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, June 29, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- EUROPEAN UNION ACCEPTS CUBA'S PARTICIPATION AS OBSERVER IN UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN EU AND GROUP OF AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC NATIONS 2.- HAVANA AND WASHINGTON BEGIN NEW ROUND OF MIGRATORY TALKS 3.- EXPOCARIBE '98 TRADE FAIR WINDS UP IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 4.- SCIENTIFIC ENCOUNTER MARKING 100th ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INTERVENTION IN CUBA UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO 5.- CUBAN MUSICIANS PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S MIDEM LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN MUSIC MARKET IN MIAMI 6.- BRAZIL'S TRANSAIR AND VENEZUELA'S AEROPOSTAL AIRLINES BEGIN FLIGHTS TO CUBA 7.- CUBA'S EASTERN PROVINCE OF GUANTANAMO INCREASES COCOA PRODUCTION THIS YEAR 8.- LIBYA EXPRESSES INTEREST IN PURCHASING CUBAN VACCINES 9.- FIRST CUBA-PUERTO RICO SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER WILL BEGIN THIS FRIDAY, JULY 3rd EUROPEAN UNION ACCEPTS CUBA'S PARTICIPATION AS OBSERVER IN UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN EU AND GROUP OF AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC NATIONS Havana, June 29(RHC)-- The European Union has accepted Cuba's participation as an observer during upcoming negotiations between the EU and the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, the ACP. In September, the 71 ACP member nations -- which recently gave their seal of approval for Cuba's participation -- will negotiate another version of the Lome Convention, which establishes the mechanisms by which the EU provides development aid to its former colonies. The news came as Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina was en route to Brussels to participate in a special gathering of the European Parliament. Before leaving Havana, Robaina told reporters that Cuba can contribute to Europe's presence in Latin America, that Europe has the capability and the duty to contribute to this region's prosperity and that Cuba will always be willing to engage in a frank and respectful dialogue with Europe. On his way to Brussels, the Cuban foreign minister stopped over today in Madrid, where he met with his Spanish counterpart, Abel Matutes. This is the second meeting in the Spanish capital between the two foreign ministers since Matutes invited Robaina for an official visit last April. The invitation followed Spain's naming of its new ambassador in Havana. HAVANA AND WASHINGTON BEGIN NEW ROUND OF MIGRATORY TALKS New York, June 29(RHC)-- Cuba and the United States began the ninth round of bilateral migratory talks today at the U.S. Permanent United Nations Mission in New York City. The President of Cuba's Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, is heading the Cuban delegation, while the U.S. delegation is led by John Hamilton, Under Secretary of State for Central America and the Caribbean. The talks come just days after U.S. authorities revealed the existence in Florida of a network of smugglers transporting illegal Cuban immigrants into U.S. territory. The suspicions were confirmed last week when a vessel carrying 35 Cubans was intercepted. The Cubans reportedly paid between seven and eight thousand dollars per person to be taken to the United States. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, during the first six months of this year, some 301 illegal Cuban rafters have been picked up at sea while trying to reach Florida. That number almost doubles the amount picked up during all of last year, which was reportedly 186. Before leaving Havana on Sunday, Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon stated that it was his hope that this new round of talks would be characterized by the seriousness that has prevailed in past encounters of this nature, terming the immigration accords reached thus far as "very important for both countries." EXPOCARIBE '98 TRADE FAIR WINDS UP IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, June 29(RHC)-- The EXPOCARIBE '98 trade fair wound up on Sunday in eastern Santiago de Cuba with a number of commercial exchanges between Cuban and foreign companies. Cuba won 22 of the 39 prizes awarded for exhibit quality and design. Nearly 800 firms participated in the trade fair and Cuba signed numerous collaboration agreements as well as letters of intent with foreign firms. The President of Cuba's Chamber of Commerce, Carlos Martinez Salsamendi, pointed out that this year's fair showed an improvement in the exhibits and quality of services. Among the personalities that attended the EXPOCARIBE '98 trade fair were Colombian President Ernesto Samper and the Trade and Industry Ministers of Spain, St. Lucia and Haiti. SCIENTIFIC ENCOUNTER MARKING 100th ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INTERVENTION IN CUBA UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO Santiago de Cuba, June 29(RHC)-- A scientific/theoretical meeting entitled "One Hundred Years from 1898 -- Imperialism, Revolutions and Realities at the End of the Century" has kicked off in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. The encounter is being attended by scientists and