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, February 27, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- GUATEMALAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEIR COUNTRY'S PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SCENARIO IS IMPROVING DUE TO COOPERATION WITH CUBA 2.- CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS LAGE SAYS TOURISM IS THE HEART OF THE ISLAND'S ECONOMY 3.- HAVANA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS MEETING 4.- TRADE BETWEEN HAVANA AND SANTO DOMINGO ON THE RISE 5.- CUBA'S ECONOMIC SITUATION: MAIN FOCUS OF SOLIDARITY MEETING IN MEXICO 6.- CUBA WALKS AWAY WITH TWO GRAMMYS THIS YEAR GUATEMALAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEIR COUNTRY'S PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SCENARIO IS IMPROVING DUE TO COOPERATION WITH CUBA Guatemala City, February 27(RHC)-- Authorities in Guatemala asserted today that their country's public health care scenario has improved due to cooperation in the field with Cuba -- and that further improvements are around the corner. Guatemalan Deputy Minister of Health Carlos Andrade recalled that bilateral cooperation in the field began in 1996, when a team of Cuban doctors travelled to that Central American nation to help fight a dengue epidemic. Andrade also asserted that due to the help of Cuban health professionals and financial aid from international agencies, for the first time ever, Guatemala has a community mental health care program. The Guatemalan deputy minister of health said his country is now looking into the possibility of purchasing medicines produced in Cuba to fight illnesses that are common in tropical climates and that Cuba has been able to eliminate. In this respect, said Andrade, Guatemala's decision last month to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba is very important. The statements from the deputy minister of health come on the heels of Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina's first official visit to that Central American country. CUBAN VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS LAGE SAYS TOURISM IS THE HEART OF THE ISLAND'S ECONOMY Havana, February 27(RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said tourism is the heart of the island's economy, "not only because it's a source of income but also because it provides jobs and financing for its own development and revitalizes local industry." While addressing participants at the annual meeting of that important sector held in Havana, the Cuban official asserted that "tourism influences the country's economic recovery more than any other sector." The meeting was chaired by Cuban Tourism Minister Osmany Cienfuegos, who said that one million l70,000 tourists visited the island in 1997 -- a five percent increase with regard to 1996. HAVANA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS MEETING Havana, February 27(RHC)-- Representatives of 74 trade unions from 16 countries are in Havana to discuss the employment situation in the telecommunications industry. During the meeting, participants agreed on the need to form a common front to face the negative effects of privatization and globalization in the field of communications. The Secretary General of the Cuban Communications Union, Ernesto Freire, explained how Cuba has gradually carried out a restructuring of labor, which includes protection for the workers and guarantees full salaries until they begin their new jobs. One of the participants in the conference, the leader of the Spanish Workers Commissions, Jesus Vesperino, focused on the negative impact privatization has on his country's workers - pointing to rising unemployment throughout Spain. TRADE BETWEEN HAVANA AND SANTO DOMINGO ON THE RISE Santo Domingo, February 27(RHC)-- Cuba's Consul in the Dominican Republic, Miguel Perez Cruz, affirmed that trade between the two countries could increase, pointing to the growing bilateral exchange between the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The Cuban diplomat also said that although the two nations produce essentially the same crops -- tobacco, sugar and rum, there could be exchanges of other products. In that regard, Perez Cruz said that Cuba exports construction materials and other products to the Dominican Republic, while it imports equipment and other items for the tourist industry. Evaluating the re-establishment of consular relations between Havana and Santo Domingo, the Cuban official said it is part of a process of normalizing relations between Latin American and Caribbean nations. CUBA'S ECONOMIC SITUATION: MAIN FOCUS OF SOLIDARITY MEETING IN MEXICO Mexico City, February 27(RHC)-- A Cuban delegation composed of parliamentarians and leaders of political and mass organizations will travel to Mexico City this weekend to take part in the Third Solidarity with Cuba Encounter. Peter Gellert, from the Mexican Solidarity with Cuba Movement, told journalists that the meeting is aimed at obtaining first-hand information on Cuba's economic situation, in order that Mexican organizations can determine how they can best aid the Caribbean island. Representatives from the U.S. religious/solidarity organization Pastors for Peace will also participate in the meeting in Mexico City. Pastors is currently organizing a new Friendshipment Caravan to the island, which will cross the U.S.-Mexico border in July -- bringing material aid to Cuba. CUBA WALKS AWAY WITH TWO GRAMMYS THIS YEAR Havana, February 27(RHC)-- Cuba walked away with two prizes during the recent Grammy Awards -- in the Tropical Music and Latin Jazz categories. The first was won by the CD "Buena Vista Social Club," produced by U.S. guitarist Ry Cooder. It includes outstanding Cuban artists such as Ruben Gonzalez (Puntillita), Pio Leyva and Francisco Repilado, known as Compay Segundo. As for Latin Jazz, Cuba won with the CD called "Havana," performed by the Crisol band, a group formed by top Cuban pianist, composer and band leader Chucho Valdes and U.S. trumpet player Roy Hargrove. Among the musicians performing on the CD are, among others, Jose Luis Quintana (Changuito), Miguel Anga and Horacio (El Negro) Fernandez. The two CD's were recorded at Cuba's EGREM Studios and mixed in Los Angeles and London, respectively. [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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