CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA February 10, 1998 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Tuesday, February 10, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- ASSEMBLIES OF PEOPLE'S POWER SET UP THIS SATURDAY 2.- CUBA AND COLOMBIA SIGN HEALTH COOPERATION AGREEMENT 3.- CANADIAN BUSINESSES EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES IN CUBA 4.- MEXICAN WRITER PRESENTS BIOGRAPHY ON CHE GUEVARA 5.- CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY LEAVES FOR ITALY ASSEMBLIES OF PEOPLE'S POWER SET UP THIS SATURDAY Havana, February 10(RHC)-- The Provincial Assemblies of People's Power will be set up this Saturday, the 14th, as part of the third stage of the island's electoral process. In each province, slate commissions are scheduled to present their candidates for the positions of president and vice presidents of the assemblies. The candidacies will be subjected to debate among delegates on hand at the assemblies who will agree or disagree with the slate commission's selection. If approved, the selection will be submitted to secret and direct vote. Before the establishment of these provincial assemblies, slate commissions consulted with delegates to make their proposals for the positions of presidents and vice presidents of the provincial legislative bodies. A similar process will take place on February 24th, when the National Assembly or Parliament is scheduled to be installed. The President of the island's Slate Commission is in charge of presenting the candidates for President, Vice President and Secretary of the National Legislative body and explain the arguments taken into consideration for their selection. The National Electoral Commission will inaugurate the National Assembly's constituent session, asking deputies to approve or disapprove the slate commission's nominees and submit the candidacies to a vote. CUBA AND COLOMBIA SIGN HEALTH COOPERATION AGREEMENT Bogota, February 10(RHC)-- Cuba and Colombia have signed a health cooperation agreement that includes provisions for the mutual fight against epidemics. In particular, the two countries will jointly fight hemorrhagic dengue -- a disease that is currently affecting dozens of people in that South American country. The agreement, signed at the end of the visit of Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres to Colombia, will authorize Cuba to send a group of experts to help fight the tropical disease. Dotres attended the Andean Health Summit, where Cuba has a permanent observer status. According to a request made by that regional body, Cuba could become a full member in the coming months. In statements to journalists, the Cuban health minister said that Cuba will join the Andean countries' disease prevention programs to fight epidemics caused by the "El Nino" meteorological phenomena. He said that the experience gained by Cuba will be used to alleviate some of those illnesses in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. CANADIAN BUSINESSES EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES IN CUBA Havana, February 10(RHC)-- A delegation of business executives and officials from Canada's Prince Edward Island has arrived in Havana to explore business opportunities on the Caribbean island. The mission is made up of representatives of 19 companies and is headed by the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Wes Macleer and Agriculture and Forestry Resources Minister Erich Hamill. This first business mission from the Canadian province to the island will look at formulas to begin cooperation in the field of agriculture, food processing and tourism. During their stay on the island, the Canadian business executives expressed interest in the island's investment laws. MEXICAN WRITER PRESENTS BIOGRAPHY ON CHE GUEVARA Havana, February 10(RHC)-- Mexican writer Paco Ignacio Taibo II presented a biography of Cuban-Argentinean guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara at Havana's International Book Fair currently underway in the Cuban capital. The book has become a best seller and has sold thousands of copies in 40 editions around the world. In statements to reporters, Taibo said his book is "a serious, rigorous, honest and well-documented biography that presents Che's human dimensions, not an empty myth." He said that Che continues to be "the great representative of a fair and equitable social project." Critics say that Paco Ignacio Taibo's book presents Che as a romantic and determined person, a brave rebel leader, impulsive, stubborn, honest and hard working -- who was demanding and didn't like mediocrity, resignation or bureaucracy. The book is in its 12th printing in Mexico and has seen 13 editions in Italy, five in Spain, four in Argentina and Colombia, three in France, two in the United States and will soon be published in Brazil, Russia and Greece. CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY LEAVES FOR ITALY Havana, February 10(RHC)-- The Cuban National Ballet Company left Monday for Italy where it will perform from February 27th through March 12th. The ballet's international tour is part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the company. Twelve Cuban couples from the ensemble, headed by first dancer Jorge Vega and novel ballerina Wingsay Valdes will participate in the opera "La Gioconda" by Amilcare Ponchielli, scheduled to be performed in Genoa's Carlo Felice Communal Theater. At the opera, the Cuban National Ballet Company members will perform "The Dance of the Hours" included in the third act of "La Gioconda." After their tour of Italy, the Cuban dancers will leave for Colombia -- then travel to Argentina, Uruguay, Austria, Finland, Switzerland, Spain and France. The biennial International Ballet Festival in the Cuban capital is set to begin on October 28th -- marking the Cuban Ballet Company's 50th anniversary with the attendance of famous art critics, choreographers and dancers from France, Sweden and the American Ballet Theater from the United States. [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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