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, May 18, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO REJECTS HUMANITARIAN AID FROM UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 2.- WASHINGTON AND EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY ACCORD ON U.S. EXTRATERRITORIAL LAWS 3.- PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S PARLIAMENT RICARDO ALARCON MEETS WITH IBEROAMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES 4.- SWISS PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS CUBA 5.- GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES SAYS CUBA WILL BECOME THE REGION'S TOURISM LEADER 6.- ONE MILLION TABLETS OF ROYAL JELLY READY TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN HOSPITALS IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA PROVINCE 7.- MINOR EARTHQUAKES REGISTERED IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO REJECTS HUMANITARIAN AID FROM UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Geneva, May 18(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has rejected any humanitarian aid from the U.S. government, particularly the aid package announced by right-wing Senator Jesse Helms. Speaking over the weekend at a gathering of the Swiss-Cuba Friendship Association, President Castro termed the legislative proposal announced by the co-author of the anti-Cuba Helms-Burton Law "diabolical, scandalous and extremely hypocritical." The Cuban leader insisted that the measure is merely aimed at driving a wedge into the growing movement inside the United States in favor of the total lifting of the blockade. He said that would be the only dignified response to the recent petition by Pope John Paul II, who called the blockade "immoral and ethically unacceptable." President Castro also pointed out that not one word has been mentioned about the U.S. Guantanamo Naval Base. The Cuban leader said U.S. military occupation was imposed on Cuba exactly 100 years ago without an expiration date -- something that he said is unprecedented in relations between two countries. Fidel Castro said that besides the lifting of the blockade, a dialogue should begin aimed at ending the U.S. occupation of the Guantanamo Bay. Asked about Cuba's participation in the World Trade Organization, whose ministerial gathering began today in Geneva, Fidel Castro said Cuba is going to be there because "it's a battlefield where one can have influence, where Cuba can join in the defense of efforts to prevent the multi-lateral agency from being dominated by the United States." He recalled that the precursor of the WTO -- the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) -- arose from a ministerial gathering in Havana in 1947. The Cuban leader is expected to address the WTO session on Tuesday. WASHINGTON AND EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY ACCORD ON U.S. EXTRATERRITORIAL LAWS London, May 18(RHC)-- Washington and the European Union announced today a preliminary accord in the dispute over U.S. extraterritorial laws on foreign investment in Cuba, Iran and Libya. European Union officials announced that U.S. President Bill Clinton has agreed to not sanction European firms investing in these three countries. The EU, in turn, would participate in the drawing up of a list of nationalized properties worldwide, and would withdraw government support of their firms with future investments in those properties. European nations would eliminate government subsidies and tax advantages for those firms, as well as other benefits that haven't been specified -- but those firms would not be subjected to U.S. sanctions. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today that the preliminary accord is -- in his words -- "the basis for a definitive solution" to the dispute over Washington's Helms-Burton Law and Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. The President of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, said today that there are still questions that remain to be resolved in order that the accord can function. But perhaps the most controversial aspect of the accord lies in the response of the U.S. Congress. President Clinton said today that he will ask Congress to make these extraterritorial measures more flexible, indicating that in the final analysis, the Republican-controlled legislature has the last word. PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S PARLIAMENT RICARDO ALARCON MEETS WITH IBEROAMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES Montevideo, May 18(RHC)-- The President of Cuba's Parliament Ricardo Alarcon met with representatives of the delegations participating in the 9th Conference of Presidents of Iberoamerican Parliaments which wound up on Saturday. Among those meeting with Alarcon was the President of Spain's Congress of Deputies, Federico Trillo, who exchanged views on issues related to legislative institutions. The Cuban official also met with the Vice President of El Salvador's Congress, Norma Guevara, and the First Vice President of Venezuela's Congress, Freddy Munoz. In the Final Declaration of the Conference of Presidents of Iberoamerican Parliaments, representatives from over 20 nations reiterated the need to strengthen regional unity in the face of increasing globalization. SWISS PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS CUBA Havana, May 18(RHC)-- A Swiss parliamentary delegation headed by its President Ernst Leumberguer was received by officials from Cuba's National Assembly and Foreign Ministry on Monday. Before leaving for Havana, the Swiss delegation met with Cuban President Fidel Castro in Geneva, who briefed the parliamentary group on his views related to Washington's extraterritorial Helms-Burton Law. This first visit of Swiss parliamentary deputies also includes a broad representation of the country's political parties. GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES SAYS CUBA WILL BECOME THE REGION'S TOURISM LEADER Havana, May 18(RHC)-- The General Secretary of the Association of Caribbean States, Simon Molina, said he is convinced that Cuba will become the leader of the tourism industry in the Caribbean. Molina, who participated in last week's International Tourism Convention here in Havana, pointed to the unprecedented increase in tourism on the island and the amount of products that Cuba is offering in the sector. Simon Molina confirmed that the Association of Caribbean States is working to make the region the first sustainable tourism zone worldwide. To accomplish that, he stressed, all 25 Caribbean nations must join efforts. ONE MILLION TABLETS OF ROYAL JELLY READY TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN HOSPITALS IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA PROVINCE Santiago de Cuba, May 18(RHC)-- The first lot of one million royal jelly tablets will be given to patients in intensive care units of eastern Santiago de Cuba province. Each capsule of this medication contains 100 milligrams of natural royal jelly, which on the international market costs between 20 and 30 dollars due to its chemical composition. Royal jelly tablets include proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, hormones and other elements which are produced by young bees. This supplement acts like a regenerator for the nervous system. The tablets are also used in the treatment of burn patients, those affected by several types of neurological disorders and is also given to athletes. Recent weather patterns on the island have affected honey production. Experts believe that in the coming months, production will increase and the supply of royal jelly will grow. This will allow health authorities to produce some three million tablets by the end of the year. MINOR EARTHQUAKES REGISTERED IN EASTERN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, May 18(RHC)-- Seven minor earthquakes shook Guama municipality in eastern Santiago de Cuba province on Sunday. The strongest tremor registered 3.3 on the Richter scale. There were no reports of injuries or material damage. Earthquakes in Cuba primarily occur in the eastern part of the island, along a fault-line located between the Sierra Maestra mountain range and the Bay of Santiago de Cuba. [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. 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