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 19, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- ACTIVISTS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PREPARE MASSIVE RECEPTION FOR CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO 2.- CUBA-CANADA FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER WINDS UP 3.- 50th ANNIVERSARY OF CUBA'S NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY 4.- VARADERO BEACH RESORT RECEIVES NEW SAND 5.- NATIONAL CENTER OF LIVESTOCK HEALTH CARRIES OUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPS MEDICAL PRODUCTS 6.- AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES ACTIVISTS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PREPARE MASSIVE RECEPTION FOR CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO Santo Domingo, August 19(RHC)-- Solidarity activists in the Dominican Republican are preparing a massive reception for Cuban President Fidel Castro, who begins a five-day visit tomorrow to that neighboring Caribbean nation. Posters and flags reportedly cover thousands of palm trees along the Dominican capital's prominent seaside drive, with messages reading "With Fidel Always," "With Socialism and With Fidel," and "Fidel is Welcomed in the Spirit of Che Guevara." Throughout Santo Domingo, there are photographs of the Cuban leader, with and without his military cap, in color and in black and white. Despite the announced presence in the Dominican Republic this week of some 16 Caribbean heads of state and government, images of Fidel Castro predominate -- particularly in front of Santo Domingo's Jaragua Hotel, where the Caribbean summit will take place. Ramon Almanzar, leader of a nationwide coalition of grassroots organizations, has called on the Dominican people to form "human rings of solidarity" around the Cuban leader at every stop he makes during the visit so that he will know that he is admired and protected in that nation. Dominican solidarity activists in the town of Bani, the birthplace of 19th century Cuban independence hero Maximo Gomez, predicted that some 500,000 people would converge on the town to see the Cuban leader. They added that they are concerned that Bani's central park will not be big enough for the mass turnout. Dominican Foreign Ministry officials have revealed that President Castro's visit has become the center of attention for the more than 400 journalists accredited to cover the Caribbean summit. Cuba's Consul General in the Dominican Republic, Miguel Perez Cruz, told local media that "there is a emotional, cultural, historical, geographic and Hispanic identity between the two countries that was never broken." CUBA-CANADA FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER WINDS UP Havana, August 19(RHC)-- The First Cuba-Canada Friendship and Solidarity Encounter has concluded with the approval of a final declaration in support of the Cuban Revolution and the commitment to strengthen relations between both nations. Over one hundred representatives from 40 Canadian solidarity organizations examined ways to increase their work in solidarity with Cuba, particularly in the fight against Washington's blockade of the island. The Canadian solidarity activists also met with members of the Federation of Cuban Women, the Cuban Workers Confederation, the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists as well as government officials. In addition, the group visited places of economic, social and historic interest in Havana, as well as the provinces of Villa Clara and Matanzas. The Canadian solidarity delegation is expected to depart from Cuba on Sunday. 50th ANNIVERSARY OF CUBA'S NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY Havana, August 19(RHC)-- This year's edition of the Havana International Ballet Festival is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Cuba's prestigious National Ballet Company directed by Primerisima Ballerina Alicia Alonso. Combined with this historic event, the 16th Annual Havana International Ballet Festival, which runs from October 28th to November 7th, is dedicated to the anniversary and has aroused a great deal of interest among the celebrities of the ballet community, directors of world-famous companies, choreographers and critics. Alicia Alonso told reporters in Havana that she is sure that this year's festival will be an experience of a life-time for many of the performers. Among the premiers to be performed during the festival will be Tempo Percussion, by Chilean Hilda Rivero, a member of the National Ballet for several years. Spanish Pablo Santamaria's El Gran Baile, Argentine Oscar Araiz' Cantares (Epic Poems), Argentinean Rodolfo Lastra's Existence and Spain's Maria Rovira, who will present a work which is a homage to Federico Garcia Lorca. Additional attractions are dancers from world-class companies such as Moscow's Bolshoi, the Royal Danish Ballet, New York's Alvin Alley and many others. VARADERO BEACH RESORT RECEIVES NEW SAND Varadero, August 19(RHC)-- Nearly ten kilometers of eroded beaches at Varadero have received new sand. Elida Barredo, an engineer from the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment in Matanzas province, said that the project consisting of one million metric cubic meters of sand will successfully conclude on Thursday. The work is being carried out by a Dutch firm which specializes in the field. The project, which costs nearly five million