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 15, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO ATTENDS RECEPTION AT HAVANA'S FRENCH EMBASSY ON THE OCCASION OF BASTILLE DAY 2.- CALLS TO INVESTIGATE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION 3.- ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES CONTINUES MEETING 4.- FIRST DIRECT FLIGHT FROM MIAMI IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 5.- CUBAN PARLIAMENTARIANS DISCUSS NEW FORESTRY LAW 6.- UNION OF CUBAN JOURNALISTS CELEBRATES ITS 35th ANNIVERSARY 7.- RICE PRODUCTION FALLS IN CAMAGUEY DUE TO SEVERE DROUGHT CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO ATTENDS RECEPTION AT HAVANA'S FRENCH EMBASSY ON THE OCCASION OF BASTILLE DAY Havana, July 15(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro attended a reception offered by the French Embassy in Havana Tuesday evening on the occasion of Bastille Day -- France's National Holiday. Speaking to reporters during the reception, the Cuban leader congratulated his hosts on the occasion of another anniversary of the French Revolution which, he said, "inspired us all." He also took the opportunity to congratulate France for its recent victory at the World Soccer Cup. For his part, French Ambassador Yvon Roe D'Albert told reporters that relations between Paris and Havana have never been better. He pointed to the increasing numbers of tourists from France to the Caribbean island and constant contact by business representatives wishing to invest in Cuba. The French ambassador also announced that Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage will soon visit Paris at the invitation of the French prime minister. The Cuban vice president also attended the reception in Havana Tuesday night, as did Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina and Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon. On July 14th, 1789, revolutionaries stormed and took control of the Bastille -- a fortress in Paris used to house political prisoners. It was a symbol of feudal oppression and its capture 209 years ago marked the beginning of the French Revolution. CALLS TO INVESTIGATE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION Washington, July 15(RHC)-- U.S. Congressional Representative Charles Rangel has called for federal investigations into charges that a Miami-based group was connected to a series of hotel bombings last year in Cuba. In letters to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rossotti and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer, Rangel requested investigations of the Cuban-American National Foundation. The Democratic representative of New York based his request on information published by The New York Times. In Sunday's and Monday's edition of the influential U.S. daily, a well-known terrorist -- Luis Posada Carriles -- admitted that he had been the mastermind of the hotel bombings in which an Italian tourist was killed. He further claimed that he was provided money for his operations by the Cuban- American National Foundation. Representative Rangel said that he has requested an investigation of the Miami-based organization and its officers by Attorney General Reno to determine whether its activities are consistent with U.S. and international law. The U.S. congressional representative affirmed that it was also appropriate for the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the not-for-profit organization's tax-exempt status. According to Representative Charles Rangel, the allegations by Posada Carriles were serious enough to look into the charges that the Cuban-American National Foundation helped to fund his terrorist activities. The two-part story on the front pages of The New York Times has prompted numerous requests for a full investigation into the actions of right-wing Cuban-American groups operating within U.S. territorial jurisdiction. ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES CONTINUES MEETING Havana, July 15(RHC)-- The second round of preparatory meetings of the Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States got underway in the Cuban capital on Wednesday. During the sessions, participants analyzed the role of special committees over the past six months and evaluated the work carried out since the last ministerial meeting, held in Colombia last November. The sessions wrap up tomorrow, Thursday, at Havana's Convention Center. Among those attending the meeting are Guatemalan Foreign Minister Eduardo Stein -- who serves as head of the Association of Caribbean States' Board of Directors -- and the General Secretary of the Association, Simon Molina Duarte. FIRST DIRECT FLIGHT FROM MIAMI IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS ARRIVES IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, July 15(RHC)-- The first direct flight from Miami to Havana in more than two years arrived in the Cuban capital Wednesday morning. The Miami-based company ABC Charters received permission last week from the U.S. Department of Transportation to renew direct flights to Havana. According to Vivian Mannerud, President of Airline Brokers Company -- known as ABC Charters -- approval is still pending for ten additional flights in July. Beginning in August, ABC plans to fly five weekly flights between Miami and the Cuban capital. U.S. President Bill Clinton had canceled direct flights in March 1996, following Cuba's downing of two, Miami-based pirate aircraft that were violating the island's territorial airspace. ABC and two other charter companies -- C&T Charters and Wilson International -- have been flying to Cuba through Mexico and the Bahamas since the 1996 prohibition, but the latter two were not among the companies that won recent Treasury Department approval when Clinton announced the renewal of direct flights four months ago. Vivion Mannerud stated that for its July flights, ABC has chartered United Airlines Boeing 767s, which carry 206 passengers and will be operated by United crew members. The additional July flights, if approved, will be flown by Mexicana planes and crew. In August, three weekly flights will be flown on United planes; two on Mexicana. CUBAN PARLIAMENTARIANS DISCUSS NEW FORESTRY LAW Havana, July 15(RHC)-- Cuba's National Assembly is preparing to discuss legislation for a new Forestry Law. The draft bill, which is being studied and analyzed by Cuban lawmakers, is aimed at conserving forest areas on the island. Cuban Deputy Minister of Agriculture Fidel Ramos said the legislation also includes controlling resources, the planting of trees, conserving bio-diversity associated with the forest's ecosystems and the protection of wooded areas against negligence. Cuban Parliamentary Secretary Ernesto Suarez pointed out that the law is of utmost importance for the country's sustainable development plans. Cuba currently has 2.4 million hectares of forests, which represents 21 per cent of the national territory. UNION OF CUBAN JOURNALISTS CELEBRATES ITS 35th ANNIVERSARY Havana, July 15(RHC)-- The work of Cuban journalists in defense of the Revolution and in strengthening its principles was praised by Political Bureau member Jose Ramon Balaguer during an activity on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Union of Cuban Journalists. The Cuban official told reporters that proof of this important work was seen during the analysis made by Cuban journalists at their work places, sponsored by the institution. Balaguer applauded the work carried out by Cuba's national press over the past few years and stressed that "now is the time to face the challenges of ideological work." He pointed out that Cuban President Fidel Castro said that the work of journalists is to form consciousness, referring to the challenges of neo-liberal globalization. Balaguer added that the role of the Cuban press is much more relevant now given the current world situation. Today, Wednesday, the Union of Cuban Journalists celebrates its 35th anniversary. RICE PRODUCTION FALLS IN CAMAGUEY DUE TO SEVERE DROUGHT Havana, July 15(RHC)-- The severe drought that has hit the eastern part of the island has affected rice production in the province of Camaguey. An Agriculture Ministry official said that there has not been sufficient rain over the past 30 days -- resulting in only 50 to 60 percent of rice production in the region so far this year. According to experts, the intense drought affecting the eastern part of the country is due to the El Nino climatic phenomenon. April through June have been the driest months in 57 years in Camaguay province. According to the Director of the United Nations World Food Program, German Valdivia, UN institutions are evaluating the situation in an attempt offer food aid to those regions hardest hit. On Tuesday, Cuban authorities declared eastern Granma province in a state of alert due to the severe drought in that area. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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