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 9, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SAYS THE ONLY THREAT CUBA POSES FOR THE UNITED STATES IS MORAL AND POLITICAL 2.- CUBAN SINGER/SONGWRITER PABLO MILANES TOURS CHILE 3.- THIRD TERMINAL OPENS AT JOSE MARTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 4.- MEXICO'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO CUBA CONDEMNS ANY ATTEMPT TO ISOLATE THE ISLAND 5.- WOMEN'S CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATIONS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 6.- PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY TO CELEBRATE EASTER SUNDAY IN CUBA CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SAYS THE ONLY THREAT CUBA POSES FOR THE UNITED STATES IS MORAL AND POLITICAL Havana, April 9(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has asserted that Cuba "only represents a moral and political threat for the United States." Upon receiving the visiting Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, Eduardo La Torre, the Cuban leader made reference to the recent Pentagon report affirming that Cuba does not represent a military threat to the United States. Fielding questions from local journalists and Dominican media professionals accompanying Foreign Minister Eduardo La Torre, President Fidel Castro said the Pentagon report was "objective and serious," adding that it would be madness to assert the contrary. The leader of the Cuban Revolution stated he wished it could be said that the United States does not represent a military threat for Cuba. He said that during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion against Cuba, the island "demonstrated that it poses a danger for aggressors," that Cuba is only dangerous when it is defending itself. Cuban President Fidel Castro said that Cuba became a political threat for the United States with the triumph of the 1959 revolution. This event, he added, led Washington to hastily set up the Alliance For Progress -- aimed primarily at isolating Cuba -- and reminded the U.S. government that Latin America and the Caribbean existed. Cuban and Dominican journalists asked President Castro about Washington's recent measures easing some of the restrictions contained in the blockade of Cuba. The Cuban leader said the renewal of Miami-Havana flights merely re-establishes a measure that had existed until 1996. He also termed as positive the two bills currently on both floors of the U.S. Congress which would allow for unrestricted sale of U.S. food, medicines and medical products to Cuba. But the Cuban leader flatly rejected any U.S. government humanitarian aid as long as the blockade is maintained. In reference to Pope John Paul II's recent call on the international community to open up to Cuba, President Castro said he interpreted this call in an economic sense, since the world has already opened up to the island. Proof of this, said the Cuban leader, is the recent vote against the blockade in the United Nations General Assembly, where close to 150 nations came out in favor of lifting the blockade. And in related news, Dominican Foreign Minister Eduardo La Torre publicly condemned the exclusion of Cuba from the Summit of the Americas to be held later this month in Chile. La Torre said Cuba should be present, just as the island is present in the Iberoamerican Summits. The Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic -- who last Tuesday inaugurated his country's consular office in Havana -- also said that his Caribbean nation wants to establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba as soon as possible. CUBAN SINGER/SONGWRITER PABLO MILANES TOURS CHILE Santiago de Chile, April 9(RHC)-- In a scene not often witnessed on Chilean television, Cuban singer/songwriter Pablo Milanes was given a standing ovation during an appearance on a local TV program. Chants of "Long Live Cuba" and "Viva Salvador Allende" shook the television studio in the Chilean capital of Santiago. The TV program's host, Pedro Carcuro, said that such a reaction to a guest as never occurred on his program. Carcuro thanked Pablo Milanes for appearing on the program and said it was an honor to have him on the show. During the interview, the Cuban singer talked about his current impressions of Chile, Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba, Pablo's ten-year marriage to a Cuban poet, his health and the island's current situation. Addressing Cuba's situation, Pablo Milanes said that the island is slowly and cautiously recovering from its economic crisis, in order to avoid the sad experiences of former socialist nations in Eastern Europe. Pablo Milanes is currently touring Chile, where he will perform in several cities over the next week. THIRD TERMINAL OPENS AT JOSE MARTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Havana, April 9(RHC)-- Terminal Three of Havana's Jose Marti International Airport has opened its doors to international flights. As a result of the increasing number of tourists visiting the island, Terminals One and Two of the international airport were modernized and a third terminal was built to accommodate more visitors arriving on the island. MEXICO'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO CUBA CONDEMNS ANY ATTEMPT TO ISOLATE THE ISLAND Mexico City, April 9(RHC)-- Mexico has reiterated its condemnation of Cuba's isolation and expressed its support for the island's presence in international forums. According to Mexico's new ambassador to Cuba -- Pedro Joaquin Coldwell -- he is looking forward to the challenges of representing his country. The new Mexican ambassador is expected to arrive in Havana by the end of this month. Coldwell has previously served in other important posts, including Governor of the State of Quintana Roo and Tourism Secretary during the current administration. WOMEN'S CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATIONS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, April 9(RHC)-- The Third Iberoamerican Women's Encounter on Communications continues in Havana. Women from 13 nations are looking into alternatives to confront the challenges of neoliberalism and globalization. Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores is scheduled to address conference participants about the situation on the island and the effects of Washington's nearly 40 year old blockade against the island. PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY TO CELEBRATE EASTER SUNDAY IN CUBA Havana, April 9(RHC)-- Preparations to celebrate Easter Sunday are underway in Cuba. According to the spokesperson for Havana's Archbishop, Orlando Marquez, the religious services will take place in the parishes and in some cases in public places. Marquez, who is also director of the Catholic magazine Palabra Nueva, or New Word, stated that contributions collected at Thursday's Masses will go to those who are ill or hospitalized, answering a call made by Pope John Paul II, who dedicated Thursday's contribution in Rome to the Cuban people. In statements to Prensa Latina News Agency, the spokesperson for Havana's archbishop said that Cardinal Jaime Ortega led a Palm Sunday procession from the Seminary of St. Carlos to Havana Cathedral this past Sunday. Marquez also pointed out that in the town of Guines, Easter will be celebrated in the municipal park. [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. 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