Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit 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 Friday, December 4, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM MEETING CONCLUDES IN HAVANA 2.- PASTORS FOR PEACE DELIVERS MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO CUBAN DOCTORS IN NICARAGUA 3.- NICARAGUAN STUDENTS IN CUBA THANK GOVERNMENT FOR AIDING VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH 4.- CUBA'S COUNCIL OF CHURCHES EXPRESSES APPRECIATION FOR PROPOSING DECEMBER 25th AS NATIONAL HOLIDAY 5.- PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA 6.- CAMAGUEY PROVINCE INAUGURATES CENTER FOR NATURAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 7.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER SET TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM MEETING CONCLUDES IN HAVANA Havana, December 4(RHC)-- The 24th Ministerial Meeting of the Latin American Economic System (SELA) concluded Thursday in the Cuban capital. Delegates from the 28 member-nations agreed to establish a regional mechanism of cooperation which will announce its tasks within the next two months. During the last session of the regional gathering, delegates expressed their solidarity with the countries of Central America, recently lashed by a devastating hurricane. Members of the Latin American Economic System issued a call for developed countries and international lending agencies to forgive the debts of those most affected by the storm. Calling Cuba's response to send doctors and medical personnel to the hardest-hit areas of Central America "exemplary," SELA resolved to cooperate with whatever actions are necessary to surmount the present difficulties and work toward rebuilding and developing the region. The final declaration of the ministerial meeting of the Latin American Economic System strongly condemns the extraterritorial Helms-Burton Law -- U.S. legislation designed to further strangle the Cuban economy as well as punish other nations for doing business with the island. The regional organization urges Washington to lift its blockade against Cuba and calls for an end to measures created to obstruct international trade. PASTORS FOR PEACE DELIVERS MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO CUBAN DOCTORS IN NICARAGUA Managua, December 4(RHC)-- The U.S. religious/solidarity group Pastors for Peace delivered a shipment of medicines to the Cuban medical team working in Posoltega -- the community where more than two thousand were buried alive by a mudslide when Hurricane Mitch hit that Central American country last month. Heading the humanitarian aid caravan is the Reverend Lucius Walker, the Executive Director of Pastors for Peace. Speaking with reporters in what is left of the northern Nicaraguan town -- almost completely destroyed by the massive mudslide -- Reverend Walker said that his organization decided to earmark a part of its medical shipment for the community as soon as they heard that the Cuban doctors were there. Reverend Walker praised Cuba's selfless solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Mitch, not only in Nicaragua but also in Honduras and Guatemala where other medical brigades are freely offering their services. The arrival of Pastors for Peace in Nicaragua follows a humanitarian aid caravan to Chiapas last week. The U.S. religious/solidarity group also organizes what are called Friendshipment Caravans to Cuba. Reverend Lucius Walker told reporters that the next caravan to the island is scheduled for mid-1999. NICARAGUAN STUDENTS IN CUBA THANK THE GOVERNMENT FOR AIDING VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH Havana, December 4(RHC)-- A group of Nicaraguan students that are currently studying in Cuba thanked the government for coming to the aid of the victims of Hurricane Mitch in that Central American nation. In a declaration issued in Havana, the Nicaraguan students said they have benefitted from the love, solidarity, humanism and internationalism of the Cuban Revolution. CUBA'S COUNCIL OF CHURCHES EXPRESSES APPRECIATION FOR PROPOSING DECEMBER 25th AS NATIONAL HOLIDAY Havana, December 4(RHC)-- Cuba's Council of Churches has publicly thanked the Political Bureau of Cuba's Communist Party for having proposed that December 25th -- Christmas Day -_ be declared a national holiday. The President of the Council, Reverend Pablo Oden Marichal, told journalists in Havana that in the name of the island's churches, Jewish community and other religious institutions, he expresses his appreciation to the Political Bureau for its decision. He added that once the final ruling is made by the Council of State declaring December 25th a national holiday, Christmas will provide a chance for Cuban families to get together and contribute to strengthening national unity. The President of the Cuban Council of Churches stated that he was aware of the enormous efforts that the country will have to make, providing a paid holiday for workers and paying double-time for those who must work due to the important nature of their jobs. He said that this will affect the island's economy, worsened by Washington's economic blockade. The religious leader pointed out that the recent decision does not constitute a new relationship between Church and State, but reveals the profound ties and improved relations between the Revolution and Christians and other religious believers. In related news, the Yoruba Cultural Association published a statement in Friday's Granma newspaper, expressing their appreciation for having been consulted on the decision to make December 25th a national holiday. According to the Yoruba Cultural Association statement, this decision is an example of the respect and consideration that the Cuban government has always had for all of the island's religious beliefs. Making December 25th a national holiday goes beyond the religious significance of the date and contributes to the unity of the Cuban family. The Yoruba Cultural Association, based on African religious beliefs, wished the Cuban people a happy and prosperous New Year for 1999. PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA Havana, December 4(RHC)-- The President of the U.S. Chemical Association, Paul Walter, praised scientific developments in Cuba, which he said are only surpassed by the United States and Canada. After participating in the Third International Congress of the Cuban Society of Chemistry in Havana, Paul Walter told journalists that he was greatly impressed by the work of Cuban scientists. The U.S. chemist added that during his stay in Cuba, he visited the University of Havana and research centers west of the Cuban capital and said he was impressed by the results reached by the island's chemists. CAMAGUEY PROVINCE INAUGURATES CENTER FOR NATURAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE Camaguey, December 4(RHC)-- With the inauguration of the Center for Natural and Traditional Medicine in the eastern province of Camaguey, all of the island's municipalities now offer such services. Inaugurated on the occasion of National Health Worker's Day, the center will include acupuncture treatment, homeopathy, self-relaxation and hypnosis and mud therapy. Dr. Leoncio Padron Caceres, Coordinator of the National Commission for Natural and Traditional Centers explained that the island's centers have varying levels of sophistication depending on the amount training of their personnel, years of experience and time for research. Camaguey province is considered to be among the island's regions with the most studies performed on medicinal plants. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER SET TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES Havana, December 4(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina is scheduled to attend a meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of Caribbean States Council of Ministers, slated to take place December 10th and 11th in Barbados. According to Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesman Alejandro Gonzalez, a delegation of Canadian officials is currently in Cuba to analyze together with Cuban authorities alternatives for the assistance and rehabilitation of victims of anti-personnel mines in third nations. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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