CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Thursday, April 2, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO SPAIN FOLLOWING MADRID'S DESIGNATION OF AMBASSADOR 2.- CUBA WILL NOT EXTRADITE ASSATA SHAKUR TO THE U.S. 3.- CUBA AND TURKEY STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS 4.- PESO CONTINUES TO GAIN AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR 5.- TOURISM SUBMARINE WILL BEGIN OPERATIONS AT VARADERO BEACH 6.- CONSTRUCTION MINISTRY WILL HOST INTERNATIONAL FAIR 7.- CUBA TO ATTEND A WORLD EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO THE OCEANS CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO SPAIN FOLLOWING MADRID'S DESIGNATION OF AMBASSADOR Havana, April 2(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina will soon pay an official visit to Spain following the island's acceptance of Madrid's designation of its ambassador to Havana. The announcement came Thursday at the weekly press briefing offered here in the Cuban capital by the Foreign Ministry. Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alejandro Gonzalez said the official visit is in response to an invitation from the Spanish government. Gonzalez said that Robaina will hold a working session with Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes and will also meet with Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar. The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that the designation of the new Spanish ambassador represents "a new stage in Cuba-Spain relations and the establishment of normal relations." In 1996, Cuba withdrew it placet for Jose Coderch, who had been designated as ambassador to Havana shortly after President Aznar's election. Coderch had stated that his priority in Havana would be to open his embassy's doors to those who oppose the Cuban Revolution. CUBA WILL NOT EXTRADITE ASSATA SHAKUR TO THE U.S. Havana, April 2(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that Cuba has no intention of extraditing African- American activist and former member of the Black Panther Party, Assata Shakur. In recent days, the governor of New Jersey, Christine Todd Whitman, has been offering a 50,000 dollar reward for Assata's return to the United States. Assata Shakur was arrested in 1973 on the New Jersey Turnpike and said she was shot several times by police while her hands were in the air. The activist had been brought up on numerous charges before her capture, all of which resulted in acquittals or were dismissed with the exception of the shooting death of a New Jersey police officer during her arrest. Found guilty on that charge in 1977, Assata Shakur insists that the trial was plagued not only with numerous irregularities, but also with racism. Sentenced to life in prison, Assata escaped from a high-security prison in 1979 and later reappeared in Cuba, where she was granted political asylum. Recently, New Jersey police officials have publicly confessed that they would be willing to hire bounty hunters and attempt to kidnap the Black activist in Havana. During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alejandro Gonzalez was asked by a foreign journalist about the possible extradition of Shakur. The Cuban official responded by saying that the African- American activist was subjected to unfair treatment in the U.S. and that the Cuban government has reason to believe she was framed on the charges against her. Alejandro Gonzalez also reminded the journalists that Cuba and the United States do not have an extradition agreement. CUBA AND TURKEY STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS Havana, April 2(RHC)-- Turkey and Cuba have strengthened bilateral ties with the signing of an exchange protocol at the foreign ministry level. Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende said that the agreement will contribute in strengthening the multilateral and cooperation relations between both nations. Turkish Under Secretary of Foreign Relations, Kormaz Jaktanie, is in Havana on an official visit. He told reporters Thursday that his presence in Cuba shows Ankara's interest in developing its relations with the island and opens the door for Turkey to increase relations with Latin America. PESO CONTINUES TO GAIN AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR Havana, April 2(RHC)-- The Cuban peso has gained against the U.S. dollar. Money exchanges are buying one dollar for 19 Cuban pesos and selling one dollar for 21 pesos. This is the fourth change so far this year. Until yesterday, the exchange rate was 20 Cuban pesos to one U.S. dollar. TOURISM SUBMARINE WILL BEGIN OPERATIONS AT VARADERO BEACH Havana, April 2(RHC)-- A modern tourism submarine will begin service later this month off the coast of Varadero Beach Resort, located 140 kilometers northeast of Havana. The submarine, called "Mundo Magico" (Magical World), will be used for underwater excursions in areas near Varadero that are rich in coral and other marine wildlife. The 44-seat submarine is equipped with a 24-inch viewing-window and a video monitor. Passengers can select images captured by four cameras mounted outside the submarine. Mundo Magico is a joint operation run by Puertosol and Surford Ltd., a British company with Spanish capital. According to the AIN News Agency, Mundo Magico represents an investment of three and a half million dollars. CONSTRUCTION MINISTRY WILL HOST INTERNATIONAL FAIR Havana, April 2(RHC)-- Cuba's Construction Ministry confirmed the participation of over 130 national and foreign firms at an international fair, slated to take place from April 8th to the 12th on the island. The organizing committee points out that the Construction Ministry will look for possible agreements and the exchange of technology in order to recuperate capital investment in a short period of time. CUBA TO ATTEND A WORLD EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO THE OCEANS Havana, April 2(RHC)-- Cuba's Chamber of Commerce Vice President Jose Miguel Diaz Mirabal said he will travel to Lisbon, Portugal to attend the World Exposition dealing with Oceans. The Cuban official added that the island will demonstrate its tourism potential, its marine research and the rational use of sea resources. Lisbon's World Exhibition is dedicating the event to "The Oceans: A Heritage for the Future." Some 145 nations, 20 of them from Latin America, are to attend the event. [c] 1998, 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