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, August 12, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CONFIRMS DEPORTATION OF CUBAN EXILE SUSPECTED OF PLOTTING ASSASSINATION OF CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO 2.- MAJOR U.S. DAILY SAYS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE OF CUBA OBSTRUCTS DEVELOPMENTS THAT COULD HELP SICK AMERICANS 3.- CUBAN DELEGATION TO CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES HEADS MEDAL STANDINGS 4.- CUBA'S CULTURE MINISTER ATTENDS SOLIDARITY ACTIVITY IN ECUADOR 5.- HOTEL ROOMS INCREASE IN CIEGO DE AVILA PROVINCE 6.- NEW BOOK ON CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO WILL SOON BE PRESENTED BY THE CUBAN BOOK INSTITUTE 7.- AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CONFIRMS DEPORTATION OF CUBAN EXILE SUSPECTED OF PLOTTING ASSASSINATION OF CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO Santo Domingo, August 12(RHC)-- Authorities in the Dominican Republic Wednesday confirmed the deportation of a Cuban exile suspected of involvement in an assassination plot against Cuban President Fidel Castro during his upcoming visit to that Caribbean nation. The director of the Dominican Republic's National Department of Investigations, Sigfrido Pared Perez, announced today that the deportation occurred on Saturday, although he refused to reveal the name of the person deported. The police official said the individual in question was deported to Spain after having entered the Dominican Republic through neighboring Haiti. He added that the Cuban exile was in possession of notes concerning the itinerary of President Castro's five-day visit to that country beginning next August 20th. Pared Perez reiterated that several government agencies are investigating other foreigners, particularly Cubans from Miami. The confirmation follows Sunday's article in the U.S. news daily The Miami Herald, asserting that several Cuban-Americans were involved in an assassination plot against the Cuban leader, masterminded by Cuban- American terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. Carriles escaped from a Venezuelan prison in 1985, nine years after his incarceration for the 1976 terrorist bomb that destroyed a Cuban civilian airline in Barbados -- killing all 73 passengers aboard. Since then, Carriles has been living in Central America -- primarily in El Salvador -- under the protection of right-wing circles. According to the Herald article, Carriles met last month with three Miami-based Cuban-Americans in Guatemala City, discussing how to smuggle weapons and explosives into Santo Domingo. MAJOR U.S. DAILY SAYS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE OF CUBA OBSTRUCTS DEVELOPMENTS THAT COULD HELP SICK AMERICANS Los Angeles, August 12(RHC)-- An editorial in Tuesday's edition of the U.S. news daily The Los Angeles Times has asserted that Washington's out-dated blockade of Cuba prevents the United States from receiving Cuban medical products that could help sick Americans. The Times editorial points to a breakthrough in arresting an epidemic of deadly Type-B meningitis, calling it "a medical achievement of Cuba's very active and underrated medical research community." The editorial said that when such a foreign policy denies medicine to sick Americans, then "surely the time has come to review its status and cast a cold eye on the political clout of the anti-Castro machine in Congress". The newspaper highlighted the fact that the Cuban-made vaccine has virtually wiped out meningitis B on the island nation. Recalling that the pharmaceutical giant Smith-Kline-Beecham has asked the Clinton administration to waive the trade embargo to permit trials of the vaccine, the editorial in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times stated that this is exactly what the Treasury Department should do "in order to build a humanitarian bridge between the two countries." The Los Angeles Times wrote that Cuba's remarkable medical developments grew out of an imposed self-reliance, and that Cuba's scientists have built a little known but sophisticated biotechnology field -- which it called "a success that has now drawn the attention of industry leaders." The editorial said that whether it's research to combat skin disease or prevent meningitis and cholera, "Cuban doctors and scientists have excelled in a system far less structured than that of the United States. CUBAN DELEGATION TO CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES HEADS MEDAL STANDINGS Maracaibo, August 12(RHC)-- Cuba heads the list in the medal standings at the Central American and Caribbean Games currently taking place in Maracaibo, Venezuela -- after winning 12 gold medals in swimming, archery and shooting competitions on Tuesday. In swimming competitions, Cuba has had good results despite the fact that