CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA May 14th, 1997 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Wednesday, May 14th, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- PASTORS FOR PEACE SUCCESSFULLY CROSSES THE U.S. BORDER INTO CANADA 2.- SPAIN'S UNITED LEFT COALITION OPPOSES MADRID'S INSULTING INVITATION OF CUBA TO IBEROAMERICAN MEETING AS OBSERVER 3.- CUBA DENOUNCES U.S. BIOLOGICAL ATTACK BEFORE UNITED NATIONS DISARMAMENT COMMISSION 4.- JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES HE WILL SOON VISIT CUBA 5.- CUBA IS CONFIDENT ON ATTAINING ECONOMIC GROWTH DESPITE WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA 6.- TOURISM CONGRESSES ARE IN FULL SWING 7.- BIOGRAPHY ON SOUTH AFRICAN THEOLOGIAN LAUNCHED IN HAVANA 8.- SCHOOL ENROLLMENT GUARANTEED FOR PRIMARY, HIGH JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS 9.- CUBAN STAR PLAYER MIREYA LUIS REAPPEARS AFTER THE OLYMPIC GAMES PASTORS FOR PEACE SUCCESSFULLY CROSSES THE U.S. BORDER INTO CANADA Buffalo, May 14(RHC)-- A caravan consisting of 50 vehicles and more than 100 activists from the U.S. religious/solidarity group Pastors for Peace crossed the U.S. border into Canada on Wednesday. The vehicles, loaded with computers, medicines, food, toys and school supplies for Cuban children crossed the International Peace Bridge from Buffalo, New York to Fort Erie, Canada without incident. Activists on the U.S. West Coast will attempt to cross from San Diego into Mexico on Friday. This is the 7th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan -- a protest of Washington's blockade of Cuba by delivering aid to the island without a U.S. government license. SPAIN'S UNITED LEFT COALITION OPPOSES MADRID'S INSULTING INVITATION OF CUBA TO IBEROAMERICAN MEETING AS OBSERVER Madrid, May 14(RHC)-- Madrid's decision to invite Cuba as an observer to an upcoming Iberoamerican Parliamentary Conference has been strongly criticized by the United Left Coalition -- the third largest political force in Spain. In a statement released to journalists in Madrid, United Left leader Carlos Carnero called the invitation "insulting" and described the maneuver as "another political provocation by the government of President Jose Maria Aznar against Cuba." Spain's United Left Coalition insisted that Cuba must have full-member status at all Iberoamerican meetings, on the same level as other member states. Cuba rejected Madrid's invitation to take part in the parliamentary meeting, which will be held in the Spanish capital later this month, as an observer. In an open letter to leaders of Spain's Lower House and Senate, Cuban Parliamentary President Ricardo Alarcon pointed out that accepting such an invitation would be tantamount to accepting an insult against the Cuban people. In related news, the President of the Argentinean Senate, Eduardo Menem, who arrived in Cuba Tuesday to begin an official visit to our country, told reporters that if the next Iberoamerican parliamentary meeting would be taking place in Buenos Aires, Cuba would be participating as a full-member, not as an observer. Shortly before meeting with the President of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, Menem expressed his displeasure over Madrid's insulting invitation to Cuba. Eduardo Menem, the president of the Argentinean senate, is the brother of Argentina's president Carlos Menem and will be visiting the island over the next five days. CUBA DENOUNCES U.S. BIOLOGICAL ATTACK BEFORE UNITED NATIONS DISARMAMENT COMMISSION New York, May 14(RHC)-- Cuba reiterated its accusation against the United States for having purposefully introduced a deadly insect on the island. Cuba's Ambassador to the United Nations, Bruno Rodriguez, spoke before the U.N. Disarmament Commission on Tuesday, calling Washington's actions yet another example of biological warfare conducted against the island. The Cuban diplomat said that there was irrefutable evidence that a plane, registered to the U.S. Department of State, sprayed a substance over several western and central provinces of the island in October, causing the plague which since December, has caused serious damage to agricultural crops. Bruno Rodriguez reminded the United Nations Disarmament Commission that this is not the first time that Cuba has been subjected to biological attacks by the United States and challenged Washington's representative before the U.N. commission to refute Cuba's charge. JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES HE WILL SOON VISIT CUBA Kingston, May 14 (RHC)-- Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has announced he will visit Cuba later this month. Just days after presiding over a summit meeting between leaders of the United States and the Caribbean, the Jamaican prime minister told reporters that he plans to visit Cuba at the invitation of President Fidel Castro. Speaking with journalists in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, Prime Minister Paterson said he would discuss bilateral and regional issues with Cuban authorities during his upcoming visit to the island. CUBA IS CONFIDENT ON ATTAINING ECONOMIC GROWTH DESPITE WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Bonn, May 14(RHC)-- Though lower in comparison to last year, Cuban authorities are expecting an economic growth of up to 5% in 1997 