CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA December 9, 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taking from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Tuesday, December 9, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER, CARLOS RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, DIES AT THE AGE OF 84 2.- CUBA AND BARBADOS SIGN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC AGREEMENTS 3.- U.S. RELIGIOUS DELEGATION ENDS FOUR-DAY VISIT TO CUBA 4.- MASSES IN PREPARATION FOR POPE'S VISIT END IN HAVANA 5.- POLAND AND CUBA EXPLORE NEW COOPERATION POSSIBILITIES 6.- AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK PROJECTS SPONSORED BY FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS IN CUBA 7.- CUBA BESTOWS FRIENDSHIP MEDAL TO ANTI-FASCIST ACTIVIST 8.- ZAMBIAN VISITOR MEETS WITH VICE PRESIDENT OF CUBAN FRIENDSHIP INSTITUTE 9.- CUBA OPENS INTERESTS SECTION IN HONDURAN CAPITAL CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER, CARLOS RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, DIES AT THE AGE OF 84 Havana, December 9(RHC)-- Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, veteran leader of the Cuban Revolution, died yesterday at the age of 84. Rodriguez was a brilliant theoretician and was a long-time activist. He joined the Popular Socialist Party in October 1930 and fought against the pro-imperialist dictatorship of Gerardo Machado. Carlos Rafael Rodriguez served as a member of the National Leadership of the Organizaciones Revolucionarias Integradas (ORI) and the United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution (PURSC). Rodriguez was elected to the First Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party in 1965 and served as a member of the Political Bureau of the Party. Carrying out numerous responsibilities and representing Cuba before scores of international delegations, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez rose to the distinction of an extremely intelligent defender of the Cuban Revolution. His body was laid to rest this afternoon at 4 o'clock in the Colon Cemetery here in Havana. CUBA AND BARBADOS SIGN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC AGREEMENTS Havana, December 9(RHC)-- In what is being considered as a new step in the consolidation of bilateral diplomatic relations, Cuba and Barbados signed an agreement Monday in Havana to expand economic and scientific cooperation. Following a meeting between the visiting Foreign Minister of Barbados, Billie Miller, and Cuban Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Ibrahim Ferradaz, representatives of the two Caribbean countries signed an accord designed to promote specific projects of mutual interest. The bilateral agreement strengthens relations between Cuba and Barbados, which marked its 25th anniversary yesterday. The visiting dignitary from Barbados told reporters that no one will be able to separate Cuba from the Caribbean, an obvious reference to attempts by Washington to isolate the island from its Caribbean neighbors. The new bilateral agreement sets up an exchange of experts and technical information and provides for the granting of scholarships for study in each country. The accord also establishes a Mixed Commission for future cooperation between Cuba and Barbados, which will alternately meet each year in Havana and Bridgetown. The Barbados foreign minister and deputy prime minister will wrap up her four-day visit to Cuba on Wednesday. U.S. RELIGIOUS DELEGATION ENDS FOUR-DAY VISIT TO CUBA Havana, December 9(RHC)-- A delegation from the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States wrapped up their visit to Cuba this afternoon. The delegation was headed by the organization's National Secretary Joan Brown Campbell. During their four-day stay in Cuba, the U.S. religious mission met with church leaders as well as government officials. At a news conference in Havana Monday night, the U.S. delegation read a statement in which they outlined future actions of the U.S. Council of Churches of Christ with respect to Cuba. They said fighting Washington's blockade against the island will continue to be a major issue on the Council's agenda and an issue they also intend to take before the Vatican. The statement also denounces U.S. policies toward Cuba that restrict efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Island. Over the last five years, the U.S. Council of Churches of Christ has donated a total of 272 tons of aid to Cuba, valued at nearly seven million dollars. MASSES IN PREPARATION FOR POPE'S VISIT END IN HAVANA Havana, December 9(RHC)-- Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega concluded a series of outdoor, public masses last night at the footsteps of Havana's Cathedral in Old Havana in preparation for Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba in January. Some two thousand Havana residents gathered at the Cathedral square to listen to Ortega's mass in which he declared the identification of the Cuban Catholic Church with the Cuban nation. He also invited Cubans to give a massive welcome to Pope John Paul II during this three-day visit to the island, beginning January 21st. The Cuban Catholic Church held a total of eleven masses, seven of them in public places, as part of preparations for the Papal visit. POLAND AND CUBA EXPLORE NEW COOPERATION POSSIBILITIES Havana, December 9(RHC)-- Poland and Cuba will be exploring new possible cooperation areas in the coming days. The head of the Polish Foreign Ministry's Department for the Americas Maciej Koztowski is in Havana for an official visit. Upon his arrival in Havana, Kostowski told reporters that the aim of his visit is to review existing bilateral cooperation ties, which have been expanded lately. Kostowski pointed out that in the coming days, a group of Polish entrepreneurs will arrive in Havana to explore investment opportunities in mining, transportation and biotechnology. AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK PROJECTS SPONSORED BY FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS IN CUBA Havana, December 9(RHC)-- Some 30 projects -- valued at more than ten million dollars -- are being developed on the island to boost agricultural and cattle production. Foreign governmental and non-governmental institutions are behind the effort which includes the supply of equipment for food production, investments in animal production, scientific counselling in genetic research and the fostering of non-traditional cattle feed. The European Union is providing funding to most of the support programs through the island's Association for Cattle Production. CUBA BESTOWS FRIENDSHIP MEDAL TO ANTI-FASCIST ACTIVIST Havana, December 9(RHC)-- The Cuban Council of State awarded the Friendship Medal to Spanish anti-fascist fighter Gervasio Puerta Monday. The island's Council of State grants this recognition to outstanding foreign personalities for their support and solidarity with the Cuban Revolution. Cuban Communist Party Political Bureau member Juan Almeida presented Gervasio Puerta with the Friendship Medal. The anti-fascist fighter has been an outstanding figure in the Spanish solidarity movement to support the Caribbean the island. Upon receiving the award, Puerta thanked the Cuban people for their generosity and solidarity dating from the days of the Spanish Civil War and described Cubans as "the most friendly people in the world." ZAMBIAN VISITOR MEETS WITH VICE PRESIDENT OF CUBAN FRIENDSHIP INSTITUTE Havana, December 9(RHC)-- The head of the Zambian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission Vernon Muanga, currently visiting Cuba, met Monday in Havana with the Vice President of ICAP -- the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People -- Rolando Gonzalez. Talks centered on bilateral issues and international matters. The Zambian parliamentary official pointed out that the Cuban Revolution "represents hope to all nations of the world" and thanked Cuba for the assistance provided to his country in various social and economic fields. For his part, the Cuban official briefed the visitor on the solidarity response the island has received from around the world to help alleviate the economic situation Cuba is going through due to the tightening of the U.S. blockade. CUBA OPENS INTERESTS SECTION IN HONDURAN CAPITAL Tegucigalpa, December 9(RHC)-- Cuba has opened an interests section in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. The Vice President of the Honduran Congress, Jorge Arturo Reina, said that Cuba established the interests section in Tegucigalpa's Miramontes suburb and that the head of the Cuban office officially presented his credentials to Honduran Foreign Minister Delmer Urbizo. Relations between Cuba and Honduras in the areas of tourism, health care and sports have been normal since 1990. [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. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. 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