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 11, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- 7th CONGRESS OF CUBAN YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE CONCLUDES IN HAVANA 2.- PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH IRANIAN LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS MINISTER 3.- CUBAN PEACE MOVEMENT CONDEMNS ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF THE U.S. MILITARY BASE IN GUANTANAMO 4.- CUBA CALLS FOR THE CREATION A NEW INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER 5.- MEDICAL BRIGADE WILL LEAVE FOR HAITI ON SATURDAY 6.- HEALTH AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCE THE ELIMINATION OF GERMAN MEASLES AND MUMPS 7.- AMBASSADOR OF BURKINA FASO SAYS RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE EXCELLENT 7th CONGRESS OF CUBAN YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE CONCLUDES IN HAVANA Havana, December 11(RHC)-- The 7th Congress of the Cuban Young Communist League (UJC) concluded in the early morning hours Friday at Havana's International Convention Center. Cuban President Fidel Castro delivered the closing remarks, calling the youth gathering "the best Congress ever." The leader of the Cuban Revolution noted that the struggle today is one of ideas, rather than a battle with conventional or nuclear weapons. Fidel Castro stressed that "our ideas cannot be crushed or eliminated because our people have the courage -- 90 miles from the world's most powerful empire -- to struggle and resist, to defend the Revolution, our homeland and the gains of Socialism." He added that ideas will decide the world's future because "imperialism cannot be sustained and is moving toward an unstoppable crisis." President Fidel Castro stated that the Cuban Revolution represents the ideas of justice taken up by millions of people around the world and serves as a voice in defense of the Third World. The 7th Congress of Cuba's Young Communist League, held for three days in Havana, dealt with issues such as the formation of the new generation of youth, problems affecting Cuba's public health system and other issues important to the island's young people. PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH IRANIAN LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS MINISTER Havana, December 11(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro met with the Iranian Labor and Social Affairs Minister, Jossein Kamali, who characterized the encounter as "very good." The Iranian official said that he and the Cuban leader analyzed the world political and economic situation as well as what was happening in each of their respective countries and reviewed ways to improve them. During his visit to the island, the Iranian Labor and Social Affairs Minister met with his Cuban counterpart, Salvador Valdes, and signed an agreement to increase cooperation between both nations by next year. Jossein Kamali pointed out that bilateral cooperation will help counteract the brutal blockades that both nations are subjected to by a common enemy of both peoples: the United States. CUBAN PEACE MOVEMENT CONDEMNS ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF THE U.S. MILITARY BASE IN GUANTANAMO Havana, December 11(RHC)-- The Cuban Peace Movement has condemned the illegal occupation of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo, located on the island's eastern shore since 1903. The Cuban institution recalled that in 1996, the International Conference on Foreign Military Bases was held in Havana and called for an action plan to eliminate dangerous military installations in other countries. A news note recalling that event, which had the participation of representatives from 33 countries, pointed out that the conference participants proposed to make December 10th the International Day against Foreign Military Bases. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Cuban Peace Movement demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of troops from the U.S. military base in Guantanamo an effective contribution to world peace. CUBA CALLS FOR THE CREATION A NEW INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER Havana, December 11(RHC)-- Cuba has called for the creation of a new international human rights charter, designed specifically for today's world. The call was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores during an activity at the Cuban Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- approved by the UN General Assembly on December 10th, 1948. During the activity, the Cuban official talked about the history of the declaration, approved following World War II. The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister stated that new ways to manipulate the issue of human rights are continuously used to interfere in the self-determination of other nations. MEDICAL BRIGADE WILL LEAVE FOR HAITI ON SATURDAY Havana, December 11(RHC)-- A second Cuban medical brigade will leave for Haiti on Saturday as part of an aid plan that will include a third contingent next week and a fourth in January. Dr. Alfredo Portero, spokesperson for the group, said that a total of 200 Cuban specialists will work in Port Au Prince's General Hospital and in nine other areas of the country. The Cuban specialists, which include pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, gynecologists and other surgeons and nurses, will offer their services for one year or more, if necessary. HEALTH AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCE THE ELIMINATION OF GERMAN MEASLES AND MUMPS Havana, December 11(RHC)-- Cuban Health authorities have announced that German Measles and mumps are on the list of childhood diseases that have been eliminated on the island. The diseases were eradicated by means of vaccines, given free of charge to all children. The director of the National Vaccine Program of the Health Ministry, Miguel Galindo, said that the last case of German Measles was reported in 1995, while the last reported case of mumps occurred in 1993. According to international health agencies, a disease has been completely eradicated when a case is not reported for a period of three years after applying the vaccine nationwide. Despite Cuba's economic difficulties, the country has managed to completely eradicate childhood diseases such as polio, measles and diphtheria. AMBASSADOR OF BURKINA FASO SAYS RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE EXCELLENT Havana, December 11(RHC)-- The Ambassador of Burkina Faso in Havana, Salif Nabie, outlined the excellent relations between the people, Party and governments of both nations during an activity on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the independence of that African nation. During the activity, the African diplomat thanked the warm reception that Cuba has shown to the recent re-election of President Blais Compaore. The Burkina Faso ambassador gave a brief report on his country's achievements during the last seven years, including the construction of schools, maternity hospitals and health centers, as well as advances made in the field of education. [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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