CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA
                             July 4, 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 Friday, July 4th, 1997.

Today's stories: 
 
1.- DECLARATIONS BY CUBA'S JUSTICE MINISTER ON MODIFICATIONS   
    OF THE ISLAND'S PENAL CODE
 
2.- SECOND IBEROAMERICAN CONGRESS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION CLOSES  
    IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL
 
3.- COSTA RICA'S LACSA AIRLINES INAUGURATES NEW AIR ROUTE
 
4.- ARTISTS IN MARTINIQUE REVITALIZE JOSE MARTI SQUARE
 
5.- 17th CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA
 
6.- SOUTH AFRICA SELECTS DELEGATES FOR 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF  
    YOUTH AND STUDENTS
 
 
DECLARATIONS BY CUBA'S JUSTICE MINISTER ON MODIFICATIONS OF
THE ISLAND'S PENAL CODE
 
Havana, July 4(RHC)-- Cuba's Justice Minister, Roberto Diaz
Sotolongo, affirmed Friday that modifications in the island's
Penal Code, will concentrate on the principle of crime
prevention. The Minister was commenting on decree law 175
recently passed by Cuba's State Council and published this
Tuesday in Cuba's Official Legal Gazette.   
 
Diaz Sotolongo pointed out that under the new Code, pimping is
now considered a crime.  This addition to the island's penal
code seeks to encourage the development of tourism without
prostitution, gambling or drugs according to the Minister.  
 
In addition to the law, said the Justice Minister, authorities
will continue preventive education in society. The modified
code also provides tough sentences of up to 15 years in jail
for those who corrupt minors and it allows for more
flexibility in sentencing in certain cases. The Cuban Justice
Minister noted that the country's Penal Code is based on the
island's current changes and on international criminal law.
 
SECOND IBEROAMERICAN CONGRESS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION CLOSES IN
THE CUBAN CAPITAL
 
Havana, July 4(RHC)-- After five days of fruitful sessions,
the Second Iberoamerican Congress on Special Education came to
an end this Friday in Havana.  More than 1000 foreign experts
discussed over 250 presentations and visited a number of the
island's more than 400 special education schools.
 
Participants discussed current problems in special psychology
and pedagogy, evaluation and diagnosis of disabled children,
training of professionals, family education and community
work.
 
COSTA RICA'S LACSA AIRLINES INAUGURATES NEW AIR ROUTE
 
Havana, July 4(RHC)-- San Jose de Costa Rica, Havana and
Toronto are now connected by LACSA flights three times a week.
Jose Guillermo Rojas, Manager of Costa Rica's LACSA Airlines,
said in Havana that this new route will be an important step
in opening Costa Rica to an ever-expanding market.
 
Canada's Ambassador in Havana, Mark Entwistle, told
journalists that LACSA's initiative will also help his country
open to Central America and the Caribbean.
 
ARTISTS IN MARTINIQUE REVITALIZE JOSE MARTI SQUARE
 
Fort-de-France, July 4(RHC)-- Cuban and Martinican artists are
involved in a cultural project to revitalize the Jose Marti
Square, located in Fort-de-France, the capital -- a site of
historic links between Martinique and Cuba.  The project is
part of an agreement signed by the Regional Institute of
Visual Arts and Cuba's Ministry of Culture.  The agreement
also provides for the exchange of art professors, exhibitions
and the promotion of cultural events.
 
17th CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA
 
Havana, July 4(RHC)-- With the participation of 2000
intellectuals and artists, the 17th Caribbean Festival is
underway in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. 
Representatives from 20 Latin American and European countries
are focussing on the colloquium "The Caribbean That Unites
Us."  This year, the festival is devoted to Brazilian culture
as well as French influence in the Caribbean.
 
SOUTH AFRICA SELECTS DELEGATES FOR 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF
YOUTH AND STUDENTS
 
Havana, July 4(RHC)-- Nine South African provinces will send
delegates to the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students.  
According to a South African parliamentary commission touring
the island, local authorities are now in the process of
selecting the young people that will represent South Africa
during the youth event, scheduled to begin on July 28th.
 
 

           [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba
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