CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org [The RHC website is down for server maintenance and is expected to be back online some time Saturday, /8/98. -- NY Transfer News.] The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Friday, August 7, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- U.S. FEDERAL AGENTS ARREST SELLERS OF CONTRABAND CUBAN CIGARS 2.- LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN BRIGADE CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA 3.- WORK CONTINUES TO ALLEVIATE DROUGHT SITUATION IN HOLGUIN PROVINCE 4.- CUBA'S EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS THE ISLAND'S UNIVERSITIES OCCUPY IMPORTANT PLACE WORLDWIDE 5.- CUBA INAUGURATES MODERN OXYGEN PLANT WITH GERMAN COOPERATION 6.- CUBA STEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE REGION U.S. FEDERAL AGENTS ARREST SELLERS OF CONTRABAND CUBAN CIGARS New York, August 7(RHC)-- Federal agents in New York City are going after Cuban cigars, with the arrest of eight bar and club owners and clients between Wednesday and Thursday, accused of selling or buying illegal Cuban cigars. On Wednesday, federal agents arrested Robert Gressler, a manager at the men-only Racquet and Tennis Club, and Alex Hasbany, manager of the cigar room at the Patroon Restaurant on East 46th Street in Manhattan. The owner of the Patroon, Kenneth Aretsky, surrendered to authorities on Thursday and was also charged with conspiring to violate the so-called Trading with the Enemy Act. Those arrested were later released on their own recognizance. Michael Kennedy, a lawyer for one of the accused, stated that the arrests made no sense; that it is absurd to think that an American who buys a cigar from another American can be arrested for trading with the enemy. Mark Grossich, owner of several cigar bars, told The New York Times that at a time when there aren't enough agents to go after drug dealers, "it seems ridiculous that they have the manpower to chase down Cuban cigars." According to U.S. customs officials, 240,523 Cuban cigars were seized in 1997, more than double the 96,216 seized in 1996. The accused face up to ten years in prison and a fine of 100 thousand dollars. LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN BRIGADE CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Havana, August 7(RHC)-- The 5th Contingent of the Latin American and Caribbean Brigade has issued a declaration strongly condemning Washington's economic blockade against Cuba and demanding an end to U.S. hostilities against the island. The declaration was issued at the Julio Antonio Mella International Camp, located on the outskirts of Havana, during the closing ceremony for the 170 brigadistas who have been on the island since July 27. During their visit to the island, the brigadistas participated in various work projects and visited places of socio-economic and historic interest. Members of the Latin American and Caribbean Brigade will return to their respective countries on Monday. Over the weekend, they will meet with representatives of political and grass roots organizations. Meanwhile, a group of Canadian students began solidarity work in fishing cooperatives in the central province of Villa Clara and other plantations in that area. They shared experiences with Cuban young people who have joined Student Work Brigades during summer vacation. WORK CONTINUES TO ALLEVIATE DROUGHT SITUATION IN HOLGUIN PROVINCE Holguin, August 7(RHC)-- Cuban construction workers are rapidly working to alleviate the severe drought in the eastern province of Holguin. Work continues on construction of a pipeline which will allow 20 million cubic meters of water from the Gibara reservoir to reach the city of Holguin. The construction workers -- among the island's best -- are working against time. The Gibara reservoir currently has close to 23 million cubic meters of water. But this figure will continue to drop if the drought continues, worsening the situation in the provincial city. The reservoir is among the provinces's three largest and can hold 65.5 million cubic meters of water. Other measures have been taken in the area which was declared in a state of emergency a little over a week ago. Among the latest are the distribution of water by trucks and repairing leaks and valves in the city. CUBA'S EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS THE ISLAND'S UNIVERSITIES OCCUPY IMPORTANT PLACE WORLDWIDE Havana, August 7(RHC)-- Cuban universities occupy an important position internationally and maintain strong ties with their counterparts in Latin America, Canada and Europe. According to Cuba's Education Minister Fernando Vecino Alegret, the number of Cuban workers who will be able to take courses has been increased for the 1998-1999 school year. The Cuban official added that the government has earmarked one million dollars to purchase computers, allowing Cuban educational institutions to upgrade their facilities. CUBA INAUGURATES MODERN OXYGEN PLANT WITH GERMAN COOPERATION Havana, August 7(RHC)-- Cuba's most modern oxygen plant was inaugurated on Thursday with the cooperation of the German firm Messer Griesheim. The installation, capable of producing 70 per cent of the industrial gases used nationally, was constructed in a record time of 11 months, at a cost of just over four million dollars. During the inaugural activity, the president of the German company, Jurgen Nickaus, made note of the excellent work of Cuban employees and announced that his firm is interested in expanding cooperation to other sectors like sugar, tobacco, nickel and copper. CUBA STEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE REGION Havana, August 7(RHC)-- The United States is apparently concerned about the movement of illegal drugs through Cuban waters. According to a Radio Havana Cuba commentary, Havana has on numerous occasions stated its willingness to collaborate in the fight against drug trafficking. The editorial notes that U.S. State Department official Michael Reinberyer announced that his country's powerful radar systems have detected an increased presence of vessels related to drug trafficking in the proximity of Cuba and planes that are using Cuba's airspace. Radio Havana Cuba points out what the U.S. State Department conveniently forgot to mention was that the vessels and planes close to Cuban coasts occur despite efforts of local authorities to stop them. Cuba's criminal laws include severe sanctions for foreigners who use the island's waters or air space to transport illegal drugs which would end up in the U.S. -- the world's largest consumer of drugs. The Radio Havana Cuba commentary says that Cuban authorities exert great efforts to confiscate any drugs and punish drug traffickers that are discovered in Cuban territorial waters. Specially-trained airport personnel in Cuba have redoubled their efforts to detect passengers who attempt to transport drugs to Europe or other parts of the world. Since Cuba currently does not have the ability to pursue speed boats used by drug traffickers in Cuban waters, all the region's nations -- including the United States -- should pledge to pitch in and help end drug trafficking in the area. [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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