CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA July 7, 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 Monday, July 7th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA AND ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES BEGIN OFFICIAL TALKS 2.- IDENTIFICATION OF REMAINS IN COLLECTIVE GRAVE IN BOLIVIA CONTINUES 3.- FAO APPROVES EMERGENCY PROGRAM TO HELP CUBA FIGHT THRIPS PALMI PLAGUE 4.- THREE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 5.- PREPARATIONS FOR THE 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS ENTER FINAL STAGE 6.- CUBAN AFRO-ROCK GROUP "SINTESIS" RETURNS AFTER SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO 7.- SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON METALLURGY OPENS NEXT WEEK IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL CUBA AND ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES BEGIN OFFICIAL TALKS Havana, July 7(RHC)-- Visiting St. Vincent and Grenadines Prime Minister James Mitchell began official talks today in Havana with Cuban President Fidel Castro. Prime Minister Mitchell arrived in Cuba on Saturday responding to an invitation from the Cuban government. The Caribbean dignitary has already visited tourist zones at Cuba's Varadero Beach resort, expressing an interest to cooperate with the island in the cruise tourism modality. The prime minister is expected to meet with 27 students from his country studying in Cuban universities as a result of bilateral agreements following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. He expressed interest in sending to Cuba more students from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as a desire to broaden relations between the two Caribbean countries in the field of medicine. Prime Minister Mitchell is also expected to sign other bilateral agreements in the areas of sports and the exemption of visas for travel between the two nations. Shortly after his arrival, the Caribbean leader came out in support of Cuba's membership in the regional integration organization CARICOM. IDENTIFICATION OF REMAINS IN COLLECTIVE GRAVE IN BOLIVIA CONTINUES La Paz, July 7 (RHC)--Cuban and Argentinean forensic experts and anthropologists have begun the final stage of the identification of remains discovered in a collective grave in Bolivia. Experts say it is almost certain that one skeleton belongs to guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara. The director of Cuba's Institute of Legal Medicine, Jorge Gonzalez, said that the current stage could last until next weekend. He asserted, that gathered evidence points to the finding of the remains of the guerrilla leader, as one body has no hands. Che's hands were cut off by his captors to be used as proof of the death of the Argentinean born revolutionary. Other signs include a hole in the middle of the forehead -- possibly caused by the bullet to execute Che -- and the discovery of a belt similar to one that Che was wearing when his body was photographed on October 10th, 1967. FAO APPROVES EMERGENCY PROGRAM TO HELP CUBA FIGHT THRIPS PALMI PLAGUE Havana, July 7 (RHC)-- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, -FAO-, has approved an emergency program of 176 thousand dollars to help Cuba fight the Thrips Palmi insect, which threatens a large variety of crops. Cuba recently charged that the Thrips Palmi first appeared on the island last year following the detection of an aircraft registered to the US State Department spraying an unidentified substance over the westerly Matanzas Province. Cuban authorities have convincingly refuted a US State Department claim that the aircraft had simply released smoke from a smoke generator to mark its position with respect to a nearby Cuban commercial airliner. Last week, Cuba became the first nation to officially accuse another country of biological warfare, taking its case to the UN Convention on the Prohibition, Production and Storage of biological weapons. Confirmation of the FAO financial aid came this weekend from this agency's representative in Cuba, Fernando Robayo. Robayo is in Cienfuegos Province participating in the First Workshop on Sustainable Urban Agriculture. THREE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Havana, July 7(RHC)-- During an ordinary session later this week, Cuba's National Assembly will debate three new draft resolutions. The first deals with the environment and has already been discussed by a parliamentary commission. The legislation will function as a legal instrument which will allow for the enforcement of the National Program of the Environment and Development, passed in 1993. It includes the protection of mineral and tourism resources as well as the whole natural heritage. At a recent news conference, Cuba's Science, Technology and the Environment Minister Doctor Rosa Elena Simeon said that in 85 out of the island's 169 municipalities, there are experts assigned with the task of environmental protection. Dr. Simeon pointed to soil erosion, water pollution, deforestation and the loss of bio-diversity as the main problems affecting the island's environment. Another two draft resolutions will be discussed by lawmakers this Friday -- one on the People's Courts and the other on the responsibilities of the country's Attorney General. PREPARATIONS FOR 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS ENTER FINAL STAGE Havana, July 7(RHC)-- Excitement is building across the island as final preparations are underway for the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students -- now only three weeks away. A comprehensive inspection by Cuba's National Coordinating Committee has approved conditions at the homes where delegates will be staying. Festival delegates will stay at more than 12,000 Cuban homes -- more than 8000 of them here in Havana. The National Preparatory Committee selected the 12,000 homes from more than 30,000 Cuban homes volunteered by their owners. The initiative began in August 1995, when Cuban families hosted more than 2000 delegates to the "Cuba Vive" Festival. By opening their residences to foreign delegates, Cuban families are helping to take the financial burden off the State. In addition, it gives the delegates an opportunity to get to know the Cuban people by living with them in their own homes. Cuba's National Preparatory Committee reports that four out of seven Club Houses -- specializing in the traditions, culture and history of the five continents and regions -- have been totally refurbished. Cuba has contributed the largest amount of money to the renovation project, with more than 25 million pesos and 207,000 dollars. In related news, the governments from South Korea, Israel and the United States remain silent about granting permission to their delegations. In March, the U.S. Treasury Department denied travel licenses to some fifty young people from the U.S. to attend the youth festival. Similarly, the Israeli government has threatened to punish young Syrians from the Golan Heights if they travel to the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. CUBAN AFRO-ROCK GROUP "SINTESIS" RETURNS AFTER SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO Havana, July 7(RHC)-- "Sintesis" -- a popular Cuban Afro-Rock group -- has just returned to Havana after performances in the United States and Puerto Rico. During shows in Los Angeles, several well-known musicians and personalities jammed with the group -- including Jesus Conte, the drummer for Madonna, Kevin Richard from Kevin Logan's Band and actor Andy Garcia. While performing in San Juan, the Puerto Rican capital, members of the popular Cuban group were interviewed by journalists from 20 different publications as well as radio and television programs. During another interview -- this time here in Havana upon their return from the successful tour -- Carlos Alfonso, the group's director, stated there is a great deal of interest in Cuban music both in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON METALLURGY OPENS NEXT WEEK IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, July 7(RHC)-- The Second International Convention on Metallurgy will open on July 14th here in the Cuban capital. Equipment, machinery and technology will be on display at Havana's Pabexpo exhibition center. Cuban enterprises will feature their industrial capability and promote exchanges with foreign companies. To date, more than 60 foreign firms have signed up to be at the Convention. The event's organizing committee has announced that eleven scientific events will run parallel to the Convention. [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