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, March 20, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ADDRESSES 54TH SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 2.- U.S. ANNOUNCES SO-CALLED EASING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA 3.- IMPORTANT CONFERENCE -- "A DIALOGUE WITH CUBA" -- UNDERWAY IN THE U.S. SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 4.- CONDITIONS NOT FAVORABLE FOR GLOBAL NEGOTIATION OF CUBA'S FOREIGN DEBT 5.- INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN SET FOR APRIL 6.- NAMIBIA'S AMBASSADOR PRAISES CUBA'S AID IN ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE 7.- MORE DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN CUBA WILL HELP TOURISTS 8.- CUBAN CONSTRUCTION MINISTER VISITS SPAIN 9.- REGIONAL GROUPS CALL FOR CUBA'S INCORPORATION 10.- CUBAN TRINIDAD CIGARS GAIN IN POPULARITY CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ADDRESSES 54TH SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Geneva, March 20(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina today addressed the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. In saluting the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Cuban Foreign Minister said the occasion should urge the international community to discuss the very essence of that Declaration. He said that it is important to remember that the process for the adoption of the Declaration began at the San Francisco Conference when a group of Latin American countries, Cuba among them, suggested an International Bill of Rights which included an International Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Nations and of Individuals. Robaina stressed that this integral concept of the exercise of human rights was disregarded by those who would rather have a simple, abstract declaration of the rights of the individual, with no reference whatsoever to the environment for the exercise of those rights. "These people," said the Cuban Foreign Minister, "are the same -- and not by chance, who nowadays, from their thrones in the North, are trying to use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the holy book of their ideological fundamentalism and as the foundation of their intolerance towards those who think differently." Since the interrelation of the duties and rights of the human being in social life were ignored, he said, "minimal principles like the respect of human dignity and the need for human solidarity were consigned to oblivion." Robaina stated that this is the only rationale for the fact that some countries still allow the legal existence of organizations that encourage hatred and racial discrimination in the name of `freedom of expression.' Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina also pointed out that those who voted for and even proclaimed themselves promoters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, were defending, at the same time, the survival of their colonial empires. It was necessary, he said, to wait until 1960 to adopt Resolution 1514 on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples. The Cuban Foreign Minister pointed to the inclusion of the Declaration on the Right to Development in the International Bill of Human Rights, which occurred five years ago in Vienna. A tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration, said Robaina, would be a follow up on this initiative, since little has been done to effectively implement it. Robaina said it was impossible to postpone the need to achieve economic, social and cultural rights -- indivisibly related to civil and political rights -- for individuals and entire peoples doomed to the marginalization of underdevelopment in the Southern part of this planet. The most dangerous fundamentalism today, said the Cuban Foreign Minister, stems from the attempts of the countries of the North to impose their own pattern of political, economic and social development on the countries of the South. "Those," he said, "who boast about their own pluralism are not willing to allow the slightest plurality when it does not fall within the very narrow ideological boundaries in which it is accepted today. Robaina pointed to the definition of western democracy recently made by a talented Third World writer: "civil servants who do not serve, politicians who speak but say nothing, voters who vote but do not elect, media which disinforms, schools that teach how to ignore, judges who sentence victims, military which is at war with their own citizens, police officers who do not fight crimes because they are too busy committing them, socialized poverty and privatized profits, money that happens to be freer than people, and people who serve things." Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said millions of beggars, unemployed, abused and exploited women and children, aborigines and national minorities are crying out for their trampled rights. He said they barely manage to survive to the South of those opulent societies, "self-portrayed as models of democracy and human rights." "What would happen," asked Robaina, "if with all due right the people of the South attempted to certify the most blameworthy for the trafficking of drugs -- the buyers and consumers? What would happen if we chose to threaten and attack those who pose a real threat to the security of the planet with their mammoth military and nuclear power? What if we were to blockade, until they settle their own unpayable debts, those who are to blame for the misery our peoples have endured for centuries as the result of colonial and neocolonial plunder and exploitation, and who even today look down on us?" In another part of his speech at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Commission, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina said Cuba was proud of its democracy, "based on the direct participation of the Cuban people, without political mediators and privileged elites, free of financial contributions from power groups, and with no multi-million dollar campaign expenditures." The Cuban Foreign Minister listed all the social and economic achievements of this blockaded country, noting that these achievements and Cuba's magnificent potential "do not come from multi-party elections, but rather from a nation that knew and still knows how to choose what is best for its present and future." Robaina wrapped up his speech in Geneva by saying that this is a human right Cuba is not willing to ever give up. U.S. ANNOUNCES SO-CALLED EASING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA Washington, March 20(RHC)-- In an announcement designed to ease the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright disclosed four measures taken by the Clinton administration: the renewal of direct, humanitarian charter flights between Havana and Miami; the resumption of money remittances by Cuban-Americans to their family members in Cuba; the development of bipartisan legislation on humanitarian aid; and the issuance of licenses to sell medical supplies to Cuba. The first two measures were in force before Cuba's downing of two pirate aircraft violating the island's airspace in February 1996. At the same time, the U.S. Secretary of State said the measures did NOT mean a change in Washington's Cuba policy -- that the blockade and the Helms-Burton Law will remain in effect. In an initial reaction today, Cuban President Fidel Castro said the measures could represent "a constructive step," although adding that he would first have to study the details. Albright said the visit of Pope John Paul II to Cuba had motivated these changes, while at the same time repeating the U.S. government's same old anti-Cuba rhetoric. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE -- "A DIALOGUE WITH CUBA" -- UNDERWAY IN THE U.S. SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA Berkeley, March 20(RHC)-- The first large-scale academic and professional conference featuring Cubans and United States academics and professionals was inaugurated today at the University of California at Berkeley with introductory remarks followed by conference sessions. More than 500 professors, undergraduate and graduate students and professionals are in attendance. The formal academic session was opened by the Director of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the Berkeley Campus of the University of California, Ling Chi Wang, who introduced Ambassador Fernando Remirez de Estenoz, Chief of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington D.C. Following the introduction to the three-day conference, the first morning's dialogue session on public health, strategies for economic development, urban planning and environmental policy took place on the University of California campus. Audience participation was heated as the topics discussed are of ongoing importance to the citizens of both nations. Prior to the academic sessions, conference activities began Thursday evening with a cultural presentation at the Berkeley Community Theater, where an audience of more than 600 people enjoyed words of welcome, poetry and music. Pulitzer prize winning writer Alice Walker read a poem and introduced Nancy Morejon, one of Cuba's leading poets who read a number of her poems. Cuban singer/songwriter Carlos Varela made a solo presentation to begin the musical portion of the event. Canadian jazz artist Jane Bunnet played with a group of Cubans and local musicians to an enthusiastic audience which ended up dancing in the aisles as the concert ended. Dionne Louis Orenor, member of the California State Legislature welcomed the Cuban participants at the conference on behalf of the President of the State Senate and the Speaker of the California Assembly. Saturday's sessions will deal with sports, economics and environmental beneficial responses to economic challenge, especially in terms of energy. While eleven of the invited Cuban professionals were not given State Department permission to enter the U.S. and take part in the conference, the presentations are being made by the use of videotaped presentations from the individuals prohibited from attending. According to organizers, the conference has every prospect of fulfilling its historic role in increasing dialogue between Cuba and the United States. Dialogue sessions will continue through Saturday. CONDITIONS NOT FAVORABLE FOR GLOBAL NEGOTIATION OF CUBA'S FOREIGN DEBT Tokyo, March 20(RHC)-- Conditions are not favorable for a global negotiation of Cuba's foreign debt. According to the President of Cuba's Central Bank Francisco Soberon, Havana suspended payments on its foreign debt in 1987. But Soberon insisted that credit nations should