CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA December 19, 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Friday, December 19, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA REITERATES WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE SPECIALISTS IN MINE DEACTIVATION 2.- CUBA AND TURKEY MEET TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS 3.- UNESCO'S DIRECTOR GENERAL WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA 4.- INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM ON FELIX VARELA ENDS 5.- "POPE-MOBILES" ARRIVE IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 6.- EXPANSION AT VARADERO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMPLETED CUBA REITERATES WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE SPECIALISTS IN MINE DEACTIVATION New York, December 19(RHC)-- Cuba has reiterated its willingness to provide specialists in mine deactivation to any country that needs such assistance. At the same time, Cuba said it is prepared to send medical personnel to any part of the world and provide care for those injured by land mines. Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Cuba's U.N. Ambassador Pedro Nunez Mosquera told delegates that the Cuban government supports the resolution against the use of land mines, but also understands that countries must be able to use weapons of self-defense. The U.N. ambassador reminded the General Assembly that Cuba has supported discussion on the manufacture and use of land mines since 1993 and that the Revolutionary Government hopes the world's major military powers will also support the U.N. resolutions. CUBA AND TURKEY MEET TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS Havana, December 19(RHC)-- The first session of the Mixed Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Industrial and Trade Cooperation between Cuba and Turkey got underway in Havana Thursday. The Turkish delegation is headed by that country's Government Minister Eyup Asik, while the Cuban delegation is led by Cuban Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz. The Mixed Commission, which is meeting for the first time under the Economic, Industrial and Trade Cooperation Agreement signed between the two nations in August 1996, should boost bilateral economic relations. An important business mission is accompanying the Turkish delegation to explore concrete business opportunities in areas such as tourism, agriculture, steel and the sugar by-products industry. UNESCO'S DIRECTOR GENERAL WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA Havana, December 19(RHC)-- UNESCO's Director General Federico Mayor wound up his visit to Cuba on Thursday. Earlier this week, Mayor received the Jose Marti Order -- Cuba's highest civilian award -- and attended an international colloquium on Cuban Catholic priest Felix Varela. On Thursday, Mayor visited the San Severino Castle in western Matanzas Province. The Castle, which has been declared a National Monument, will be refurbished to host the Museum of the Slave Routes in the Caribbean -- with the financial cooperation of UNESCO. During his visit to the Castle, UNESCO's director general said the fortress was an important point of reference to recall what he described "the tragic episode of slavery." The San Severino Castle was built by slaves to safeguard Matanzas Bay in the 18th century. INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM ON FELIX VARELA ENDS Havana, December 19(RHC)-- Armando Hart, head of the Cuban Program on Jose Marti, stated that "Felix Varela is the cornerstone of Cuban culture and nationality," adding that the Catholic priest "is part of the best Christian tradition and assumes human redemption on earth." The former Cuban Culture Minister made the statement at the International Colloquium "Ethics and Emancipation in Felix Varela's Thinking," which wound up Friday at the University of Havana's Master Lecture Hall. Father Felix Varela was a Catholic priest and 19th century philosopher known in Cuba as "the man who taught us how to think" -- a reference to his contributions to the Cuban nation and to the island's independence. Hart also noted that Father Varela's valuable legacy of patriotism and ethics was collected by the generation that fought during the last stage of the Cuban Revolution and said that his ethical principles are still relevant for our struggles today. During Thursday's session, Felix Varela's Works were presented. The anthology was compiled by Eduardo Torres Cuevas, Jorge Ibarra and Mercedes Garcia. Also during yesterday's session, Cuban Monseigneur Carlos Manuel de Cespedes dealt with the influence on Felix Varela of Irish Catholic priests and Spanish Bishop Espada. That lecture was followed by a panel called "Laity and Religion in Varela," presented by Brother Cosimo Meolli from the Vatican, Cuban Father Hilario de Cespedes, Presbyterian Pastor Rafael Cepeda and researchers Aurelio Alonso and Jorge Calzadilla. "POPE-MOBILES" ARRIVE IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, December 19(RHC)-- The "Pope-Mobile" -- which Pope John Paul II will use during his visit to Cuba next month -- arrived in Havana on Thursday. A second vehicle arrived in the Cuban capital late Friday. The vehicles are made of bullet-proof, armor-plated materials -- guaranteeing his protection during visits around the world. During his stay in Cuba, the Pontiff will hold public Masses in the cities of Santa Clara, Camaguey, Santiago de Cuba and Havana. He'll bless the Virgin of Charity del Cobre -Cuba's Patron Saint- and visit the Leprosy Sanatorium at El Rincon in Havana. Pope John Paul II is also scheduled to meet with Cuban intellectuals at Havana's Master Lecture Hall, where the remains of Father Felix Varela are buried. During his visit to Cuba, the Pope plans to meet with representatives of various Christian denominations on the island and with the Jewish community in Cuba. EXPANSION AT VARADERO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMPLETED Varadero, December 19(RHC)-- The first stage of expansion at the Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport in Varadero has been completed on time. The construction work, which began in January this year, is considered essential for the growing tourism at that famous beach resort. The Varadero airport has now increased its capacity from 600 to 1500 passengers per hour, providing qualitatively higher and more competitive services. The expansion was completed in just 11 months. The construction included the expansion of the air terminal, a waiting room directly connected to the planes through three walkways and a luggage checking area. Other projects included a drainage and lighting system and the expansion of the international arrival and departure room, in addition to roads, fences, and signal lighting. Expansion costs amounted to 14.3 million pesos and is expected to be recovered in three years. The construction work was done without affecting the airport's operations. So far this year, the Juan Gualberto airport in Varadero has welcomed some 900 thousand visitors to the island. [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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