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 29, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SAYS VISIT BY CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN WAS AN ACT OF COURAGE AND EXPRESSION OF CANADA'S INDEPENDENT SPIRIT 2.- LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR MAY DAY FESTIVITIES IN CUBA 3.- CHILDREN FROM 17 NATIONS TAKE PART IN "SAVE THE OCEANS FORUM" AT CUBA'S NATIONAL AQUARIUM 4.- JAPANESE BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS THE ISLAND 5.- FRENCH BUSINESS DELEGATION TOURS THE ISLAND IN SEARCH OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 6.- CUBA'S EASTERN PROVINCE OF GUANTANAMO AND THE ITALIAN REGION OF FRIULI-BENETO BECOME SISTER PROVINCES CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SAYS VISIT BY CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN WAS AN ACT OF COURAGE AND EXPRESSION OF CANADA'S INDEPENDENT SPIRIT Havana, April 29(RHC)-- Speaking with local and international journalists late Tuesday, Cuban President Fidel Castro asserted that the visit to Cuba by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien was "an act of courage and an expression of Canada's independent spirit." During a long and animated discussion with reporters following Chretien's departure, the Cuban leader fielded numerous questions concerning the visit and a wide range of other Cuba-related issues. Asked if Cuba would be invited to next year's Third Summit of the Americas in Canada, President Castro said the Canadian Prime Minister had expressed his support of Cuba's presence. But the Cuban leader said his government did not, and would not, take advantage of Chretien's visit to apply any pressure regarding this issue. Concerning Prime Minister Chretien's call on Cuba to change, Fidel Castro said "Cuba doesn't have to change every time an important figure visits the island." If that were the case, he added, Cuba would have to be changing almost every day. The Cuban leader said, nevertheless, that unlike Washington, Chretien did not pressure Cuba in any way, but rather, "came to exchange ideas." Foreign journalists brought up the issue of the release of political prisoners in Cuba. President Castro responded by saying that in this respect "Cuba has always been generous," recalling that the island's authorities released the more than one thousand mercenaries who participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion, and has released thousands more over the past 40 years. He reminded journalists that leading up to the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Central Intelligence Agency was financing some 300 counterrevolutionary organizations attempting to overthrow the Cuban Revolution. And, he said, "Cuba is not the only country in the world that imprisons those who carry out illegal activities against the State." Cuban President Fidel Castro also addressed the issue of globalization, which he agreed was inevitable. However, he added that "neoliberal, capitalist globalization was unsustainable." He said capitalism "doesn't know what to do with the hundreds of millions of jobless people, whose ranks continue to grow as technology continues developing." The Cuban leader said he did not want a globalized world where alongside a few multi-billionaires there are hundreds of millions living on a dollar a day. During the past 100 years, said the Cuban leader, the gross national products of some countries have increased 10-fold, while labor productivity per hour has grown 18-fold. "But the resulting wealth," he stressed, "has only benefitted a minority." Cuba, said President Castro, "has more teachers than it needs, but none are left by the wayside." Those who aren't teaching, he pointed out, are studying to increase their skills. He said "a system where human beings are in excess, where people are left over and left out, is a worthless system, and capitalism has no answer to this dilemma." Again responding to a question concerning change in Cuba, President Castro said it would be good for the United States to change so that people vote during elections. In the U.S., he said, scarcely 50 percent of voters cast ballots, which translates into the election of presidents with only 25 percent of the vote, "while in Cuba more than 95 percent exercise this right in secret and free balloting -- while U.S. propaganda denies that elections are even held here." The Cuban leader said he was certain that in the United States itself there are many people who think of a different world. President Bill Clinton himself, he said, has unsuccessfully tried to get more funding for education, health care and the elderly. But Clinton, he added, has come up against those who believe the market can fix everything. President Castro said "the market is a savage beast that no one can control." Finally, one journalist asked the Cuban leader how it felt to condemn the United States in front of the representative of the U.S.'s closest friend -- in reference to the Cuban President's welcome speech delivered following Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien's arrival in Havana. President Castro asked how else could he express himself in this blockaded country. If his speech was harsh, he said, "much harsher is a blockade that kills children because the country is prohibited from buying medicines." Much harsher, he said, is the shortage of food due to a blockade that has been in place for the past 40 years. LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR MAY DAY FESTIVITIES IN CUBA Havana, April 29(RHC)-- May Day will be festive, patriotic, and a celebration of victories like the recent U.S. defeat at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, attempting to condemn Cuba for alleged human rights violations. This statement was made by the First Secretary of Havana's Communist Party Esteban Lazo during a preparatory meeting for May Day celebrations, which will be held Friday at Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion. The meeting, which took place at the University of Havana, was also attended by the General Secretary of Cuba's Workers Confederation (CTC) Pedro Ross Leal and other union leaders. The main slogan for this year's May Day is: "We Shall Defend the Revolution's Social Achievements." International Workers Day will be dedicated to one of Cuba's most important union leaders: Jesus Menendez. Meanwhile, over 900 union leaders representing 139 organizations from 42 countries have confirmed their presence in Havana to participate in May Day festivities on Friday. Many of the guests are already in Havana participating in different activities related to International Workers Day. May Day festivities will also be celebrated in the other 13 provinces and the Special Municipality of the Isle of Youth. CHILDREN FROM 17 NATIONS TAKE PART IN "SAVE THE OCEANS FORUM" AT CUBA'S NATIONAL AQUARIUM Havana, April 29(RHC)-- Hundreds of children representing 17 nations -- attending a scientific forum currently taking place at Havana's National Aquarium -- have issued a call for the protection of the oceans. The children's call is aimed at learning more about the oceans. 1998 has been named International Year of the Oceans. The event, organized by the National Oceanography Committee, will wind up on Thursday. Among the countries represented by children are Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, the United States, Britain, Italy, Palestine, Mexico and others. JAPANESE BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, April 29(RHC)-- A Japanese business delegation headed by the President of the Buffet Takai of Tokyo, Nobuo Takai, is currently visiting the island. Takai said that his delegation's visit is aimed at learning about the Cuban market first-hand. The 30 Japanese representatives met with Cuba's Deputy Tourism Minister Eddie Rodriguez during a visit of tourist facilities on the island and discussed the possibility of opening Japanese restaurants in the Cuban capital. This is the first Japanese business delegation to visit the island since last month's agreement with Japanese companies to re-schedule Cuba's foreign debt, estimated at 750 million dollars. FRENCH BUSINESS DELEGATION TOURS THE ISLAND IN SEARCH FOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Havana, April 29(RHC)-- A French business delegation currently visiting the island has met with Cuba's Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez and the President of Cuba's Central Bank Francisco Soberon. The head of the French delegation, Jean Pierre DeGeorges, told reporters that he applauds the island's economic reforms and pointed out that despite Cuba's current difficulties, it has been capable of carrying out a strong economic program. The French business representatives stressed that the PANSI firm will sign an agreement for the construction of luxury hotels, another example of the island's tourism development, which is currently one of Cuba's main sources of income. CUBA'S EASTERN PROVINCE OF GUANTANAMO AND THE ITALIAN REGION OF FRIULI-BENETO BECOME SISTER PROVINCES Guantanamo, April 29(RHC)-- Cuba's eastern province of Guantanamo and Italy's Friuli-Beneto region became sister provinces after signing an agreement for the exchange of information and Italian support for various solidarity projects. The document was signed by the provincial government of Guantanamo and representatives of the Italy-Cuba Friendship Association. The Italian delegation stressed their support of the Cuban Revolution and their admiration of the principles of the Cuban people and issued a strong condemnation of Washington's economic blockade against the island. [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