globally accept negotiations based on viable, reasonable and realistic objectives that debtor nations are capable of complying with. The Cuban official also said that to negotiate Cuba's foreign debt, current pressures against the island must cease -- in reference to the U.S. blockade and other anti-Cuba campaigns orchestrated in Washington. Soberon pointed to the flexible agreement that he, on behalf of Cuba, signed this week in Tokyo with numerous Japanese companies. The agreement reschedules payment of 70 percent of Cuba's commercial debt with the Japanese firms, to the tune of 750 million dollars. It includes two grace periods of five and 10 years, which, said the president of Cuba's Central Bank, allows Cuba a margin of time for the island's economic recovery. Soberon said Cuba, for the moment, is not capable of renegotiating its bank debt with Japan, calculated at some 370 million dollars, nor its official debt -- calculated at nearly 735 million dollars. The Cuban official said that if the same standards were applied to Cuba as are applied to the rest of the world, one would have to admit that the island is emerging from its economic crisis. As an example, he pointed out that Cuba's 1997 inflation rate was 1.9 percent, unemployment was 6.8 percent and the official exchange rate was between 20 and 23 pesos for one U.S. dollar. Soberon said the growth over the past four years in Cuba's exports and services will continue. INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN SET FOR APRIL Havana, March 20(RHC)-- An International Solidarity Encounter Among Women is scheduled to take place from April 13th through the 16th in Havana. The event is sponsored by the International Democratic Women's Front, the Continental Women's Front and the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). A member of the FMC's Department of International Relations, Magaly Arocha, said that there are currently more than 1500 women from over 60 nations that have confirmed their participation. She added that this event will be the largest women's conference that has ever taken place on the island. The program will include issues such as women's participation in politics, communication, economy and sustainable development as well as independence, social security, discrimination and violence against women. NAMIBIA'S AMBASSADOR PRAISES CUBA'S AID IN ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE Havana, March 20(RHC)-- Namibia's Ambassador in Havana, Alias Akwaake, expressed his country's appreciation for Cuba's help in achieving independence and its role in ending apartheid. The Namibian diplomat spoke during an activity commemorating the eighth anniversary of Namibia's independence, held in the Cuban capital. Elias Akwaake reiterated that his country will always remember the sacrifices of the Cuban internationalist troops that aided in this African nation's independence. The Namibian ambassador to Cuba said that since March 1990, his government has been developing a policy of reconciliation which will permit national identity in a society that for over a century was racially and ethnically divided. MORE DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN CUBA WILL HELP TOURISTS Havana, March 20(RHC)-- TACA Airlines from Costa Rica will inaugurate domestic flights in Cuba next week, offering six destinations on the island. A spokesperson for the airlines, Claudia Arenas, said that the new domestic flights will serve over one million tourists around the island. TACA Airlines will fly to Habana, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Trinidad, Cayo Largo and Nueva Gerona with Cuban personnel and Costa Rican pilots. CUBAN CONSTRUCTION MINISTER VISITS SPAIN Madrid, March 20(RHC)-- Cuban Construction Minister Juan Mario Junco del Pino is in Madrid to gain experience in the field of construction. He is expected to meet with Spanish business representatives and government officials. The Cuban construction minister plans to discuss the establishment of advanced construction projects and the introduction of high technology equipment. The Cuban official will also travel to the Spanish provinces of Zaragoza, Malaga and Aragon. REGIONAL GROUPS CALL FOR CUBA'S INCORPORATION Havana, March 20(RHC)-- The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jose Antonio Ocampo, said the hope of his commission is that Cuba be allowed to join the continent's organizations. In statements to journalists during the fourth meeting of Trade Ministers of the Continent, taking place in Costa Rica, Ocampo said that Cuba is the only country in this hemisphere that is not included in the negotiations of the Americas Free Trade Area. The General Secretary of the Organization of American States, the OAS, Cesar Gaviria, said his organization supports Pope John Paul II's call for the world to open to Cuba. CUBAN TRINIDAD CIGARS GAIN IN POPULARITY Havana, March 20(RHC)-- The General Manager of the Habano Cigar House, Abel Exposito, says that Trinidad cigars have been widely accepted by smokers. Exposito affirmed that in less then one month, some 160 boxes of the cigars have been sold and tourists arriving on the island have been asking for the Trinidad cigars. But the Cuban cigar expert added that the Cohiba is still considered the "King of Cigars." [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