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 22, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN NATIONAL PARLIAMENT'S FIFTH LEGISLATURE WRAPS UP FIRST ORDINARY SESSION 2.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH VOLLEYBALL TEAM 3.- UNITED NATIONS EXPERTS ANALYZE DROUGHT IN EASTERN CUBA 4.- SUGAR ISLAND FESTIVAL SCHEDULED NEXT MONTH AT VARADERO BEACH RESORT 5.- CUBAN ART EXHIBIT INAUGURATED IN TOKYO 6.- YOUTH FESTIVAL FOR A BETTER WORLD MEETS IN PORTUGAL NEXT MONTH CUBAN NATIONAL PARLIAMENT'S FIFTH LEGISLATURE WRAPS UP FIRST ORDINARY SESSION Havana, July 22(RHC)-- The second and final day of the Cuban National Parliament's Fifth Legislature began with an analysis of the report presented Tuesday by Manuel Millares, Minister of Finances and Prices. The report and Wednesday's analysis shed light on the progress made by the island since the worst years of the economic crisis, provoked by the demise of socialism in Eastern Europe and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Speakers acknowledged the progress made in terms of reduction of excess liquidity, the budget deficit and the dramatic drop in State subsidies to inefficient enterprises. As part of the debate, Vice President of the Council of Ministers Carlos Lage told the gathering about new measures that will soon be implemented to improve basic services to the population. The measures include an improvement of telephone services, the production and distribution of manufactured gas and the improvement of water supply networks. Lage stressed the fact that amid the current economic limitations, Cuba has been able to start gradually investing in basic services that lacked maintenance and attention over the last five or six years. He pointed out that these improvements in services are being achieved without privatization or the implementation of neo-liberal policies, so commonly practiced in the rest of the world. Other improvements are being reported in the fishing fleet, the expansion of airports and the purchase and rental of new jet airliners. The closing meeting of the First Ordinary Session of the Fifth Legislature of the Cuban National Parliament also took a look at the national energy plan for the upcoming years, spearheaded by the island's Basic Industry Ministry. As part of the program, power generators with several years of use will be upgraded, the island's generating capacity will be increased, an education program on energy conservation will be pursued on the community level and at schools and low- consuming light bulbs will be distributed nationwide. Parliamentarians also examined the current status of the island's educational system, a topic that prompted numerous interventions by lawmakers. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEETS WITH VOLLEYBALL TEAM Havana, July 22(RHC)-- Following Tuesday's session of the Parliament, Cuban President Fidel Castro met with the men's volleyball team that recently won the World Volleyball League championships. The team entered the Convention Center after plenary debates, receiving a standing ovation from the island's deputies. Team captain Ihosvany Hernandez and one of the key players, Alain Roca, presented the Cuban president with the trophy they won in Italy at the World Volleyball League games. Cuban President Fidel Castro said that the Cuban people are not only proud of the beautiful trophy but of the example the team has given to the world. He thanked the team on behalf of the Cuban people, pointing out that the World Cup was awarded to a small, blockaded nation and that deserves a place in history. The Cuban president spoke nearly a half-hour with the players of the volleyball team as well as the President of the Cuban Volleyball Federation, Leonel Marshal, and the squad's main trainer, Juan Diaz. UNITED NATIONS EXPERTS ANALYZE DROUGHT IN EASTERN CUBA Havana, July 22(RHC)-- A United Nations commission will analyze a request for assistance to Cuba's eastern provinces, currently suffering the worst drought in history. The Director of the World Food Program in the region, Francisco Roque Castro, is heading a delegation of experts and officials from the UN Development Agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). United Nations experts are currently touring the region in order to analyze the critical situation and get a first-hand look at the measures that local authorities have taken to alleviate the consequences of the drought. In the eastern province of Granma, which is the area most- affected by the drought, 63 per cent of the population suffers from the lack of water and 14 rural communities have been left without drinking water. Among some of the measures that have been taken include transferring animals to areas not severely-affected by the drought and the distribution of drinking water by trucks. According to the National Meteorological Center, the eastern region of the island will continue suffering the effects of the drought at least until September. SUGAR ISLAND FESTIVAL SCHEDULED NEXT MONTH AT VARADERO BEACH RESORT Havana, July 22(RHC)-- Over 100 Cuban and foreign commercial firms are ready to take part in the "Festival Isla de Azucar," or "Sugar Island Festival," to be held at the Varadero Beach Resort from August 13th to the 15th. The festival will include a trade fair aimed at helping with commercial relations between business representatives as well as strengthening ties with foreign companies investing on the island. Organizers of the Sugar Island Festival hope to revive the traditional trade fairs that existed in Matanzas province during the last century. CUBAN ART EXHIBIT INAUGURATED IN TOKYO Tokyo, July 22(RHC)-- A major, contemporary Cuban art exhibit was inaugurated at the Hillside Forum Exhibition Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Representatives of magazines, art critics, officials of the foreign ministry and commercial firms participated in the prestigious artistic event. The President of the Japanese Private Television Federation, Seiichiro Ujiie, outlined the traditional ties that link the Asian nation and Cuba. The Cuban ambassador in Japan, Ernesto Melendez, said that if there had not been a revolution in Cuba, a cultural explosion would have not developed on the island. YOUTH FESTIVAL FOR A BETTER WORLD MEETS IN PORTUGAL NEXT MONTH Havana, July 22(RHC)-- A delegation of the Continental Latin American and Caribbean Students Organization will represent the region at the Youth Festival for a Better World, scheduled to take place next month in Portugal. Globalization, education, employment and democracy are among the issues that will be analyzed by the representatives. The President of the Latin American Students group, Cuban Yosvani Diaz, pointed out that during the event, the participants will condemn globalization and neo-liberal economic policies. [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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