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 Tuesday, April 7, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- NO OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY COULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RESISTED WASHINGTON'S HOSTILITIES OVER THE YEARS 2.- WASHINGTON ISSUES FIRST LICENSE EVER TO U.S. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY FOR A TRADE EXPOSITION IN CUBA 3.- DOMINICAN FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARDO LA TORRE ARRIVES IN CUBA TO INAUGURATE HIS COUNTRY'S CONSULAR OFFICE 4.- WOMEN FROM 20 COUNTRIES GATHER TO DISCUSS COMMUNICATIONS 5.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SOLIDARITY AMONG WOMEN PREPARES FOR NEXT WEEK'S SESSIONS 6.- CUBA INCREASES MINERAL EXPLORATION WITH THE AID OF FOREIGN COMPANIES 7.- AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS THE ISLAND 8.- VIETNAMESE DEPUTY MINISTER VISITS CUBAN TRADE EXHIBIT NO OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY COULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RESISTED WASHINGTON'S HOSTILITIES OVER THE YEARS Madrid, April 7(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina -- in extensive interviews granted to major Spanish media outlets late Monday and Tuesday -- asserted that "no other Latin American country could have successfully resisted the hostility from Washington that Cuba has withstood during successive U.S. administrations." He said that feat is the result of the national consensus and unity of the Cuban people. The Cuban foreign minister told Spanish journalists that "the effects of the U.S. blockade are often underestimated by the international community, while some call Cuba's condemnation of that policy a pretext to conceal the island's deficiencies." Robaina said that concept is clearly erroneous if one takes into account that the blockade has cost Cuba some 60 billion dollars -- without mentioning the loss in human lives. During his official visit to Madrid, Roberto Robaina stated that the blockade has had an immense impact in the area of access to technology, media information, pharmaceutical products, food and raw materials. He also pointed to the considerable price hikes for Cuba in areas such as maritime transportation and obstacles to obtaining credits and financing -- all of which, said Robaina, represent extraordinary impediments to Cuba's development. In reference to the recent Pentagon report asserting that Cuba is not a military threat to the United States, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said that should come as no surprise to anyone -- and "Washington should have determined that fact years ago." He said "what is surprising and of concern, however, are the reactions to the report from people who are attempting to insist on the contrary." Asked about the recent measures announced by Washington concerning the granting of U.S. humanitarian aid to Cuba, Robaina reiterated that the offer was "indignant and humiliating, and is only aimed at attempting to appease the growing number of voices inside the United States calling for the lifting of the blockade." The Cuban foreign minister was also asked about Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba and about possibilities of sitting down at the negotiation table with Washington. Robaina said the Pope's visit "demonstrated to the world, without intermediaries, that Cuba is willing to exchange ideas and criteria even with those whose ideological points of view are different from Cuba's." Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said that based on a policy of principles and ethics, Cuba has already helped to resolve -- through constructive conversations -- the conflict in Angola following 15 years of war, "which translated not only into the preservation of that country's sovereignty, but also to the independence of Namibia and an end to the apartheid regime in South Africa." Robaina also pointed to the constructive conversations with Washington that led to the resolution of the complex immigration dispute between the two countries. With respect to the new stage in Cuba-Spain relations, the Cuban foreign minister said "Cuba is not only a country with needs, but also with interesting offers for the Spanish people and business community." He said the new relation with Spain is seen by Cuba as mutually beneficial. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said the concrete steps that have been taken are the upcoming visit to Cuba of a high- level Spanish business delegation, the reactivation of the Cuba-Spain Mixed Commission, the revision of bilateral accords currently being negotiated, and the upcoming visit to Cuba of Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes. WASHINGTON ISSUES FIRST LICENSE EVER TO U.S. