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 Monday, April 6, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA MEETS WITH SPANISH PRESIDENT JOSE MARIA AZNAR 2.- CUBA-BELIZE JOINT TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COLLABORATION COMMISSION UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 3.- 4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HOUSING AND URBAN PLANNING BEGINS TOMORROW IN CUBAN CAPITAL 4.- CUBA WILL BE REPRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN VIETNAM 5.- CUBA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER EUMELIO CABALLERO RETURNS FROM AFRICAN TOUR 6.- CUBAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN UNION LEADERS MEET IN JOHANNESBURG CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA MEETS WITH SPANISH PRESIDENT JOSE MARIA AZNAR Madrid, April 6(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina met with Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar in Madrid on Monday. Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes, who was present at the meeting, said the encounter was "fruitful and cordial." Matutes said Robaina and Aznar discussed several matters, among them the new stage in Spanish-Cuban relations following Madrid's decision last week to name its ambassador to Havana -- a post that had remained vacant since shortly after Aznar's election in 1996. Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes said that Madrid wants good and full relations with Cuba, in which the two countries' differences can be discussed in a constructive manner. In addition, Matutes stated that Spain will support Cuba's interests within the framework of the European Union, including Cuba's petition to form part of the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific Nations -- also known as the Lome Convention. This group of nations receives privileged treatment from the European Union. The Spanish foreign minister said no decision has been made concerning the visit to Cuba of Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, although he did not discard this possibility. Matutes said that both the Spanish monarchs and President Aznar will be in Cuba for the 1999 Iberoamerican Summit. He also announced that Spain's new ambassador to Havana, career diplomat Eduardo Junco, will arrive in the Cuban capital within the coming weeks. Upon his arrival in Spain today, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina reiterated Havana's desire to maintain normal relations with Spain. The Cuban foreign minister said that Havana's invitation to the Spanish monarchs to visit the island remains open and that the decision is now in the hands of the Spanish government. CUBA-BELIZE JOINT TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COLLABORATION COMMISSION UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, April 6(RHC)-- The Second Cuba-Belize Joint Technical and Economic Collaboration Commission is underway in the Cuban capital. The meeting's objectives are to examine previous agreements and strengthen bilateral relations. The Belician delegation is being led by Education and Public Services Minister Elodio Aragon. Heading the Cuban delegation is Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz. The joint commission will meet until Thursday. 4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HOUSING AND URBAN PLANNING BEGINS TOMORROW IN CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, April 6(RHC)-- Fifteen ministers and high-ranking officials from Latin America and the Caribbean will take part in the 4th International Conference on Housing and Urban Planning which gets underway Tuesday here in Havana. Some 250 experts will participate in eight workshops to discuss an action plan approved at the Habitat II Summit. The meeting in Havana is being organized by the United Nations Center for Human Settlements and Cuba's Construction Ministry. Some 130 Cuban and foreign firms will also participate in a specialized fair to promote agreements and the assimilation of technology needed to recover short-term capital investments. Housing Ministers and experts from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Canada, Italy, France and Spain have confirmed their participation. CUBA WILL BE REPRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN VIETNAM Hanoi, April 6(RHC)-- Cuba will be represented at the 8th International Trade Fair -- Vietnam '98 -- with a number of products. According to the island's economic and commercial advisor in Vietnam, Antonio Carricarte, the Cuban stand will feature genetic medicine as well as advanced-technology equipment. The Spring fair -- Vietnam '98 -- is considered the second most important exposition in this Asian nation and includes the participation of 91 national firms. CUBA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER EUMELIO CABALLERO RETURNS FROM AFRICAN TOUR Havana, April 6(RHC)-- Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Eumelio Caballero has characterized his African tour as "extremely productive." The Cuban official visited Mali, the Ivory Coast, the Republic of Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius and Seychelles and was accompanied by the Deputy Director of the Africa desk of the Cuban Foreign Ministry Marcos Rodriguez. Among some of the objectives of the trip was the analysis of bilateral relations between Cuba and the African nations and the possibility of strengthening bilateral ties. The Cuban deputy foreign minister added that his African tour was very stimulating, pointing out that all the African nations he visited reiterated their admiration for Cuba and expressed their appreciation for the island's support. Eumelio Caballero stated that African countries condemn Washington's economic blockade against the island, especially the Helms-Burton Law which not only tightens that blockade against Cuba but punishes those countries that do business with the Caribbean island. CUBAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN UNION LEADERS MEET IN JOHANNESBURG Johannesburg, April 6(RHC)-- A delegation from the Cuban Workers Confederation is in South Africa to participate in a two-day meeting with the South African Labor Congress -- COSATU. Heading the Cuban union delegation is the General Secretary of the CTC, Pedro Ross Leal. Among the issues being discussed are ways to strengthen already good relations between the two labor organizations. The Cuban and South African trade union representatives will discuss foreign investment, collective bargaining agreements and the defense of worker's rights. 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