CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA September 19, 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, September 19, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- LEGAL EXPERTS IN BRUSSELS WARN OF U.S. EFFORTS TO CHANGE INTERNATIONAL LAW TO FIT WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBA CAMPAIGN 2.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CONGRATULATES CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN 3.- SPANISH BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO VIOLATING U.S. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT 4.- NOMINATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES OF PEOPLE'S POWER PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY 5.- REVOLUTIONARIES THROUGHOUT AFRICA WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND CUBA, JUST AS CUBA HAS AIDED STRUGGLES IN AFRICA 6.- ORCHESTRA ARAGON KNOCKS THEM DEAD IN NEW YORK CITY AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... 7.- THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH WILL VISIT CUBA NEXT YEAR 8.- CUBAN WOMEN WIN REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT LEGAL EXPERTS IN BRUSSELS WARN OF U.S. EFFORTS TO CHANGE INTERNATIONAL LAW TO FIT WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBA CAMPAIGN Brussels, September 19(RHC)-- Legal experts in Belgium warned today that the European Union would run a huge risk if it accepts U.S. efforts to rewrite international law in order to paralyze investment in Cuba. U.S. jurist Robert Muse and Spanish jurist Hermenegildo Altozano denounced U.S. efforts to introduce an item into negotiations -- currently underway at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development -- concerning a multilateral investment accord that would reflect the contents of the anti-Cuba Helms-Burton Law. The article would establish an international juridical basis for the condemnation of expropriations anywhere in the world, with a retroactive character. Muse said the EU "shouldn't even be negotiating a law which is illegal, extraterritorial and contrary to the principal of sovereignty." The legal experts also criticized the secret nature of the talks between European Trade Commissioner Leon Brittan and the U.S. Under Secretary of State for International Trade, Stuart Eizenstat. The criticism coincided with a statement today from Leon Brittan's spokesperson, who expressed disappointment following yesterday's contacts with the United States in Paris, within the framework of the eighth round of negotiations at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development concerning investment discipline and confiscated properties. Next October 15th marks the deadline for the Clinton administration's promised modifications of the Helms-Burton Law, following the April agreement between the White House and the European Union, which temporarily suspended the anti-Helms-Burton challenge in the World Trade Organization. On Thursday, the European Parliament called on the European Commission to re-launch that challenge if the modifications are not made by that date. U.S. legal expert Robert Muse called Helms-Burton "a clear violation of international law and not merely a dispute between Washington and the European Union." CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CONGRATULATES CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN Havana, September 19(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro congratulated Chinese President Jiang Zemin today on the occasion of his re-election as Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party. The message was sent following the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party's 14th Congress. The Cuban leader also expressed his willingness to continue working to promote closer ties of friendship between the Communist Parties and governments of both nations. SPANISH BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO VIOLATING U.S. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT Miami, September 19(RHC)-- In an appearance Thursday before a federal court in Miami, Florida, Spanish businessman Javier Ferreiro pleaded guilty to charges that he violated the U.S. blockade against Cuba. Ferriero reportedly struck a deal with the Miami district attorney's office, pleading guilty to seven charges of violating the so-called Trading with the Enemy Act, in exchange for dropping the charges of money laundering and collusion. The seven charges carry maximum sentences of up to 70 years in prison, but District Attorney Jeanne Mullernhorf said that Ferrerio will only have to spend between 21 and 27 months in jail -- counting the six months he has been detained. It is also being reported that Ferreiro has agreed to testify against four others accused in the case: a U.S. citizen, a Spanish citizen and two Hispanic residents of Miami. All are accused of selling 400,000 dollars worth of food products to Cuba through third countries and using false documents. Ferreiro had originally proclaimed his innocence, while the political opposition in Spain strongly protested the arrest and criticized Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar for not taking a tougher stand on the issue. NOMINATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES OF PEOPLE'S POWER PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY Havana, September 19(RHC)-- Over 26,000 Cubans have been proposed as candidates to the Municipal Assemblies of People's Power so far -- nominated in over 29,000 assemblies that have taken place across the island. The National Electoral Commission reported that the nomination process was running quite smoothly, as 81 percent of the nomination assemblies have already taken place. To date, of the total number of candidates nominated to the People's Power Assembly, nearly 20 percent are women, 14 percent young people and 31 percent have been proposed for the first time. REVOLUTIONARIES THROUGHOUT AFRICA WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND CUBA, JUST AS CUBA HAS AIDED STRUGGLES IN AFRICA Cape Coast, September 19(RHC)-- During the Second African Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba -- currently underway in Ghana -- the President of the Ghana-Cuba Friendship Association, Kofi Awoonor, praised the role that Cuba has played in Africa. The African leader said that the progressive and revolutionary forces on the continent "will continue their struggle against imperialism, colonialism and oppression." Within that context, he said, "revolutionaries throughout Africa will fight to defend Cuba, just as the Cuban people have come to the aid of liberation struggles throughout the African continent." Kofi Awooner said that had it not been for the decisive support of Cuba, the struggle against apartheid and the independence of Namibia would have cost many more African lives and would have been delayed for many more years. ORCHESTRA ARAGON KNOCKS THEM DEAD IN NEW YORK CITY New York, September 19(RHC)-- Cuba's renowned musical group Orchestra Aragon are a smash hit in New York City! The world famous band played at Bronx University on Friday and then entertained diplomats at the United Nations Headquarters in downtown Manhattan. Aragon will complete their U.S. tour with stops in Boston and Chicago. On their way back to the island, Orchestra Aragon will perform in Puerto Rico, where they have not played since 1979. AND IN SPORTS... THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH WILL VISIT CUBA NEXT YEAR Havana, September 19(RHC)-- Important sports personalities are expected in Cuba in 1998, among them: IOC president Juan Antonio Saramanch. According to this morning's edition of Granma newspaper, Samaranch says he "has good friends on the island" -- including the President of the Cuban Olympic Committee Jose Ramon Fernandez and athletes such as Alberto Juantorena, Teofilo Stevenson, Javier Sotomayor and Ana Fidelia Quirot. Samaranch also had words of praise for Manuel Gonzalez Guerra, who died earlier this year and was the President of the island's National Olympic Committee. The IOC president went on to say that he has "always admired the Cuban sports movement." He stressed that Cuba is an example to follow in the world of sports; an island that has always worked very hard to reach top honors at important international competitions. CUBAN WOMEN WIN REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT San Juan, September 19(RHC)-- For the seventh consecutive time, the Cuban women's volleyball team has won the Northern Central American and Caribbean Tournament underway in Puerto Rico. Cuba defeated the United States three sets to one. The Dominican Republic took the bronze. The victory of the Dominican Republic's team has been described as "historic" following their win over Canada -- the second time in tournament history. [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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