political stability as the main attractions which bring them back for more. Studies reveal that with a 15 percent annual growth rate, the island could conceivably receive up to ten million tourists a year -- quickly making Cuba the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean region. AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... SWIMMING GIVES CUBA ITS THIRD GOLD, WHILE TWO OF THE ISLAND'S TRIPLE JUMPERS FINISH FIRST AND SECOND IN SICILY Palermo, August 28(RHC)-- Cuban swimmer Neiser Bent, Bronze Medal winner during the Atlanta Summer Games, has grabbed the third Gold Medal for the Cuban sports delegation at the Sicily World University Games. Bent won in the men's 100-meter backstroke, with a time of 55.82 seconds. He took the undisputed lead after the first 50 meters. The record for the games is in the hands of another Cuban -- Rodolfo Falcon -- dating back to the 1993 Buffalo Games, with 55.60 seconds. The U.S. came in second and Italy placed third. Cuban triple jumpers literally jumped for joy when they won the Gold and Silver yesterday in Sicily. Yoelbi Quesada and Aliecer Urrutia came in first and second at the World University Games. Yoelbi Quesada-- the current World Champion -- started out on the right foot and from the very first jump, clinched the Gold with 17.20 meters. He improved his own mark by leaping 17.35 meters on his fourth try. Aliecer Urrutia took the Silver Medal with a jump of 17.11 meters, while third place went to U.S. jumper Robert Howard. In the final medal standings, Cuba is still among the top ten at the World University Games in Sicily. The island's athletes have secured three Gold, four Silver and one Bronze. [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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