CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA May 21, 1997 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Wednesday, May 21, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA RECOGNIZES THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 2.- LEGISLATORS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CALL FOR FILL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA 3.- CUBANS WILL DISCUSS DOCUMENT TO BE APPROVED AT THE COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS 4.- THE LATEST CUBAN HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT IS DOING WELL 5.- PASTORS FOR PEACE ACTIVISTS TOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN HAVANA 6.- SPAIN'S FOREIGN MINISTER TO ADDRESS CONGRESS OF DEPUTIES REGARDING THE CASE OF SPANISH BUSINESSMAN JAILED IN U.S. 7.- ERNEST HEMINGWAY MARLIN FISHING TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 8.- HAVANA CIGAR AUCTION IN CANADA 9.- THE ORGANIZATION FOR AFRICAN UNITY MARKS ITS 34TH BIRTHDAY 10.- ANTI-CUBAN FORCES IN US CONGRESS SEEK FURTHER SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA CUBA RECOGNIZES THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Havana, May 21(RHC)-- The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced that Havana has recognized the new government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- formerly known as Zaire. The foreign ministry note, released Tuesday evening in the Cuban capital, expresses the hope of the Cuban government that the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be able to restore "the peace and stability necessary to guide its people toward a just and prosperous society." In recognizing the new African state, "Cuba confirms the principles on which its foreign policy has been traditionary based -- especially respect for self-determination, sovereignty and independence." LEGISLATORS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CALL FOR FILL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA Santo Domingo, May 21(RHC)-- The Dominican Republic's House of Deputies has approved a resolution calling for the establishment of full trade and diplomatic relations with Cuba. During the discussion of the draft resolution, the leader of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party in the lower house, Jose Joaquin Bido Medina, reportedly ridiculed those legislators who believe that establishing full relations with Cuba could affect the Dominican Republic's ties with the United States. Bido Medina pointed out that all of Washington's friends in Europe recognize the government of Havana. As diplomatic relations constitute an attribute of the president of the Republic, the resolution also sets up a commission charge with turning over the document to President Leonel Fernandez. CUBANS WILL DISCUSS DOCUMENT TO BE APPROVED AT THE COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS Havana, may 21(RHC)-- A document entitled "The party of the unity, the democracy and the human rights we defend" will be discussed by Cuban Communist party and young communist league members, the island's grass roots organizations and the Cuban people in general from june 1st through July 15th. An article in Wednesday Granma newspaper explains that the document, which will be adopted at the 5th Congress of the Cuban Communist party scheduled to be held from October 8th through 10th, deals with the historic continuity of the Cuban Revolution, the development of a united party within society and democracy. The text of the Communist Party document will be published in a supplement in Granma newspaper and the weeklies, Juventud Rebelde and Trabajadores. Unions, the Federation of University Students and the High School Federation will also discuss the text. According to Granma newspaper, because of its content, the interests that it represents, the democratic and popular nature of the debate and the conceptual reflection that it will bring, the discussion of the document "The party of the unity, the democracy and the human rights we defend" is being seen as a new plebiscite in Cuban society. THE LATEST CUBAN HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT IS DOING WELL. Havana, May 21(RHC)-- Cuban professor, Noel Gonzalez, says that patient Pablo Miranda, who has been living with a new heart for a week is recovering well. Dr Gonzalez is a considered to be a pioneer in heart surgery in Cuba. A week after the operation, patient Pablo Miranda is walking in around his room and doing exercises on a stationary bike. Professor Noel Gonzalez told Granma newspaper that Miranda's case illustrates the transplant team's technical capacity and unity three years after the last such operation on the island. Professor Gonzalez added that the resumption of the heart transplant program in Cuba may have surprised some in the United States who thought that the tightened US blockade against Cuba would prevent the island from continuing developing highly technical medical procedures. The scientist said that transplant patient Miranda has been doing well since the beginning, because when his new heart was implanted it began beating spontaneously in an regular rhythm and didn't require electric shock. PASTORS FOR PEACE ACTIVISTS TOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN HAVANA Havana, May 21(RHC)-- Members of the 7th U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan visited community development projects in Havana today. The activists -- numbering more than 150 from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe -- met this evening with local members of Cuba's grass-roots organization, the CDRs, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. The 7th Pastors for Peace Caravan is dedicated to Cuban