CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA October 24 , 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Friday, October 24, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL ANGEL BURELLI DEFENDS CUBA'S PARTICIPATION AT IBEROAMERICAN SUMMITS 2.- TENS OF THOUSANDS VISIT ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA MEMORIAL 3.- COUNCIL OF STATE CONVENES PROVINCIAL AND PARLIAMENT ELECTION FOR JANUARY 11 4.- WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE TRIES TO EAT AWAY AT SOCIAL GAINS 5.- CENTRAL BANK OF CUBA GRANTS CREDIT TO JAMAICAN EXPORTERS 6.- CUBAN COMPOSER HONORED WITH IBERAMERICAN MUSIC PRIZE 7.- AND IN SPORTS... ANA FIDELIA QUIROT VISITS RADIO HAVANA VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL ANGEL BURELLI DEFENDS CUBA'S PARTICIPATION AT IBEROAMERICAN SUMMITS Havana, October 24(RHC)-- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Burelli has insisted that "the Iberoamerican universe includes Cuba," pointing out that Cuba has participated in the previous six Iberoamerican Summits since the beginning. In defense of Cuba's participation in the 7th Iberoamerican Summit next month on Venezuela's Margarita Island during a local TV interview late Thursday, Burelli emphatically stated that "the style of these gatherings does not include a punitive character" and that the regional summits are not conceived to exclude or sanction anyone. The Venezuelan foreign minister also said that there will be no protests during the event, in response to announcements by Miami-based, ultra-right wing Cuban-Americans concerning a parallel summit against Cuba. TENS OF THOUSANDS VISIT ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA MEMORIAL Santa Clara, October 24(RHC)-- A week after the Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial opened to the public in Santa Clara, the lines of people have never stopped. An estimated 12,000 people have visited the Memorial where the remains of Comandante Che Guevara and six other internationalist fighters have been laid to rest. The Memorial's director, Leticia Felipe, told reporters that "an impressive number of foreigners have visited the Memorial on their own initiative, because scheduled visiting has not even been announced yet." The remains of Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara and six of his comrades-in-arms were laid to rest last week during a solemn ceremony in the central Cuban city Santa Clara. An archeological team made up of Cubans, Bolivians and Argentineans archeological discovered the remains of the guerrilla fighters in the Bolivian locality of Valle Grande following more than two years of searching. The skeletal remains were returned to Cuba on July 12th. COUNCIL OF STATE CONVENES PROVINCIAL AND PARLIAMENT ELECTION FOR JANUARY 11 Havana, October 24(RHC)-- Elections for seats in provincial government = and the national parliament will be held on January 11th. The Council of State = has summoned all eligible voters -- more than seven million eight hundred thousand people -- to take part in the electoral process. Delegates to the Provincial and National Assemblies will be voted into office for a five-year term. In the case of provincial and national elections, nominations are made by the elected Municipal Assemblies of People's Power on the basis of proposals from slate-making commissions. In essence, slate-making commissions are made up of the country's largest organizations and headed by a representative of the trade unions. The Cuban Communist Party does not nominate candidates. = WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE TRIES TO EAT AWAY AT SOCIAL GAINS Havana, October 24(RHC)-- The United Nations Development Program's office in Havana has warned that Washington's blockade of the island is trying to eat away at the social gains achieved by the Cuban Revolution. UNDP's representative in Havana, Ariel Francois, noted efforts by local authorities to continue the social programs despite the impact of the U.S. blockade on the island. On October 17th, Cuba hosted international celebrations on The Day Against Poverty. Under a United Nations Development Program mandate, this date was chosen to begin a decade of struggle against poverty. According to the UNDP's yardstick to measure poverty -- functioning of basic health services, life expectancy, illiteracy and low birth-weight children -- Cuba ranks among the most developed nations. CENTRAL BANK OF CUBA GRANTS CREDIT TO JAMAICAN EXPORTERS Havana, October 24(RHC)-- Cuba's Central Bank has granted a credit line of five million dollars to Jamaican exporters doing business with Cuba. The credit line was agreed upon during Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson's visit to Havana earlier this year. The Cuban financing will increase the small but promising trade exchange between Jamaica and Cuba. Bilateral trade reached more than six hundred million dollars in 1995. Just a year before, the figure amounted to only a little more than five hundred million dollars. Cuban authorities and the 15 member-nation regional group CARICOM -- currently headed by the Jamaican president -- will discuss a free trade proposal next December. CUBAN COMPOSER HONORED WITH IBEROAMERICAN MUSIC PRIZE Madrid, October 24(RHC)-- Cuban composer Harold Gramatges will be awarded the Tomas Luis de Victoria -- Iberoamerican Music Prize. Presenting the award to Gramatges will be King Juan Carlos of Spain. The awards ceremony will take place next Friday, October 31st, in Madrid. Gramatges was selected among fifty composers from 14 countries at the 6th Iberoamerican Summit held in Santiago de Chile last year. The jury choose to recognize the Cuban composer's professionalism and talent. Harold Gramatges, 79 years old, was born in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. AND IN SPORTS... ANA FIDELIA QUIROT VISITS RADIO HAVANA CUBA Havana, October 24(RHC)-- Star Cuban runner Ana Fidelia Quirot visited Radio Havana Cuba's studios in Havana yesterday to receive recognition for being selected The Best Athlete for the Month of September. Due to a very busy schedule, the Cuban athlete received the prize one month late. Each month, sports journalists on the island select the most outstanding athlete of the month. Ana Fidelia won the Athens world championship in women's 800 meters and has been awarded a total of 19 medals during this season. [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