CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA November 13 , 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Thursday, November 13, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- AMERICAN WALTER VAN DER VEER DECLINES AN APPEAL OF HIS SENTENCE 2.- CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO SCHEDULED TO VISIT CHINA SUNDAY 3.- DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAS OF BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE IN HAVANA 4.- CUBAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY WILL TRAVEL TO THE VATICAN FOR SYNOD OF THE AMERICAS 5.- CUBA-AUSTRIA MIXED COMMISSION ON BILATERAL COOPERATION HELD IN HAVANA 6.- GRAN CARIBE HOTEL CHAIN EXPECTS TO HOST MORE THAN 450 THOUSAND TOURISTS THIS YEAR AMERICAN WALTER VAN DER VEER DECLINES AN APPEAL OF HIS SENTENCE Havana, Nov. 13th (RHC)--The Cuban attorney who defended American Walter Van Der Veer --accused of terrorism against Cuba-- said late Wednesday that her client has declined an appeal of his eventual sentence. Attorney Lourdes Jola Alonso offered a press conference in Havana along with other legal experts from the Specialized Legal Services-- the independent lawyers' office that defends foreigners in Cuban courts. Jola Alonso reiterated that she held a number of encounters with her client leading up to and right before the court hearing. She said Van Der Veer admitted in court to belonging to the Miami-based terrorist organizations the Cuban Liberation Front and the Commandos L. The Cuban attorney also said that her client entered into contradiction when he testified that his religion did not allow him to carry out violence against human beings, but that had he not been caught he would have continued his subversive activities. Within the next 3 weeks, the Havana court will issue a ruling on the 20 year prison sentence requested by Havana's district attorney's office. CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO SCHEDULED TO VISIT CHINA SUNDAY Beijing, November 13 (RHC)-- The Vice President of the Cuban Council of State, Army General Raul Castro, will begin an official visit to China Sunday, according to that country's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Shen Guofang. Raul Castro's visit takes place exactly two years after President Fidel Castro went to China on November 20th, l995. The Foreign Ministry spokesman made the announcement at a press conference in Beijing, the Chinese capital. During his stay in China, Raul Castro will reportedly analyze the economic reforms underway in that Asian nation and will brief Chinese authorities on Cuba's efforts to curb the economic crunch that occurred on the island following the collapse of socialism in Europe The high-ranking Cuban official will also explore areas to strengthen bilateral trade relations. With growth of 10 percent annually in its gross national product, China currently has one of the most successful economies in the world. DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAS OF BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE IN HAVANA Havana, November 13 (RHC)-- The Director for the Americas of the British Foreign Office, Peter Westmacott is in Cuba as part of anti-drug cooperation between London and Havana. During his work visit, Wesmacott will meet with Cuban officials and exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The British embassy in Havana says that the British Foreign Office official will donate samples of drugs to the island's National Drug Commission headed by Justice Minister, Roberto Diaz Sotolongo, which will help drug enforcement authorities to train police and customs officials. CUBAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY WILL TRAVEL TO THE VATICAN FOR SYNOD OF THE AMERICAS Havana, November 13(RHC)--Havana's Cardinal, Jaime Ortega and Bishops Alfredo Petit, Mario Mestril and Dionisio Garcia, will travel to Rome next week to represent Cuba's Catholic Church at the Bishops of the Americas Synod to take place at the Vatican. Pope John Paul II issued a series of extraordinary synods by continents during 1997 , to prepare for the year 2000 jubilee that will mark the third millennium of the Christian Age. Cardinal Jaime Ortega will attend the synod for one week, as he is expected in Havana shortly to participate in a series of masses presided over by the image of the Charity of El Cobre virgin, Cuba's catholic patron saint. The masses are part of preparations underway for the upcoming Cuba visit of Pope John Paul II. GRAN CARIBE HOTEL CHAIN EXPECTS TO HOST MORE THAN 450 THOUSAND TOURISTS THIS YEAR Ciego de Avila, November 13(RHC)--The Cuban Gran Caribe Hotel Chain says that it expects to cater to more than 450 thousand tourists by the end of the year, and that it is gearing up for the reception of a large contingent of Canadian tourists to meet this goal. The head of the Cuban Hotel Chain, Alejandro Gonzalez, made the statement at the inaugural ceremony of Las Coloradas Hotel, one of the hotel group's new facilities as the island's high tourism season kicks off. Gran Caribe currently operates 34 hotels and is expected to reach a 8 thousand-room capacity next year. Foreign firms like the Spanish Sol Melia work with Gran Caribe in hotel management, German LTU airlines recently launched a new route from Dusseldorf to Ciego de Avila in Central Cuba, to bring European tourists to Gran Caribe facilities. CUBA-AUSTRIA MIXED COMMISSION ON BILATERAL COOPERATION HELD IN HAVANA Havana, November 13(RHC)--A Cuba/Austria mixed commission on bilateral cooperation concluded Wednesday with the signing of an accord on industrial and scientific cooperation. Cuba was represented at the talks by Foreign Investment and Cooperation vice-minister Marta Lomas and Austrian Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Joseph Mayer. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the occasion, Austrian Business executive Joseph Pernnerstorfer, and a member of the Cuba Austria Friendship Society, symbolically handed over to island officials a donation of 122 tons of rice . [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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