the sport is not the island's forte. The Cuban soccer team still hopes to qualify for the second round and the island's World Volleyball League champs are ready to claim a gold medal in the games. Before Wednesday;s competitions, Cuba headed the medal standings with 23 gold medals, 15 silver and 18 bronze, followed by Mexico with 17 gold, 19 silver and 19 bronze. In third place is the host team, Venezuela, with 16 gold, 12 silver and ten bronze and Colombia is in fourth with seven gold, 13 silver and three bronze. CUBA'S CULTURE MINISTER ATTENDS SOLIDARITY ACTIVITY IN ECUADOR Quito, August 12(RHC)-- Cuban Minister of Culture Abel Prieto received gestures of solidarity and friendship during his recent trip to Ecuador. During an activity organized by Cuba solidarity organizations and the Cuban-Ecuadoran Cultural Institute, the Cuban official thanked the Ecuadoran people for their solidarity with the island. The Cuban minister of culture, who attended the inauguration of Ecuadoran President Jamil Mahuad on Monday, informed the solidarity activists about the island's socio-economic situation and stressed the increasing international condemnation against Washington's nearly 40-year blockade against Cuba. The Cuban official heard about the organization's plans to publish an anthology of poems from both nations and a new edition of the works of Cuba's National Hero Jose Marti. A proposal to hold a world solidarity summit was also discussed. HOTEL ROOMS INCREASE IN CIEGO DE AVILA PROVINCE Havana, August 12(RHC)-- The efforts of the workers from Ciego de Avila and eastern Santiago de Cuba province in the construction of the Jardines del Rey Tourism complex in Ciego de Avila will provide over 2200 rooms with the completion of another two hotels in the region. The Iberostar Daiguir Hotel, with a capacity of 312 rooms, and Arena Real with 250 are scheduled to be finished in September and December, respectively. The new hotels will join another five in the keys located on the northern coast of the island. Tourism Ministry sources in Cayo Coco told Cuba's daily Granma that this investment program is aimed at adding some 5500 hotel rooms over the next three years, capable of welcoming more than 300,000 vacationers. The development of the tourism sector in Ciego de Avila province has generated work for more than 3500 people in that central region and has contributed to the area's agriculture, transportation and food industry. According to official figures, tourism will bring in over 300 million dollars this year in Ciego de Avila. NEW BOOK ON CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO WILL SOON BE PRESENTED BY THE CUBAN BOOK INSTITUTE Havana, August 10(RHC)-- Seventy-six photos of Cuban President Fidel Castro, taken by photographer Liborio Noval from 1960 to 1998, are included in the book called "Instantaneas" that will soon be launched by the Cuban Book Institute. The edition, edited by Camilo Perez Casal, has a prologue by Cuban heroine Melba Hernandez and was completed just before the 72nd birthday of the Cuban leader, celebrated tomorrow, August 13th. Many of the photographs included in the book have never before been published. AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES Maracaibo, August 12(RHC)-- The Dominican Republic won four gold medals Tuesday, the third day of competitions at the Maracaibo games. The titles were won by weight lifters Miosotis Heredia and Wanda Rijo. Colombia won a similar number of top places, including the victory of cyclist Jairo Perez in men's four-kilometer individual pursuit, where Cuban Iosvany Gutierrez got bronze. Surinam was the center of attention in swimming thanks to Carolyn Adel who now accumulates four top places, including 100 meters back stroke and 400 meters free. For the first time since 1954, a Cuban swimmer has won a medal in women's 100 meters back stroke. Adel won the gold and Cuban Ana Maria Gonzalez entered second for a bronze medal. Thanks to the excellent performance of its archers and shooters, Cuba grabbed a total of 12 gold medals Tuesday, climbing to the top in overall medal standings at the Maracaibo games. The day also brought a gold medal in swimming in men's 200 meter back stroke. Swimmer Neiser Bent not only got the gold but also set a new record for that modality at the games. Neiser Bent told reporters he felt at ease in the swimming pool and that was key for his time of two minutes, one second and 53-hundredths. Bent improved the previous record by almost two seconds. That record had been set by fellow countryman Rodolfo Falcon, who this time dropped to fourth place. Bent said he was happy with the gold and the record, adding that his dream was not only to win but also to improve his own performance. [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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