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                    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 21, 1998.  Today's stories:


1.- CUBAN ECONOMY MINISTER ANNOUNCES 1.2 PERCENT ECONOMIC  
    GROWTH FOR 1998

2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN      
    NICARAGUA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT

3.- MOTHER OF CUBA'S "TANIA THE GUERRILLA" ARRIVES IN HAVANA


CUBAN ECONOMY MINISTER ANNOUNCES 1.2 PERCENT ECONOMIC GROWTH
FOR 1998

Havana, December 21(RHC)-- Cuban Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez
today announced that the island's economy registered a 1.2 percent
economic growth rate this year. That is less than the 2.5 percent
that authorities had hoped for.  

In presenting the economic plan for 1999 during today's session of
Cuba's Parliament, Rodriguez said the Cuban economy will maintain its
tendency towards gradual recuperation -- though admitting that the
advances still do not satisfy the necessities of the population.

The Cuban official pointed out that the sugar harvest suffered a 24
percent decrease with respect to last year's - - down from 4.2
million tons to 3.2.  He attributed this decrease to weather-related
problems, organizational deficiencies and the absence or late arrival
from abroad of high interest rate loans.  

The report stated that Cuban authorities hope to increase sugar
production next year from 3.2 million tons to 3.6 million. Rodriguez
termed as modest Cuba's economic achievements in a world that is
heading towards recession and for a country that is resisting
Washington's economic war.  He said Cuba is expecting an 11.5 percent
increase in foreign investment in 1999, particularly in the sectors
of tourism, energy, telecommunications and foreign currency shops. 

The Cuban Economy Minister added that authorities expect an 18 
percent growth in tourism this year, while exports are expected to 
grow by 7.2 percent and imports by 5.4 percent.

CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN NICARAGUA
FOR OFFICIAL VISIT

Havana, December 21(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina
arrived in Nicaragua Sunday evening for an official visit at the
invitation of Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman.  Upon arriving at
the Nicaraguan capital's Augusto Cesar Sandino international airport,
the Cuban Foreign Minister said the aim of his visit is to sign the
documents canceling Nicaragua's debt with Cuba and to visit with
Cuban doctors offering their services in that Central American nation
to the victims of Hurricane Mitch.

President Aleman accompanied Robaina today on a visit to the Cuban
medical brigades working in Esteli, some 200 kilometers north of
Managua.  

On Tuesday, the Cuban foreign minister will make official the
cancellation of Nicaragua's 50 million dollar debt to Cuba. 
Tomorrow night, Robaina is slated pay another visit to Honduras,
where other Cuban medical brigades are offering their services.

MOTHER OF CUBA'S "TANIA THE GUERRILLA" ARRIVES IN HAVANA

Havana, December 21(RHC)-- The mother of Cuba's "Tania the
Guerrilla," Nadia Bunke, has arrived in Havana to participate in the
upcoming funeral ceremony for her late daughter.  

Born in Argentina to German parents, Tania -- whose real name was
Tamara Bunke Bider -- died in Bolivia in 1967 fighting alongside
Ernesto Che Guevara and other internationalists. 

Her remains were brought to Cuba last week, along with those of four
Bolivian insurgents whose families requested that they also be buried
alongside Che at the special mausoleum built in his honor in Santa
Clara -- the site of Che's most important military victory during the
liberation war against the Batista dictatorship.  

The remains of Tania and the four Bolivians were taken to Cuba's
Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry, where those of two Cubans, two
Bolivians and one Peruvian have been stored since last March.  

Che Guevara and several of his Cuban and Latin American
comrades-in-arms were buried at the mausoleum last year in an
emotion-filled ceremony that began in Havana and wound up in Santa
Clara.


           [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba
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