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 Thursday, July 2, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA IS WILLING TO DISCUSS ANY SUBJECT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ISLAND'S SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA WRAPS UP VISIT TO BRUSSELS, REITERATING CUBA'S DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM 3.- AS U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WRAPS UP VISIT TO CHINA, REPRESENTATIVE JOSE SERRANO CALLS ON HIM TO ALSO VISIT CUBA 4.- THREE CUBAN INTELLECTUALS AWARDED ARGENTINA'S "MAY ORDER" 5.- PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA FOR THE 2nd COLLOQUIUM ON SPANISH LITERATURE IN EXILE 6.- CUBAN SCIENTISTS SHOW RESULTS OF AIDS VACCINE TESTING 7.- PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM EQUATORIAL GUINEA VISIT HAVANA CUBA IS WILLING TO DISCUSS ANY SUBJECT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ISLAND'S SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE Havana, July 2(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has insisted that Cuba is willing to discuss any subject, "with the exception of the island's sovereignty, independence and the right to choose its own economic and social system." Speaking to reporters in Havana following the opening session of the international forum "Economy '98," President Castro responded to questions concerning Cuba's participation as an observer in economic negotiations between the European Union and the 71 member nations of the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries -- known as the ACP. Earlier this week, the EU's Council of Ministers approved Cuba's observer status, but stated that Cuba's eventual full membership in the ACP would depend on advances in the human rights arena, good government and political freedoms. Fidel Castro said Cuba was not telling Europe what to do. In line with some of the issues that 250 economists from 15 nations will be discussing during "Economy '98," President Fidel Castro spoke of the current financial crisis in Asia, insisting that this crisis could become globalized. The solution, said the Cuban leader, is solidarity -- proclaiming that "it is either solidarity or death, dignity or death, the equitable distribution of wealth or death." The leader of the Cuban Revolution called on participants at the forum to analyze the economic problems caused by neo-liberal free market reform and globalization. He said "it's time for economists to become politicians and politicians to become economists." "Economy '98" was inaugurated Wednesday by Roberto Verrier, President of the National Association of Cuban Economists, and will run through Friday. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA WRAPS UP VISIT TO BRUSSELS, REITERATING CUBA'S DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM Brussels, July 2(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina wrapped up his visit to Brussels today, reiterating Cuba's defense of a socialist system chosen and still defended by the Cuban people. Following his invitation to address a session of the European Parliament in the Belgian capital, Robaina met with some 60 organizations making up the Coalition of Belgian Solidarity with Cuba and also held a final news conference before travelling to Italy. The Cuban foreign minister reiterated Cuba's willingness to speak with anyone about any issue, but only, he added, when Cuba is also listened to. He criticized what he called "those from different latitudes and apparently with better intentions -- who even condemn Washington's blockade of Cuba -- but who, in practice, take sides with those who pressure and harass the island." Robaina spoke of the damage inflicted on Cuba "by those who decide to talk about, but not with Cuba, who criticize Cuba without even knowing the island's reality -- without taking note of the effects of the economic war against the island which the Cuban people experience each and every day." The Cuban foreign minister said Cuba is the only nation in the world where foreign firms prefer to not announce their presence due to Washington's persecution, and where a virus in a small town or a group of illegal rafters leaving the island becomes headline news around the world. Robaina said that despite the fact that Europe uses different and discriminatory criteria with respect to Cuba, in comparison to its relations with other countries, he told the European Parliament that Cuba would be willing to accept visits of human rights experts from this agency -- "in the same way that Cuba has always cooperated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights." After reiterating that Cuba is the largest market in Central America and the Caribbean, that the island has ample infrastructure, important human capital and is also a peaceful and politically stable country, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said