children. Among the items donated by the U.S. religious/solidarity group are several school busses, a mobile library filled with children's books, an ambulance, medicines, computers and toys. During their week-long stay on the island, the activists are visiting hospitals, schools, agricultural cooperatives and other places of interest. The Pastors for Peace activists will be here in Cuba until Saturday. SPAIN'S FOREIGN MINISTER TO ADDRESS CONGRESS OF DEPUTIES REGARDING THE CASE OF SPANISH BUSINESSMAN JAILED IN U.S. Madrid, May 21(RHC)-- Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes will address the Congress of Deputies in Madrid tomorrow (Thursday) concerning the initiatives taken by Spain to free Javier Ferreiro from a Miami jail. Ferreiro, a Spanish businessman accused of selling some 350 thousand dollars worth of U.S. food products to Cuba, is charged with violating Washington's laws prohibiting trade with Cuba. He was arrested on April 1st and is awaiting trial in Miami. The government of Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar has been sharply criticized by opposition political parties, as well as Madrid's business community, for not doing enough to help one of its own citizens. Ferreiro resides in Havana, where he has investments in tourism, but frequently visits his family in Miami. He is facing nine counts for violating Washington's so-called Trading with the Enemy Act -- a law which prohibits the exportation to Cuba of food, medicines and other products without prior authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department. ERNEST HEMINGWAY MARLIN FISHING TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, May 21(RHC)- The 47th Ernest Hemingway Marlin Fishing Tournament kicked off in Havana on Tuesday with the participation of 18 boats from seven countries. The tourney will wind up next Friday after four days of competitions in an extensive area of the Gulf of Mexico with competitors leaving from the Cuban ports of Cabanas and Santa Cruz del Norte. The new rules which provide for the capturing and then releasing the marlins have become an attraction for fans and experts. HAVANA CIGAR AUCTION IN CANADA Montreal, May 21(RHC)- The Montreal based Havana House is holding an auction on Wednesday of hand-rolled Havana cigars made in Cuba . The city of Montreal has become the second Canadian city to hold such an exclusive auction; the first was in Toronto. Many US citizens reportedly go to Canada to buy the famous Cuban made cigars since Washington's blockade against Cuba prohibits US cigar dealers from selling the aromatic product in the United States. THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY MARKS ITS 34TH BIRTHDAY Havana, May 21(RHC)-- The Organization of African Unity has turned 34. As part of birthday celebrations the Cuban Organization in Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America -OSPAAL- hosted commemorations on Wednesday with a political and cultural gathering. The activity, which is held every year, focused on the work by the Organization of African Unity -OUA- over the past few years, as well as regional outstanding events in Africa including the triumph of the Rebel Democratic Alliance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire. The event was attended by members of OSPAAL's Executive Secretariat and by representatives of the Havana-based diplomatic community from nations of the three continents. ANTI-CUBAN FORCES IN US CONGRESS SEEK FURTHER SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA Havana, May 21 (RHC)--More anti-Cuban measures are brewing in the US Congress. Sources of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power -the island's parliament-, told Prensa Latina news agency Wednesday that the House Foreign Affairs Committee has given the OK to some 10 proposed legislation that would further tighten the US blockade against the island and encourage the undermining of the Cuban revolution from within. The proposals, that would be amended to the Foreign Assistance Bill currently under discussion in the House, would call for more unilateral sanctions against Cuba. The parliamentarian source says that the draft legislation propose the withholding of US assistance to all nations that export or import any product, or do any commercial exchange with Cuba. The source added that the sanctions would also be applicable to any country that provides any transportation or insurance agreement that would aid any business deal with the island. Countries that sell nuclear fuel to Cuba would also be subjected to sanctions, as well as the International Nuclear Energy Agency if it provides any assistance to Cuba. The sanctions, which the Cuban Parliament source described as being primarily the work of US lawmakers of Cuban origin, would make the Clinton Administration further lose ground regarding its Cuba policy, as the State Department would have to submit to Congress any request of Cuban diplomats in Washington D.C. and New York to move around the country, give details in advance of the visit of a Cuban official to US territory, and report every 6 months about the fulfillment of the migration agreements between the two countries. The House Foreign Affairs Committee also proposes an amendment to Title IV of the Helms Burton Law, to reinforce sanctions to Foreign Companies that are investing in Cuba, and allots millions of dollars for the funding of the anti-Cuba TV and Radio Marti and for the assistance to the so called human right groups on the island. The proposed anti-Cuban legislation will undergo debate on the House Floor, during the discussion of the Foreign Assistance Bill and if approved, will have to be discussed by the Senate. [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