dollars, involves the transferring of sand from an area south of Mono Key. A large amount of sand on the beaches stretching from the Sol Palmeras to Punta Blanca Hotels at the Varadero Beach Resort has been lost due to erosion caused by climatic and marine changes. The program was designed by the Oceanography Institute to ecologically benefit the area over the next five years. According to experts, it is important to continue systematic maintenance of the beaches in order to prevent further damage due to erosion. NATIONAL CENTER OF LIVESTOCK HEALTH CARRIES OUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPS MEDICAL PRODUCTS Havana, August 19(RHC)-- The National Center of Livestock Health is not only dedicated to research but has also recently begun the production of medicines and vaccines. The additional work required an organizational change at the Center, in order to satisfy the production of high-quality and efficient biological products developed at the institution. The National Center of Livestock Health found it difficult to register its products abroad because the medical and pharmaceutical market is largely controlled by the United States, Europe and Japan. Among the many the products that are produced at the Cuban institution is Stabilak, which is a natural milk preserver -- eliminating the need of refrigeration. The product is in great demand throughout the world, particularly in underdeveloped nations. Another important product is called Surfacen, which is very efficient in the treatment of respiratory problems -- one of the main causes of infant mortality. The cost of a similar medicine on the international market would range from 400 to 700 dollars per doses. Its use in Cuba has been extended to hospitals and has been successful in reducing the island's infant mortality rate -- which currently stands at 7.2 per one thousand live births. AND FROM THE SPORTS DESK... AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES Maracaibo, August 19(RHC)-- After only two years devoted to track and field, Mexican Ana Guevara has a major challenge today. She will be taking part in the women's 800 meter race and her top priority is to beat Cuban Ana Fidelia Quirot, the best Latin American runner of all times. The race is scheduled for this evening, local Venezuelan time, and the 22-year-old Mexican runner will have to outrun all her contenders on her way to the gold -- not only Ana Fidelia Quirot, but also Letitia Vriesde from Surinam, who is the favorite at the race. Guevara recently won the Iberoamerican championship and is considered one of Mexico's best Olympic promises for the games of the year 2000. Although Cuba has been having lots of good days at the 18th Central American and Caribbean Games, Tuesday would be considered a bad day with two unexpected defeats for the island's delegation. Without a doubt, Cuba exhibits supremacy in most sports in the region, but there are certainly other excellent athletes that deserve the spotlight. Despite winning gold in baseball, the island was left out of medals in men's basketball and lost one man in boxing. Venezuela eliminated the Cubans 77-72 in basketball and now joins Panama, the Dominican Republic and Belize in semi-finals today. Surprisingly, Belize defeated Puerto Rico and this turned the tide in basketball competition in Maracaibo. Puerto Rico now losses its title and opens medal possibilities to other countries which have traditionally been unable to reach top positions. In boxing, Cuba lost one man. In the welter light division, Juan Hernandez fell to Venezuelan Elis Yanes. Hernandez -- three times world and two times Olympic champ -- lost by a one point decision in favor of Yanes. Mexican gymnast Brenda Magana won the individual title in women's with two excellent performances in vault and uneven bars, edging Cuba's Leyanet Gonzalez. Venezuelan Eddelin Zabaleta was third. Colombia managed to get a ticket for water polo medals after not having competed in the sport for 12 years. With a last minute team, Colombia got its classification after defeating Venezuela 7-5. In synchronized swimming, Mexican Lilian Leal won in individuals, although she will continue in duets until the Olympic games of the year 2000. Venezuelan Virginia Ruiz finished in third place and was taken to the hospital, suffering from dehydration problems. Cuba's Kenia Perez won silver. Also on Tuesday, Andrea Hernandez from the Dominican Republic managed to steal the gold in the 78 kilo division in women's judo after defeating Panama's Estela Triley. After ten days of competitions and despite defeats in basketball and boxing, Cuba continued on top in the medal standings and on Tuesday took most medals at stake in fencing, judo, gymnastics and table tennis. Mexico comes in second and yesterday harvested gold in equestrian, gymnastics and synchronized swimming. Venezuela is in third place. At the beginning of competitions on Wednesday, the standings were: G S B TOTAL Cuba 134 63 53 250 Mexico 47 69 60 176 Venezuela 43 48 42 133 Colombia 17 32 33 82 Puerto Rico 6 11 35 52 Suriname 6 1 0 7 Dominican Rep. 5 12 29 46 El Salvador 4 10 15 29 Guatemala 3 10 19 32 Panama 3 5 4 12 Jamaica 2 6 4 12 Bahamas 2 2 1 5 Barbados 2 0 1 3 Trinidad-Tobago 1 7 3 11 Costa Rica 1 2 2 5 Virgin Islands 1 0 0 1 Nicaragua 0 1 4 5 Dutch Antilles 0 1 3 4 Honduras 0 1 1 2 Aruba 0 0 1 1 Haiti 0 0 1 1 [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