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 30, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- RUSSIA ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO GO AHEAD WITH CONSTRUCTION OF JURAGUA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN CUBA 2.- EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA GATHERING HELD IN DENMARK 3.- ORGANIZATIONS GEAR UP FOR LOBBYING DAY IN U.S. CONGRESS 4.- DOMINICA'S DEPUTY PREMIER BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 5.- CUBA OPENS EMBASSY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 6.- GOOD PROSPECTS FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN CUBA AND JAPAN 7.- INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY 8.- CUBA WILL BE REPRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL FAIRS RUSSIA ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO GO AHEAD WITH CONSTRUCTION OF JURAGUA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN CUBA Moscow, March 30(RHC)-- Russia announced today that it will go ahead with plans to help Cuba finish construction of the island's Juragua nuclear power plant. Alexander Nechayev, deputy director of Russia's agency for the construction of nuclear plants abroad, said his country will finally make a definitive commitment in that direction during Moscow-Havana bilateral gatherings next April and June -- although admitting that financial problems still persist. The announcement is seen as another act of defiance against Washington, just three days after the U.S. Congress approved another series of sanctions against Cuba which include measures to block further construction of the nuclear power plant. The announcement also comes on the heels of Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina's official visit to Russia. For several years now, Russia and Cuba have attempted to come up with the financial mechanisms that would allow for the completion of the island's first nuclear power plant. Their efforts have led to outcries from the ultra right-wing on Capitol Hill, who claim that the nuclear facility would be a threat to the United States. But on numerous occasions, the International Atomic Energy Agency -- which has inspected Juragua -- has stated that the power plant meets all of the internationally-accepted safety standards. EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA GATHERING HELD IN DENMARK Copenhagen, March 30(RHC)-- A European Solidarity With Cuba event was held over the weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the participation of 100 representatives from some 40 organizations in 25 countries on the Old Continent. The gathering's final document recalled that the United Nations General Assembly, the European Parliament, the Non-Aligned Movement and Pope John Paul II, among others, have demanded an end to Washington's hostile policies towards Cuba. The solidarity meeting also demanded that the European Union adopt a consistent attitude of condemnation and rejection of the U.S. Helms-Burton Law, and that the European Parliament approve legislation to that effect. Present at the gathering was the president of Cuba's Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) Sergio Corrieri, who thanked the participants, also pointing out that last year there were more than three thousand acts of solidarity with Cuba in 124 nations. In related news, Gail Walker -- daughter of Pastors for Peace leader Lucius Walker -- announced over the weekend that European organizations will have a prominent role in the 8th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. Beginning next July 5th, Pastors for Peace will begin a tour of 150 U.S. cities to collect tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba, including 13 mobile libraries for Cuban school children. ORGANIZATIONS GEAR UP FOR LOBBYING DAY IN U.S. CONGRESS Washington, March 30(RHC)-- The coalition "Americans For Humanitarian Trade With Cuba" is gearing up for a demonstration tomorrow in front of the U.S. Congress in support of two bills that would allow for the free flow of U.S. food and medicine to Cuba. Forming the coalition are groups as diverse as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pastors for Peace, the Washington Office on Latin America, Global Exchange, the Cuban Committee for Democracy and the Cuban- American Alliance, among others. According to Amy Nahley, spokesperson for the Washington Office on Latin America, some 300 Cuban-Americans from nearly 30 organizations in several cities of Florida and New Jersey will converge on the U.S. capital, in what is being called "a timely and urgent day of advocacy." Leaders of these diverse organizations are planning to meet with congressional representatives to lobby in favor of the two bills. The Senate bill is co-sponsored by 24 of the Senate's 100 members, while the House bill has the support of 104 of the House of Representatives' 435 members. DOMINICA'S DEPUTY PREMIER BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, March 30(RHC)-- The Deputy Premier of Dominica, Julius Timothy, is in the Cuban capital at the invitation of the Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party. Timothy, who is also a leader of the Unified Workers Party, is heading the delegation which includes ministers, deputies and organizational leaders. Last week, Cuba and Dominica signed a bilateral cooperation accord in the fields of health, education, culture, agriculture, fishing, environment and transportation. Dominica's Prime Minister, Edison James, and Cuban Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment Raul Taladrid signed the bilateral accord. CUBA OPENS EMBASSY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Kinshasa, March 30(RHC)-- Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Eumelio Caballero inaugurated the island's embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the 23rd Cuban embassy on the African continent. The opening of this embassy concludes the process of normalization of relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the victory of the forces headed by current President Loran Kabila. The Cuban diplomat pointed to the long history of friendship and common struggle of the Cuban and Congolese people, recalling in particular historic leaders like Ernesto Che Guevara and Patrice Lumumba. In a statement issued in Kinshasa, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo reiterated its political commitment to strengthen cooperation with the island. GOOD PROSPECTS FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN CUBA AND JAPAN Havana, March 30(RHC)-- Japan's Ambassador in Cuba Saburo Tanaka said that there are good prospects for commercial and economic exchanges between Cuba and Japan. The Japanese ambassador made the statements after an agreement to renegotiate a large part of Cuba's foreign debt with this Asian nation. In statements to the Cuban weekly "Juventud Rebelde," the diplomat said that representatives of Japanese companies are preparing a visit to the island to analyze business opportunities in the areas of tourism and agriculture. Saburo Tanaka also took the opportunity to reiterate Japan's firm opposition to the Helms-Burton Law. INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY Havana, March 30(RHC)-- Cuba's tourism sector is preparing for its most important event of the year: the International Tourism Convention. This year, the Convention will open under the banner of "The Caribbean and Tourism: United on the Threshold of the New Century" -- underscoring Cuba's vision of regional integration. According to the president of the Convention's organizing committee, Eulogio Rodriguez, the commercial part of the event -- which runs from May 11th through the 14th -- will take place in the PABEXPO Exhibition Center, while the theoretic portion -- seminars, round tables, etc. -- will be held at Havana's International Convention Center. This 14th edition will feature tourism for senior citizens, Cayo Largo and "all inclusive," among other exhibits. The Grand Caribe Hotel chain will present a package of ten special tour offers. The 1998 International Tourism Convention will be different in that it will be open to the public. The busy 23rd Street in downtown Havana -- also known as La Rampa -- will feature booths with cultural and tourist exhibits. CUBA WILL BE REPRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL FAIRS Havana, March 30(RHC)-- During 1998, Cuba will be represented at important international fairs in two hemispheres -- including Japan at the end of April. According to the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, there will also be Cuban stands in Bucharest, Rumania, for a fair featuring consumer goods and, almost simultaneously, the Caribbean island will be represented at Western Expo '98 in Jamaica and at the BMEX '98 Fair in Barbados. The International Fair of Trieste Italy in mid-June will exhibit Cuban export items which will also be on display at the Americas Fair in the Mexican state of Guadalajara. And finally, Cuba will send representatives and products to the last world's fair of the century: Lisbon '98 -- where Cuban stands will be prominent, occupying more than 300 square meters. [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. 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