CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA June 26th, 1997 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Thursday, June 26th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO FAMILY OF JACQUES COUSTEAU 2.- CARICOM PREPARES FOR ANNUAL SUMMIT IN JAMAICA 3.- DOMINICAN DELEGATION ARRIVES IN HAVANA FOR MIGRATION TALKS 4.- BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS PRODUCE ARTIFICIAL PLANTS FOR DOMESTIC USE AND EXPORT 5.- SPANISH AND BRITISH BUSINESS DELEGATIONS TOUR THE ISLAND 6.- PUERTO RICAN MUSICIAN ANDY MONTANEZ REITERATES HIS SUPPORT OF CUBA 7.- THE ORGANIZATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLES OF AFRICA, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA -- OSPAAL -- CALLS FOR AN END TO WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE OF CUBA CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO FAMILY OF JACQUES COUSTEAU Havana, June 26(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has sent a message of condolence to the family of famed-oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, who died Tuesday in Paris. Cuba's president noted that with Cousteau's passing, "the world loses one of its most notable naturalists, most daring explorers, a protector of the earth's natural heritage and a friend of Cuba." In his message, the Cuban leader said that he will never forget the many conversations he had with Cousteau about their common concern over the deterioration of the earth's environment. Fidel Castro also stressed the importance of the love and friendship expressed by the French scientist for the Cuban people. Jacques Cousteau had devoted his entire life to the exploration of the ocean. As a pioneer in underwater research, Cousteau worked with other scientists in the 1940's to invent an artificial breathing system known as the "aqua- lung." On board his ship "Calypso," Cousteau carried out important scientific research on the world's oceans. One of his last projects took him to the Amazon River in South America. CARICOM PREPARES FOR ANNUAL SUMMIT IN JAMAICA Kingston, June 26(RHC)-- The development of human resources with an emphasis on education will be among the main topics at the upcoming Caribbean Community summit, to be held in Jamaica next week. According to the General Secretary of CARICOM, Edwin Carrington, the annual summit meeting will be attended by presidents and heads of state of the 14 member-nations that make up the Caribbean Community. The gathering will take place in Montego Bay from June 30th through July 4th. The CARICOM meeting will be held at a time when Caribbean leaders are calling for closer relations with Cuba. Last week, CARICOM foreign ministers met in Guyana with a call on the regional body to strengthen ties with its neighboring island. Next week's annual summit in Jamaica comes on the heels of visits to Cuba by Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson and Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. Another major leader of the Caribbean, Guyanese Foreign Minister Clement Rohee, is currently on a 10-day visit to the island and has signed important bilateral cooperation agreements in Havana. DOMINICAN DELEGATION ARRIVES IN HAVANA FOR MIGRATION TALKS Havana, June 26(RHC)-- A high-level governmental delegation from the Dominican Republic arrived in Havana today to discuss bilateral migration issues. Dominican Deputy Foreign Minister Minou Tavarez is leading her country's delegation to the second round of talks with Cuban officials. The first round was held last March in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital. Both Cuba and the Dominican Republic have expressed the goal of arriving at bilateral migration accords, which will be the first agreements signed since the two countries broke off diplomatic relations in 1964. BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS PRODUCE ARTIFICIAL PLANTS FOR DOMESTIC USE AND EXPORT Havana, June 26(RHC)-- Agricultural biotechnology supplies Cuba with high-quality seeds that replace imports. In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina News Agency, the Director of the Biotechnological Institute of Plants, Ricardo Hernandez, said artificial Cuban seeds are already competing on the international market. The Cuban scientist explained that in order to achieve success, local experts developed a new technology known as "bio-factories" in 1989. Hernandez -- a participant in an international seminar on vegetable sanitation currently underway in Havana -- said Cuban scientists have adapted the European concept of accelerated production of in-vitro plants to the island's conditions. The concept requires fewer resources and works as the result of the island's new vegetable sanitation techniques. Cuban advances in the area are closely related to production methods used to diagnose pests and diseases. Artificial seeds produced at the island's 14 bio-factories include potatoes, bananas and sugarcane. Cuba previously invested nearly 15 million dollars to import potato seeds. Current production levels meet local demands and many plants are exported to Mexico, Colombia and Nicaragua. SPANISH AND BRITISH BUSINESS DELEGATIONS TOUR THE ISLAND Havana, June 26(RHC)-- A Spanish business delegation has begun a tour of the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba in order to evaluate business perspectives with local enterprises. The visit of the Spanish commercial delegation coincides with the international trade fair "Expo-Caribe '97," currently underway in that eastern Cuban city. The delegation represents nearly 20 Spanish food, construction and pharmaceutical companies. In other news, the President of the British Trade Counseling Group for the Caribbean, Trevor John, is heading a commercial delegation expected to arrive on the island Monday, June 30th. The British business representatives will promote their companies' investments and exports. PUERTO RICAN MUSICIAN ANDY MONTANEZ REITERATES HIS SUPPORT OF CUBA Havana, June 26(RHC)-- Puerto Rican salsa musician, Andy Montanez, stated in Havana that ultra right-wing Cubans living in the United States are his enemies. During a standing-room only performance in the Cuban capital, Montanez denounced the attitude of Cubans living in Miami who canceled several of his concerts because he warmly welcomed noted Cuban singer- songwriter Silvio Rodriguez during his tour of Puerto Rico last March. Montanez performed Wednesday at a gala concert in Havana as part of the Golden Boleros Festival. Colombian, Mexican, Spanish, Argentinean, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, U.S., Chilean, Ecuadoran and Japanese singers are competing to win the prize for the best singer of romantic songs. THE ORGANIZATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLES OF AFRICA, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA -- OSPAAL -- CALLS FOR AN END TO WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE OF CUBA Havana, June 26(RHC)-- The Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America -- OSPAAL -- is calling on the international community to urge Washington to lift its blockade against Cuba. A declaration issued in Havana Thursday urges the United States to "find a civilized solution to U.S.-Cuba differences," placing no conditions on negotiations and respecting both nations' sovereignty. The OSPAAL declaration comes after recent attempts by the U.S. Congress to tighten Washington's economic blockade against Cuba. [c] 1997. 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