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, May 15, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OFFERS SERVICES OF CUBAN DOCTORS TO CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD HEALTH 2.- PRESIDENT OF CUBAN PARLIAMENT RICARDO ALARCON MEETS WITH URUGUAYAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA ORGANIZATIONS 3.- INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF LATIN AMERICAN HISTORIANS WINDS UP IN HAVANA 4.- FIFTH JOINT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION BETWEEN CUBA AND BOTSWANA UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 5.- DECONTAMINATION PROCESS CONTINUES IN CUBA'S NUEVITAS BAY CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OFFERS SERVICES OF CUBAN DOCTORS TO CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD HEALTH Geneva, May 15(RHC)-- Participating in the 51st Annual Assembly of the World Health Organization, Cuban President Fidel Castro offered to put Cuban doctors at the service of programs to enhance the international health scenario. In a question and answer session at the Assembly -- following a highly-acclaimed speech -- the Cuban leader recalled that more than 26,000 Cuban doctors have worked in diverse Third World nations, particularly in Africa. The Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, Ruth Dreifuss, participated in the question and answer session. Following the exchange, Dreifuss called Fidel Castro "one of the most important personalities of the 20th century," recalling that relations between Switzerland and Cuba have always been harmonious. The Cuban leader has been formally invited to the Swiss capital, Bern, where next week he will be received by Swiss President Flavio Cotti and other high-ranking members of government. On Monday, President Castro will be one of 14 heads of state or government who will participate in the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference, also in Geneva. The Cuban leader is expected to pronounce another speech during the event, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary on the General Accord on Tariffs and Trade, GATT, which gave rise to the WTO. South African President Nelson Mandela and U.S. President Bill Clinton will also be present. PRESIDENT OF CUBAN PARLIAMENT RICARDO ALARCON MEETS WITH URUGUAYAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA ORGANIZATIONS Montevideo, May 15(RHC)-- Representatives of Uruguayan solidarity with Cuba organizations reiterated their support with the island's socialist project during a meeting in Montevideo with the President of Cuba's Parliament Ricardo Alarcon. Alarcon is participating in the 9th Conference of Presidents of Iberoamerican Parliaments, taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Cuban government official also met with Uruguayan politicians, including Representative Jaime Trobo and Senator Hugo Hernandez of the governing Colorado Party. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF LATIN AMERICAN HISTORIANS WINDS UP IN HAVANA Havana, May 15(RHC)-- The International Congress of Latin American Historians has wound up in the Cuban capital. Mexican historian Alejo Maldonado said that the presence of Latin American historians from America, Europe and Africa helped strengthen friendly and academic ties between historians in the region. During the last day of the event, Dr. Juan Vela, Dean of the University of Havana, presented the book "A Homage to Jose Marti," published by the University of Havana and the University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo in Mexico City. FIFTH JOINT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION BETWEEN CUBA AND BOTSWANA UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, May 15(RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Juan Almeida met with the visiting Foreign Minister of Botswana, Mompati Merafhe, who heads his country's delegation to the 5th Joint Inter-governmental Commission with Cuba. During the commission's session, the African leader and Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas signed a bilateral agreement. Both sides agreed to work in strengthening bilateral cooperation. Cuba maintained its commitment to continue with the health collaboration to this African nation. Cuba currently has 13 medical specialists and 63 nurses in Botswana. The Caribbean nation has 63 professors, including kindergarten teachers. The Vice President of Cuban Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration Noemi Benitez told Granma newspaper that the sixth session of the Joint Inter-governmental Commission will take place in Gaberone, Botswana in the year 2000. DECONTAMINATION PROCESS CONTINUES IN CUBA'S NUEVITAS BAY Havana, May 15(RHC)-- Nuevitas Bay, located in northern Camaguey province, is undergoing a major clean-up. After years of contamination due to the region's industries, the bay is now being decontaminated. Authorities announced that there are signs of recovery in the region's mangroves and marine species. Dr. Mayra Gonzalez Diaz, director of the region's environmental unit, said that the local population is taking part in the clean-up campaign, with educational programs being launched in schools, work places and the community itself. She recalled that such proposals are no different from the UN Development Program in protecting the bio-diversity and sustainable development of the Sabana-Camaguey archipelago. From May 18th through the 20th, the first workshop on the UN Environmental Education Project will take place in the town of Nuevitas to evaluate the action plan that will be implemented in the region. [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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