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, March 31, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- PRIME MINISTER OF ST. CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS DENZIL DOUGLAS CONCLUDES EIGHT-DAY, HISTORIC VISIT TO CUBA 2.- HUNDREDS HIT CAPITOL HILL, LOBBYING FOR EASING OF U.S. BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA 3.- PENTAGON DELAYS PRESENTATION OF REPORT AFFIRMING THAT CUBA IS NOT A THREAT TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY 4.- U.S. GOVERNMENT HARASSES PARTICIPANTS OF 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS 5.- FOREIGN MINISTER OF ANDORRA ARRIVES IN CUBAN CAPITAL 6.- UGANDAN HEALTH MINISTER VISITS THE ISLAND 7.- IRANIAN VICE PRESIDENT SCHEDULED TO VISIT CUBA 8.- AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION WILL ARRIVE ON SATURDAY 9.- OIL SPILL OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF MATANZAS PROVINCE NOT AS SERIOUS AS FIRST BELIEVED PRIME MINISTER OF ST. CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS DENZIL DOUGLAS CONCLUDES EIGHT-DAY, HISTORIC VISIT TO CUBA Havana, March 31(RHC)-- The Prime Minister of St. Christopher and Nevis, Denzil Douglas, wrapped up an eight-day visit to Cuba on Tuesday. Calling his visit "historic," Douglas stated he was very impressed by what he saw in the areas of health, education and scientific research. "My delegation and I have been greatly impressed. We wish to congratulate your government for the tremendous strides and progress that you have made and continue to make in the fields of scientific research, biological research, economic and agricultural diversification and health care delivery, among other achievements. I wish you continued success." Last night in Havana, Cuban President Fidel Castro and the visiting prime minister signed three bilateral accords in the areas of economic, technological and sports cooperation. Following the signing ceremony, the Cuban leader thanked Prime Minister Douglas and other member-states of the Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, for their solidarity with Cuba. He noted that in spite of their small size, the Caribbean countries express themselves freely. Cuban President Fidel Castro emphasized that the Caribbean region must unite, adding that Cuba does not see itself in competition with the rest of the region in terms of tourism. Referring to the interest shown by the delegation from St. Christopher and Nevis in training technicians and professionals in Cuba, Fidel said that a special university will soon be inaugurated for training young people from neighboring Caribbean countries. HUNDREDS HIT CAPITOL HILL, LOBBYING FOR EASING OF U.S. BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Washington, March 31(RHC)-- Hundreds of people from more than 50 religious, humanitarian, labor, business and Cuban-American organizations lobbied on Capitol Hill Tuesday in favor of easing the U.S. blockade against Cuba. As part of the recently-formed coalition "Americans for Humanitarian Trade with Cuba," the lobbyists called for action to support two bills on both floors of the U.S. Congress which would allow for the free flow of U.S. food, medicine and medical equipment to Cuba. Taking part in Tuesday's campaign was former Florida congressional representative Sam Gibbons -- who served for more than two decades in the House of Representatives. The former congressman stated that during a recent visit to Cuba, he was able to see first-hand the effects of the blockade on public health care. Gibbons said he visited a children's hospital in Havana where there were 17 broken down respirators manufactured in the United States -- out-of-service due to a lack of spare parts. He said the blockade "was killing Cuban children and that those who support the blockade are contributing to these deaths." Silvia Wilhelm of the Cuban Committee for Democracy in Miami organized a chapter flight to Washington, DC today -- carrying 200 people from Florida. Wilhelm said that the vast majority of Cuban-Americans support the unrestricted sale of food and medicine to Cuba. She said that since Pope John II's visit to Cuba, "there has been a change in attitude in Miami and that many now want reconciliation." Willard Workman, Vice President of the International Office of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said his business organization has three million members that are putting pressure on their representatives in Congress to vote in favor of easing the blockade. Workman said that in the final analysis, the entire blockade should be scrapped because, he argued, unilateral economic sanctions "do not work and are ineffective." PENTAGON DELAYS PRESENTATION OF REPORT AFFIRMING THAT CUBA IS NOT A THREAT TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY Washington, March 31(RHC)-- U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen has delayed giving a Pentagon report to Congress which states that Cuba is not a threat to U.S. national security. Cohen said he needed a few more days to study the report, prepared by the Pentagon's Military Intelligence Agency. Although the U.S. defense secretary