CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA July 10, 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 Thursday, July 10th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMS THAT IF POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED, THE REMAINS OF CHE GUEVARA WILL BE RECEIVED IN CUBA WITH FULL HONORS 2.- CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS WORKING SESSIONS 3.- FINISHING TOUCHES ON 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS 4.- CUBA AND LIBYA EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO INCREASE BILATERAL COOPERATION AND TRADE 5.- WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONISTS PREPARE FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 6.- CUBA GIVES PRE-FABRICATED HOUSING TO CHILE FOR DISASTER RELIEF 7.- CUBA GRADUATES SEVENTY THOUSAND MEDICAL STUDENTS 8.- CARIBBEAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL ENDS IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 9.- CUBAN SPORTS NEWS CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMS THAT IF POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED, THE REMAINS OF CHE GUEVARA WILL BE RECEIVED IN CUBA WITH FULL HONORS Havana, July 10 (RHC)--Cuba's Foreign Ministry announced today that the remains of guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara will be received in Havana with the military honors that the occasion requires -- if, in fact, those remains are positively identified. In his traditional Thursday press conference, foreign ministry spokesman Miguel Alfonso said that an eventual official reception of Che's remains will be carried out with all the honor and respect that this international figure merits. Alfonso stressed that the process of identifying the remains recently discovered in Bolivia has not concluded, insisting that as soon as a positive identification is achieved, the Cuban government will make the news public immediately. The foreign ministry spokesman said that both Che's family in Cuba, and the Cuban government, are obviously interested in bringing the remains back to Cuba. The Cuban, Argentinean and Bolivian forensic experts identifying the remains of 7 bodies discovered last month in southern Bolivia seem virtually convinced that the bodies belong to Argentinean-born Che Guevara, 3 Cuban guerrillas fighters, 2 Bolivians and one Peruvian internationalist. But the experts have refrained from establishing those identities until the forensic proof is irrefutable. CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS WORKING SESSIONS Havana, July 10(RHC)-- The 11 Permanent Parliamentary Commissions have begun discussions on several draft resolutions on the eve of the 9th Ordinary Period of Sessions which begin tomorrow. The Permanent Commission on Constitutional and Legal Affairs is working on two draft resolutions -- one on the People's Courts and the other on the responsibilities of the country's Attorney General. The Parliamentary Commission on the Environment is focussing on a draft resolution, expected to be the legal instrument for the enforcement of the National Program of the Environment and Development, passed in 1993. FINISHING TOUCHES ON 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS Havana, July 10(RHC)-- Two weeks before the inauguration of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, Cuba will officially declare itself "Ready for the Festival." The Young Communist League -- the Festival's local coordinator --will make the announcement official during a popular celebration this Saturday, the 12th. More than 12,000 homes island-wide will open their doors to Festival delegates and 24-hour local command posts will begin providing information and other services as soon as the first delegations arrive on July 13th. The seven Club Houses -- representing all five continents and regions -- are in the final stage of renovation. The Club Houses will host activities organized by young people from the different continents. Meanwhile, the Cuban people are involved in massive clean-up campaigns throughout neighborhoods and at work places. The Solidarity Train -- transportation for delegates travelling to the central provinces -- is also ready to roll! Delegates going to the eastern provinces will travel by air. Accommodation for delegates with physical disabilities will be provided at a special facility here in Havana, designed to meet their special needs. According to the Festival's organizing committee, more than 9000 delegates from around the world have already purchased their tickets to travel to Cuba this summer. CUBA AND LIBYA EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO INCREASE BILATERAL COOPERATION AND TRADE Havana, July 10(RHC)-- Cuba and Libya are exploring new ways to increase bilateral cooperation and trade. Government representatives from the two nations are meeting in the framework of the Mixed Bilateral Commission for Economic and Technological Cooperation in Havana. High on the meeting's agenda is a trading project to exchange sugar for oil. 1997 marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Cuban-Libyan Inter-governmental Commission. Over the past two decades, more than 10,000 Cuban experts have provided their services in the African nation. WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONISTS PREPARE FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, July 10(RHC)-- More than 700 workers and trade unionists from 36 countries have confirmed their participation in the upcoming International Workers Meeting Against Neoliberalism and Globalization. The event -- sponsored by the Cuban Worker's Confederation, the CTC -- will take place in Havana from August 6th through the 8th. According to organizers of the international conference, more than 180 workers organizations will take part in the two-day discussion on neoliberal economic theories and the devastating impact they have on the poor. Workshops will deal with the consequences of privatization, unemployment and underemployment as well as legislative maneuvers designed to weaken trade union organizations. In addition, conference participants will discuss the struggle against racism and discrimination against women in the workplace. CUBA GIVES PRE-FABRICATED HOUSING TO CHILE FOR DISASTER RELIEF Havana, July 10(RHC)-- Cuba will donate pre-fabricated housing to Chile in order to relieve those affected by recent torrential rains. The donation was presented by the Cuban Ambassador to Chile, Aramis Fuentes. Chilean Deputy Secretary of Foreign Relations Mariano Fernandez accepted the gift on behalf of his people. Severe flooding has left nearly 80 thousand Chileans homeless and has reportedly been responsible for more than 20 deaths. CUBA GRADUATES SEVENTY THOUSAND MEDICAL STUDENTS Havana, July 10(RHC)-- With this month's graduation of more than 3000 physicians, the total number of medical graduates since 1959 amounts to 70,000. According to an article published Thursday in Granma newspaper, when the Cuban Revolution triumphed in 1959, there were only 6000 doctors in the entire country -- and half of them left Cuba, enticed by the United States. CARIBBEAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL ENDS IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, July 10(RHC)-- With the traditional "Burning of the Devil," participants at the 17th Caribbean Cultural Festival ended this year's activities in Santiago de Cuba. After eight days of cultural events and art performances, observers say Caribbean traditions are stronger than ever. More than 2000 intellectuals and artists from 20 Latin American and European countries focussed on the colloquium "The Caribbean that Unites Us" as well as French influence in the region. CUBAN SPORTS NEWS Cuban track and field athletes had a fruitful performance in Europe Wednesday. Reports indicate that high jumper Javier Sotomayor, in Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain, won with a 2.30 meter jump and has once again sparked hopes for fans on the island. After a series of ups and downs over the past 15 months, Sotomayor is one of the island's aspirations for the world championships set for Athens next month. He recently told the press that he wants to regain the world title he won in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1993 and lost to Kempt Troy from the Bahamas in Gottembur, Sweden in 1995. Along with Sotomayor the other Cubans who had successful presentations in Sierra Nevada include hurdle runner Daimi Pernia in women's 100 meter hurdle; triple jumpers Olga Cepero in women's and Yoelbi Quesada and Joel Garcia in men's. Emilio Valle completed the race with a silver medal in men's 110 meter hurdles for a total harvest of five gold and one silver medal for the island. Meanwhile, at the Linz tournament held yesterday in Germany another jumper Ivan Pedroso in men's long jump dominated the event with an 8.56 meter jump. That was Pedroso's only valid jump at the competition but gave him the victory. Runner Anier Garcia, considered the revelation for Cuban track and field, matched the national record for men's hurdles at the German meet with a time of 13.18 seconds. In men's 200 meter dash, Ivan Garcia finished third behind two runners from the USA with a time of 20.45 seconds. [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