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 Monday, July 13, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA ARRIVES IN HAVANA 2.- GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 3.- PASTORS FOR PEACE WINS LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST ALPHA 66 4.- CUBA REGISTERS INFANT MORTALITY RATE OF 7.3 5.- NEW GUATEMALAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA ARRIVES IN HAVANA 6.- PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM YEMEN VISITS THE ISLAND 7.- GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION BEGINS VISIT TO CUBA DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA ARRIVES IN HAVANA Havana, July 13(RHC)-- The Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica arrived in the Cuban capital on Monday to being a four-day official visit to the island. Seymour Edward Mullings, who also serves as Jamaica's Foreign Minister, was met at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport by Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina. During his visit to Cuba, the Jamaican official will meet with high-ranking Cuban authorities, particularly from the Ministries of Education, Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration. Seymour Edward Mullings will also take part in meetings of the Association of Caribbean States this week in the Cuban capital. GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, July 13(RHC)-- Guatemalan Foreign Minister Eduardo Stein is in Havana to take part in a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Eduardo Stein, who also serves as President of the Council of Ministers of the ACS, will present a report on the work carried out by the Association over the past year. During initial sessions at Havana's Convention Center on Monday, the Association of Caribbean States' Committee of Administrative and Budgetary Affairs met to discuss concrete financial projects for member states. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the ACS Board of Directors meeting begins, with Cuba serving as Vice President. Taking part in the meeting will be the heads of special committees, including the Committee on Science, Technology, Health, Education and Culture, which is presided over by Cuba. Participants will evaluate the work carried out since the Association's ministerial meeting held in Cartagena, Colombia in November last year and will also discuss plans for the next ministerial meeting, scheduled for Barbados this coming November. Sessions will continue Wednesday and Thursday, the 15th and 16th, in Havana's Convention Center, with the participation of representatives from all member nations of the Association of Caribbean States. PASTORS FOR PEACE WINS LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST ALPHA 66 San Diego, July 13(RHC)-- The U.S. religious/solidarity organization Pastors for Peace has won a legal claim in the State of California against a right-wing, extremist Cuban- American group known as Alpha 66. Several members of the group -- including Alpha 66 leaders -- attacked participants of a humanitarian aid caravan near San Diego in May last year. One vehicle, driven by members of the right-wing group, attempted to force the caravan off an interstate highway, repeatedly crashing into a Pastors for Peace vehicle, loaded with supplies and eight passengers. In a decision handed down by the Superior Court of California, it was ruled that Alpha 66 members could not harass or threaten Pastors for Peace, nor could they come within 50 yards of the religious organization's members or vehicles. The court decision comes at the same time that the 8th U.S.- Cuba Friendshipment Caravan, organized by Pastors for Peace, is on the road. The material aid caravan is scheduled to arrive in Texas later this week and will cross the border into Mexico on July 20th. More than 500 tons of supplies, including busses and several mobile libraries, will then be shipped to Cuba from the port of Tampico. CUBA REGISTERS INFANT MORTALITY RATE OF 7.3 SO FAR THIS YEAR Havana, July 13(RHC)-- At the end of the first six months of this year, Cuba's infant mortality rate dropped to 7.3 per one thousand live births -- compared to 7.5 during the same period last year. Cuba's Health Minister Carlos Dotres told reporters that despite the positive results, major efforts will be made this year to confront diarrhea and respiratory problems which increase during the summer months. Villa Clara was the province with the lowest infant mortality rate -- set at 4.8 per one thousand live births -- followed by eastern Granma province with 5.4 and central Camaguey weighing in at 6.3. According to epidemiologist Dr. Norma Martinez, the key factor in this achievement has been the collective work of experts and other health personnel in the field. She explained that congenital problems continue being the main causes of death in children under one year of age on the island. Dr. Martinez pointed out that the maternal mortality rate on the island continues to be one of the lowest in the world, with perspectives to continue improving. NEW GUATEMALAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA ARRIVES IN HAVANA Havana, July 13(RHC)-- The new Guatemalan ambassador to Cuba arrived Sunday at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. Upon his arrival, Willy Kalschmitt said that he is proud to have been assigned as Guatemalan ambassador to Cuba and stressed that this is the first step in expanding bilateral relations in all sectors. The Guatemalan ambassador added that among his countries' priorities are the development of commercial, cultural and sports relations with Cuba. Cuba and Guatemala re-established diplomatic relations last January -- officially melting 37 years of frozen relations between the two countries. Guatemala broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961, responding to pressures from Washington. PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM YEMEN VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, July 13(RHC)-- The President of Yemen's House of Representatives, Jeque Ben Husein Al Ahmar, is currently on an official visit to Cuba. Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon welcomed the Yemenite delegation at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport and said that the island is interested in expanding its ties with Yemen. The Yemenite official characterized Cuban President Fidel Castro as "a great leader who is dearly loved by the Arab people." He added that Cuba has been a friend of Yemen in the past and will continue its friendship in the future. GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION BEGINS VISIT TO CUBA Havana, July 13(RHC)-- A German parliamentary delegation headed by Ulrich Irmer is in Cuba for a five-day visit at the invitation of the island's National Assembly. The delegation was welcomed by Cuba's National Assembly member Ramon Pez Ferro. The German legislators met with Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende and Vice President of the Cuban Parliament Jaime Crombet. They also visited the National Artists and Writers Union in the Cuban capital. The German officials are scheduled to visit the beach resort of Varadero on Tuesday and meet with the managers of the Hotel Tuxpan and Bella Costa, which are under the administration of the German hotel chain LTI. [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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