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, March 23, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA DENOUNCES INCREASING RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA IN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES 2.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN RUSSIA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT 3.- GENERAL SECRETARY OF LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM (SELA) VISITS CUBA 4.- LEADER OF SPANISH REGION OF GALICIA PLANS TRIP TO CUBA 5.- POLIO VACCINATIONS BEGIN ISLAND-WIDE 6.- WANTED: RECYCLABLE MATERIALS 7.- RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO BEGIN IN THE CAUTO RIVER BASIN 8.- HEAVY RAINS CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE IN CUBA'S EASTERN PROVINCE OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA 9.- EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATIVE IN CUBA IS SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DISTRIBUTION OF EU DONATIONS CUBA DENOUNCES INCREASING RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA IN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES Geneva, March 23(RHC)-- At the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Cuba denounced the increasing racism and xenophobia in industrialized countries. During Monday's session, the representative of Cuba's delegation -- Juan Antonio Fernandez Palacios -- charged that xenophobic and racist practices in developed nations have reached unprecedented proportions. According to Fernandez Palacios, behind this phenomenon is the worldwide social crisis generated by free market reform and globalization. Added to that, he asserted, is the crisis of values resulting from a development model that the industrialized nations are attempting to impose on the international community. The Cuban delegate to the U.N. Human Rights Commission session charged that immigrants have become the scapegoats for the social and economic problems of industrialized countries. In an implicit reference to the United States, Fernandez Palacios said some nations are trying to deny immigrants and their children access to basic health and education services, while denying the contribution of immigrants to the wealth of those societies. While also condemning the growing police brutality in industrialized countries, the Cuban delegate pointed to the growing number of Web sites on the Internet used to promote racial hatred, as cited by a recent report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVES IN RUSSIA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT Moscow, March 23(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina arrived today in Russia for a three-day official visit. Following a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Evguenni Primakov -- with whom Robaina signed several bilateral accords -- the Cuban foreign minister said authorities from both Cuba and Russia are willing to do everything possible to remove any obstacles in relations between the two countries. Robaina also thanked Russia for its consistent opposition to Washington's blockade of Cuba. In reference to the measures announced last week by Washington, lifting some restrictions of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, the Cuban foreign minister said Cuba will continue studying those measures -- both what was announced and how it will put into practice. Primakov, for his part, jokingly introduced himself to journalists as Russia's "acting Foreign Minister" -- until a new government is formed --in reference to President Yeltsin's announcement that he had fired his entire cabinet this morning. Primakov asserted that a great future lies ahead in relations between Cuba and Russia. GENERAL SECRETARY OF LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM (SELA) VISITS CUBA Havana, March 23(RHC)-- The General Secretary of the Latin American Economic System, known by its acronym SELA, began a three-day official visit to Cuba on Monday. While in Cuba, Carlos Moneta will meet with Cuban officials and participate in a series of roundtable discussions organized by the Center on the Studies of Asia and Oceania. The general secretary of SELA will deliver a lecture on the financial crisis and its impact on Latin America. LEADER OF SPANISH REGION OF GALICIA PLANS TRIP TO CUBA Santiago de Compostela, March 23(RHC)-- The leader of the Spanish region of Galicia, Manuel Fraga, stated that independent of U.S. policy toward Cuba, he intends to visit the island soon. The Galician leader said that he will travel to Cuba in order to continue developing relations between the Caribbean island and the Spanish autonomous region. Manuel Fraga stated that despite the measures announced by Washington Friday -- reestablishing humanitarian flights and remittances to family members by Cuban-Americans -- there has been no important change in U.S. policy. The Galician president affirmed that no matter what happens regarding U.S. policy toward Cuba, he will continue to work for better relations. POLIO VACCINATIONS BEGIN ISLAND-WIDE Havana, March 23(RHC)-- More than 600,000 Cuban children throughout the island will be vaccinated against polio over the next week. Health officials announced in Havana that this will be the 37th national campaign against polio. According to official statistics, more than 65 million doses of the anti-polio vaccine have been administered since 1962. Cuba's concern regarding the health of its population has been proven by the fact that everyone under the age of 51 is immunized against this once deadly disease. Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, polio has been totally eradicated on the island, as have diphtheria, tetanus, measles, whooping cough, mumps and German measles. WANTED: RECYCLABLE MATERIALS Havana, March 23(RHC)-- Cubans across the island on Saturday converged on recycling centers -- carrying with them old cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and tin, metal and glass items. It what was promoted as a National Festival for Recyclable Materials, prizes were awarded for the largest contributions. At the centers -- set up in key locations throughout Cuban cities and towns -- residents enjoyed live music and food fairs, while their children played games. Here in Havana, the Cuban capital, the main recycling center was set up in the parking lot of the Latin American Stadium. Although Cubans are avid baseball fans, no one appeared to complain that the stadium was turned into a massive festival, with the renowned musical group Los Van Van entertaining the crowds. Recycling has long been encouraged by the Cuban government is organized in each community by the CDRs, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. But Saturday was a special day -- part of a national program to even further promote the importance of recycling. RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO BEGIN IN THE CAUTO RIVER BASIN Havana, March 23 (RHC)--Cuba's eastern province of Santiago de Cuba has begun a recovery project in 32 per cent of the Cauto River Basin. The project includes planting 25 million trees this year and investing 12 million pesos to improve the living conditions of the population in the region. The budget will also include, among other things, housing construction, aqueducts and the paving of dirt roads. The Agriculture and Sugar Ministries contributed one million pesos and a similar amount in dollars to eliminate pollution created by sugar installations and other facilities. In the municipality of Palma Soriano in eastern Santiago de Cuba, five bakeries will be opened and a sewage network that will carry 70 per cent of the city's waste to the Cauto River will be improved. HEAVY RAINS CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE IN CUBA'S EASTERN PROVINCE OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, March 23(RHC)-- Heavy rain in Cuba's eastern province of Santiago de Cuba has killed one person, damaged a number of houses and it is reported that electricity has been cut-off in 23 Santiago neighborhoods. The region's Civil Defense authorities are taking the necessary measures to protect lives and resources in case the downpours continue. Cuba's Meteorological Institute reported that over 100 millimeters of rain have been registered in the country's eastern region so far, especially Santiago de Cuba. Cuban authorities have sent two medical brigades to mountainous regions and are preparing to evacuate people living in low-lying areas. EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATIVE IN CUBA IS SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DISTRIBUTION OF EU DONATIONS Santiago de Cuba, March 23(RHC)-- The European Union's representative in Cuba, Josef Vargas, says he is very satisfied with the Cuban government's distribution of humanitarian aid to the island and the excellent administration of donations. In statements to Radio Havana Cuba in eastern Santiago de Cuba, Vargas explained that the recent EU aid package -- destined for the island's health centers and homes for the elderly in the country's eastern provinces -- is valued at over nine million dollars. Humanitarian aid from the European Union to hospitals in Santiago de Cuba includes meat, powdered milk, oil and medicines as well as textiles and hygiene materials. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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