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 28, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 2.- VISIT OF CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER AGAIN DEMONSTRATES U.S. GOVERNMENT'S ISOLATION 3.- CUBAN CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN WORLD CHILDREN'S SUMMIT 4.- CUBA CONTINUES TO TREAT UKRAINIAN CHILDREN AFFECTED BY THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT 5.- CUBA LOWERS ITS INFANT MORTALITY RATE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, April 28(RHC)-- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien wrapped up a two-day official visit to Cuba today. During two news conferences held Monday and Tuesday, Chretien told the local and international press that he believed his visit was very useful. After reiterating a condemnation of Washington's anti-Cuba Helms-Burton Law -- and recalling that Canada was one of the first nations to oppose this extraterritorial measure -- the Canadian Prime Minister said that in two long, private conversations with Cuban President Fidel Castro, he asked for "change in Cuba." However, he also said that President Castro is a communist who firmly supports the system that he defends. At a news conference at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport shortly after Chretien's departure, Cuban President Fidel Castro said he did not support the changes requested by the Canadian Prime Minister, but that he was open to dialogue. The leader of the Cuban Revolution said the biggest change that has occurred in Cuba has been the Revolution itself. Prime Minister Chretien highlighted the fact that his arrival speech in Havana was heard live across the island, that he was able to publicly meet with the head of the Cuban Catholic Church, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, as well as with representatives of four non-governmental organizations in Cuba, and that several of his colleagues were able to meet with dissidents on the island. The Canadian leader said human and economic rights topped the agenda of his discussions with the Cuban leader, announcing that he had also requested the release of four jailed dissidents. President Castro said he would consider the request. Chretien also mentioned the fact that he is the first head of state or government belonging to the Group of 7 most industrialized nations to visit Cuba. The Canadian Prime Minister said he hopes to see Cuba at the 3rd Summit of the Americas, slated next year for Ottawa, and that he favors Cuba's re-incorporation in the inter-american system -- which, he said, most of the western hemisphere's leaders also support. Before wrapping up his visit shortly after 12 noon local time, Canada and Cuba signed three accords in the areas of sports, health and audio-visual cooperation. The two countries also established a mechanism by which Cuba will compensate four Canadian insurance companies nationalized by the Cuban Revolution. VISIT OF CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER AGAIN DEMONSTRATES U.S. GOVERNMENT'S ISOLATION Washington, April 28(RHC)-- The Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs asserted today that Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien's visit to Cuba once again demonstrates the U.S. government's growing isolation with respect to its Cuba policy. Generally called a liberal think-tank, the Council on Hemispheric Affairs took note of the United Nations Human Rights Commission's rejection of Washington's anti-Cuba policy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's support for easing the blockade of Cuba, and the fact that practically all the world's countries have diplomatic relations with the island. The independent organization said, meanwhile, Washington "continues playing its dinosaur role" and continues towing a clearly antiquated policy. The Council on Hemispheric Affairs reiterated its condemnation of Washington's efforts to curry favor to extremist elements of the Cuban-American exile community in order to achieve electoral gains. CUBAN CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN WORLD CHILDREN'S SUMMIT Havana, April 28(RHC)-- Some one dozen Cuban children will travel to France this week to take part in the World Children's Summit at the invitation of the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization -- UNESCO. Growth and child development will be the main issues discussed at the world forum in Paris, which will take place from May 4th through the 8th with the participation of children from some 70 countries. Heading the Cuban delegation will be Lissette Diaz Castro, Vice President of the island's Jose Marti Pioneer Organization. Representatives from each of the island's provinces were elected by the young people themselves to attend the World Children's Summit next month. CUBAN VACATIONERS GET READY TO GO CAMPING Havana, April 28(RHC)-- Over 700,000 Cubans throughout the island will going camping this year. According to the director of the camping firm, Oscar Gonzalez, some 80 installations are hosting local vacationers this summer. Gonzalez said that over five million pesos were invested in maintenance and repairs. He stressed that his camping firm is working with the Ministry of Transportation to facilitate the transportation of the vacationers to the facility. Up until April 26th, some 190 thousand campers have already visited the vacation spots, an increase of 12 percent compared to last year. CUBA CONTINUES TO TREAT UKRAINIAN CHILDREN AFFECTED BY THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT Havana, April 28(RHC)-- An international children's medical center was inaugurated in Crimea with the collaboration of the Cuban government. The installation will include the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Some 27,000 children have benefitted from the medical services, including five Cuban doctors specialized in pediatrics, dermatology, endocrinology and physiology. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma thanked Cuba for what he called "incalculable help at the most difficult moment." He added that he has listened to Cuban President Fidel Castro's speeches on a number of occasions, urging the international community to follow Cuba's example in aiding the Ukrainian children. But, said the Ukrainian president, "unfortunately, many people do not hear very well." For his part, the Cuban ambassador to the Ukraine ratified the island's willingness to continue helping Ukrainian children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident -- as the Cuban people have always believed in the concept of internationalism. CUBA LOWERS ITS INFANT MORTALITY RATE Havana, April 28(RHC)-- During the first three months of this year, Cuba has achieved an infant mortality rate of 7.3 per one thousand live births -- lower than that which was achieved during the same period last year. The National Director of the Infant Maternal Program, Miriam Alino, told journalists that the continued reduction of the island's infant mortality rate is due to the improvement of the organization and professional quality of Cuba's health care system. She added that the community's involvement in the care of mother and child is also important. The director of the Infant Maternal Program stated that these results are also due to the purchase of intensive care equipment, pre-natal diagnosis and ultra-sonic tests as well as the expansion of the primary attention system throughout the island. In 1997, Cuba reached an infant mortality rate of 7.2 per one thousand live births, placing Cuba among the top 25 nations with best results in the field. [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. 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