despite the intensification of Washington's blockade against Cuba. The announcement was made by Cuban lawmaker and head of the Economic Commission of the Cuban Parliament, Osvaldo Martinez, during his tour of Germany. Martinez spoke at a seminar organized by the Friedreich Ebert Social Democratic Political Foundation in Bonn. The Cuban government official said that Washington's Helms-Burton legislation is demanding of Cubans an extra effort on the economic front. Above all -stressed Martinez- financing will be highly costly so we'll have to make a better use of internal economic resources. Last year Cuba registered a 7.8% growth rate, but though this year's economic growth will not exceed 5%, which is, nevertheless, higher than the average in Latin America, said the Cuban representative. The President of the Economic Commission of the Cuban Parliament said the island will not transform its socialist economy into a market economy though it will adopt measures necessary to raise efficiency and face the challenges of modern society. TOURISM CONGRESSES ARE IN FULL SWING Havana, May 14(RHC)-- Venezuela's Tourism Minister, Herman Luis Soriano, described the tourist sector as among the most prosperous in the 20th century. Soriano was speaking at the 40th congress of the Latin American Tourism Organizations Confederation -COTAL-, underway here in Havana. The Venezuelan Tourism Minister pointed out that in 1996 alone, tourism revenues mounted to some 423 billion dollars. Soriano stressed that Latin America should work together in developing common tourism destinations. This could be beneficial at a time when tourists are looking for a complete offer and there is an increase in multi destination trips, explained the Venezuelan tourism minister. He went on to say that the Latin American Tourism Organizations Confederation is called to play a relevant role in the next few years. The Havana congress is running parallel to the 18th national tourism convention. Both events have attracted more than 24 hundred participants and some 2 hundred journalists from different continents. BIOGRAPHY ON SOUTH AFRICAN THEOLOGIAN LAUNCHED IN HAVANA Havana, May 14(RHC)-- Renowned South African Priest, Father Michael Lapsley was present Tuesday in Havana for the launching of his biography, Priest and Partisan, written by South African theologian Michael Worsnip. The Anglican Priest, who was born in New Zealand and later joined the African National Congress of Nelson Mandela, was one among numerous victims of the former South African apartheid regime. The book tells Father Lapsley's story following the attempt against his life, in which he lost his right eye and both hands while in exile in Zimbabwe. The biography places emphasis on the internal struggle of this ANC fighter to overcome the physical and psychological trauma following the bomb explosion that almost claimed his life, revealing his determination to continue the struggle: "The book begins with the bombing, how it happened, what happened, and also my respond to it and is the story of the ways I was able to come to terms with that bombing, the ways in which I see my self not longer as a victim or a survivor but as a victor over evil, hatred and death and also the book is about healing and a little bit about the kind of work I do now in being part of the healing of the nation. The book is about someone who comes from another country and takes sides with the peoples and becomes part of the popular struggle and all the things that happen to persons along the world." SCHOOL ENROLLMENT GUARANTEED FOR PRIMARY, HIGH JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS Havana, May 14(RHC)-- Local education authorities say school enrollment is guaranteed for the continuation of studies for more than 3 hundred thousand primary, junior high and senior high school students. According to Education Ministry sources, 167 thousand students finished primary education, 115 thousand passed the ninth grade and 21 thousand youth graduated from senior high schools. CUBAN STAR PLAYER MIREYA LUIS REAPPEARS AFTER THE OLYMPIC GAMES Rome, May 14(RHC)-- Volleyball player, Mireya Luis will be travelling to Italy along with 13 other Cuban players for a series of confrontations in that country and other European nations that will conclude in Russia. Julio Velasco, who is now commanding the Italian women's team and has always respected the quality of Cuba's volleyball teams, and is interested now in a bilateral tournament. Cuban trainer Antonio Perdomo -- who is now commanding the squad-- says the European trip is excellent for the team's preparation prior to the world league starting August 1st. In Russia the team will be attending a tournament though it's still uncertain how many participants will be there. Three excellent Cuban players will be absent this time, pointed out trainer Perdomo. Regla Torres and Marlenis Costa are both recovering from surgeries, while Idalmis Gato, is showing poor yielding because she was ill for several weeks. So the team will be counting on Mireya Luis. After the olympic games, where the Cuban team revalidated its olympic title, Mireya spoke about retirement and took a long vacation period, but now she is back into action. [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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