CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA July 31, 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 31, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS: DAY FOUR 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ADDRESSES PARTICIPANTS OF 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS 3.- U.S. DELEGATES DEMAND WASHINGTON WITHDRAW FROM THE GUANTANAMO NAVAL BASE 4.- ANGOLAN YOUNG PEOPLE PAY TRIBUTE TO CUBAN INTERNATIONALIST FIGHTERS WHO DIED IN THEIR COUNTRY FIGHTING APARTHEID 5.- YOUTH FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL URGE UNITED NATIONS TO HOLD WORLD YOUTH SUMMIT 6.- THOUSANDS OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA RESIDENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO FRANK PAIS AND MARTYRS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS: DAY FOUR Havana, July 31(RHC)-- Today is the fourth day of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, underway here in the Cuban capital. The day was dedicated to Africa and the struggles of the African peoples. Delegates to the international youth event readied to leave for several provinces; some will travel by rail on the Solidarity Train to nearby provinces, others will fly to more distant provinces and cities, such as Las Tunas, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba. The young people will return to Havana over the weekend. This evening, popular fiestas are taking place throughout the country, as thousands of residents in different parts of the island welcome delegates to the important international youth event. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ADDRESSES PARTICIPANTS OF 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS Havana, July 31(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina has warned that dangerously powerful groups are working hard to push Cuba and the United States toward a major conflict. Speaking during a special commission on Human Rights and the Rights of the People, the Cuban foreign minister said these groups are well financed and are responsible for promoting sanctions against Cuba -- all in the name of `human rights.' Robaina pointed out that while these groups hold Washington up as the great defender of human rights, they promote an all-out economic war against Cuba, supporting all types of terrorist actions against the island -- including biological warfare. The Cuban foreign minister told delegates and participants of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students in Havana that "these same groups dream of annexing Cuba [to the United States] and hope to turn the island into another neocolony." But, Roberto Robaina was quick to add, "those dreams will never be realized." Cuba's top diplomat also placed emphasis on the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution, which has always worked for the people's collective human rights. He stressed that capitalism "only defends the privileges of the rich and powerful -- while those who truly defend human rights find themselves on the side of the poor and dispossessed." Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina concluded his talk to participants of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students by asking a rhetorical question: "What rights to millions of starving people have... those who are illiterate, who are homeless and those who do not even know that they have rights?" U.S. DELEGATES DEMAND WASHINGTON WITHDRAW FROM THE GUANTANAMO NAVAL BASE Havana, July 31(RHC)-- U.S. young people attending the World Youth Festival in the Cuban capital urged their government to withdraw from the illegally occupied Guantanamo Naval Base and to end its blockade against the island. The leader of the New Columbia Liberation Organization, Edward Burnhart, said that the presence of some 800 U.S. delegates in Cuba is highly appreciated by Cuba since it confirms that U.S. young people do not support Washington's policy of isolation, aggression and hostility against the island. Upon their return to the United States, the delegates could face prison sentences or fines of up to 50,000 dollars, as they are challenging a U.S. State Department prohibition to travel to the island. ANGOLAN YOUNG PEOPLE PAY TRIBUTE TO CUBAN INTERNATIONALIST FIGHTERS WHO DIED IN THEIR COUNTRY FIGHTING APARTHEID Havana, July 31(RHC)-- The Angolan delegation attending the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students paid homage to the Cuban internationalists who died in Angola by placing a wreath at a mausoleum in Havana's Colon Cemetery. Paulo Texeira Jorge, member of the governing MPLA Party Political Bureau, said that this homage "meant an emotional re-encounter with the comrades who fought with Angolans for the country's independence." Texeira stressed that the presence of young Angolans in the tribute represented the confirmation of their commitment to further strengthen the feelings of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples. Also on hand at the ceremony were Manuel Boavida Neto, First Secretary of the MPLA Youth, members of the Cuban Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution, internationalists and relatives of those who died in the struggle against apartheid and for Angola's independence. YOUTH FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL URGE UNITED NATIONS TO HOLD WORLD YOUTH SUMMIT Havana, July 31(RHC)-- The President of the Federation of Democratic Youth, French Oliver Meier, has proposed that the United Nations hold a world youth summit. The proposal was put forward during discussions held at the University of Havana on the issue "World Youth and Student Movement." According to the proposal, a world youth summit would come up with a Charter of Rights, calling on the world to mobilize public opinion regarding issues that concern young people. The idea would also help create awareness among governments of the needs and dreams of those who are the future of the world. In other Festival news, the Ernesto Che Guevara Solidarity Brigade -- comprised of foreign students -- has proposed that October 8th be proclaimed "International Anti-Imperialist Day," in homage to Cuba's Heroic Guerrilla. Che was captured and executed in Bolivia on October 8, 1967. THOUSANDS OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA RESIDENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO FRANK PAIS AND MARTYRS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION Santiago de Cuba, July 31(RHC)-- Thousands of Santiagueros walked down the streets of this historic, eastern Cuban city yesterday to honor Cuban revolutionary hero Frank Pais, killed by Batista's henchmen on July 30th, 1957. The Santiago residents marched from Cespedes Park -- the city's main park -- up to the Santa Efigenia Cemetery where Frank Pais is buried. Just as 40 years ago, people threw rose petals on the marchers from their balconies, while thousands chanted slogans praising Frank Pais, Cuban President Fidel Castro, the Cuban Communist Party and the Revolution. Arriving at the cemetery, Raul Castro and Comandante Juan Almeida Bosque laid a wreath at Frank Pais' tomb. During the rally held in front of the cemetery, the President of the Cuban Women's Federation, the FMC, and a close friend of Frank Pais -- Vilma Espin -- addressed the crowd, praising the outstanding revolutionary hero's values. She said that at the early age of 17, Frank Pais became an active participant in all actions against the Batista regime, "until he showed his capacity as a leader and a man of firm convictions." In another part of her speech, Vilma Espin also referred to the consistency of the Cuban Revolution and its leader, Fidel Castro -- who victoriously entered Santiago de Cuba in January 1959 and pledged to continue defeating an enemy who, in her words, "was astounded for not having been able to defeat us." The rally in Santiago de Cuba yesterday was presided over by Armed Forces Minister and Second Secretary of the Communist Party Raul Castro. [c] 1997. 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