that Cuba will continue forward "with or without a blockade -- with or without slander campaigns." AS U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WRAPS UP VISIT TO CHINA, REPRESENTATIVE JOSE SERRANO CALLS ON HIM TO ALSO VISIT CUBA Havana, July 2(RHC)-- As U.S. President Bill Clinton wraps up his visit to China, Representative Jose Serrano has called on him to also visit Cuba. Serrano, a Puerto Rican-born Democratic representative from New York, praised Clinton's visit to China. He said the U.S. president promoted peace and understanding between the United States and the Asian giant. Representative Serrano said that in that same spirit of cooperation and understanding, Clinton should stop over in Cuba on his way home. In related news, diverse organizations in Miami stated today that as President Clinton calls on the world to open its doors and windows to China, it is unacceptable and dishonest to prohibit Cuban-Americans from visiting their own people. Organizations like the Antonio Maceo Brigade and the Alliance of Cuban-American Workers also demanded the lifting of restrictions on any American to visit Cuba. And the Miami-based organizations demanded an end to what they called "the immoral and illegal trafficking of Cuban citizens to U.S. territory." They charged that counterrevolutionary organizations in Florida have encouraged these actions without taking into consideration the high cost in human lives and the suffering they entail, demanding a thorough investigation of those responsible. THREE CUBAN INTELLECTUALS AWARDED ARGENTINA'S "MAY ORDER" Havana, July 2(RHC)-- Three Cuban intellectuals will be granted Argentina's "May Order" for their work in favor of strengthening ties between the two peoples. Argentina's Embassy in Havana has confirmed that the award will be presented to the three Cuban intellectuals during a special ceremony scheduled for July 10th. The honorees are: Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal, the President of the Cuban Film Institute Alfredo Guevara, and the President of Havana's Casa de las Americas cultural institution Roberto Fernandez Retamar. PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY IN HAVANA FOR THE 2nd COLLOQUIUM ON SPANISH LITERATURE IN EXILE Havana, July 2(RHC)-- Preparations are underway in Havana for the 2nd Colloquium on Spanish Literature in Exile. The event, to be held in San Antonio de los Banos, on the outskirts of the Cuban capital, will mark the centennial of the birth of Grenadine poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca. The Colloquium -- scheduled for July 14th through the 18th -- will be attended by Iberoamerican intellectuals, who will debate the work of writers who lived outside Spain, or were linked to other lands by short or long visits. Hosted by the Cuban Book Institute, the event will also include special conferences by Salvador Bueno, President of the Cuban Academy of Spanish Language, and by Aitana Alberti, the daughter of Spanish poet Rafael Alberti. CUBAN SCIENTISTS SHOW RESULTS OF AIDS VACCINE TESTING Geneva, July 2(RHC)-- Scientists from Havana's Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center have presented two studies at the 12th World Conference on AIDS, underway in Geneva, Switzerland. The studies show the results of tests using a vaccine developed on the island against HIV. Cuban researchers Antonieta Herrera and Carlos Duarte told participants at the conference that following successful animal testing, the vaccine will soon be ready for human candidates. Only six countries -- the United States, France, England, Switzerland, Japan and Cuba -- have tested a total of 15 vaccines, carrying out over 30 clinical trials using various technologies. Another issue on the event's agenda is the inaccessibility of the latest and most advanced therapies for AIDS patients, given their extremely high cost, and the cold reception given by transnational pharmaceutical companies to the issue of accessibility. PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM EQUATORIAL GUINEA VISIT HAVANA Havana, July 2(RHC)-- Upon his arrival in the Cuban capital for an official visit, the President of the House of Representatives from Equatorial Guinea, Marcelino Nguema Onguene, thanked Cuban authorities for their valuable cooperation with that African country in the field of health. The African legislator stated that his delegation's visit to Cuba will strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the health sector. He said that Cuban doctors will soon be sent to Equatorial Guinea, where they will train medical professionals. Nguema Onguene told reporters in Havana that his country is interested in purchasing Cuban pharmaceuticals, stating that Equatorial Guinea and Cuba are working together to expand commercial cooperation. [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. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org