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, July 1, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO VISITS VATICAN EMBASSY IN HAVANA 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA CALLS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO CONTINUE CONDEMNING WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AND HELMS-BURTON LAW 3.- ECONOMY '98 FORUM UNDERWAY AT HAVANA'S CONVENTION CENTER 4.- CUBA PARTICIPATES IN WORLD AIDS CONFERENCE IN GENEVA 5.- MEXICO WILL TAKE WASHINGTON BEFORE THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION IF THE U.S. TAKES REPRISALS AGAINST MEXICAN FIRMS IN CUBA 6.- FINNISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION CONCLUDES VISIT TO CUBA 7.- PRESIDENT OF SPANISH REGION OF EXTREMADURA CONTINUES VISIT 8.- CUBAN HABANOS AUCTIONED DURING GALA DINNER CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO VISITS VATICAN EMBASSY IN HAVANA Havana, July 1(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro visited the Vatican Embassy late Tuesday in the Cuban capital and held a private conversation with the Vatican's Ambassador Monsignor Beniamino Stela. The Cuban leader's presence in the Vatican's nuncio in Havana has been interpreted within diplomatic circles as a reaffirmation of the good relations between Cuba and the Catholic Church. The Vatican's representative for Catholic education, Cardinal Pio Laghi, just wrapped up a five-day visit to the island, during which he offered a Mass at the Cathedral of Havana. Cardinal Laghi's visit is the first of a high-ranking member of the Church in Rome since the visit of Pope John Paul II in January. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA CALLS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO CONTINUE CONDEMNING WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AND HELMS-BURTON LAW Brussels, July 1(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina called on the European Parliament to step up its struggle against Washington's brutal blockade of the island and against the Helms-Burton Law. Robaina met today with the European Parliament's Working Group Against the Blockade to describe the effects of the U.S. economic war against Cuba. He spoke of how the blockade sharply increases the cost of technology, medical information, pharmaceutical products and raw materials to Cuba, while at the same time negatively affecting Cuba's development by blocking the acquisition of credits and financing. The Cuban foreign minister said that by continuing the denunciations against these unilateral and extraterritorial measures, "Europe not only defends Cuba but also defends its own freedom and independence." At the same time, Robaina dismissed any possibility of an improvement in relations between Havana and Washington due to what he called "the extremely aggressive policies of a U.S. Congress dominated by Republicans." In an address before the European Parliament on Tuesday, Robaina insisted that Cuba will not accept political conditions that are not imposed on other countries in order to be eligible to participate in multilateral forums, adding that Cuba would not renounce socialism. Two of the European Parliament's commissions extended the invitation to the Cuban foreign minister to participate in the gathering. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina met today with his Belgian counterpart, Erik Derevcke. He is slated to travel to Rome on Thursday and will meet Friday with Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini and the Vatican's Secretary Angelo Sodano. ECONOMY '98 FORUM UNDERWAY AT HAVANA'S CONVENTION CENTER Havana, July 1(RHC)-- The international forum Economy '98 got underway on Wednesday in Havana with the participation of some 400 Cuban and foreign experts. The conference, which is sponsored by the Association of Cuban Economists, was inaugurated by the Director of the Center of World Economic Studies, Osvaldo Martinez. During the morning sessions, Cuba's Minister for Foreign Investment Ibrahim Ferradaz took part in a panel discussion on Cuba's economic model and foreign investment on the island. Some of the issues that will be discussed over the next two days are: contemporary economic thought, problems of socio- economic development and sustainable economic development. The Permanent Secretary of the Latin American Economic System (SELA) Carlos Moneta, is scheduled to close the Economy '98 Forum in Havana on Friday. Moneta will offer a conference on the impact of the Asian financial crisis on Latin America. CUBA PARTICIPATES IN WORLD AIDS CONFERENCE IN GENEVA Geneva, July 1(RHC)-- The Cuban delegation to the 12th World AIDS Conference currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, presented a report on the evolution of the first HIV-infected patients on the island. Jorge Perez, a Cuban specialist from the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute, pointed out that of the 99 HIV patients detected in 1986, 41 are still alive -- a clear example of the effective treatment designed to prolong the life of AIDS patients in Cuba. Since the first detection of HIV-infected patients in Cuba until June 17th of this year, 1984 patients were diagnosed with the virus -- 75 per cent of them were men while 85 percent were between 19 and 39 years of age. During the AIDS conference in Geneva, participants agreed that while the search continues for an effective vaccine, prevention is the only way to escape what has been called "the epidemic of the century." MEXICO WILL TAKE WASHINGTON BEFORE THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION IF THE U.S. TAKES REPRISALS AGAINST MEXICAN FIRMS IN CUBA Vienna, July 1(RHC)-- Mexican Trade Secretary Herminio Blanco expressed his uncompromising rejection of the anti-Cuban Helms-Burton Law, stating that if the United States takes any reprisals against Mexican firms investing in Cuba, his country will take Washington before the World Trade Organization. During an activity held at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Vienna, the Mexican official added that his country is currently negotiating a bilateral investment treaty with Cuba. Blanco stated that Mexico supports Cuba's membership in the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI). FINNISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION CONCLUDES VISIT TO CUBA Havana, July 1(RHC)-- A Finnish parliamentary delegation met with Cuban President Fidel Castro shortly before the group ended their visit to the island. The Vice President of the Finnish Parliament and head of the delegation, Terttu Tornqvist, said she favors increased cooperation with Cuba, adding that her delegation will request that authorities in Helsinki take a more firm stand against Washington's economic blockade against Cuba. Tornqvist told reporters that upon her return to Finland, she will present a report with various recommendations, among them the need to stimulate business investment in Cuba. While visiting Cuba, the Finnish parliamentary delegation toured a number of production centers and met with Cuban legislators and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Investment. PRESIDENT OF SPANISH REGION OF EXTREMADURA CONTINUES VISIT Havana, July 1(RHC)-- The President of the Spanish region of Extremadura, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, visited Havana's Museum of the Revolution as part of his official visit to the island. Rodriguez announced that he will sign a cultural cooperation agreement with Cuban officials during his stay. He also expressed his satisfaction over the restoration work that is taking place on Havana's Malecon seaside drive with investment from Extremadura. On Tuesday, the president of the Spanish region of Extremadura inaugurated an exhibit of political caricatures at Casa de las Americas cultural institution and toured Old Havana. CUBAN HABANOS AUCTIONED DURING GALA DINNER Havana, July 1(RHC)-- The Partagas Habano House in the Cuban capital has celebrated its first five years with a gala dinner and an auction of its cigars -- bringing in over 5000 dollars to the island's health care system. According to Abel Exposito, General Manager of the Partagas Habano House, nearly 50 people from around the world took part in the auction. The cigar house in Havana was the first to be opened on the island. Last year alone, it sold three million dollars worth of this internationally renowned cigar. [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. 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