CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA July 17, 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 17, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- MIGRATORY TALKS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE U.S. END IN NEW YORK 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BLASTS FLORIDA COURT ACQUITTAL OF CUBAN HIJACKERS. 3.- EVIDENCE ON HOTEL BOMBINGS WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AT OPPORTUNE TIME, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MIGUEL ALFONSO 4.- COLOMBIAN PATIENTS WILL RECEIVE HELP FROM CUBA'S INTERNATIONAL NEUROLOGICAL RESTORATION CENTER 5.- NOT ONE HOTEL RESERVATION CANCELED IN WAKE OF RECENT BOMBINGS 6.- U.S. RETURNS ILLEGAL CUBAN IMMIGRANTS 7.- YOUTH AND STUDENTS WILL DISCUSS MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ISSUES 8.- INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM ON JOSE MARTI OPENS IN HAVANA MIGRATORY TALKS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE U.S. END IN NEW YORK New York, July 17(RHC)-- The seventh round of migratory talks between Cuba and the United States ended today in New York City Thursday afternoon. The two-day meeting was held behind closed doors and there were no immediate statements made to the media by the Cuban or U.S. delegations. As in the past, the Cuban delegation to the talks was headed by Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon. Washington's delegation was led by Under Secretary of State for Central America and the Caribbean John Hamilton. According to Prensa Latina News Agency, among the items on the agenda was the refusal of the United States to hand-over the hijackers of two Cuban aircraft and Washington's visa restrictions for Cubans wishing to visit their families in the United States. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BLASTS FLORIDA COURT ACQUITTAL OF CUBAN HIJACKERS. Havana, July 17 (RHC)--Cuba's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned today the acquittal, in a Florida court, of three Cubans who hijacked a civilian airplane to the US. The pilot of the hijacked plane testified that he was forced to change route at gunpoint. The plane crashed into the sea off the coasts of Florida last August. The hijackers and the pilot were picked up by a Russian vessel, which subsequently turned them over to the US Coast Guard. The 3 accused testified that pilot Bernardo Estevez was in on the hijacking, despite the fact that Estevez immediately asked US authorities to return him to Cuba, and later agreed to testify in a US court. Cuban foreign ministry spokesman Miguel Alfonso said the acquittal flies in the face of Washington's alleged commitment to fight terrorism when Cuba is the victim. Alfonso also pointed to the extremely brief judicial proceedings, which lasted only 3 days, and in which the jury was out for only an hour. He said the court decision was evidently meant to coincide with US-Cuba migratory talks slated to wind up today in New York. The foreign ministry spokesman said that this type of action only stimulates further acts of terrorism by convincing would-be hijackers that they will not be punished in the US. Alfonso also made reference to the case of Cuban pilot Carlos Cancio, who in 1992 detoured his route and took the plane and its 53 passengers to the US. Cancio was never even brought to trial. EVIDENCE ON HOTEL BOMBINGS WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AT OPPORTUNE TIME, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MIGUEL ALFONSO Havana, July 14 (RHC)--Cuba's Foreign Ministry reiterated today that Cuban authorities have evidence that both the perpetrators of last week's 2 terrorist bombs in Havana hotels, and the material used to make those bombs, came from the United States. Spokesman Miguel Alfonso said the evidence will be presented at an opportune moment. In reference to US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns' accusation that Cuba's denunciation was mere paranoia, Alfonso recalled that the same terminology was used by US officials in the 1960s and 1970s -- and that subsequently, declassified CIA documents proved what Cuba had been claiming all along. He made mention of the numerous assassination plots against leaders of the Cuban revolution, as detailed in the declassified documents. Alfonso pointed to the many groups of Cuban-American terrorists in the US who publicly announce their actions in press conferences. On the other hand, said the foreign ministry spokesman, the presentation of evidence doesn't necessarily guarantee justice in the US, as demonstrated by the acquittal of the 3 Cuban hijackers. COLOMBIAN PATIENTS WILL RECEIVE HELP FROM CUBA'S INTERNATIONAL NEUROLOGICAL RESTORATION CENTER Havana, July 17(RHC)-- Cuba's International Neurological Restoration Center will provide technical training and technology to Colombia's Insurance Institute. Under a recent agreement, the two institutions will set up six diagnostic and evaluation centers in principal Colombian cities. At least four million physically disabled Colombians will benefit from the Cuban assistance. A team of Cuban and Colombian neuro- surgeons, psychologists and therapists would determine if a patient would be sent to Cuba for more specialized treatment. NOT ONE HOTEL RESERVATION CANCELED IN WAKE OF RECENT BOMBINGS Havana, July 17(RHC)-- Tourism remains one of Cuba's top money earners. And, as a result, it has become a target of those who are opposed to the island's revolutionary process. In an attempt to discourage tourists to Cuba, two hotels were targeted this past Saturday -- the Capri and the Hotel Nacional. Bombs exploded almost simultaneously in the lobbies of both hotels, slightly injuring three people and causing minor damages. A news release from the Cuban Interior Ministry revealed that both the explosive materials used and the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks were from the United States. But tourism officials say that the bomb attacks did not accomplish what they intended. The Capri, with a traditionally high occupancy rate, currently has 91 percent of its rooms booked. The Capri's General Manager, Mario Llerena, says that the hotel has provided uninterrupted services to tourists and that not one not reservation has been canceled. The Hotel Nacional is also almost completely booked-up and reported revenues of more than 6000 dollars at the Parisien Cabaret alone over the past weekend. Cuba is expected to welcome more than one million tourists and obtain revenues of more than one billion dollars in 1997, thus placing tourism above all other earners of hard currency. U.S. RETURNS ILLEGAL CUBAN IMMIGRANTS Havana, July 17(RHC)-- The U.S. Coast Guard has returned 14 illegal immigrants to Havana. This is the third such operation in less than two weeks. Just last week, 33 Cubans were returned to Havana after being intercepted on the open-seas while trying to reach U.S. shores. The operation brings to 698 the number of Cuban rafters returned to the island since the enforcement of bilateral migratory accords, signed in May 1995. YOUTH AND STUDENTS WILL DISCUSS MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ISSUES Havana, July 17(RHC)-- Discussion Centers promise to be a big hit during the upcoming 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. A total of 13 centers will begin operation on July 29th. Havana's Convention Center, the University of Havana, the Institute of Tropical Medicine and the Ernesto Che Guevara Pioneers' Palace will serve as the main centers for discussion on a wide range of issues. Participatory democracy, cultural and social communication, peace, nuclear weapons, health, employment, women, youth education, science, technology and the environment will be just some of the issues debated during the nine-day event. The entire festival is designed to offer space for reflection and debate on the major issues facing students and young people. Round table discussions, the Anti-Imperialist Tribunal, conferences and colloquiums promise to keep more than 8000 delegates very busy during the Festival. INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM ON JOSE MARTI OPENS IN HAVANA Havana, July 17(RHC)-- An international colloquium on the work of Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti, entitled "A Century of the Work of Jose Marti," opened Thursday here in Havana. Some 80 foreign and national scholars are attending the event. Among the most outstanding participants are: Ivan A. Schulmann from the United States, Mexican Alfonso Herrera and Spanish Maria Luisa Laviana, author of a number of essays on Jose Marti. Cuba's Center of Studies on Jose Marti is sponsoring the meeting, marking the 20th anniversary of its foundation. The Center has the task of researching and promoting Jose Marti's life and work, as well as the preservation of his cultural and historical legacy. [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