CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA January 15, 1998 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's English language service for Thursday, January 15, 1998. Today's stories: 1.-PHOTO EXHIBIT IN HONOR OF POPE JOHN PAUL II OPENS IN HAVANA 2.-THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES FLOCK TO CUBA FOR PAPAL VISIT 3.-MINISTRY OF FINANCES AND PRICES WAVES PRIVATE HOUSE RENTAL TAXES FOR PAPAL VISIT 4.-SCIENCE DAY MARKED IN CUBA 5.-HAVANA'S 8TH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR TO BE HELD IN FEBRUARY PHOTO EXHIBIT IN HONOR OF POPE JOHN PAUL II OPENS IN HAVANA Havana, January 15(RHC)-- A photo exhibit in honor of the Pontiff John Paul II was opened in the Jose Marti Memorial in Revolution Square in Havana. Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, Apostolic Nuntius Monseigneur Beniamino Stella and Havana's Archbishop, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino, presided over the opening ceremony. The exhibit, sponsored by the Memorial and the Office of Publications of the Council of State, displays 50 photographs of the visit paid by Cuban President Fidel Castro to the Vatican on November 19, 1996. A mural photograph showing the moment John Paul II and Fidel Castro shook hands, presents that the Pope gave to the Cuban delegation and video footage of the landmark meeting are also part of the exhibit. After the inauguration of the presentation, a postal cancellation on the occasion of the Pope's visit to the island was held. Deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende and Cardinal Jaime Ortega made the cancellations. THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES FLOCK TO CUBA FOR PAPAL VISIT Havana, January 15(RHC)-- Hundreds of international media representatives are already in Havana to cover next week's Papal visit. As of Wednesday, some 560 foreign media and 500 Cuban journalists had already been accredited and a total of more than 3000 journalists from 50 countries are expected to be on the island by the start of the visit Wednesday, according to Frank Gonzalez, Director of Havana's International Press Center. All major U.S. networks: CNN. ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, have sent large contingents. Italian and Vatican media are not lagging far behind. A special press center has been set up for the occasion at the Havana Libre Tryp Hotel, to host press conferences by officials, among them the President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon, Public Health Minister Carlos Dotres and Foreign Investment Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz, among others. Other three press centers have been opened in the provinces of Santa Clara, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba -- the other locations where the Pontiff will deliver Masses during his Pastoral visit. MINISTRY OF FINANCES AND PRICES WAVES PRIVATE HOUSE RENTAL TAXES FOR PAPAL VISIT Havana, January 15(RHC)-- The Ministry of Finances and Prices has announced it will allow private renting of rooms on the island between January 15 through the 31st without the required registration and taxes payment. In explaining its decision, the Ministry said the high number of foreign visitors expected during the visit surpass capacities in the provinces Pope John Paul II will visit, hence the need for creating the conditions to accommodate all guests. People currently registered for house renting will also be exempted for paying taxes during the period. According to the Ministry of Finances and Prices, all hosts will have to report to the Offices of the Identity Card, the usual information on their foreign guests. SCIENCE DAY MARKED IN CUBA Havana, January 15(RHC)-- Cuban research institutions celebrated Science Day on the island with the completion of all the research projects they set as a goal for themselves over the past year. This result, said Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment Rosa Elena Simeon shows that the Cuban scientific sector has gained in organization and efficiency. Simeon pointed to the approval in 1997 of a Law on the Environment and the reduction by 30 percent of polluting sources in the country as an example of Cuba's commitment to abide by the agreements of the Earth Summit. The Cuban Academy of Science also announced in Santa Clara the best research projects of 1997. Meanwhile, Cuban Public Health Minister Carlos Dotres, told national and international press in Havana that his sectors' achievements are also a tribute to Science Day. Cuba's 1997 infant mortality rate of 7.2 per one thousand live births, Dotres said, reiterates Cuba's placement among the 20 countries with the lowest infant mortality in the world. HAVANA'S 8TH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR TO BE HELD IN FEBRUARY Havana, January 15(RHC)-- Publishing Houses from 27 countries will take part in Havana's International Book Fair slated for February 4 through the 10th at Pabexpo Exhibit Halls. The fair's upcoming edition will be dedicated to Mexico, in honor of the traditional links between Mexican and Cuban publishing Houses. The event, eagerly awaited every year by thousands of avid readers, will be launching more than 150 national titles. National and international publishing houses, literary critics and experts, as well as representatives from UNESCO, FAO, and UNICEF will be on hand for the event. According to the fair's organizing committee, several book stores and libraries in Havana will host fair-related book sales and several academic encounters will run parallel to the event, focussing on writers facing the New Millennium and the historical significance of the One Hundredth Anniversary of U.S. military intervention in the Cuban independence war. A seminar on electronic publishing and multimedia will delve into the challenges these methods are posing to the book industry. [c] 1997. 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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