Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit 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, July 3, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS FOR "SOCIALIST GLOBALIZATION" 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA RECEIVED BY HIGH- RANKING OFFICIALS AT THE VATICAN 3.- U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON ONCE AGAIN CONFRONTED WITH DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN WASHINGTON'S CHINA AND CUBA POLICIES 4.- PASTORS FOR PEACE FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN ON THE MOVE 5.- CUBA'S DECISION TO DEFEND SOCIALISM IS NOT ONLY A DUTY BUT A CONTRIBUTION TO HUMANITY 6.- NEW AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE SPANISH REGION OF EXTREMADURA 7.- CARIBBEAN FIRE BURNS IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 8.- CUBAN ARTISTS CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL U.S. PERFORMANCES CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS FOR "SOCIALIST GLOBALIZATION" Havana, July 3(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has called for "a socialist globalization," dismissing the existence of other alternative models of development. Speaking to participants Thursday at the international forum "Economy '98," which concluded today at Havana's Convention Center, the Cuban leader said that socialism will not come about through the use of arms, as was possible during the 1960's -- but will be necessary due to the inevitable crisis of neo-liberalism. "The main weapon," said the leader of the Cuban Revolution, "is the impending economic crisis itself." During his exchange with more than 250 economists from 15 countries gathered in the Cuban capital, Fidel Castro said that the subjective factors once favored armed struggle in the Third World -- adding that Cuba actively worked to foment revolutionary changes throughout Latin America, with the only exception being Mexico. Emphasizing that Mexico never broke diplomatic relations with Cuba and refused to join Washington's economic blockade against the island, the Cuban leader said that attempts were made to launch revolutionary actions in every other country, without exception. The Cuban president defended the existence of conditions for revolution in the past, pointing to Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. And he said that although the Soviet Union was accused of inciting armed movements, the work was actually carried out by Cuba and opposed by the Soviets. Recalling that Cuban troops went to the aid of African liberation movements, Fidel Castro said that Soviet leaders at that time expressed their concern and were against Cuba's actions. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA RECEIVED BY HIGH- RANKING OFFICIALS AT THE VATICAN Vatican City, July 3(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina was received today by the Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Monsignor Jean Louis Tauran. In statements to reporters, the Cuban foreign minister termed the island's relations with the Vatican as "agreeable and respectful." On the occasion of Robaina's second visit to the Vatican in the past four months, the Cuban foreign minister took another opportunity to thank Pope John Paul II for having termed Washington's blockade of the island as "unjust and ethically unacceptable." He denied that Cuba has failed to comply with commitments made during the Pope's January visit to Cuba, stating that Cuban authorities and the Pontiff never held talks or negotiations of a political nature and that the Vatican chief's visit was of a purely pastoral nature. The Cuban foreign minister also pointed to the on-going enhancement of relations between Cuba and the government of Italy, stressing the strategic nature of Cuba's relations with Europe. He reiterated, however, that Europe will have to approach Cuba "with respect and without predispositions or paternalism." U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON ONCE AGAIN CONFRONTED WITH DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN WASHINGTON'S CHINA AND CUBA POLICIES Hong Kong, July 3(RHC)-- Wrapping up his visit to China, U.S. President Bill Clinton was once again confronted with the discrepancies between Washington's China and Cuba policies. Media correspondents in Hong Kong asked Clinton to clarify the differences between Washington's treatment of "Communist China" and its treatment of "Communist Cuba." As usual, the U.S. president was vague in his response, stating that each case has to be judged separately. Clinton claimed that on more than one occasion, Washington has attempted to dialogue with Cuba in good faith in order to develop what he called the same reciprocal gesture in U.S. relations with China. He said Washington-Havana relations were advancing up until Cuba's downing of two Miami-based aircraft in February 1996. What Clinton forgot to say is that the organization Brothers to the Rescue had violated Cuban airspace on numerous occasions and that the Cuban government had warned Washington of these provocations for nearly two years before finally taking decisive action. PASTORS FOR PEACE FRIENDSHIPMENT CARAVAN ON THE MOVE New York, July 3(RHC)-- The 8th Pastors for Peace caravan is officially underway, beginning a three-week journey that will cover more than 140 U.S. cities on its way to Cuba. According to the religious/solidarity organization, several routes in northern U.S. cities and Canada are now on the road and others will get started this weekend from San Francisco, Chicago and New York City. Travelling along 14 routes, the caravanistas will collect