CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's English language service for Friday, April 24, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- NEW CONGRESSIONAL STUDY REVEALS THAT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT LIED ABOUT NUMBER OF AMERICAN COMPANIES ALLOWED TO SALE MEDICINE TO CUBA 2.- BROAD SECTORS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CONTINUE DEFENDING DECISION TO REESTABLISH FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA 3.- CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MOVES BY ONE DAY HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 4.- THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONGRATULATES CUBA ON ITS VICTORY IN UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 5.- SANTA EFIGENIA CEMETERY IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA MARKS 130TH ANNIVERSARY 6.- PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM BOTSWANA VISITS CUBA 7.- CHINA AND CUBA EXPAND BILATERAL RELATIONS NEW CONGRESSIONAL STUDY REVEALS THAT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT LIED ABOUT NUMBER OF AMERICAN COMPANIES ALLOWED TO SALE MEDICINE TO CUBA Havana, April 24, RHC -- In the USA, a new congressional study has revealed that the US State Department lied about the number of American companies allowed to sale medicine and health care supplies to Cuba since 1992, according to an article in today's edition of The Tampa Tribune. Tampa Tribune staff writer Phil Willon wrote today that the report was conducted by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Center, based on federal trade records recently uncovered by Tampa physician and professor at the University of South Florida, Anthony Kirkpatrick -- a long-time opponent of the US's trade restrictions against Cuba. The study was requested by Congressman Esteban Torres, a California Democrat and one of the sponsors of legislation to permit the free sale of food and medicine to Cuba. Congressman Torres told The Tampa Tribune that he did not understand why the State Department would misrepresent to the Congress and to the American people this almost complete lack of US medical sales to Cuba. But Dr. Kirkpatrick was even more blunt, calling the findings an indictment of an inhumane US policy toward Cuba, and saying that by lying to the American public, the State Department is in effect killing innocent civilians in Cuba. In August, 1997, the State Department asserted that the US does not impede the sales of medicine to Cuba, alleging that since 1992, of 39 licenses for those sales, 36 were approved. But the Congressional Research Service found that, at most, only 11 licenses were issued for sales to Cuba during that time. The study found that 11 licenses were for commercial sales to organizations such as the United Nations, which donated the medical goods to Cuba. Under US law, no license is required for such a sale. 8 licenses were based on contracts entered into before 1992, and 5 were solely for travel to Cuba by representatives of American pharmaceutical companies to explore possible sales. Wayne Smith, of the Center for International Policy in Washington, said the study substantiates what Kirkpatrick has been charging all along. Thus far, the only response from the State Department is that their information was as accurate as possible. In May, the House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hold hearings on the US blockade of Cuba. According to observers, the report conducted by the Congressional Research Service has bolstered critics of US restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba. BROAD SECTORS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CONTINUE DEFENDING DECISION TO REESTABLISH FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA Havana, April 24, RHC -- The government of the Dominican Republic, and numerous other sectors of Dominican society, continue expressing satisfaction over the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and rejection of Washington's irritation. On several occasions this week, the US government and US diplomats have expressed their profound disappointment over Santo Domingo's decision. But Danilo Medina, secretary of President Leonel Fernandez, said Washington has no justifiable reason to feel disappointed. The former president of the Dominican Electoral Board, Cesar Estrella Sahdala, said the Dominican government's action was a sovereign decision that has received widespread support both inside the country and abroad. The Dominican Republic's political opposition and the Catholic Church have also come out in favor of the move. The leader of the opposition Dominican Revolutionary Party, Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, recalled today that nations that are still communist, and with which the United States was involved in armed conflicts that cost numerous lives, maintain normal diplomatic and economic ties with Washington, as, he said, is the case with Vietnam and China. The Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardenal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez, asserted today that the Dominican government does not have to give explanations to Washington. The Catholic prelate said Washington does not ask anyone for permission to negotiate and maintain relations with China, Vietnam and other countries. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MOVES BY ONE DAY HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, April 24, (RHC) -- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien has moved up by one day his official visit to Cuba. Originally slated to arrive in Havana next Monday and wind up his visit Tuesday evening, Chretien will instead travel to the Cuban capital on Sunday and leave Tuesday afternoon due to his commitments at home. In statements this week following his announcement of his visit, the Canadian Prime Minister -- the first to visit Cuba in 22 years -- said that his government favors dialogue and constructive engagement with the island, and not isolation. He also stated that human rights will be on his agenda, recalling that Cuba and Canada have a bilateral agreement in the sphere of human rights, which includes the exchange of experts, seminars and other types of contacts. Observers have been pointing out that Chretien's visit to Cuba will drive a further wedge between Washington and Ottawa. Canada has been one of the most outspoken critics of the US's Helms-Burton Law, and a Canadian firm was one of several whose executives were denied entry visas into the United States due to that extraterritorial measure. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONGRATULATES CUBA ON ITS VICTORY IN UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Havana, April 25 (RHC)-- China's foreign ministry expressed satisfaction over the Cuban victory at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Commission which condemned Washington's proposal to accuse the island of human rights violations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zju Bangzao reiterated to the local and foreign press in Beijing, that China opposes the use of the human rights issue in political conflicts. The vote against Washington's anti Cuba proposal was also applauded by the Mexican ambassador to the United Nations, Antonio Icaza. Meanwhile, the new Mexican ambassador in Cuba, Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, said that he is convinced that the real human rights violations have been Washington's nearly 40 year blockade against the Cuban people. In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina news agency, the Mexican diplomat stressed that the blockade has affected the most elemental human rights of human beings : food and health which the US government has denied the Cuban people. But noted the new ambassador, thanks to the Cuban Revolution, despite Washington's continued aggressions, the government has been able to provide free health care and education to the population. Coldwell pointed out that only the Cuban people can decide the future of their Revolution. News of the Cuban victory in the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva was also published in newspapers in Italy, France and was reported in English on Vatican Radio. SANTA EFIGENIA CEMETERY IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA MARKS 130TH ANNIVERSARY Santiago de Cuba, April 24 (RHC)-- An open air museum and the resting place of Cuban heroes and martyrs. That is how the Santa Efigenia Cemetery in eastern Santiago de Cuba is described. Celebrating its 130th anniversary, the workers of this historic graveyard received the recognition of the mayor of the city, Luis Estruch Rancano. On behalf the local authorities and trade union organizations, floral wreaths were placed at the monuments of Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti; the Father of the homeland, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes; Perucho Figueredo, author of Cuba's national anthem and; Frank and Josue Pais, heros of the struggle against the Batista dictatorship. PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM BOTSWANA VISITS CUBA Havana, April 24 (RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister, Ricardo Cabrisas met on Thursday with the head of a parliamentary delegation from Botswana, Edison Masisi. During the meeting, the Cuban official refereed to the strengthening of bilateral commercial relations and announced a joint cooperation meeting between the two countries to be held next month. The visit by the Botswana delegation will wind up on Sunday. Masisi is expected to meet with Cuban parliamentary leaders and government officials and visit places of social and cultural interest. CHINA AND CUBA EXPAND BILATERAL RELATIONS Havana, April 24 (RHC)-- China's ambassador in Havana, Liu Peigen says that economic exchange with Cuba is very important and occupies an important place in China's commercial relations with Latin America. In a visit to a bee research center in central Sancti Spiritus province, the Chinese diplomat stressed that many bilateral projects are going well especially the bee research center he toured, which is the only one of its kind in the region. Cuba and China signed various agreements in Havana last month, promoting trade and investment between the two nations. 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