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY FOR A TRADE EXPOSITION IN CUBA Washington, April 7(RHC)-- The United States government has issued the first license ever to a U.S. pharmaceutical company, granting it permission to carry out a trade exposition in Cuba. The announcement came Monday by the pharmaceutical firm PWN Exhibition International, whose president, Peter W. Nathan, stated that the administration of President Bill Clinton has responded to the growing call of the U.S. business community to seek opportunities in Cuba's health sector. Just hours after the announcement, however, U.S. State Department spokesman James Foley denied that the move represents a change in White House policy towards Cuba. Foley said the announcement by the pharmaceutical firm has nothing to do with Clinton's decision last month to permit U.S. government humanitarian activities in Cuba. The Cuban government has responded to Clinton's announcement, saying that the island would not accept humanitarian aid from the U.S. government while at the same time Washington maintained intact its blockade of Cuba -- calling Clinton's announcement absurd, contradictory and offensive. Nevertheless, according to John Kavulich, President of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Washington's green light for an exhibit of American pharmaceutical companies in Cuba represents "the most important change in Washington's policy towards the island in the past 40 years." Kavulich said Cuba's Health Ministry has always been willing to receive U.S. firms that produce medicines and manufacture medical equipment. It is estimated that some 200 representatives from 100 U.S. firms will participate in the trade fair, although the date and exact site of this event in Cuba have not been announced. DOMINICAN FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARDO LA TORRE ARRIVES IN CUBA TO INAUGURATE HIS COUNTRY'S CONSULAR OFFICE Havana, April 7(RHC)-- The Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, Eduardo La Torre, arrived in Cuba today for a three- day, official visit, aimed primarily at inaugurating his country's consular office in Havana. The office will be headed by Grecia Pichardo, who arrived in the Cuban capital late last month. Santo Domingo and Havana reestablished consular relations in June of last year. Last December 23rd, Cuba opened its consular office in the Dominican capital. Pichardo said her priorities will be to provide support for compliance with the migratory accord in place between Cuba and the Dominican Republic since last year. The Dominican diplomat also said that she hopes to promote the broadening of bilateral relations in other fields. WOMEN FROM 20 COUNTRIES GATHER TO DISCUSS COMMUNICATIONS Havana, April 7(RHC)-- Women from 20 Iberoamerican nations are in the Cuban capital to analyze and exchange views on journalism and communications. The forum is organized by the Pablo de la Torriente Brau publishing house, Cuba's Journalists Union, the Federation of Cuban Women, the Latin American Journalists Federation and Radio Havana Cuba, among other institutions. Participants will discuss issues involving women's role in radio and television as well as alternative communications as a way to disseminate information on the women's struggle. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SOLIDARITY AMONG WOMEN PREPARES FOR NEXT WEEK'S SESSIONS Havana, April 7(RHC)-- Over 2400 representatives from 65 nations have confirmed their participation in the International Conference for Solidarity Among Women, which will take place from the 13th through the 16th of this month in Havana. During the meeting, women will discuss the current problems confronting them in today's world, especially now with the effects of globalization and neoliberalism. The Conference will include working commissions on women, economy and sustainable development; women and the mass media; women, health, education, culture and social security; and violence and discrimination against women. CUBA INCREASES MINERAL EXPLORATION WITH THE AID OF FOREIGN COMPANIES Havana, April 7(RHC)-- Working in association with foreign firms, Cuba will develop the exploration of gold, silver and other minerals as well as oil. A total of 92 joint-contracts have been signed between Cuba and foreign companies with the know-how and technology to extract the island's mineral wealth. According to representatives from the firm Geominera S.A., the exploration of the island's small reserves of gold will resume with the aid of modern technology. Geominera S.A. and the Canadian firm Holmer Gold Main Limited located a silver reserve in the western part of the island -- the first of its kind to be discovered in Cuba in more than 20 years. AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, April 7(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas has met with an Austrian parliamentary delegation visiting the island. During the meeting, Cabrisas explained Cuba's economic development process and the reorientation of its foreign trade. The head of the Austrian delegation, Peter Kostelka, deputy of that European nation's National Council and Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister also analyzed bilateral relations. VIETNAMESE DEPUTY MINISTER VISITS CUBAN TRADE EXHIBIT Hanoi, April 7(RHC)-- Vietnam's Deputy Minister Nguyen Tan Dung paid a visit to the Cuban stand at the 8th International Trade Fair underway in Hanoi. During the last day of the Vietnam '98 Trade Fair, the Vietnamese leader told journalists that he was interested in Cuban products and advanced technology in medical equipment. Other sectors that were on display at the Cuban stand were tourism, tobacco, the publishing industry and three joint ventures with Vietnam in the areas of construction, cattle raising and biotechnology. Nearly 200 representatives from 15 countries took part in the Vietnam 98 Trade Fair. 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