vehicles and material aid in the latest challenge of the U.S. government's economic blockade against Cuba. This Friendshipment caravan is dedicated to Cuban children and the elderly and will deliver 500 tons of material aid, including prescription medicine, school supplies, powdered milk, school buses and five mobile libraries -- each complete with a Pentium computer, loaded with educational software. Pastors for Peace delivers the aid to Cuba without a U.S. government license, believing that to accept Washington's permission is to acknowledge the validity of the blockade, which organizers call immoral and illegal. On July 16th, the caravan routes will converge in McAllen, Texas and activists will prepare to cross the border into Mexico. Previous Friendshipment caravans have met with not- so-friendly U.S. border guards. On orders from Washington, numerous activists have been arrested when trying to cross into Mexico without a license for the aid. Two years ago, more than 400 computers were seized by U.S. officials, prompting a 94-day "Fast for Life," ending when Washington finally released the computers which are now serving Cuban hospitals and clinics. Last year, however, U.S. customs authorities allowed the aid to pass without a problem, in what organizers say was an attempt to keep the caravan out of the headlines. The Reverend Lucius Walker, founder of Pastors for Peace, told reporters that provided everything goes well this time, the activists will cross into Mexico on July 20th and then travel to the port of Tampico, where the aid will be sent to Cuba by ship. The caravanists will fly to the island for a ten-day program, which includes a U.S.-Cuba Solidarity Conference -- "Building a New Future" -- from July 28th through the 30th in Havana. CUBA'S DECISION TO DEFEND SOCIALISM IS NOT ONLY A DUTY BUT A CONTRIBUTION TO HUMANITY New York, July 3(RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon has expressed the island's appreciation for gestures of support and solidarity received from Cubans and other Latin Americans living in the United States. The Cuban leader attended a meeting at New York City's Casa de las Americas social and cultural institution, speaking with members of Cuban-American, Puerto Rican, Dominican and other Latino communities. Regarding U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba, Alarcon said that the more those sanctions are tightened, the more solidarity Cuba receives -- while the island defends its achievements, without making a single concession in its principles. Ricardo Alarcon also reiterated that Cubans feel they have a truly democratic system, which he added, constitutes the true essence of socialism. He concluded that the decision to defend socialism is not only a duty, but Cuba's contribution to humanity. NEW AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE SPANISH REGION OF EXTREMADURA Havana, July 3(RHC)-- Cuba and the Spanish region of Extremadura have signed several new agreements to expand mutual cooperation. The accords were signed in Havana by the President of the Junta de Extremadura, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, and Jose Ramon Fernandez, Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers. The Junta's Cultural Advisor Francisco Munoz and Cuba's First Deputy Minister of Culture Rafael Bernal signed an agreement to promote cultural exchange. And Extremadura's Economic Counsellor Amigo Mateo, along with Cuban Minister of Economic Investment Ibrahim Ferradaz, signed a document that stimulates new investments, as well as an accord regarding the exploitation of Cuban marble and Extremadura's granite. Ferradaz told journalists that the visit served to strengthen ties between Cuba and the Spanish region of Extremadura, while Mateo said that the quality of current relations goes beyond the agreements signed. Wrapping up his delegation's visit to the island, the president of the Junta de Extremadura Juan Carlos Rodriguez told reporters that the purpose of their visit had been fulfilled -- a strengthening of relations between Cuba and the Spanish region. CARIBBEAN FIRE BURNS IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, July 3(RHC)-- The Caribbean fire will burn in eastern Santiago de Cuba from July 3rd through the 9th, during the 18th Annual Fiesta of Fire, a cultural event that gathers personalities from around the region. The 1998 edition is dedicated to the Hispanic influence in the Caribbean and is being attended by representatives from some 20 countries in North America, Africa and Europe. The opening ceremony was held at Santiago's Heredia Theater, which is also the site of a colloquium entitled "The Caribbean that Unites Us." Delegates to the conference will take part in round tables and workshops on issues related to indigenous and Hispanic culture in the Caribbean. The Fiesta of Fire will also include master conferences and an encounter between Cuba's Minister of Culture Abel Prieto and participating intellectuals. CUBAN ARTISTS CONTINUE THEIR SUCCESSFUL U.S. PERFORMANCES New York, July 3(RHC)-- With a jam-packed Carnegie Hall and repeated encores, Cuba has staged another musical success in New York City with the performance of the Buena Vista Social Club. The group won a Grammy earlier this year with a compact disk that is still growing in popularity. So far, more than a million copies of the CD by the Buena Vista Social Club have been sold. This time, Cuban singer and composer Compay Segundo, pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and vocalist Omara Portuondo shared the stage of Carnegie Hall. [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