Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit 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, May 5, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA SAYS CUBA READY TO PARTICIPATE IN TALKS ON LOME CONVENTION 2.- FRENCH COOPERATION MINISTER VISITS CUBA 3.- CUBA AND MEXICO ESTABLISH JOINT VENTURE IN FISHING 4.- CUBAN EDUCATIONAL DELEGATION VISITS ECUADOR 5.- MEDICAL DONATION FROM SPANISH RIOJA-CUBA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION EXPECTED SOON ON THE ISLAND 6.- CONSTRUCTION SECTOR REGISTERS GROWTH SO FAR THIS YEAR 7.- NINTH INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION GETS READY CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA SAYS CUBA READY TO PARTICIPATE IN TALKS ON LOME CONVENTION Bridgetown, May 5(RHC)-- In Barbados, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina told Havana's Prensa Latina News Agency that Cuba is ready to participate "with a constructive spirit of solidarity" in negotiations with the European Union to update the Lome Convention. In the capital of Barbados, the group of 71 African, Caribbean and Pacific nations -- known as the ACP -- today began two-days of talks aimed at defining a common position in talks with the European Union slated to begin next September in Brussels. Cuba is participating as an observer and also hopes to be granted observer status at the September gathering. The Cuban foreign minister said today that Cuba requested the observer status based on support of the island within the Caribbean community and Cuba's increasing economic ties and bilateral cooperation with the countries of this region. Robaina said during these gatherings, "Cuba is willing to discuss any issue on the basis of equality and respect for the principles of sovereignty and self-determination." The Lome Convention -- granting preferential trade to Europe's former colonies -- was first signed in 1975 and updated on several occasions. Now, however, the content of this agreement must take into consideration the liberalization of trade within the context of the World Trade Organization. The issue of Caribbean banana production -- one of the region's principle sources of income -- will be top on the agenda. Last year, the WTO issued an unfavorable ruling for Caribbean bananas, determining that the European Union could not continues granting trade preferences for this export product. In general, Caribbean nations are attempting to avoid a rapid imposition of economic liberalization, arguing that their weak economies are too fragile to absorb such an impact. FRENCH COOPERATION MINISTER VISITS CUBA Havana, May 5(RHC)-- French Cooperation Minister Charles Josselin has reiterated his country's condemnation of the anti-Cuban Helms Burton Law, which not only intensifies Washington's blockade against the island but punishes countries for doing business with Cuba. During a meeting with Cuba's Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz, the French official expressed his support for Cuba's entry into the Lome Convention. Charles Josselin also met with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and other government officials. The French cooperation minister, who arrived in the Cuban capital on Sunday, is on a tour of the Caribbean which winds up later this week in Barbados. On Friday, the French official will meet with Ministers of bbthe European Union and member nations of the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries. CUBA AND MEXICO ESTABLISH JOINT VENTURE IN FISHING Mexico City, May 5(RHC)-- Representatives from Cuba and Mexico have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in the fishing sector, with an initial investment of over 3 million dollars. The Caribbean Fishing Company, with Cuban and Mexican capital, will concentrate on catching and selling lobsters and other sea foods that are in high demand by tourists of both countries. Participating at the signing ceremony was Cuba's Fishing Minister Orlando Rodriguez and Mexico's Under Secretary of Natural Resources and Fishing Carlos Camacho. CUBAN EDUCATIONAL DELEGATION VISITS ECUADOR Quito, May 5(RHC)-- A Cuban educational delegation has arrived in Quito, the Ecuadoran capital. Ecuador's Foreign Minister Jose Ayala Lasso welcomed the delegation, made up of university deans from around the island. The Cuban delegation, which is headed by Deputy Higher Education Minister Eduardo Cruz, will tour several of the country's provinces. The group will be in Ecuador through Saturday. The visit's objective is to strengthen bilateral cooperation. An Ecuadoran delegation headed by Foreign Minister Ayala Lasso recently visited Havana to promote economic and commercial relations between both nations. MEDICAL DONATION FROM SPANISH RIOJA-CUBA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION EXPECTED SOON ON THE ISLAND Havana, May 5(RHC)-- The Spanish Rioja-Cuba Friendship Association plans to send one ton of medicines for respiratory ailments. This donation will benefit over six million Cubans that suffer from some kind of respiratory problem. The medicines were collected during a campaign organized by the Friendship Association in March and April of this year, together with drug stores in the Spanish region of Rioja. The donation will be sent to the island through Medicuba-Rioja. Members of the organization will travel to the Cuban capital with the aim of organizing new solidarity campaigns. CONSTRUCTION SECTOR REGISTERS GROWTH SO FAR THIS YEAR Havana, May 5(RHC)-- Cuba's construction sector has registered a growth of seven per cent this year compared to the same period in 1997. According to the island's Construction Minister Juan Mario Junco, the construction program surpassed 1.8 million pesos -- an equivalent in dollars, according to official exchange rates. The construction minister pointed out that these results are mainly due to the improvement of the sector, an increase in productivity, efficiency and organization. The Cuban official stressed that the third terminal of Havana's Jose Marti International Airport is a perfect example of the improvement in the sector, which worked with responsibility, quality and speed. NINTH INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION GETS READY Havana, May 5(RHC)-- Firms from some 27 nations -- mainly from Europe and Latin America -- will participate in the 9th International Tourism Convention, scheduled to take place next week in Havana. Over 600 foreign business representatives and 200 of their Cuban counterparts will meet during the event. The largest reserved areas will go to Spain, Italy, Mexico, Martinica, Russia and Britain. Some of the topics to be discussed will be the development of tourism, cultural tourism and regional cooperation. [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