CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA October 22 , 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Wednesday, October 22, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY COMES OUT AGAINST "DOGMATIC MARXISM" 2.- HAVANA HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING OF WORLD ORGANIZATION OF ECONOMY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 3.- INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS ON CYSTIC FIBROSIS GATHER IN HAVANA 4.- CUBAN CULTURE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS 5.- CIGAR FACTORY OPENED IN CENTRAL SANCTI SPIRITUS PROVINCE 6.- HAVANA NEGOTIATES TWO BUSINESS PROJECTS WITH SPAIN 7.- IN SPORTS... ELEVEN CUBAN BOXERS GO FOR THE BRONZE TODAY CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY COMES OUT AGAINST "DOGMATIC MARXISM" Havana, October 22(RHC)-- Cuba's Communist Party has asserted that "the former European socialist camp converted dogmatic and vulgar Marxism into an official theory." Speaking in Havana before the representatives of more than 100 Communist Parties from all continents, Cuban Communist Party Political Bureau member Jose Ramon Balaguer said that the former Soviet Union and its eastern European allies "placed a rubberstamp of universal law on theories that only justified political positions and that were barely supported scientifically." In the conference taking place in the Cuban capital dubbed "Socialism Toward the 21st Century," Balaguer called on the communist representatives present to "avoid the error of designing an abstract model of socialism for all times and places" and to also avoid what he called "the errors, deviations and excesses of the former European socialist camp -- which led to the tarnished image of socialism among many workers." In charge of the Political Bureau's Department on Ideology and International Relations, Balaguer said that "socialism is still an option in the face of capitalism, but that the Soviet model -- which was extended mechanically and without taking into consideration different realities -- should not be repeated." He added that the immediate objective of the international leftist movement should be the defeat of neo-liberal free market reform. Balaguer noted that one out of five people in Latin America lives in sub-human conditions, following 15 years of neoliberal policies. The Cuban political leader attacked the market economy for failing to work out the world's most pressing problems like housing, jobs, food, education and health services. The world communist summit underway in Havana began on Tuesday and will wind up tomorrow, Thursday. HAVANA HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING OF WORLD ORGANIZATION OF ECONOMY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Havana, October 22(RHC)-- As its First Vice President, Cuba is playing host to the annual meeting of the World Organization of Economy, Science and Technology. Representatives from 33 countries are in attendance. Seventeen nations and a number of businesses and companies from Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Italy, the United States and Turkey make up the organization. Before the collapse of the socialist block, the World Organization of Economy, Science and Technology coordinated the cooperation between Eastern European nations, Cuba and Vietnam, particularly in the electro-mechanical sector. The organization presently fosters negotiations and cooperation between enterprises. Headquartered in Moscow, Russia is the current president of the international organization. INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS ON CYSTIC FIBROSIS GATHER IN HAVANA Havana, October 22(RHC)-- Representatives from eighteen countries are now in Havana participating in the 8th Latin American Congress on Cystic Fibrosis. Among the delegates are researchers from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela as well as experts from Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and France. Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease of genetic origin which affects several tissues, specially the sweat glands, the respiratory system and the pancreas -- producing abnormal sweat secretions that lead to obstruction. Thus, the need of special nutritional requirements, treatment and care. Wednesday has been devoted to debates on digestion related aspects, diagnostic and screening methods, fungi infection, the role of sociologists, liver and lung problems caused by the disease, home treatment, bio-ethics, care of the new born, family planning and quality of life. Tomorrow, participants will discuss the patient-family-doctor relationship, clinical and surgical aspects and other related issues. The event has been meeting at Havana's Convention Center since Monday and winds up tomorrow. Cystic fibrosis is the second most-frequent hereditary disease among Cubans, following sickle-cell anaemia -- which destroys the red blood cells. Between 50 and 100 hundred children are born with cystic fibrosis each year in Cuba. CUBAN CULTURE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS Caracas, October 22(RHC)-- Culture continues to bring people together independent of their political beliefs. On Cuba's National Culture Day -- celebrated Monday and observed every October 20th -- Venezuelans enjoyed a wide variety of films, art, theater, photo exhibits and books about the island. Cuban Culture Week is taking place on the Venezuelan island of Margarita -- the host of the 7th Iberoamerican Summit, scheduled to take place November 7th. A photo exhibit by Venezuelan artist Carlos Rivodo, depicting Cuban scenes, inaugurated the celebrations this week. Beginning Monday, the 27th, twelve Cuban films will be shown at Margarita Island's main movie theaters. In Mexico, celebrations include concerts, book launchings and an exhibit of traditional Cuban dishes. And Cuban culture has even reached the United Nations in New York City. Cuban filmaker Gloria Rolando has premiered her documentary "Mis Huellas en Baragua" or "My Imprints in Baragua" during a special showing at U.N. headquarters. CIGAR FACTORY OPENED IN CENTRAL SANCTI SPIRITUS PROVINCE Havana, October 22(RHC)-- A new hand-rolled cigar factory has been inaugurated in Los Guayos locality in Sancti Spiritus' Cabaiguan municipality. The factory is part of a provincial program to produce 30 million hand-rolled cigars for export by the year 2000. Today, Sancti Spiritus is the island's third largest cigar manufacturer -- with 13 million 500 thousand cigars. Cuba hope to produce 200 million cigars over the next few years. HAVANA NEGOTIATES TWO BUSINESS PROJECTS WITH SPAIN Havana, October 22(RHC)-- Cuba's Real Estate Company FENIX, S.A. and Spain are negotiating the construction of two apartment buildings. Managed by Havana's Historian's Office, FENIX refurbishes buildings in the oldest section of the Cuban capital, known as Old Havana. Once refurbished, the buildings are rented for office-space, shops, apartments and homes. The first project of the Cuban real estate company was the refurbishing of the La Lonja del Comercio building, with financing coming from the Spanish Argentaria Bank. IN SPORTS... ELEVEN CUBAN BOXERS GO FOR THE BRONZE TODAY Budapest, October 22(RHC)-- While Cuba and Russia advanced with eleven men to the quarter-finals at the Budapest, Hungary World Boxing Tournament, the U.S. experienced its most dramatic moment in the history of amateur boxing. It went blank, for the first time in nine world championships! One of the 65 countries on hand for the World Boxing Tournament was left out of competitions after losing its last man -- Anthony Stewart -- at the hands of Cuban Isael Alvarez, in the 81-kilo division. Alvarez was losing the bout by points --8 to 12-- in the fifth round, but turned the tide and with a KO just 40 seconds before the end of the fight. So far, the island has secured bronze with Maikro Romero in 48; Waldemar Fonst in 51; Juan Hernandez Sierra in 67 and Ariel Hernandez in 75 -- putting at 19 the number of consecutive successful bouts at the Budapest event. The first two victories for the Cubans today came with Romero and Fonst. Romero in 48, exhibits a total of 194 victories in 232 presentations and smashed Russian Aleksan Nalbadian by points 16-4. Fonst did the same with Uzbekistan's Timus Tulyakov 12-5. The only setback so far was Aldo Moreno in 60 who lost in his first presentation. People are already making predictions about how many gold medals Cuba will win at the event, but this is a tournament in which points decide the winner. Russia so far is up from with 21 and Cuba is second with 19. =1A [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) 814243 Fax: (53) (7) 812927 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org