CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA July 25, 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 25th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMS DEPORTATION OF GERMAN CITIZEN WHO DETONATED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 2.- CUBAN CHILDREN WILL RE-ENACT IMPORTANT, HISTORIC ACTION 3.- SPANISH PEACE MOVEMENT MAKES DONATION TO CUBA 4.- SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL WORK BRIGADES LEND IN A HAND IN DEVELOPMENT PLANS 5.- CUBAN YORUBA ASSOCIATION DEMANDS VISAS FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ATTEND CONGRESS IN SAN FRANCISCO FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMS DEPORTATION OF GERMAN CITIZEN WHO DETONATED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, July 25(RHC)-- The Cuban Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday the recent arrest of a German citizen in connection with an explosion that occurred in a tunnel running under Havana Bay. In her regular meeting with members of the media, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marianela Ferriol said the German, whose name is Michael Andreas Reeb, had detonated a type of fire- cracker, similar to that used during celebrations in Germany. The explosion came almost a week after two small bombs went off at Havana hotels, causing minor damages. Ferriol said an investigation had been conducted into the incident and that the German citizen was now in the custody of Cuban immigration authorities pending his return to Germany. Asked whether Andreas was being expelled from Cuba, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said his return to Germany was the result of an agreement between authorities of both countries. Cuban Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marianela Ferriol also addressed the issue of the recent detention of four so-called "dissidents" in Havana in connection with counterrevolutionary activities. Ferriol confirmed that the Cuban Foreign Ministry spoke with officials from the embassies of Holland and Canada, which had requested information on the issue. Ferriol said Cuba reiterated that this is an internal affair and will be handled according to Cuban laws, indicating that there was evidence linking the arrested individuals to threats against foreign business executives negotiating deals with authorities on the island. The detainees were also reportedly attempting to interfere with the upcoming electoral process in Cuba, slated for October. CUBAN CHILDREN WILL RE-ENACT IMPORTANT, HISTORIC ACTION Havana, July 25(RHC)-- A group of outstanding Cuban children from the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Granma will symbolically attack the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Barracks this Saturday to mark the 44th anniversary of the attacks which sparked the final stage of the Cuban Revolution. More than 130 primary and secondary students will take the same route as the revolutionary assailants led by Fidel Castro 44 years ago. The attack on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes in 1953 ignited the last stage of the Cuban people's revolutionary struggle, which led to the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. SPANISH PEACE MOVEMENT MAKES DONATION TO CUBA Havana, July 25(RHC)-- The President of the Spanish Peace, Disarmament and Freedom Movement, European Deputy Francisca Susquillo, presented a donation to the Cuban Peace and Sovereignty Movement. The contribution includes school supplies and medicines. Susquillo, who is also a guest of honor at the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, said that this donation is only a part of all the aid this Spanish institution has contributed over the years to Cuba. For his part, Cuban Peace Movement President Orlando Fundora stressed that Susquillo is active in the solidarity movement in Spain and has expressed her rejection of Washington's more than 35 year blockade against the island and the Helms-Burton Law, aimed at tightening that blockade even more. SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL WORK BRIGADES LEND IN A HAND IN DEVELOPMENT PLANS Havana, July 25(RHC)-- Members of the 24th Contingent of the European Jose Marti Brigade praised Cuba's efforts to provide medical treatment to more than 15,000 children from the Ukraine and Russia -- victims of the 1986 Chernobil nuclear accident. At the sanatorium dedicated to such treatments in Havana, the 200 brigadistas from 17 European nations learned about the program which has been in effect for seven years now. Meanwhile, the 6th Contingent of the Juan Rius Rivera Brigade from Puerto Rico talked with veterans from the island's revolutionary struggle. The meeting took place at Havana's former Presidential Palace. CUBAN YORUBA ASSOCIATION DEMANDS VISAS FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ATTEND CONGRESS IN SAN FRANCISCO Havana, July 25(RHC)-- Cuba's Yoruba Cultural Association urged the U.S. government to grant entry visas to nearly 60 of its members to attend the 5th World Congress --Orisha '97-- to be held in San Francisco, California from August 3rd through the 10th. In a letter sent to the U.S. State Department, the association argued that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana has only approved seven of the first 37 requests for visas. The Cuban Yoruba Cultural Association stated that it would appear there is religious and racial discrimination in the U.S. denial, given that Yoruba is a religion of African-origin, practiced by the poor. [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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