CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA June 27th, 1997 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Friday, June 27th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ESTABLISH CONSULAR RELATIONS 2.- CUBAN SCIENTISTS UNCOVER NEW, IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE OF WASHINGTON'S BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGAINST THE ISLAND 3.- CUBAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON ATTENDS HUGE SOLIDARITY RALLY IN HARLEM 4.- INFANT MORTALITY DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL IN 38 YEARS 5.- ILLEGAL DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM WILL SOON TO ANNOUNCED 6.- WORLD RENOWNED CELEBRITIES WILL ATTEND THE 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS 7.- CUBA AND BRAZIL SIGN INVESTMENT PROTECTION AND PROMOTION AGREEMENT CUBA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ESTABLISH CONSULAR RELATIONS Havana, June 27(RHC)-- Cuba and the Dominican Republic have re-established consular relations after more than three decades. The agreement to re-establish diplomatic ties came today in Havana during a bilateral gathering on migratory affairs. The Dominican Republic's Deputy Minister of Foreign Relations Minou Tavarez and her Cuban counterpart Maria de los Angeles Florez signed the accord today that includes the deportation of illegal Cubans or Dominicans. With respect to the consular agreement, Deputy Minister Tavarez said that there was no fixed date for the setting up of consular offices in Havana and Santo Domingo, but that this would take place as soon as possible. CUBAN SCIENTISTS UNCOVER NEW, IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE OF WASHINGTON'S BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGAINST THE ISLAND Havana, June 27(RHC)-- Cuban scientists have uncovered new evidence of biological warfare waged by Washington against the island. During the Third International Symposium on Vegetable Sanitation, held in Havana and attended by experts from 21 countries, scientists revealed that there is additional, irrefutable evidence of a biological attack carried out last October 21st. According to Cuban authorities, a plane registered to the U.S. State Department sprayed a substance over several western and central provinces of the island last October, generating a plague which has caused serious damage to agricultural crops. Cuban scientists told participants at the symposium that the U.S. biological attack introduced the deadly Thrips Palmi insect, damaging potato and bean crops. On Friday, the experts announced that the additional evidence of biological warfare will be revealed at a news conference next week in the Cuban capital. CUBAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON ATTENDS HUGE SOLIDARITY RALLY IN HARLEM New York, June 27(RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon was the guest of honor at a solidarity rally last night in New York City's African-American community. Representatives of grassroots organizations, trade unions and solidarity groups crowded into St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem to express their support for the struggle of the Cuban people. The pastor at the church, Reverend Robert Castle, said he was proud to host the rally, saying it was the least he could do to show his solidarity with the Cuban Revolution. Pointing to the Cuban flag draped over the church's alter, Reverend Castle emphasized that the alter was the most appropriate place to put the flag, because "it symbolizes the sacrifice of a people who are struggling against the criminal U.S. blockade." Among those in attendance at last night's solidarity rally were the Reverend Lucius Walker, leader of Pastors for Peace; Luis Miranda, Director of Casa de las Americas; members of the Venceremos Brigade, as well as representatives of Puerto Rican, Haitian, Dominican and Cuban-American community organizations in New York City. INFANT MORTALITY DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL IN 38 YEARS Havana, June 27(RHC)-- During the first six months of 1997, Cuba registered the lowest infant mortality rate in 38 years. Official statistics disclosed by the Director of the National Mother-Child and Family Planning Program, Miriam Alino, show that the island's infant mortality rate stands at 7.5 for every one thousand live births. It was also announced that so far this year, the maternal mortality rate, deaths of children under five years of age and low birth weights have decreased. Experts say the new record- breaking figures are the result of joint efforts by specialists, technicians and the Family Doctor Program. ILLEGAL DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM WILL SOON TO ANNOUNCED Havana, June 27(RHC)-- A national drug prevention program will soon go into effect in Cuba. The announcement was made at Thursday's closing ceremony in Havana, commemorating the International Day Against Drug Trafficking and Consumption. Cuban Deputy Health Minister Abelardo Ramirez announced that the Ministry will soon issue new regulations on drug control. Also attending yesterday's ceremony was Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo, who said that the island has signed cooperation agreements with 17 Caribbean and Latin American nations to fight drug consumption and trafficking. Sotolongo noted that negotiations with another 22 countries are un emphasized that this does not represent a social problem in Cuba. He noted the financial cooperation by the United Nations, valued at more than one million dollars in equipment and training personnel. The United Nations System Coordinator in Cuba, Ariel Francais, praised efforts by Cuban authorities to halt drug dealers' attempts to use the island as a springboard in order to introduce drugs into third nations. U.N. statistics reveal that there are over 200 million drug addicts the world over, not counting those who take drugs occasionally. The most affected age group is young people 18 to 34 years old. WORLD RENOWNED CELEBRITIES WILL ATTEND THE 14TH WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS Havana, June 27(RHC)-- Dozens of internationally-renowned politicians, scientists, artists and religious leaders will attend the 14th World Youth Festival of Youth and Students in Cuba. Among the personalities scheduled to be here in Havana this summer are: the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity, Tanzanian Salim Ajmad Salim; the President of the U.N. Hunger Relief Committee, Belgian Pier Galan; Ecuadoran painter Oswaldo Guayasamin; Paraguayan writer Augusto Roa Bastos and Brazilian liberation theologian, Frey Betto. Also planning to attend the youth event are: the President of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, Hebbe de Bonafini; Reverend Lucius Walker of the U.S. religious/solidarity organization Pastors for Peace; the Vice President of the Russian Parliament's Lower House, Alexander Tiagunov; and the leader of the Italian Communist Refoundation Party, Armando Cosutta. In related news, everything is ready in eight of the island's 14 provinces to welcome delegates to the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. The deadline for the completion of preparations is July 5th, three weeks before the inauguration of the event. The classification "Ready for the Festival" is being given to those provinces reporting that their preparations are complete. According to Luis Alberto Nieto, a member of the Young Communist League working commission touring the island, preparations in Havana will be completed by July 15th, given the complexity of the program. Since the call to the Festival was issued in May of last year, the Cuban people have been involved in refurbishing operations and clean-up campaigns to contribute to the success of the youth event. Cuban communities are also participating in fundraising campaigns to make sure the State is not burdened with expenses for the Festival. CUBA AND BRAZIL SIGN INVESTMENT PROTECTION AND PROMOTION AGREEMENT Brasilia, June 27(RHC)-- Cuba and Brazil have signed an important investment protection and promotion agreement. The accord was signed in the Brazilian capital by that country's Deputy Foreign Minister Sabastiao do Rego Barros and the Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Raul Taladrid. Officials said the newly signed agreement will help to increase economic ties between Cuba and Brazil. [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