CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA June 25, 1997 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Wednesday, June 25th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON HAS A BUSY SCHEDULE IN NEW YORK FOLLOWING ADDRESS AT EARTH SUMMIT II 2.- CUBA AND GUYANA SIGN BILATERAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS 3.- PRESIDENT OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY JOSE ANTONIO ARDANZA WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO CUBA 4.- SANTIAGO DE CUBA'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR CONTINUES 5.- CUBA-NAMIBIA MIXED COOPERATION COMMISSION MEETS IN HAVANA 6.- CUBA PARTICIPATES IN MEETING OF IBEROAMERICAN CULTURE MINISTERS 7.- YOUTH ACCUSE IMPERIALISM AT 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS 8.- CUBAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OPENS OFFICE IN HAVANA TO PREPARE FOR POPE'S UPCOMING VISIT TO THE ISLAND CUBAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON HAS A BUSY SCHEDULE IN NEW YORK FOLLOWING ADDRESS AT EARTH SUMMIT II New York, June 25(RHC)-- Following yesterday's speech at the United Nation's Earth Summit II, Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon has been meeting with various world leaders during his stay in New York City. On Tuesday, Alarcon met with Cardinal John O'Conner, the Catholic Archbishop of New York and was invited to a reception at Cardinal O'Conner's residence at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Cuba's top legislator also met with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, as well as the presidents of Tanzania and Costa Rica -- Benjamin Mkapa and Jose Maria Figueres, respectively. Reaction to Alarcon's speech yesterday before the United Nations has been one of praise. Several media outlets are referring to the address -- in which the Cuban leader blasted the capitalist system for destroying the earth's environment -- as receiving the longest applause and having the most impact. Bolivian journalist Daniel Sanchez, Director of Radio Pan Americana, stated that Alarcon `hit the nail on the head' when he condemned rich, industrialized nations for abusing poor countries and then trying to pass the bill on to their victims. CUBA AND GUYANA SIGN BILATERAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS Havana, June 25(RHC)-- Cuba and Guyana have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation ties. An accord signed in Havana by visiting Guyanese Foreign Minister Clement Rohee and Cuba's Foreign Investment Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz expands cooperation in the fields of education, tourism, sports and health. Guyanese and Cuban officials met in Havana for five days within the framework of the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between the two countries. On the Cuban side, the session was chaired by Foreign Investment Minister Ferradaz, while Foreign Minister Rohee presided over the meeting on behalf of Guyana. In statements to Radio Havana Cuba following the signing ceremony, the Guyanese official stressed his country's determination to increase relations with Cuba and showed satisfaction with the results of his visit. "I think the visit has been excellent, very productive. I'm very satisfied with what I came here to do and I think that at the end of the day, Guyana stands to benefit from the agreements that we've just signed and from the other discussions we've had. There is a tremendous sincerity on the part of the Cuban authorities to move towards integration." Guyanese Foreign Minister Clement Rohee arrived in Havana last Wednesday, the 18th, for a ten-day official visit. He has met with several Cuban government officials and also travelled to Santiago de Cuba over the week-end to take part in the opening of the Caribbean trade and commercial fair "Expo-Caribe '97," currently underway in that eastern Cuban city. The Guyanese Foreign Minister and his delegation also visited tourism development projects at Varadero beach resort. They are expected to leave Cuba on Sunday. PRESIDENT OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY JOSE ANTONIO ARDANZA WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO CUBA Havana, June 25(RHC)-- The President of the Autonomous Basque Country Jose Antonio Ardanza stated that his visit to Cuba is proof that the Helms-Burton Law is not intimidating. During a news conference on Tuesday, the Basque president said that Washington's extraterritorial legislation is "a violation of the sovereignty of other peoples around the world." Ardanza told reporters that in spite of Helms-Burton, Basque business representatives will maintain and even increase their contacts in Cuba. The President of the Autonomous Basque Country expressed his appreciation to the Cuban government and people for the warm hospitality he received during his 5-day visit to the island. Jose Antonio Ardanza left the Cuban capital on Wednesday. SANTIAGO DE CUBA'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR CONTINUES Havana, June 25(RHC)-- According to Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, Cuba's eastern region "is vital to the increase in Cuban exports, especially to the Caribbean." Speaking in Santiago de Cuba during a meeting of business executives attending the Caribbean trade fair, "Expo-Caribe '97," Cabrisas said that "Cuba must take advantage of its cultural and historical links with the Caribbean." The island's foreign trade minister stressed that eastern Cuba must take full advantage of its potential to offer products and services needed by other Caribbean islands. He noted that among factors helping to adapt the country to the current international situation include Cuba's foreign investment law and the creation of free zones and industrial parks. Ricardo Cabrisas stressed that the country's five eastern provinces, in which the Cuban government invested 64 billion pesos from 1959 to 1989, can make greater contributions to the country than they are making today. He cited areas such as mining, agriculture, sugar, tourism, higher education, steel and other areas as having great potential. "Expo-Caribe '97" is being attended by more than 500 Cuban and foreign companies. CUBA-NAMIBIA MIXED COOPERATION COMMISSION MEETS IN HAVANA Havana, June 25(RHC)-- Namibia's Trade and Industry Minister Wilfred Emvula has expressed his appreciation for Cuba's support in the areas of health and agriculture. The African visitor is heading his country's delegation to the Cuban-Namibian Mixed Cooperation Commission underway in Havana. The two nations have agreed on the need to increase cooperation on the basis of new bilateral and multilateral formulas through the establishment of economic associations in Namibia and Cuba. The meeting's agenda includes issues like education, sports, public health, science and technology. As part of bilateral cooperation, Cuba has graduated more than 1200 Namibians with degrees in various professions. CUBA PARTICIPATES IN MEETING OF IBEROAMERICAN CULTURE MINISTERS Madrid, June 25(RHC)-- Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto, in Madrid to attend the Meeting of Iberoamerican Ministers of Culture, stated that the island will support efforts to strengthen relations between Iberoamerican countries. The gathering is aimed at discussing issues such as movies and audio-visual arts, books and libraries. Speaking at the meeting, the Cuban minister of culture said that Cuba "will support all efforts to democratize the dissemination of culture on the basis of the island's policy to defend national identity and universal spirit." Prieto said that Cuban culture "is part of Latin American and Caribbean culture" and he warned that neoliberal economic policies are slowly destroying Iberoamerican societies. He stressed that globalization can damage the region's cultural history as well as the diversity and richness of the region's artistic manifestations. YOUTH ACCUSE IMPERIALISM AT 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS Havana, June 25(RHC)-- Imperialism will be on trial at the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students here in Havana. Delegates to the international youth event will accuse imperialism of endangering peace and massive violations of human rights. The anti-imperialist tribunal is part of the agenda of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students, slated for this summer on the island. Seven young international judges -- five representing each continent and two from international organizations -- will accuse imperialism of crimes against humanity. The verdict will be rendered on August 2nd at Havana's International Conference Center. CUBAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OPENS OFFICE IN HAVANA TO PREPARE FOR POPE'S UPCOMING VISIT TO THE ISLAND Havana, June 25(RHC)-- Cuba's Catholic Church has created a commission to prepare for the upcoming visit of Pope John Paul II to the island. Havana's Assistant Bishop, Monseigneur Carlos Balandron, has been assigned to head the commission which will handle details of the Pope's itinerary during his visit to Cuba in January next year. During his five-day tour of the island, Pope John Paul II will offer Mass in the cities of Havana, Santa Clara, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba. [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. 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