theoreticians from Cuba, the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. Santiago de Cuba was represented by Juan Carlos Robinson, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in Santiago, as well as other high-ranking officials. In the inaugural speech, Marco Cortina, Rector of the University of Oriente in Santiago de Cuba, stated that with the defeat of Spanish colonialism in 1898, a new era of U.S. neocolonialism was introduced in Cuba, later sealed by the Platt Amendment. This process was reversed in 1959, with the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro. The scientific encounter in Santiago de Cuba will run through Wednesday, July 1st. CUBAN MUSICIANS PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S MIDEM LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN MUSIC MARKET IN MIAMI Havana, June 29(RHC)-- A number of Cuban musicians are expected to take part in the Second Midem Latin American and Caribbean Music Market from August 24th to the 28th at Miami Beach. Last year, under pressure from right-wing elements and politicians in Miami's Cuban-American community, the event's promoters were forced to cancel the appearance of Cuban artists. Midem organizers said that if Miami authorities again prohibit Cuban participation, they will be forced to consider whether or not to change the location of the event. Xavier Roy of the Paris-based Reed Midem Organization said that Miami Beach is a perfect location, but that the question of Cuban participation must be completely and definitely solved. If not, he concluded, his organization will go elsewhere. Roy told reporters that he has been approached by another city and will give it serious consideration. Although he declined to name the city, several sources reported it is New Orleans. Cuba's presentation is scheduled for August 25th at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Artists have not been announced, but Xavier Roy expressed hope that the lineup will include pianist Chucho Valdes, veteran singer and songwriter Compay Segundo and pianist Ruben Gonzalez, all of Ry Cooder's Grammy award- winning Buena Vista Social Club. BRAZIL'S TRANSAIR AND VENEZUELA'S AEROPOSTAL AIRLINES BEGIN FLIGHTS TO CUBA Havana, June 29(RHC)-- Brazil's Transair and Venezuela's Aeropostal have joined other international airline companies, linking a major part of the world with Cuba's tourism installations. The Cubatur Travel Agency has been selected by Transair International of Brazil to provide services for its clients during their stay on the island. The inaugural flight landed at Varadero International Airport and, according to Transair's Business Manager Sergio Nobis, flights will also be landing in Havana within a few weeks. Passengers on the maiden flight included tourists, journalists from Brazil's main media and tour operators involved in the operation. Meanwhile, Venezuela's Aeropostal has also included Cuba in its expansion plans and is currently offering five flights weekly from Caracas to Havana. In a multi-destination operation, the company has linked northern Brazil and the Caribbean islands with Havana and has connected the Cuban capital with the island of Margarita and various Venezuelan states. Air France recently began direct flights between Paris and Havana, with a strong possibility of adding more flights due to increased demand. CUBA'S EASTERN PROVINCE OF GUANTANAMO INCREASES COCOA PRODUCTION THIS YEAR Guantanamo, June 29(RHC)-- Over 3.2 billion pounds of cocoa have been cultivated so far this year in eastern Guantanamo province. The figure represents 13 percent over this year's expected yield. Justo Rodriguez Zamora, a specialist at the Coffee and Cocoa Association in Guantanamo, said that despite reduced production during the month of June, efforts continue to surpass the historic production record of almost four billion pounds in 1989. Cocoa production in Guantanamo province last year was very poor. Two of the factors that have favored this year's production are the attention and services given to cocoa workers and an agreement between producers and industry. LIBYA EXPRESSES INTEREST IN PURCHASING CUBAN VACCINES Havana, June 29(RHC)-- Libya's Deputy Health Minister Mohammed Salen Muafa said in Havana that his country is interested in purchasing Cuban vaccines and employing Cuban health care professionals. After participating in the 23rd Meeting of Health Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Libyan health official expressed his satisfaction with the results and experiences obtained from Cuba's health care system. FIRST CUBA-PUERTO RICO SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER WILL BEGIN THIS FRIDAY, JULY 3rd Havana, June 29(RHC)-- More than one hundred Puerto Rican solidarity activists are scheduled to arrive in Havana this week for the First Cuba-Puerto Rico Solidarity Encounter, scheduled to take place from the 3rd through the 10th of July. The meeting is aimed at discussing historical ties between both Caribbean nations, democracy and human rights. The Puerto Rican Juan Rios Rivera Brigade, which will also participate in the event, will do volunteer work in the fields near Caimito, on the outskirts of Havana. [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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