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 Wednesday, April 22, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- GRANMA NEWS DAILY SAYS TUESDAY'S VOTE AT UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WAS HISTORIC 2.- DOMINICANS EXPRESS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 3.- PRESIDENT OF CANARY ISLANDS, MANUEL HERMOSO ROJAS, WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 4.- WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION INVITES CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH IN GENEVA 5.- CUBA'S RENOWNED SALSA GROUP ISAAC DELGADO AND HIS BAND SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM AT MIAMI BEACH 6.- INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH 7.- NEW METHODS BEING USED ON THE ISLAND FOR OIL EXTRACTION 8.- CUBAN ECONOMIC DELEGATION IN URUGUAY 9.- PRESIDENT OF BELGIUM SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY VISITS CUBA GRANMA NEWS DAILY SAYS TUESDAY'S VOTE AT UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WAS HISTORIC Havana, April 22(RHC)-- A full, front-page editorial in Cuba's Granma news daily has termed as historic Tuesday's vote at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The anti-Cuba resolution that the United States government has presented before the Commission since 1992 was defeated with 19 votes against, 16 in favor and 18 abstentions. The official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party recalled that seven years ago, when this "undignified vendetta" against Cuba began, Cuba warned that it was condemned to failure due to the politicized and selective manipulation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The editorial stated that with this manipulation, the powerful victors of the Cold War have attempted to subjugate those who disagree with the unipolar new world order and impose their own political, social and economic models. Cuba's principle news daily stressed that everyone knew -- even those who took sides with Washington -- that the special rapporteur assigned to Cuba had as his only source the slander campaigns against the island that are customary in the pages of anti-Cuban newspapers and from the microphones of anti-Cuban radio stations. Cuba, said the editorial, never accepted the results of the manipulated votes in the UN Human Rights Commission, but at the same time, never refused to discuss any issue. The full, front-page editorial said that there are an abundance of examples demonstrating that the Cuban Revolution has converted the application, respect and defense of human rights into a daily practice. Cuba's Granma newspaper expressed the hope that Washington will not attempt to arrogantly take vengeance against those countries who voted against the resolution, and will not continue blackmailing other governments in an effort to renew this "undignified, immoral and useless battle." The Granma editorial pointed out that Cuba has allied itself to the most just causes in the Human Rights Commission, regardless of their origin. The front page editorial recalled that Cuba presented resolution projects on The Right To Food -- with 62 co-sponsors -- as well as resolutions concerning the consequences of free market shock policies and the foreign debt on the ability of peoples to effectively exercise their human rights -- with 34 co- sponsors. The only vote against came from Washington. Today's front-page editorial in Granma stated that Cuba has reason to celebrate, but that it should not be forgotten that the island's battle against the blockade and in favor of the Cuban peoples' sovereignty and self-determination has not concluded -- and still demands immense efforts and poses gigantic challenges. "Cuba has demonstrated throughout its history," continued the editorial, "that it is fierce in battle, but always respectful in victory." With respect and equality, Cuba is willing to talk with those countries that joined the anti- Cuba manoeuver, even when we disagree politically and ideologically. "What Cuba will not accept is that, based on a universal imposition of alleged values, Cuban socialism is ideologically condemned." Today's full, front-page editorial in the Cuban news daily Granma, winds up by quoting the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who said: "Time, just principles and history are on our side." DOMINICANS EXPRESS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Santo Domingo, April 22(RHC)-- Reports from the capital of the Dominican Republic show widespread support of the re- establishment of full diplomatic relations with Cuba. Prensa Latina News Agency reported today that following Tuesday's announcement in Santo Domingo, the Cuban consulate in that Caribbean capital was flooded with people celebrating the event. Among those present was Dominican poet and President of Dominican Committee of Cuba Friends, Abelardo Vicioso, who said that "full diplomatic relations should have been established long ago due to the natural ties that unite the Cuban and Dominican peoples." The Coordinator of the Dominican Republic's National Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Ivan Rodriguez, said the move represents a victory for the majority of his nation's people who have long called for full relations. The Caribbean nation's newspapers put the story on the front-pages today, while at the same time taking note of the expected reaction from the U.S. embassy. In Santo Domingo, U.S. embassy spokesperson Michael Stanton said the news was "very disappointing" for his country. An editorial published in the local daily "Hoy" asserted that if the news was disappointing for Washington, "then all the U.S. diplomatic missions on the continent must also be disappointed." PRESIDENT OF CANARY ISLANDS, MANUEL HERMOSO ROJAS, WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, April 22(RHC)-- Upon wrapping up his official visit to Cuba, the President of the Canary Islands -- Manuel Hermoso Rojas -- said he felt a great deal of satisfaction over the defeat of Washington's anti-Cuba resolution in the UN Human Rights Commission. The visiting dignitary said "modern times demand new attitudes." President Hermoso Rojas also expressed his confidence that Spain -- following the normalization of relations with Cuba -- will be in the vanguard of the European Union's adoption of a new posture with respect to the Caribbean's largest island. He said he was certain that the EU will adopt a completely different posture that will benefit Cuba's development plans. Commenting on his meetings with Cuban President Fidel Castro and other high-ranking Cuban officials, the leader of the Spanish autonomous region expressed his satisfaction with new possibilities for increased cultural and scientific exchange between Cuba and the Canary Islands. President Hermoso Rojas and his delegation left the Cuban capital this afternoon, local time, en route to Venezuela. