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 Monday, December 7, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT-ELECT 2.- VISITING U.S. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER DODD CALLS FOR CHANGE IN WASHINGTON'S POLICIES TOWARD CUBA 3.- SPANISH REGION OF CATALUNA DONATES 300 COMPUTERS FOR THE ISLAND'S YOUNG PEOPLE 4.- CHINESE TRADE UNION DELEGATION VISITS THE ISLAND 5.- HARRY BELAFONTE ATTENDS 20th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN FILM 6.- URUGUAYAN LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER VISITS CUBA 7.- NEW HOSPITAL OPENS ITS DOORS IN HOLGUIN CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT-ELECT Havana, December 7(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro sent a congratulatory message to the new President-elect of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. The Cuban leader congratulated Chavez on his victory in Sunday's presidential elections and wished him success in what he called "the difficult tasks that lie ahead" for the future of Venezuela. Thousands poured into the streets of Caracas last night and during the early morning hours on Monday to celebrate the landslide electoral victory of Hugo Chavez. The victory was officially announced late Sunday night with three-quarters of the votes counted -- showing Chavez with nearly 57 percent, while his closest rival, Henrique Salas Romer, garnered 39 percent. The president-elect of Venezuela, in his first statements to local and foreign journalists, promised to work for the reduction of inflation and restructuring the country's foreign debt. Widespread discontent with Venezuela's traditional political parties led many voters to turn toward the independent candidacies of Hugo Chavez and Henrique Salas Romer. Accused of corruption and mismanagement, the major parties threw their support to Salas Romer in a last ditch effort to defeat Chavez at the polls. But the former lieutenant colonel, who led an unsuccessful military coup in 1992 against then-President Carlos Andres Perez, led in nearly every opinion poll. And as Sunday's election results demonstrate, Hugo Chavez is the new president-elect of Venezuela. Chavez will formally take office in February next year. VISITING U.S. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER DODD CALLS FOR CHANGE IN WASHINGTON'S POLICIES TOWARD CUBA Havana, December 7(RHC)-- Visiting U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd stated that after nearly 40 years of Washington's unsuccessful policy of isolation toward the island, it is time to initiate a dialogue between the two countries. Dodd, a Democratic senator from the state of Connecticut, is visiting the island at the invitation of Cuba's Parliament. Speaking with reporters in Havana, Senator Dodd stated that it is necessary to lift the restrictions on sales of food and medicine, prohibited under the U.S. blockade against the island. He also came out in favor of increasing the number of direct flights between the two countries and called for increased levels of contact between representatives of Washington and Havana. Senator Christopher Dodd expressed his support of the formation of a bipartisan commission to study U.S. policy toward Cuba. A group of Republican and Democratic senators, with the support of former secretaries of state, have called on President Bill Clinton to name a commission to review Washington's policies toward the island. SPANISH REGION OF CATALUNA DONATES 300 COMPUTERS FOR THE ISLAND'S YOUNG PEOPLE Havana, December 7(RHC)-- Spain has donated 300 computers for the island's Joven Club or Youth Club -- centers that train young people in the use of computers. The mayor of Sant Cuzat del Valle in the Spanish region of Cataluna, Juan Aymerich, told the First Secretary of the island's Young Communist League, Otto Rivero, that the donation should be considered as a contribution to computer technology. So far, some 300 computers have been collected in Cataluna and by next year, the number is expected to reach 1000. This donation will help create other Computer Youth Clubs in 18 of the island's municipalities that do not have such a center, according to Hector Manresa, Director of the National Computer Equipment Center of the Young Communist League, the UJC. CHINESE TRADE UNION DELEGATION VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, December 7(RHC)-- A delegation from the Labor Federation of China's Guangdong province has arrived in Cuba, headed by its president, Chin Bing. The General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Workers, Pedro Ross Leal, welcomed the Chinese Labor organization at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. In statements to journalists, Chin Bing pointed out that the objective of his trip is to get a first-hand look at the island and strengthen the friendly ties between both labor organizations. HARRY BELAFONTE ATTENDS 20th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN FILM Havana, December 7(RHC)-- Renowned actor and singer Harry Belafonte is currently in Cuba participating in the 20th International Festival of New Latin American Film. Belafonte arrived in Cuba with director Warrington Hudlin and announced that he is currently preparing a program with his new company and a Cuban musical group. The internationally-known singer announced that he will return to the island next year to offer several concerts entitled "Sounds of the 21st Century," which will include music from Cuba, Brazil and Haiti. In addition to Harry Belafonte, several other representatives of U.S. independent films are currently in Cuba, among them: Ethan and Joel Cohen, whose film "Jackie Brown" was shown here in Havana. URUGUAYAN LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER VISITS CUBA Havana, December 7(RHC)-- Uruguayan Labor and Social Security Minister Ana Lia Pineyrua is on an official visit to Cuba, which will run through Wednesday, the 9th. During her stay in Cuba, the Uruguayan government official will meet with her Cuban counterpart, Salvador Valdes Mesa, and sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of social security. The Uruguayan minister will also tour places of historic, social and cultural interest. NEW HOSPITAL OPENS ITS DOORS IN HOLGUIN Holguin, December 7(RHC)-- A new hospital built in the eastern province of Holguin has been opened, despite the limitations imposed by the island's economic crisis. The Cuban government's priorities in the health sector permitted this hospital to begin offering medical assistance to the people of that province. Construction continues on the hospital and workers plan to completely finish the facility, which has 328 hospital beds, by next February. [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