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 Tuesday, December 8, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- SEVENTH CONGRESS OF CUBAN YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE GETS UNDERWAY 2.- NATIONAL NETWORK IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA MEETS IN NEW YORK 3.- U.S. CARDINAL BERNARD LAW OFFERS MASS AT HAVANA CATHEDRAL 4.- INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN FILM CONTINUES IN HAVANA 5.- CUBAN PARLIAMENT HONORS ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS 6.- IRANIAN LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER VISITS THE ISLAND 7.- SURINAM'S PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN HAVANA SEVENTH CONGRESS OF CUBAN YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE GETS UNDERWAY Havana, December 8(RHC)-- The 7th Congress of the Cuban Young Communist League got underway on Tuesday at Havana's International Convention Center. The forum, which will run through Thursday, was inaugurated with the participation of Cuban President Fidel Castro and over one thousand delegates, in addition to 300 invited guests. The participants discussed the Central Report as well as the nomination and approval of candidates for the National Committee of the UJC -- which will represent the organization for the next five years. The report points out the need to preserve a solid ideological and political development as well as the importance of maintaining the vanguard character of Communist youth on the island. During the closing session of the UJC Congress, the delegates will discuss and approve a project of resolutions for the organization's statutes. The Young Communist League was founded on April 4th, 1962 and groups one of every six young Cubans between 15 and 29 years of age. NATIONAL NETWORK IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA MEETS IN NEW YORK New York, December 8(RHC)-- A working session of the U.S. National Network in Solidarity with Cuba wound up in New York City on Monday. Following the three-day meeting, the group agreed to hold a national meeting in solidarity with Cuba in the fall of 1999 and to continue with educational and information campaigns about the Cuban Revolution. The National Network in Solidarity with Cuba also agreed to look for new ways to fight against Washington's nearly 40 year blockade against the island, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Venceremos Brigade next July and the 9th U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan, scheduled for next June. The meeting of the solidarity network -- a continuation of the First U.S.-Cuba Encounter which took place in Havana last July -- was attended by a delegation from Cuba's Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP. Participants pointed out that it was unanimously agreed to celebrate the World Encounter in Solidarity with Cuba in Havana in the year 2000. Among some of the groups that participated in the working session of the National Network in Solidarity with Cuba were Pastors for Peace, the Venceremos Brigade, the Center for Constitutional Rights, International Peace Appeal, Global Exchange, Dominicans in the United States, the Socialist Workers Party, the Antonio Maceo Brigade and Casa de las Americas. The Cuban Mission to the United Nations organized a reception for members of the National Network, with the participation of Cuba's UN Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez and other Cuban diplomats. U.S. CARDINAL BERNARD LAW OFFERS MASS AT HAVANA CATHEDRAL Havana, December 8(RHC)-- U.S. Cardinal Bernard Law offered a Mass at Havana's Cathedral on the occasion of the Day of the Immaculate Conception. Cardinal Law, who is on a three-day visit to Cuba, was welcomed on Monday at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport by Cardinal Jaime Ortega. During his stay in Cuba, the Archbishop of Boston is scheduled to meet with authorities of the Catholic Church and government officials. Cardinal Bernard Law has visited Cuba on several occasions, including last January's pastoral visit to the island of Pope John Paul II. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN FILM CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, December 8(RHC)-- The President of Cuba's Film Institute, Alfredo Guevara, has criticized neo-liberal globalization which he says constitutes a serious risk aimed at spreading disinformation worldwide. Guevara inaugurated the Seminar on Communications, New Technologies and Society taking place during the 20th International Festival of New Latin American Film, with the participation of renowned personalities from France, Spain, the United States and other countries. Among the guests were Ignacio Ramonet, Director of the Le Mon Diplomatic, Enrique Bustamante, Scientific Director of the Center of Communications Studies from the Complutense of Madrid University and Marzena Grezforozky, a professor from Emory University in the United States. CUBAN PARLIAMENT HONORS ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS Havana, December 8(RHC)-- Cuban parliamentarians will pay tribute to intellectual and revolutionary Juan Marinello on December 18th -- the 100th anniversary of this birth. Marinello was one of the founders of the Cuban National Assembly in 1976. On that same date, the Cuban parliament will begin its permanent work sessions aimed at analyzing a number of issues, such as legislation on the national budget and an economic plan for 1999. IRANIAN LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, December 8(RHC)-- The Iranian Minister of Labor and Social Security, Josein Kamali, expressed his interest in cooperating with Cuba in the training of professionals regarding work place safety. Kamali, who began a working visit to Cuba on Sunday, met with his Cuban counterpart, Salvador Valdes, and discussed efforts to satisfy social needs of both countries, despite the economic blockades imposed on each nation. A bilateral cooperation program for 1999 will be signed between Cuba and Iran on Thursday. SURINAM'S PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN HAVANA Havana, December 8(RHC)-- The President of the Surinamese Parliament, Indradevie Marijke, is on a four-day visit to Cuba with the objective of strengthening bilateral ties with the Cuban parliament. Upon her arrival in Havana on Monday, the Surinamese official said that this trip will also include an analysis of ways to help Cuba when it becomes a full member of CARICOM, the community of Caribbean nations. During her stay on the island, the President of the Surinamese Parliament will meet with her Cuban counterpart Ricardo Alarcon, the President of the Federation of Cuban Women, Vilma Espin, as well as other government officials. [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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