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 Thursday, December 17, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA REJECTS, DENOUNCES AND CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ 2.- CUBA AND COSTA RICA STRENGTHEN TIES IN HEALTH SECTOR 3.- LATIN AMERICAN MEDICAL SCHOOL IN HAVANA READY TO WELCOME THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND CENTRAL AMERICANS 4.- OVER 300 PEOPLE ATTEND CONFERENCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION 5.- ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA SAYS RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN 1999 6.- CUBA AND BULGARIA SIGN ACCORDS 7.- INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER ON GLOBALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS SET FOR NEXT MONTH IN HAVANA CUBA REJECTS, DENOUNCES AND CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ Havana, December 17(RHC)-- Cuba rejects, denounces and condemns the unilateral use of force by the United States against Iraq. In a statement released by the Cuban Foreign Ministry and appearing on the front page of Thursday morning's edition of the daily Granma, Cuba calls for the immediate cessation of attacks against the Arab nation. The full text of the statement follows: The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Cuba observed with deep concern as the armed forces of the United States deployed in the Persian Gulf prepared a surprise air attack against Iraq. Yesterday, December 16th, with the excuse that the work of the United Nations Special Commission in that country (UNSCOM) had been unexpectedly interrupted and an unusually sudden report issued by the head of that Commission, President Clinton, once the hasty withdrawal of UNSCOM members from Iraq was concluded, unilaterally ordered the commencement of bombing against targets in Iraq, without conferring with the United Nations Security Council -- an organization that Washington now ignores after having used it on numerous occasions for its own interests. The bombing of Iraq, using Cruise missiles fired from naval vessels located in the Persian Gulf, began at 12:50 a.m. today, local Baghdad time. Once again, peace is trampled upon, the rules of International Law are violated and the physical well-being of the Iraqi people disregarded, with arguments that do not and cannot convince international public opinion. Obviously, these attacks do not represent any solution for the problems regarding Iraq, nor do they serve to consolidate international peace and security. They work in direct opposition to these objectives. Cuba rejects, denounces and condemns the unilateral use of force by the United States and, as on previous occasions, expresses its total repudiation of these illegitimate actions, which must cease immediately. At the same time, Cuba calls on the United Nations Security Council to take the necessary measures to prevent similar actions from occurring again and to fulfill the mission for which it was created. Today, Iraq is the victim of imperial abuse. Tomorrow, another nation could be the target of such dangerous conduct. This requires the strongest and most urgent rejection of the entire international community. CUBA AND COSTA RICA STRENGTHEN TIES IN HEALTH SECTOR Santiago de Cuba, December 17(RHC)-- The Health Ministries of Cuba and Costa Rica have expanded cooperation in the field of epidemiology and are expected to do so in electro-medicine. Costa Rican Deputy Health Minister Xiniu Carajal Salazar, who is currently visiting eastern Santiago de Cuba, said that Cuba offered important help to his country when it was hit by a dengue epidemic. He added that Costa Rica hopes to incorporate Cuba's experience in working with the elderly in that nation's health care system. LATIN AMERICAN MEDICAL SCHOOL IN HAVANA READY TO WELCOME THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND CENTRAL AMERICANS Havana, December 17(RHC)-- A Latin American Medical School will be inaugurated next month in Havana -- ready to receive the first 1000 scholarship students from the Central American nations affected by Hurricane Mitch. Cuban construction workers are currently remodeling the country's Naval Academy, which was donated by the Cuban Armed Forces, which will house the new school to be used to prepare the future doctors of those Central American countries. Cuban President Fidel Castro recently reiterated that not only will Cuba send medical brigades to Central American nations affected by Hurricane Mitch, but the island is also willing to receive some five thousand young people from that region over a period of ten years to study medicine on the island. OVER 300 PEOPLE ATTEND CONFERENCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION Kiev, December 17(RHC)-- Some 360 participants of a conference on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution in the Ukrainian city of Kiev, called for an end to Washington's almost 40 year blockade against the island. In addition to condemning Washington's anti-Cuba policy, the participants offered their solidarity with the Cuban people. Among the participants of workshops and conferences on the Cuban Revolution, was a representative of the thousands of Ukrainian children that received medical assistance on the island after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. This is one of a series of activities that will be held in the Ukraine commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA SAYS RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN 1999 Havana, December 17(RHC)-- Italy's ambassador to Cuba, Giuseppe Moscato, characterized Italy's relations with Cuba in 1998 as "fruitful." The Italian diplomat underscored the maturity and dynamic growth of political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries. Ambassador Moscato added that ties between Rome and Havana were favored by a three-day visit to Cuba of Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini and and a visit to Italy by Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage, saying that those relations will continue to improve. CUBA AND BULGARIA SIGN ACCORDS Sofia, December 17(RHC)-- Cuba and Bulgaria signed an Investment Promotion and Protection accord on the last day of the Joint Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation and Scientific Technical Commission held in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. Representatives of Cuba's CUBATECNICA firm and Bulgaria's TECNOIMPEX also signed agreements and export promotion centers Havana's International Fair and Plovdiv of Bulgaria. INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER ON GLOBALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS SET FOR NEXT MONTH IN HAVANA Havana, December 17(RHC)-- Delegates from 33 countries have confirmed their participation in an International Encounter on Globalization and Development Problems, scheduled to take place from January 18th to the 22nd in the Cuban capital. Representatives of the World Trade Organization, Latin American Economic System and the UN Development Program are among some of the institutions that will attend the event. The international encounter, sponsored by the Association of Cuban Economists, will focus on the current international economic crisis and its magnitude. [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