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 18, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- SANTIAGO DE CUBA: SITE OF MAIN ACTIVITY COMMEMORATING 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION 2.- 18TH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL '98 UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 3.- NEW BOOK RELEASED: "FIDEL CASTRO -- AGRICULTURE IN CUBA" 4.- PERMANENT COMMISSIONS OF THE CUBAN PARLIAMENT MEET FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 5.- CUBAN EVANGELICAL CELEBRATION SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR 6.- EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN PRAISES CUBA'S COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION SANTIAGO DE CUBA: SITE OF MAIN ACTIVITY COMMEMORATING 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION Havana, December 18(RHC)-- The main activity commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution will take place in eastern Santiago de Cuba on Friday, January 1st. Santiago de Cuba residents will gather in historic Cespedes Park, where four decades ago the leader of the revolutionary forces, Fidel Castro, addressed Santiagueros and the Cuban people after their victory over the Batista dictatorship. The festivities for January 1st will be a continuation of the 40th anniversary of the decisive battles which were commemorated during this past year, as well as the 100th anniversary of Cuba's Independence War which began in 1895. These activities included condemnations against Washington's intervention at the end of the last century, blocking the island's independence from Spanish colonialism. This was a decisive blow against the heroic Liberation Army. The Cuban Young Communist League, the Federation of Cuban Workers, the Federation of Cuban Women, the Armed Forces and Interior Ministry as well as other institutions and grass roots organizations have prepared a wide range of commemorative activities. The celebrations will reflect on the historic significance of the date, the social transformations that have been carried out since 1959 and the revolutionary commitment of the Cuban people in defense of the social achievements made by the Revolution. During 1999, other activities commemorating significant dates that also mark the 40th anniversary will be remembered: the entrance of Cuban President Fidel Castro in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba after the revolutionary victory, the Freedom Caravan headed by the Cuban leader across the island, which arrived in Havana on January 8th 1959, the signing of the agrarian reform law and other social measures taken by the revolutionary government. A series of activities will be held commemorating the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of Comandante Camilo Cienfuegos, outlining his values, personal qualities and his political thinking as well as his loyalty to the Cuban Revolution. 18TH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL '98 UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, December 18(RHC)-- The 18th International Jazz Festival '98 was inaugurated Thursday night in Havana with a concert entitled "Cuban Mass" by pianist Jose Maria Vitier. The performance was dedicated to Cuba's patron saint, La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, or the Virgin of Charity. Havana's Archbishop Jaime Ortega attended the inauguration which also presented other pieces dedicated to the Virgen of Charity, both in Spanish and Latin, among them "Ave Maria." Last night's performance was characterized as unique, with the participation of renowned singers and composers Silvio Rodriguez, Amaury Perez, Maria Felicia Perez and the Exaudi Choir. During the second part of the inauguration of the International Jazz Festival '98, U.S. trumpet player Ray Hardgrove performed, as well as saxophonist Sherman Irby, bass player Jack de Jhonette, pianist Larry Willlis, bassists Gerald Cannon and Lewis Nash. Roy Hardgrove received a Grammy this year for his CD entitled "Havana," with the participation of Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes. The International Jazz Festival '98 will run through the 21st and is dedicated to 80-year-old U.S. composer and drummer Max Roach, who will travel to Cuba together with other important jazz personalities from the United States. NEW BOOK RELEASED: "FIDEL CASTRO -- AGRICULTURE IN CUBA" Havana, December 18(RHC)-- The third volume of the book entitled: "Fidel Castro -- Agriculture in Cuba" was presented by Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal on Thursday in the Cuban capital. Leal praised the editorial efforts and idea of collecting the speeches and thoughts of Cuban President Fidel Castro on the theme of agriculture. The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Agriculture in Havana with the presence of the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, representative in Cuba, Fernando Robayo, and a well-known campesino leader, Jose Ramirez Cruz. The new book contains important collections of speeches, interviews and conferences made by the Cuban leader. They were selected and edited by a commission headed by Ida Cardenas, Julio Aguila and Felix Perez. PERMANENT COMMISSIONS OF THE CUBAN PARLIAMENT MEET FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, December 18(RHC)-- The Permanent Commissions of the Cuban Parliament are meeting today and tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, to discuss issues of economic and social interest. These sessions, held prior to the Parliament's ordinary sessions on Monday, include a report on the economic growth for this past year. The report and a budget plan for 1999 will be presented to lawmakers during this weekend's meeting. Other issues that will be discussed include an analysis on agriculture production and perspectives of the current sugar harvest, legislation on health, the fight against crime, and Cuba's position in international institutions like the Association of Latin American Integration. CUBAN EVANGELICAL CELEBRATION SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR Havana, December 18(RHC)-- In the spirit of love, peace and unity, the Cuban Evangelical Celebration is scheduled to take place in May and June of next year, according to Reverend Pablo Oden Marichal, President of the National Organizing committee. In statements to journalists in Havana, Oden Marichal read a statement of the National Committee which pointed out that for over 125 years, the Cuban evangelical churches have contributed with the best of traditions and Christian convictions in the formation of moral, ethical and spiritual values. The religious leader added that this celebration is sponsored by all of the island's evangelical churches and will include public activities which will be held in temples, parks and other sites. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN PRAISES CUBA'S COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION Santiago de Chile, December 18(RHC)-- The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jose Antonio Ocampo, outlined Cuba's commitments for regional economic integration and its efforts in overcoming its economic crisis. In statements to Prensa Latina, Ocampo characterized Cuba's membership in the Latin American Integration Association as very positive. The executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean affirmed that integration is a long-term process. He added that the impact of Cuba's economic recovery might not be immediate, but it is positive, as it shows Havana's decision to play an active role among the nations of the region. [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