CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA September 23, 1997 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from RADIO HAVANA CUBA's International Shortwave Service in English for Tuesday, September 23, 1997. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA MEETS WITH HIS HAITIAN COUNTERPART FRITZ LONGCHAMP 2.- MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN HAVANA ON THURSDAY 3.- CUBA AND MOZAMBIQUE STUDY EXPANSION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS 4.- SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION OF ANDALUSIA REVIEWS COOPERATION PROJECTS WITH CUBAN AUTHORITIES 5.- COMPACT DISK OF ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA'S BOLIVIAN DIARY SOON TO BE RELEASED 6.- DEANS OF CUBAN AND U.S. ART SCHOOLS GATHER IN HAVANA 7.- AND IN SPORTS... BASEBALL OFFICIALS WILL MEET THE PRESS CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA MEETS WITH HIS HAITIAN COUNTERPART FRITZ LONGCHAMP Havana, September 23(RHC)-- Haitian Foreign Minister Fritz Longchamp -- on a three day official visit to Cuba -- met Tuesday with his Cuban counterpart, Roberto Robaina. The Haitian foreign minister, who has already met with other Cuban ministers and government officials, stressed the importance of future bilateral cooperation between Cuba and Haiti. Foreign Minister Longchamp pointed out that despite a long absence of diplomatic ties between Cuba and Haiti, "both peoples always maintained fraternal relations." Longchamp also said that Haitians are looking forward to a future visit to Haiti by Cuban President Fidel Castro and a reciprocal visit to Havana by Haitian President Rene Preval. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said his Haitian counterpart's visit to Cuba was "extremely important." Robaina stressed that conditions have been created to enhance bilateral cooperation between Haiti and Cuba, despite the two Caribbean countries' economic difficulties. That cooperation will be of benefit to both nations and currently includes such areas as construction, education and agriculture. The Haitian foreign minister also met with the Haitian community in Havana and visited several of the island's scientific institutions. MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN HAVANA ON THURSDAY Havana, September 23(RHC)-- Cuban authorities confirmed today that Malaysian Foreign Minister Mahathir Mohamad will begin an official visit to Cuba on Thursday, the 25th. The Malaysian foreign minister will be accompanied by a government delegation of more than 40 officials, along with a delegation of some 60 business representatives. Cuba and Malaysia are expected to sign a number of accords this week, including one on the protection and promotion of investments. This would be the 28th such agreement signed between Cuba and other nations. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina travelled to the Malaysian capital last April, as part of an Asia tour that also took him to Brunei and Singapore. CUBA AND MOZAMBIQUE STUDY EXPANSION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS Maputo, September 23(RHC)-- Cuban authorities are confident that bilateral economic relations between Mozambique and the island will promote both countries' economies. A Cuban delegation to the 12th Cuba-Mozambique Mixed Economic Commission -- currently underway in Maputo, Mozambique -- is studying the setting-up of joint ventures between the two countries. Cuba's Deputy Investment and Cooperation Minister Noemi Benitez told journalists in Maputo that Cuban experts are exploring business possibilities that will mutually benefit Mozambique and Cuba. The Cuban government official is also encouraging entrepreneurs from both countries to take part in international fairs sponsored by Cuba and Mozambique. The 12th Mixed Economic Commission is expected to produce an investment promotion and protection agreement that will open new prospects for bilateral economic relations. SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION OF ANDALUSIA REVIEWS COOPERATION PROJECTS WITH CUBAN AUTHORITIES Havana, September 23(RHC)-- Bilateral cooperation projects between Havana and the Spanish autonomous region of Andalusia are being discussed in the Cuban capital. Mayor Conrado Martinez Corona of Havana and Andalusia's Social Affairs Secretary Isaias Perez are heading the work groups and analyzing ways to expand cooperation to other sectors. In statements to reporters in the Cuban capital, the Andalusian government official said that being here in Havana provides a unique opportunity to encourage bilateral cooperation projects. According to Andalusia's Social Affairs Secretary, there are two projects currently under discussion: one dealing with the construction of a day care center in Havana and the other with a program to allow Cuban senior citizens of Andalusian origin to visit their birthplace. Andalusia has also committed itself to help in refurbishing operations of the Havana Malecon. COMPACT DISK OF ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA'S BOLIVIAN DIARY SOON TO BE RELEASED Havana, September 23(RHC)-- Computer users will soon have access to a multi-media version of the Bolivian diary of Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara. The CD ROM "Che -- Ever Onward to Victory" is the result of work by experts from the Automated and Computer Systems Design Center. The CD includes original, handwritten documents by Che Guevara, photographs and videos with the image and voice of the internationalist guerrilla fighter. The CD ROM "Che -- Ever Onward to Victory" will allow users to follow every action of the guerrilla movement, step-by-step. The CD also contains photos and biographical profiles of those killed along with Che in Bolivia. The computerized version of Che's Bolivian diary also includes his farewell letters to Fidel Castro, to his children and his parents. The foreword to the first edition of the diary, written by President Fidel Castro in 1968, is also included on the CD ROM. DEANS OF CUBAN AND U.S. ART SCHOOLS GATHER IN HAVANA Havana, September 23(RHC)-- For the first time since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the heads of Cuban and U.S. art schools are meeting in Havana to exchange experiences. Deans from fourteen U.S. schools of art -- including universities in New York City, San Francisco and Detroit -- will be in the Cuban capital until September 25th. Among the activities planned are visits to Cuban art schools and other places of interest. Discussions concerning visual arts, philosophy and architecture will take place during this historic encounter. AND IN SPORTS... BASEBALL OFFICIALS WILL MEET THE PRESS Havana, September 23(RHC)-- The Cuban Baseball Federation and the National Sports Institute have invited members of the media to a debate on Cuban baseball, scheduled for Havana's Latin American Stadium on Friday. Cuba lost the Intercontinental Cup Title to Japan in August and the island suffered a series of other setbacks during an Asian tour. That prompted a lot of criticism on the part of the press and especially the fans, who are accustomed to seeing their team win. People in the street are talking about problems with pitching, defense and how players are selected for the team. Sports authorities are anxious to debate the situation and, hopefully, find ways to improve the team's performance of the island's National Sport. [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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