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 21, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA SCORES IMPORTANT VICTORY AT UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, REFUSING TO CONDEMN THE ISLAND 2.- CUBA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ANNOUNCE ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 3.- WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDS EUROPEAN UNION CHALLENGE OF WASHINGTON'S HELMS-BURTON LAW, ALTHOUGH EU WARNS IT CAN BE REACTIVATED 4.- RENOWNED CUBAN MUSICIANS PERFORM IN THE UNITED STATES 5.- CUBA URGES THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS TO RATIFY THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN CONVENTION 6.- CUBAN REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH GENERAL DIRECTOR OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 7.- PEACE AND JUSTICE COORDINATOR OF WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM VISITS CUBA 8.- CHILE AND CUBA READY TO SIGN COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT 9.- CUBAN CUISINE INVADES MEXICO CITY THIS WEEK CUBA SCORES IMPORTANT VICTORY AT UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, REFUSING TO CONDEMN THE ISLAND Geneva, April 21(RHC)-- Cuba achieved a significant victory today at the 54th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which this year refused to condemn the island. Nineteen (19) countries voted against another one year mandate for a special human rights rapporteur assigned to the island, while 16 voted in favor and 18 abstained. Cuba's UN ambassador in Geneva, Carlos Amat, said the vote represents a recognition of Washington's unjust treatment of Cuba, and of the U.S. government's efforts to deceive the international community concerning the situation in Cuba. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores said the UN Human Rights Commission had remedied an error with respect to Cuba, and recalled that the task of this agency is to deal with massive and flagrant human rights violations. She said this is not the situation in Cuba. Cuba's deputy foreign minister also pointed to Washington's efforts to again postpone the vote -- as occurred on Monday -- saying that the U.S. government was frantically attempting to gain more support. And observers are highlighting the significant difference with respect to last year's vote, when 19 countries were in favor of condemning Cuba, while only 10 were against. That translates into three less votes in favor and nine more votes against. Last year there were 24 abstentions, compared to only 18 this year. European nations voted virtually in block for a condemnation of Cuba, with the support of a few countries like Argentina and South Korea, while Third World nations in Africa and Asia voted against the U.S.-sponsored resolution. A number of Latin American countries that voted to condemn Cuba last year, decided to abstain during today's voting in Geneva. CUBA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ANNOUNCE ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS Havana, April 21(RHC)-- The Foreign Ministries of Cuba and the Dominican Republic announced today the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two Caribbean nations. In statements released simultaneously in Havana and Santo Domingo, Cuba and the Dominican Republic announced that the establishment of full relations occurred on April 16th, with the exchange of diplomatic notes between the two Caribbean capitals. Both governments have asserted that the move is based on the awareness that this particular moment in history demands dialogue and efforts towards consensus that favor development, equality, social justice, peace and security. Both nations have also attributed the establishment of full diplomatic relations to the shared commitment to broaden and strengthen ties with all members of the international community based on mutual respect and equality among governments. And both countries said that the decision has been taken to contribute to advancing the unity of the Caribbean and Central America where important integration processes are underway. The announcement comes just a week after Dominican Foreign Affairs Minister Eduardo Latorre inaugurated his country's consular offices in Havana. Consular relations between the two countries were established late last year. The Dominican government announced an invitation to Cuban President Fidel Castro to visit that nation. The visit is expected to take place next August. WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDS EUROPEAN UNION CHALLENGE OF WASHINGTON'S HELMS-BURTON LAW, ALTHOUGH EU WARNS IT CAN BE REACTIVATED Brussels, April 21(RHC)-- The European Union's challenge of Washington's Helms-Burton Law was automatically suspended today in the World Trade Organization. The EU has warned, however, that the challenge will be reactivated if the U.S. government adopts any reprisals against European firms investing in Cuba. In February 1996, the EU set up a disputes panel in the WTO, questioning the legality of Washington's extraterritorial law. But in April last year, the EU agreed to temporarily suspend the panel and begin negotiations with Washington as long as no European firms were sanctioned. After a one-year period, dispute panels are automatically deactivated. EU spokesperson Ella Krucoff insisted that the action is merely a pause, and not a decision to cancel the matter. Krucoff warned that there will be a new denunciation if Washington adopts reprisals against European firms, and that though the panel is technically dead, the same level of pressure against Helms-Burton will be maintained. RENOWNED CUBAN MUSICIANS PERFORM IN THE UNITED STATES New York, April 21(RHC)-- Well-known Cuban artists such as Gema 4, the Jose Maria Vitier group, soloist Xiomara Laugart and Charanga Habana are currently touring the United States. Over the weekend, invited by the Academy of Arts in Massachusetts, the Cuban musicians performed as part of Fiesta Cubana of the International Festival of the Arts. Gema 4, an all-female acappella quartet, opened their concert in New York City with a series of ballads and Afro- Cuban songs. According to reports from the Big Apple, the group had the audience going wild. On Tuesday night, one of Cuba's most popular salsa groups -- Isaac Delgado and his band -- perform at the Club Onyx in Miami Beach. CUBA URGES THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS TO RATIFY THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN CONVENTION Geneva, April 21(RHC)-- Cuba has urged the United States and other nations to ratify the Rights of Children Convention which already has the support of some 190 countries. The call was made by the Cuban delegation before the 54th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission taking place in Geneva. A member of the Cuban delegation before the Commission, Hayme Hernandez Quesada, pointed out the importance of the UN's role in protecting children from armed conflicts, prostitution, pornography and the sale of children's organs. The Cuban diplomat stressed that the island has made important progress in the area of child care over the past 40 years, despite Washington's blockade against the island. She recalled that the current infant mortality rate in Cuba is 7.2 for every one thousand live births -- considered to be among the lowest in the world. CUBAN REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH GENERAL DIRECTOR OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Geneva, April 21(RHC)-- The General Director of the World Health Organization, Jiroshi Nakajima, and Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores discussed in Geneva upcoming activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization. The Cuban diplomat officially invited Nakajima to participate in a ministerial meeting of the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries to take place in Cuba next June. PEACE AND JUSTICE COORDINATOR OF WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM VISITS CUBA Santiago de Cuba, April 21(RHC)-- The Coordinator of the Peace and Justice Program of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom -- WILPF -- is currently touring the island. Andrea Saenz told reporters that socio- economic achievements in Cuba are an example for the world. Touring the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, the Ecuadorean women's leader pointed out that her visit has allowed her to learn more about the people's determination to defend the Cuban Revolution. CHILE AND CUBA READY TO SIGN COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT Santiago de Chile, April 21(RHC)-- Cuba and Chile are taking the first steps toward signing a commercial agreement. Chilean Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Insulza characterized as contradictory the fact that some countries individually have normal diplomatic relations with Cuba, yet multilaterally isolate the island. During the recently concluded Summit of the Americas in the Chilean capital, in which Cuba was excluded for a second time, various Latin American and Caribbean nations urged that Cuba be included in the inter-American system. CUBAN CUISINE INVADES MEXICO CITY THIS WEEK Mexico City, April 21(RHC)-- Exquisite and delicious Cuban cuisine will be displayed in the Mexican capital this week as part of Cuban Food Week. The festivities began today and will run through the 29th. Sponsored by Cubana Airlines as well as artists and tourism firms on the island, the event will include outstanding Cuban chefs and a cocktail exhibition. [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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