** S P E C I A L E D I T I O N ** CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA July 12, 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 Saturday, July 12, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- REMAINS OF LEGENDARY ARGENTINEAN-BORN GUERRILLA, ERNESTO GUEVARA, BROUGHT TO HAVANA 2.- CUBANA PLANE CRASHES WITH 44 PEOPLE ON BOARD. NO SURVIVORS 3.- CUBAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE EVIDENCE PROVING THAT EXPLOSIONS IN TWO HOTELS IN HAVANA ARE CONNECTED WITH THE UNITED STATES 4.- US YOUTHS PREPARE A MORE THAN 6 THOUSAND-MEMBER DELEGATION TO THE 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS. 5.- FAMED US FILMAKER FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA SUPPORTS THE SHIPMENT OF MEDICINES TO CUBA. 6.- WASHINGTON RETURNS TO THE ISLAND CUBANS WHO TRIED TO REACH ILLEGALLY US COASTS. REMAINS OF LEGENDARY ARGENTINEAN-BORN GUERRILLA, ERNESTO GUEVARA, BROUGHT TO HAVANA Havana , July 12 (RHC)--The remains of the Argentinean born Heroic Guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara and three of his comrades in arms were brought to Cuban soil Saturday evening. Cuban President Fidel Castro, along with other high-ranking officials and family members of the internationalist guerrilla fighters were at the San Antonio de los Banos Military airfield, outside Havana, to receive the remains. After the landing of the Cubana Airlines jet that brought the urns with the remains of Commander Guevara and his combatants, his daughter Aleida Guevara, on behalf of Che's children, handed over the remains of the legendary guerrilla fighter to the State and people of Cuba for their final custody. After a brief, simple and solemn military ceremony at the San Antonio de los Banos military base, the 4 urns were taken to the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces here in Havana, until such time that they will be taken to the mausoleum which is being constructed in the city of Santa Clara, in central Cuba. In October, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his death in battle, Ernesto Che Guevara together with all his comrades killed in Bolivia, will receive the tribute befitting their dignity and example. Guevara's comrades positively identified and brought to Cuba are Cubans Alberto Fernandez Montes de Oca, Rene Martinez Tamayo and Orlando Pantoja Tamayo. CUBANA PLANE CRASHES WITH 44 PEOPLE ON BOARD. NO SURVIVORS Santiago de Cuba, July 12 (RHC)--Cuban Coast Guards vessels, fishing boats, divers, and Air Force helicopters are continuing their search for bodies in the Santiago de Cuba Bay -some 900 kilometers east of Havana- where a Cuban commercial airliner crashed with 44 people on board Friday evening. The Soviet-made AN-24 plane, to cover the Santiago de Cuba-Havana route, fell into the bay 3 minutes approximately after its take off from the Antonio Maceo International Airport. Cuban authorities have informed that no survivors have been found. So far 21 corpses have been rescued and experts are working on their identification. According to information by Cuban Institute of Civil Aviation, passengers on board included 2 Brazilians and 6 Spanish tourists. A national commission immediately dispatched to the scene is currently gathering information on the causes that led to the disaster. CUBAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE EVIDENCE PROVING THAT EXPLOSIONS IN TWO HOTELS IN HAVANA ARE CONNECTED WITH THE UNITED STATES Havana, July 12 (RHC)--The Cuban government has issued a communique on explosions reported Saturday in two hotels in downtown Havana. The release states that there's evidence proving that both, the perpetrators and the explosives are of US origin. In a brief release broadcast in the evening National Television News, the Ministry of the Interior reported that as a result of the explosions at the Capri and Nacional Hotels, three people were slightly injured. The explosions occurred at 11:35 local time. Shortly afterwards high- ranking Cuban government officials visited the two hotels. By mid- afternoon, activities in both tourist facilities were back to normal. US YOUTHS PREPARE A MORE THAN 6 THOUSAND-MEMBER DELEGATION TO THE 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS. Havana, July 12(RHC)-- Following the US Treasury Department's refusal to grant licenses to young Americans interested in taking part in the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, more than 6 hundred US youths say they will be in Cuba with or without the special permission. The information was provided by Leslie Cagan, President of the New-York based solidarity organization Cuba Information Project and one of the coordinators of the US organizing committee at a Havana press conference on Friday. Cagan said that an estimated one thousand young Americans have expressed interest in travelling to Cuba this summer. She added that the delegation will be the largest from the US to visit the island in three decades. In an exclusive interview with Radio Havana Cuba, Cagan said the young people appreciate the momentum that Cuba has contributed to the revitalization of US youth organizations by organizing and hosting the youth event. US FILMMAKER FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA SUPPORTS SHIPMENT OF MEDICINES TO CUBA. Washington, July 12(RHC)-- Famed US filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola, has expressed his support to US legislators currently promoting the shipment of medicines and food to Cuba. In a letter to California Democratic Representative Esteban Torres -the main sponsor of a proposed legislation calling for the end of the US blockade on food and medicine- Coppola blasted Washington's anti-Cuba policy. A copy of the letter was also sent to President Bill Clinton. WASHINGTON RETURNS CUBANS WHO TRIED TO REACH US SHORES ILLEGALLY Havana, July 12(RHC)-- Under bilateral immigration accords signed in 1995, Washington has returned to Havana a group of 13 Cuban immigrants intercepted on the ocean while trying to reach US shores last Sunday. This is the second such operation this week after another group of 20 Cubans was returned home this past Tuesday. The operation -the 57th since the enforcement of the immigration agreement-was carried out this past Friday and coincides with the 7th round of talks between US and Cuban immigration authorities underway in New york. In all, Washington has returned more than seven hundred Cubans who have tried to illegally reach US territory. [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. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org