CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA

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The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news
service for Monday, February 9, 1998.   Today's stories:

1.- TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS CREATED LAST YEAR
2.- CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS LAGE CALLS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
3.- CUBA PLANS TO PRODUCE 160 MILLION CIGARS THIS YEAR
4.- BOLIVIAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA IS HAPPY WITH NEW JOB
5.- HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN FULL SWING


TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS CREATED LAST YEAR

Havana, February 9(RHC)-- Some 66,000 jobs were created in the
civilian sector during 1997, in line with acceptable growth of
the Cuban economy.  The revelation was made at a meeting to
review the results of the Cuban Labor and Social Security
Ministry during 1997 and prospects for this year.  The meeting
was attended by Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage.

The Cuban provinces that benefitted most by those jobs were
the eastern provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma
and Holguin.  It was also reported that in 1997, the island's
unemployment rate was 6.9 -- lower than the previous year. 

According to Labor and Social Security Minister Salvador
Valdes, objectives for this year include "creating productive
and socially-useful jobs according to the island's economic
interests."  

At the meeting, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said labor
has to be better planned and that the subjects and programs of
students studying technical careers have to be in line with
current economic demands.  He added that the number of
students and the types of careers offered to them must be
adjusted according to the labor demands of the municipalities.

Concerning the tendency toward the reduction of self-employed
workers, the Cuban vice president made it clear that there are
no plans to reduce or increase self-employment, but to ensure
that taxes are paid on time.

CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS LAGE CALLS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Havana, February 9 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage
says that a country like Cuba -- which greatly depends on oil
imports -- cannot develop without high energy efficiency. 
Lage made the statement at a meeting to evaluate the results
of the Basic Industry Ministry during 1997. 

At the gathering, the Cuban vice president pointed out that
the island's economic recovery cannot stop for the lack of
energy and called for saving electricity.  The Cuban Basic
Industry Ministry is currently engaged in projects to
modernize its thermoelectrical plants.  The projects will help
generate electricity with more efficiency and less fuel.  

The Cuban Electricity Saving Program includes, among other
measures, repairing refrigerators and replacing incandescent
lights in urban houses with florescent lighting.

CUBA PLANS TO PRODUCE 160 MILLION CIGARS THIS YEAR

Santa Clara, February 9(RHC)-- The General Secretary of the
Cuban Workers Confederation Pedro Ross Leal says that Cuba has
great confidence in the island's tobacco and cigar workers to
produce 160 million cigars for export this year.  During a
meeting in Santa Clara, the CTC leader said that working
conditions in factories have dramatically changed for the
better -- which helps to contribute to that goal.  He recalled
that in 1993, Cuba only manufactured 45 million handrolled
cigars.  That figure jumped to 100 million in 1997.

For 1999, plans include the production of 220 million cigars.
The tobacco and cigar sector has become an important source of
employment for thousands of people in Cuba and a leading
economic area. 

BOLIVIAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA IS HAPPY WITH NEW JOB

La Paz, February 9(RHC)-- The recently designated Bolivian 
Ambassador to Cuba, Maria Eugenia Salinas de Cabezas, says
being assigned to the post was a great privilege.  

In statements shortly before leaving for Havana, Salinas de
Cabezas pledged to work for better relations and cooperation
between the two nations.  The Bolivian diplomat called her
mission in Havana "an important responsibility and a high
honor."

HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN FULL SWING

Havana, February 9(RHC)-- Havana's 8th International Book Fair
continues in the Cuban capital with several book launchings.
As part of activities, the novel "News of a Kidnapping," by
Nobel Literature Prize laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez was
launched over the weekend.  The novel deals with violence in
Colombia and is based on the kidnapping of Maruja Pacho and
her husband Alberto Villamizar.  The couple spoke with readers
who lined-up to buy the book at the Fair in Havana. 

Alberto Villamizar, who is the current Colombian Ambassador to
Cuba, said that kidnapping is one of the most frequent violent
actions in that South American nation.  He said that in 1993,
he and his wife spoke with Gabriel Garcia Marquez, suggesting
that the Colombian author write a book on the issue. 

Meanwhile, Cuban engineer Fidel Castro Diaz Balart presented
his book "Nuclear Energy -- Environmental Danger or Solution
for the 21st Century?"   At the presentation, the engineer
said his book deals with essential issues of nuclear energy
and preservation of the environment. 

           [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba
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