CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA September 18, 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Thursday, September 18, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS ON EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO RE-LAUNCH HELMS-BURTON CHALLENGE IN WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 2.- CUBA AND INDONESIA BEGIN COOPERATION TALKS IN HAVANA 3.- CUBA REACHES WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S REQUIREMENTS FOR BLOOD DONATIONS 4.- ORCHESTRA ARAGON PERFORMS AT THE UNITED NATIONS 5.- LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH PAY TRIBUTE TO COMANDANTE ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA 6.- SECOND AFRICAN MEETING OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA UNDERWAY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS ON EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO RE-LAUNCH HELMS-BURTON CHALLENGE IN WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION Strasbourg, September 18(RHC)-- The European Parliament called today on the European Commission to re-launch its challenge against Washington's Helms-Burton Law in the World Trade Organization if that law is not modified by October 15th. European parliamentarians meeting in Strasbourg stated that although President Bill Clinton placed another six month freeze on Title III of Helms-Burton last July -- and although no more European firms have been sanctioned since Washington and the European Commission reached an agreement on the anti-Cuba legislation -- the Clinton administration has not come through on promised modifications. Last April 11th, Clinton promised the European Commission -- the European Union's executive body -- that he would repeal Title III and modify Title IV. Title III allows U.S. citizens to take legal action in U.S. courts against foreign firms investing in Cuba. Title IV denies visas to foreign executives and their families who have business interests in Cuba. CUBA AND INDONESIA BEGIN COOPERATION TALKS IN CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, September 18(RHC)-- Cuba and Indonesia began the first gathering of the Bilateral Mixed Commission for Economic Cooperation today in the Cuban capital. Yesterday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas arrived in Havana to begin an official visit to the island. Speaking at the opening of the session, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina stressed that Cuba has much to offer in the scientific and technological arenas because "this island is a Third World country that owns its resources and its freedom." Robaina also thanked those who do not bow to anti-Cuba measures like the Helms-Burton Law -- in reference to the 260 foreign firms operating in Cuba and the 140 new joint ventures currently under negotiation. The Cuban foreign minister said 40 percent of the capital of those firms comes from Europe, but that Cuba -- in its economic recovery -- is also banking on a greater presence of Southeast Asian nations. The Indonesian foreign minister also spoke in favor of greater South-South cooperation as a means toward transforming international economic relations. CUBA REACHES WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S REQUIREMENTS FOR BLOOD DONATIONS Havana, September 18(RHC)-- With a record number of blood donations -- reaching over 500,000 -- Cuba ranks among the first nations with a ratio of one donation for every 20 inhabitants. Thus, Cuba meets the World Health Organization's requirements for blood donations three years ahead schedule. Cuban health authorities said that a qualified infrastructure of blood banks and laboratories are behind the outstanding results. ORCHESTRA ARAGON PERFORMS AT THE UNITED NATIONS New York, September 18(RHC)-- Diplomats from around the world and the staff of the United Nations will enjoy the world famous Orchestra Aragon during a live performance in New York City tomorrow evening. In statements to Prensa Latina News Agency in New York, Olga Perez from the Cuban Permanent Mission to the United Nations said "it is a privilege to present foreign diplomats with such a concert." She added that this is only the second time that the Orchestra Aragon -- founded 58 years ago -- has performed in New York City. The first performance took place at Avery Fisher Hall in 1977. On Saturday, Aragon will perform at the social/cultural institution Casa de las Americas in Manhattan. The world famous group will also take to the stage in Queens and will play on Broadway. LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH PAY TRIBUTE TO COMANDANTE ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA Havana, September 18(RHC)-- Thirty years after his death in combat in Bolivia, guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara continues to inspire and mobilize progressive forces around the world. On Wednesday, young people from Latin America and the Caribbean -- making up the Simon Bolivar Caravan -- started their journey from the Mexican state of Morelos, on a tour of several countries. The final destination is La Higuera in Bolivia, where Ernesto Che Guevara was apprehended and executed by Bolivian soldiers in October 1967. In Cuba, senior high and university students gathered at an event called "Che as Seen by Young People in the 90's." Sponsored by the Latin American and Caribbean Students Organization -- OCLAE -- the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the life and thinking of Che as a revolutionary and internationalist. In Uruguay, there are plans to pay tribute to Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara during the entire week beginning October 1st. The main event will be held at the Palacio Penarol Hall in Montevideo, the capital. Reports from Santiago de Chile say ticket sales for the concert paying homage to the Argentinean-born Cuban guerrilla are almost sold-out. Concert organizers say that an estimated 40,000 people will be in attendance. The National Stadium's marquee is announcing Chilean singers Patricio Manns and Angel Parra, Uruguayan Daniel Viglietti, Brazilian Joel Vasconcellos, Spaniards Ismael Serrano and Cubans Silvio Rodriguez and Vicente Feliu. And in Argentina, Latin American politicians and sociologists will gather at an international seminar on Che's thinking. Held in the province of Rosario -- Che's birthplace -- participants will discuss the Heroic Guerrilla's contributions to the socialist society of new men and women. SECOND AFRICAN MEETING OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA UNDERWAY Cape Coast, September 18(RHC)-- Friendship ties between Africa and Cuba is high on the agenda of the Second African Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba that got underway today in Cape Coast, Ghana. Sergio Corrieri, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples -- ICAP -- is among the Cuban delegates to the gathering that will run until Saturday. Representatives from more than a dozen African countries and personalities from the United States, the Middle East and other regions are taking part in this important solidarity event. [c] 1997. 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