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 24, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO RECEIVES VISITING PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, LAURENT DESIRE KABILA 2.- ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MEETS WITH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO 3.- PASTORS FOR PEACE OFFICIALLY WELCOMED IN HAVANA 4.- CUBA AND GHANA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR BILATERAL COLLABORATION 5.- BOOK ENTITLED "FIDEL AND THE POPE" WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON SUNDAY 6.- SON OF LEGENDARY GUERRILLA ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA RAISES FUNDS FOR CUBAN SCHOOLS 7.- EVERYTHING SET FOR HAVANA'S 16th INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO RECEIVES VISITING PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, LAURENT DESIRE KABILA Havana, July 24(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro received the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Desire Kabila, who arrived in the Cuban capital late Thursday on a previously unannounced visit. President Kabila is accompanied by his agriculture minister and the assistant director of his cabinet. The 56-year old Congolese leader heads the rebel Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire, which last year overthrew the late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. One week before Mobutu was ousted from power, Cuba's Foreign Ministry announced that it would recognize an eventual government led by Kabila. Mobutu, with the help of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, provided support for the rebel UNITA organization since 1975, while Cuba supported the ruling MPLA, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola. In the mid-1960s, Ernesto Che Guevara fought alongside Kabila following the CIA-supported assassination of nationalist Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba. ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MEETS WITH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO Havana, July 24(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro welcomed the administrator of the United Nations Development Program, the UNDP, James Gustave Speth, who is on a two-day visit to the island. The UN official, who is heading a delegation of representatives of the world institution, discussed bilateral and international issues with the Cuban leader. During his stay in Cuba, the administrator of the United Nations Development Program will also meet with other Cuban officials and visit places of social and economic interest. PASTORS FOR PEACE OFFICIALLY WELCOMED IN HAVANA Havana, July 24(RHC)-- Members of the 8th U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan were officially welcomed in Havana on Friday. The group of 160 religious and solidarity activists arrived in the Cuban capital late yesterday afternoon, after having once again challenged the U.S. blockade of Cuba by bringing material aid to the island without a government license. Pastors for Peace has protested what they call the illegal and immoral blockade of Cuba since 1992. Addressing the caravanistas Friday morning, Sergio Corrieri, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples -- ICAP -- expressed the appreciation of all Cuban people for the solidarity shown by Pastors for Peace over the years. He said that Pastors for Peace is a true expression of friendship between the people of the United States and Cuba. During the welcoming ceremony, Reverend Lucius Walker, founder and Director of Pastors for Peace, referred to the obstacles that Washington has tried to place in the way of his organization. "We have overcome a number of obstacles to arrive at this point. Over the months since we were last here with the seventh caravan, we have been confronted by our own government in a number of ways. The U.S. government has learned that using physical force or threats does not stop us from expressing our solidarity with Cuba. And therefore we have seen the use of more subtle tactics to try to undermine our work. As was done on this occasion, during the past several caravans, the U.S. government has basically said: "Go" -- and then after the fact, they try to prosecute or threaten prosecution. Since we were here last, we have received a demand from our government for the submission of all of the names of people who have come with us to Cuba since 1994. And, of course, we responded to our government by saying that we will never name names, we will never cooperate in the prosecution of those who show love and solidarity towards Cuba." CUBA AND GHANA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR BILATERAL COLLABORATION Havana, July 24(RHC)-- Cuba and Ghana have signed an agreement to extend bilateral cooperation until the year 2000 in the fields of health, agriculture, fishing, youth, education and the environment. The document was signed during the 9th Session of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission for Economic and Technical- Scientific Collaboration that began on Monday. During the meeting, which was presided over by Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas and Ghana's Transportation Minister Edward Salia, the two countries analyzed their current situations and perspectives for bilateral trade. BOOK ENTITLED "FIDEL AND THE POPE" WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON SUNDAY Santo Domingo, July 24(RHC)-- A book entitled "Fidel and the Pope," written by Dominican journalist Livio Mariano Cedeno, will be presented Sunday in the Dominican city of Jiguey, some 166 kilometers from the capital Santo Domingo. The book is a collection of the speeches made by Cuban President Fidel Castro during Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba last January. It also contains the homilies given by the Pontiff during his stay. SON OF LEGENDARY GUERRILLA ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA RAISES FUNDS FOR CUBAN SCHOOLS Rome, July 24(RHC)-- Camilo Guevara, son of legendary guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara, is currently in the Italian city of Salerno as part of a tour to collect funds to repair Cuban schools. An outstanding leader in Cuba's Fishing Ministry, Camilo Guevara is heading a delegation of teachers and children who will participate in fund raisers for Cuban students. EVERYTHING SET FOR HAVANA'S 16TH INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL Havana, July 24(RHC)-- Some 21 dance companies from Europe and the Americas will participate in the 16th International Ballet Festival, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Cuba's National Ballet Company. Renowned ballet troupes will take part in the festival including the Zaragoza Ballet, the Komische Opera and the Grand Theater Dessau Ballet, as well as outstanding ballet figures such as Argentinean Julio Bocca. Classic ballets like "Giselle" will be performed and the event will also include exhibitions, concerts and the presentation of a book on the history of Cuba's National Ballet Company headed by Primerisima ballerina Alicia Alonso. [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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