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 Wednesday, February 25, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO UNANIMOUSLY RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CUBAN COUNCIL OF STATE 2.- PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT OF SPANISH PROVINCE OF CADIZ ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 3.- GENERAL SECRETARY OF SPAIN'S SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY VISITS CUBA 4.- GUILLERMO TORIELLO REMEMBERED AS REVOLUTIONARY FIGHTER 5.- CUBAN-BRAZILIAN-PORTUGUESE MOVIE BEING FILMED IN HAVANA 6.- PRODUCTION OF HABANOS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS YEAR CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO UNANIMOUSLY RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CUBAN COUNCIL OF STATE Havana, February 25(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro was unanimously re-elected President of the Cuban Council of State on Tuesday, during the opening session of the 5th legislature in Havana. In a secret and direct vote, the Cuban leader received all 595 votes of the parliament's 601 representatives present. Also during Tuesday's legislative session, Raul Castro was elected First Vice President of the Council of State. Members of Cuba's Parliament -- also known as the National Assembly of People's Power -- selected 31 members of the Council, which is Cuba's highest executive body. Among those elected vice presidents were Juan Almeida, Carlos Lage, Esteban Lazo and Jose Ramon Machado. Elected Secretary of the Council of State was Jose Miyar. Addressing the opening session of the 5th legislature Tuesday evening, Cuban President Fidel Castro recalled the historic significance of February 24th -- the 103rd anniversary of the beginning of the island's second war of independence against Spanish colonial rule -- the 22nd anniversary of Cuba's Constitution -- and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the guerrilla radio station in the Sierra Maestra mountains: Radio Rebelde. The Cuban leader reaffirmed the continuity of the Cuban Revolution as a symbol of real independence and blasted the criminal economic war waged by the United States against the island for nearly 40 years. Fidel stated: "This is Revolutionary Cuba, which continues to resist like David against Goliath; a country that receives the admiration of the world because of the courage shown by our people in defense of our independence." Cuban President Fidel Castro, addressing the opening session of the 5th legislature, flatly rejected any transition to capitalism, stressing that the island's achievements -- despite Washington's blockade -- "are precisely the result of the island's socialist system defended by a heroic people." Fidel made reference to the international media campaign concerning the new phenomenon of prostitution on the island. He said that in 1959, the Cuban Revolution did away with brothels and found dignified jobs for some 100,000 prostitutes at that time. But, he continued, some media outlets would have the world believe that there are more prostitutes in Cuba now than there are in Paris and Madrid, while industrialized nations import women from the Third World to become prostitutes and newspapers dedicate entire pages to announce sexual services. In reference to the issues of abortion and divorce, the Cuban leader said they wouldn't be abolished in Cuba. He said it's certain that there is a need for more education and more responsibility, but that Cuba "was not going to return to the chastity belt of the middle ages." Finally, the leader of the Cuban Revolution denied insistent press reports that he has named his brother, Raul Castro, as his successor. Fidel said that was not his decision, but rather that of the National Assembly and the Constitution -- and that Cuba was not a monarchy. PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT OF SPANISH PROVINCE OF CADIZ ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, February 25(RHC)-- The Parliamentary President of the Spanish province of Cadiz, Rafael Roman Guerrero, has arrived in Havana for an official visit. Guerrero is heading a delegation of some 120 mayors and representatives, invited by Havana's Provincial National Assembly. The Spanish province of Cadiz is located in the southwestern part of the country, on the Mediterranean coast, and has a seaside drive similar to Havana's Malecon. During the delegation's visit, Cadiz will be proclaimed Sister City to Havana in a ceremony sponsored by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People. The president of Cadiz's parliament said that it is time to advance towards integration, adding that his delegation will look for possible investments on the island. GENERAL SECRETARY OF SPAIN'S SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY VISITS CUBA Madrid, February 25(RHC)-- The General Secretary of Spain's Socialist Workers Party, Joaquin Almunia, is on his way to Havana at the invitation of the Cuban government. In Madrid, just before leaving for the Cuban capital, the Spanish leader told reporters that the main objective of his visit is to strengthen bilateral ties. According to Prensa Latina News Agency, after Joaquin Almunia's trip to the island he will then travel on to Mexico. GUILLERMO TORIELLO REMEMBERED AS REVOLUTIONARY FIGHTER Havana, February 25(RHC)-- A special ceremony was held in the Cuban capital yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the death of Guatemalan revolutionary Guillermo Toriello. The Director of the Association for the Unity of Our America, Carlos Oliva, called the former Guatemalan diplomat "a guerrilla fighter of the American Revolution." During the solemn ceremony in Havana's Colon Cemetery, friends and comrades of the former Guatemalan foreign minister recalled his revolutionary ideas and his lifelong struggle for Latin American integration. Guillermo Toriello, who died last year in Havana, was the last survivor of those who signed the San Francisco Charter -- the document which led to the creation of the United Nations. The Guatemalan revolutionary -- who served as the country's foreign minister during the administration of Jacobo Arbenz, overthrown by the CIA in 1954 -- was President of the Havana-based Association for the Unity of Our America. CUBAN-BRAZILIAN-PORTUGUESE MOVIE BEING FILMED IN HAVANA Havana, February 25(RHC)-- A Cuban-Brazilian-Portuguese joint production is being filmed in Havana. The movie is called "Estorbo" and is being directed by Ruy Guerra, one of Brazil's most important movie directors. Guerra told reporters in Havana that he is very pleased with the Cuban technicians and actors that are taking part in the film, among them, Jorge Perugorria, Veronica Lynn and Jose Antonio Rodriguez. PRODUCTION OF HABANOS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS YEAR Havana, February 25(RHC)-- Cuba's Universo Company -- part of the Cubanacan Group -- sold some 10 million dollars worth of Habano cigars during 1997. The figure is expected to increase this year with the opening of several new establishments. The Assistant Manager of the company, Enrique Carrazano, told reporters that Habano cigars are available at nine separate locations and that two more will be opened next month -- one in central Cienfuegos province and the other in eastern Holguin. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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