declined to reveal the contents of the report, a version was published over the weekend by The Miami Herald. According to the Miami newspaper, the report asserts that Cuba does not represent a threat to the U.S. due to what it calls "the island's diminished military capacity." According to The Miami Herald article, some sectors of the U.S. top military brass are in favor of gradually increasing contacts with the Cuban military in order to reduce tensions in the region. The Pentagon report was to have been presented to Congress today, but it is now uncertain exactly when U.S. lawmakers will see it. U.S. GOVERNMENT HARASSES PARTICIPANTS OF 14th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS Havana, March 31(RHC)-- Washington continues to harass the organizers of the U.S. delegation that attended the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students last August here in Havana. The State Department has sent letters to organizers at two preparatory committees and several travel agencies, demanding an explanation for their presence in Cuba last summer. The U.S. delegation, with over 800 people, was the largest delegation that traveled to the island, challenging Washington's nearly 40 year-old blockade against Cuba. FOREIGN MINISTER OF ANDORRA ARRIVES IN CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, March 31(RHC)-- The Foreign Minister of the Principality of Andorra, Albert Pintat, arrived in Havana late Monday for an official visit. Upon his arrival, Pintat said the visit motivated by economic and tourist interests, as well as friendship and solidarity. This is Andorra's first high-level delegation to visit Cuba since the two countries established diplomatic relations in October 1995. Andorra's foreign minister is accompanied by Jordi Marquet, the head of his country's Chamber of Commerce and Enrique Pujal, Minister of Tourism, among other officials. Foreign Minister Albert Pintat said that Cuba's experiences in the economic and tourist fields are "unique and important." The delegation will be in Cuba until Friday, April 3rd. Andorra is a small principality located on the southern slope of the Pyrenees Mountains, between France and Spain. It was excellent pasture land for cattle and sheep raising and produces some tobacco and fruit. Tourism is another key sector of the country's economy. UGANDAN HEALTH MINISTER VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, March 31(RHC)-- Uganda's Health Minister, Crispus Kiyonga, is in Cuba to see the island's health care system first-hand and take back ideas for his country. In statements to reporters upon his arrival in the Cuban capital, the Ugandan health minister said the health situation in his country is very difficult. He added that the infant and maternal mortality rate is extremely high in this African nation. Following a meeting with his Ugandan counterpart, Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres said that the Cuban government is interested in training and developing human resources in the field. Dotres added that Cuba is able to help Uganda in producing vaccines and other pharmaceutical products. IRANIAN VICE PRESIDENT SCHEDULED TO VISIT CUBA Havana, March 31(RHC)-- Iran's Vice President, Seyed Mostafa Tabaa, will travel to Cuba on a four-day official visit. During his stay on the island, the Iranian vice president will meet with government officials and is expected to sign a sports cooperation agreement. Cuba and Iran established diplomatic relations in February 1997. Both nations recently expressed interest in resuming commercial ties and economic cooperation in an attempt to overcome obstacles imposed by Washington's economic measures against both countries. AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION WILL ARRIVE ON SATURDAY Havana, March 31(RHC)-- The President of Austria's Social Democrats Deputies Club, Peter Kostelka, is scheduled to arrive in Havana this Saturday, April 4th, at the invitation of the Cuban Parliament. The Austrian delegation will visit Cuba until April 12th and are expected to meet with the President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon, Foreign Minister Ricardo Cabrisas and other government officials. The Austrian delegation will also visit economic, scientific and tourist facilities on the island. OIL SPILL OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF MATANZAS PROVINCE NOT AS SERIOUS AS FIRST BELIEVED Havana, March 31(RHC)-- Cuban authorities have stated that the consequences of last week's collision between two vessels in Matanzas Bay were not as serious as first believed. The accident caused a major oil spill, dumping some 500 tons of oil off the northern coast of Matanzas. According to this morning's edition of the Cuban daily Granma, the negative consequences of the accident are minor, thanks to the help of port workers, the Armed Forces and other institutions. Workers labored for 72 hours in order to prevent the oil from spreading in the bay. Cuban experts said that the incident is not an ecological disaster and that damages are minor compared to what they could have been. [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