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 Tuesday, June 16, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- PREPARATORY MEETINGS FOR THE SECOND WORLD ENCOUNTER ON SPECIAL EDUCATION UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 2.- FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE FOREST BLAZE IN EASTERN GUANTANAMO PROVINCE 3.- CUBA HAS EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING 4.- CUBAN AND U.S. PHILOSOPHERS EXCHANGE VIEWS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA 5.- MEXICAN INVESTMENT ON THE ISLAND CONTINUES TO INCREASE 6.- PRESIDENT OF THE BASQUE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY POSTPONES TRIP DUE TO HEALTH REASONS PREPARATORY MEETINGS FOR THE SECOND WORLD ENCOUNTER ON SPECIAL EDUCATION UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, June 16(RHC)-- Preparatory meetings have begun in the Cuban capital for the Second World Encounter on Special Education, scheduled to get underway tomorrow, Wednesday, in Havana's Convention Center. Cuban and foreign experts will discuss their experiences in special education for handicapped children. Close to 1500 delegates will be able to visit over 40 special education schools throughout the island. The event, which is sponsored by the World Association on Special Education, will run through Saturday, the 20th. The event will include seven roundtables, nine special conferences, videos and poster exhibitions. FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE FOREST BLAZE IN EASTERN GUANTANAMO PROVINCE Guantanamo, June 16(RHC)-- Two hundred firefighters and volunteers from Cuba's Interior and Agriculture Ministries are working to control a huge forest fire in the municipality of Manuel Tames in eastern Guantanamo province. The head of the Interior Ministry's Forest Rangers in Guantanamo, Roberto Galano Martinez, says that over 200 hectares of forest have been burned. The fire is covering a remote forest area which is difficult to access. Combined forces of the Interior and Agriculture Ministries have mobilized special technical equipment and supplies to put out the fire. Three planes from Camaguey have been flown to the region to help fight the blaze, which is destroying precious woods such as guayacan and black ebony as well as other endemic plants. CUBA HAS EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING Havana, June 16(RHC)-- Cuban Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo stated that the island has exceptional conditions to successfully fight drug trafficking. Diaz Sotolongo pointed out that these possibilities are a reality thanks to community work and the cooperation of the island's grassroots organizations, as well as a solid health care system. The Cuban justice minister commented that although Cuba does not have drug cartels and drug consumption is not a social problem, Cuban authorities pay close attention to one of the world's most serious problems. After returning to Havana from the Special United Nations General Assembly on Drugs in New York, Diaz Sotolongo stressed that Cuba is able to confront drug trafficking, based on respect for the island's sovereignty and laws. CUBAN AND U.S. PHILOSOPHERS EXCHANGE VIEWS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA Havana, June 16(RHC)-- The President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon inaugurated the 10th Conference of North American and Cuban Philosophers and Social Scientists at the University of Havana's Aula Magna. Some 60 participants from the U.S. Radical Philosopher's Association are attending the event. At the inauguration on Monday, diplomas and special recognitions were awarded to renowned personalities from the two countries who have participated in every meeting that has taken place since 1982. Issues related to economy, history, national and political identity will be discussed. Also on the agenda will be discussions regarding neo-liberalism. MEXICAN INVESTMENT ON THE ISLAND CONTINUES TO INCREASE Havana, June 16(RHC)-- Cuban and Mexican commercial exchange increased to 65 million dollars during the first four months of this year. According to the Commercial Advisor of the Mexican Embassy in Cuba, Carlos Fuentes, Mexico is among the island's top five trading partners. PRESIDENT OF THE BASQUE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY POSTPONES TRIP DUE TO HEALTH REASONS Havana, June 16 (RHC)-- The visit to Cuba of the President of the Basque Autonomous Community, Jose Antonio Ardanza, has been postponed due to health reasons. The president of the Basque Community visited Cuba for the first time last year. During that visit, he strongly condemned the anti-Cuban Helms-Burton Law, which not only tightens Washington's blockade against Cuba but punishes third nations doing business with the island. The Basque Autonomous Community is one of the Spanish regions with the most commercial ties to Cuba, amounting to 20 percent of Spain's total exports to the island. There are currently over 30 Basque firms in Cuba. [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