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION INVITES CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH IN GENEVA Geneva, April 22(RHC)-- The Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima, announced today that the international agency has invited Cuban President Fidel Castro to participate in its 50th anniversary activities next month in Geneva. Nakajima told Havana's Prensa Latina News Agency in this Swiss city that the WHO has invited one president from each region, and that for Latin America, the choice was Fidel Castro. In reference to Cuba's achievements in the health sector, Nakajima said Cuba was one of the pioneers in making reality the WHO's idea that all people, without exception, should have access to primary health care. He said Cuba has been an example and a model for Latin America and the rest of the world, despite the island's economic problems. The WHO's director general also termed as very important the biannual, international gatherings on primary health care held in Havana. And he recalled that cooperation between the WHO and Cuba has translated into a number of important projects. Dr. Nakajima said that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary, the WHO planned to publish a forecast concerning the worldwide situation in the area of health for the year 2000. He said the aim of this report is to make all governments aware of their specific situations so that they can offer better medical assistance and provide better preventive treatment. Hiroshi Nakajima said that with the rapid advance of science in the health sphere, costs are on the rise -- leaving millions of people unable to afford medical services. He said it is necessary to find new ways to finance health care that will allow governments to face the rising costs, and low income sectors to have access to health care. CUBA'S RENOWNED SALSA GROUP ISAAC DELGADO AND HIS BAND SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM AT MIAMI BEACH Miami, April 22(RHC)-- One of Cuba's most popular salsa groups, Isaac Delgado and his band, successfully performed last night at the Onix Club in Miami Beach. The organizers of the event called the performance "an historic concert," as no anti-Cuban protestors showed up at the event. The promoter of the concert, Hugo Cancio, said that people residing in the U.S. are eager to hear Cuban music, but due to Cuban right-wing protests and violence, Cuban musicians had not been able to perform in Miami. Over the weekend, a group of Cuban musicians preformed at the International Festival of the Arts in Massachusetts and according to reports, the audience went wild. INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH Havana, April 22(RHC)-- The 19th International Tourism Convention, which takes place every year in Cuba, will get underway in Havana next May 15th, under the slogan "The Caribbean and Tourism: United on the Threshold of a New Century." Participants will attend conferences and round tables on the current problems of the tourism sector, which is of utmost importance for the economies of many Latin American and Caribbean countries. The tourism convention hopes to discover other advantages in investments; the creation of joint, multi-national firms; airlines; insurance and assistance to travelers and cultural tourism. NEW METHODS BEING USED ON THE ISLAND FOR OIL EXTRACTION Havana, April 22(RHC)-- The use of modern technologies, various financial mechanisms and the presence of foreign firms are important factors that favor the development of a new oil region located near Puerto Escondido in western Pinar del Rio province. According to experts of the drilling and extraction firm of Western Oil, a new method of drilling will be used on the island. For the first time, horizontal drilling will be introduced. European companies are taking part in the execution of contracts to increase the production of already active oil deposits. Currently, there are firms from Canada, Britain, France and Sweden operating on the island in search and exploitation of oil. CUBAN ECONOMIC DELEGATION IN URUGUAY Montevideo, April 22(RHC)-- A number of Cuban economists are in the Uruguayan capital to participate in a course offered by the University of Uruguay. The university course is in compliance with a training agreement signed between both nations. The Cuban delegation, headed by Deputy Minister of Finance and Prices Ruben Toledo, will receive seminars and practical activities in State institutions, including the Central Bank of Uruguay. PRESIDENT OF BELGIUM SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY VISITS CUBA Havana, April 22(RHC)-- The President of the Belgium Social Democratic Party, Philip Goudin, said he is impressed by what he has seen in Cuba. The Belgium official, who is currently visiting Havana, said he admires the Cuban people's bravery, and underscored that the main objectives of socialism are well-rooted on the island. In statements to Granma newspaper, Goudin, who is also Vice President of the Socialist International, said that during his stay in Cuba he has seen the Cuban people's unity first- hand. Questioned about future relations between the European Union and Cuba, Philip Goudin said that those relations continue to improve through tourism and bilateral economic exchange. [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