CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA September 17, 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, September 17, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CUBA CONTINUES TO GROW DESPITE OBSTACLES 2.- FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM INDONESIA AND ANGOLA IN CUBA 3.- IMMUNOLOGY '97 UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 4.- SECOND AFRICAN MEETING OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA BEGINS TOMORROW 5.- CUBA WILL EXHIBIT NEW PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN BOLIVIA 6.- CUBAN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST TO TAKE PART IN SYMPOSIUM ON THE BLACK SEA FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CUBA CONTINUES TO GROW DESPITE OBSTACLES Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Despite the Helms-Burton Law, foreign capital investment has continued to grow in Cuba during 1997. Addressing a group of Dutch and German entrepreneurs Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Investment Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz said that during the first half of this year, the number of projects involving foreign capital increased substantially compared to the same period of time last year. Ferradaz put the total number of joint ventures operating in Cuba today at approximately 300. In what he described as "an encouraging beginning for the operation of free zones in Cuba," the Minister explained that 140 foreign companies have already set up shop at the two free zones existing on the island. He noted that 80 percent of those companies are engaged in commercial activities, with the remaining 20 percent dedicated to production. Foreign Investment Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz said that a third free zone will open in October at Mariel, west of Havana. He also said a new law that will expand possibilities for foreign capital investment in the area of real estate is at an advanced stage of discussion. FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM INDONESIA AND ANGOLA IN CUBA Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas arrived in the Cuban capital this evening at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart Roberto Robaina -- made during the Cuban foreign minister's visit to Jakarta in March 1994. During Robaina's visit, Cuba and Indonesia signed a trade accord and expressed a mutual desire to enhance bilateral relations. Since then, cultural and sports cooperation have increased between the two member nations of the Non-Aligned Movement. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina also met today with Angolan Foreign Minister Venancio da Silva Moura. The two diplomatic leaders expressed a mutual desire to strengthen bilateral relations in all spheres, as the Angolan dignitary wrapped-up an official visit to the island. Da Silva Moura said that Cuba has been "the largest university ever for the peoples of Africa," stressing that no other country in the world has trained so many Angolan technicians and professionals. IMMUNOLOGY '97 UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Cuba's Prenatal Research Program has been characterized as "an example worth following" by participants at the Immunology '97, underway in the Cuban capital. U.S. professor Neil Anthony, from John Hopkins University, told journalists that even a highly developed nation such as his own should take advantage of Cuba's experience in the genetics/primary health care program. Over 500 delegates from 16 countries are participating in the conference, discussing themes such as instruments and software in clinical laboratories, development and quality of new research in the area of pre-natal care. SECOND AFRICAN MEETING OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA BEGINS TOMORROW Accra, September 17(RHC)-- Representatives from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are arriving in Cape Coast, Ghana to take part in the Second African Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba. Sponsored by the Ghana-Cuba Friendship Association, the solidarity meeting will focus on the recent maneuvers of the U.S. Congress to tighten the economic blockade against Cuba and the extraterritorial nature of the Helms-Burton Law. Heading the Cuban delegation is Jorge Risquet, member of the Cuban Communist Party's Central Committee. In Accra, the Ghanian capital, Risquet placed a wreath on the tomb of former President Kwame N'Krumah. Risquet said that N'Krumah was "one of this century's greatest men" and that his ideas were "decisive in the struggle for African liberation." CUBA WILL EXHIBIT NEW PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN BOLIVIA Havana, September 17(RHC)-- Cuba will be represented at the International Fair in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz. The island has been a part of the annual exposition since its first presentation five years ago, in 1992. Cuba will exhibit pharmaceutical products for human and animal use, biological pesticides and agricultural machinery and equipment. CUBAN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST TO TAKE PART IN SYMPOSIUM ON THE BLACK SEA Havana, September 17(RHC)-- A Cuban specialist in environmental issues, Jorge Ramon Cuevas, is one of the 80 personalities from around the world invited to the International Symposium on the Black Sea in Crisis, Science, Religion and the Environment. The event, slated to begin tomorrow, will take place in ports of Russia, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia, where there will be cultural encounters, visits to places of historical interest and conferences. The first meeting of its kind in the world, the symposium is sponsored by Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission. U.S. Vice President Albert Gore, former U.N. Secretary General Butros Butros Gali and Moscow's Patriarch Alexander the Second are also among the personalities invited to the symposium. [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