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 25, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- VISITING BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LUIZ FELIPE LAMPREIA BEGINS OFFICIAL TALKS WITH HIS CUBAN COUNTERPART ROBERTO ROBAINA 2.- CELEBRATIONS UNDERWAY TO COMMEMORATE 35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY IN CUBA 3.- CUBA ERADICATES LEPROSY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S GOAL BEFORE THE YEAR 2000 4.- SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND AIDS ARE ON THE RISE IN CENTRAL CIEGO DE AVILA PROVINCE 5.- CUBA TURNS AWAY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 6.- CUBA'S RUMBOS TRAVEL AGENCY EXPECTS TO BRING OVER 45 THOUSAND GERMAN TOURISTS THIS YEAR 7.- INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION UNIVERSITY '98 OPENS IN HAVANA VISITING BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LUIZ FELIPE LAMPREIA BEGINS OFFICIAL TALKS WITH HIS CUBAN COUNTERPART ROBERTO ROBAINA Havana, May 25(RHC)-- Visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz Felipe Lampreia stated today that Cuba-Brazil relations were progressing well, while at the same time announcing the imminent signing of new bilateral cooperation agreements. Lampreia, who arrived in Cuba on Sunday, began official talks today with Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina. The Brazilian foreign minister said his country sees Cuba as a member of the Latin American family, and supports the island's incorporation into all regional forums. He specifically mentioned the Latin American Integration Association -- known by its Spanish acronym ALADI -- which would give Cuba important trade preferences. In terms of Brazil-Cuba cooperation, Foreign Minister Lampreia mentioned the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and sports, recalling his nation's positive experiences with Cuban doctors, social workers and medicines like the hepatitis B vaccine. The Brazilian foreign minister will be in Cuba until Wednesday, the 27th. Also visiting Cuba are the Foreign Ministers of Nigeria, Tom Ikimi; the Democratic Republic of Korea, Kim Yong Nam; of Malaysia, Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi; and of the Palestine Liberation Organization Faruk Kadumi. CELEBRATIONS UNDERWAY TO COMMEMORATE 35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY IN CUBA Havana, May 25(RHC)-- Representatives of the African diplomatic corps accredited in Havana placed a floral wreath in the Cuban capital's Plaza de la Revolucion as part of activities commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity. The OAU was created in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It currently has over 50 African member-nations and has among its main objectives regional unity, the development of action plans to overcome the continent's economic crisis and a common front to face foreign intervention. As part of celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity, a number of Cuban internationalists who participated in African liberation wars were honored. CUBA ERADICATES LEPROSY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S GOAL BEFORE THE YEAR 2000 Havana, May 25(RHC)-- Cuba has complied with the World Health Organization's goal of eradicating leprosy before the year 2000. According to the Cuban Health Ministry, the total number of leprosy patients on the island is less than one of every 10,000 inhabitants. Cuba recently eliminated German measles and is currently applying a therapeutic program introduced by the WHO with a highly-effective medication that cures leprosy when it is diagnosed early. SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND AIDS ARE ON THE RISE IN CENTRAL CIEGO DE AVILA PROVINCE Ciego de Avila, May 25(RHC)-- Sexually-transmitted diseases and AIDS are the main challenges for the Cuban health care system, according to the results of an inspection of the Health Ministry's program of control and prevention of such diseases in Ciego de Avila province. Cuban epidemiologist Rigoberto Torres Pena said that while measles and German measles, mumps and other diseases have been practically eradicated, sexually-transmitted diseases and AIDS continue to grow. These diseases, compared to other preventable diseases, depend largely on sexual conduct. The Cuban doctor added that young people constitute the majority of the 315 million people in the world with any one of 22 sexually-transmitted diseases, caused primarily by promiscuity and sexual relations at an early age. Torres pointed out the importance of sex education and urged parents to take a more active role in training their children. Central Ciego de Avila is the fourth province to be inspected by Cuba's Health Ministry, designed to evaluate the progress of control and prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases. CUBA TURNS AWAY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Havana, May 25(RHC)-- In compliance with the 1992 Rio Summit, Cuba has re-enforced its programs to protect the environment on the island. According to the Director of the Information and Environmental Education Center, Jose Mario Garcia, the island's Council of Ministers has rejected the use of a turbine in the southeastern Zapata Swamp which was destined for the use of energy, despite the energy crisis which is hitting the country. The decision to use the turbine would have destroyed the ecosystem of the swamp -- which is unique in the world. The Cuban official added that the island has also rejected a multi-million dollar proposal from various European nations to use Cuba as a toxic waste dump -- money which would have been used to boost the national economy. Garcia pointed out that the Cuban Environmental Agency will not accept any proposal that would hurt the environment even it means an important investment for the island. Cuba, he said, promotes sustainable development. CUBA'S RUMBOS TRAVEL AGENCY EXPECTS TO BRING OVER 45 THOUSAND GERMAN TOURISTS THIS YEAR Havana, May 25(RHC)-- Cuba's Rumbos Travel Agency expects bring over 45,000 German tourists this year, after signing a contract with the German tour operator, FTI. According to the Vice President of Rumbos, Ruben Gonzalez, Havana has welcomed four weekly flights of German vacationers since last May 1st, flown by the company Air Britannia in coordination with Cuba's Rumbos and Germany's FTI. He added that the same German tour operator announced that a cruiser with a 400 passenger capacity is expected to begin docking at various Cuban ports next November. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION UNIVERSITY '98 OPENS IN HAVANA Havana, May 25(RHC)-- The International Convention University '98 opened in Havana on Monday with the participation of over 200 delegates from 64 universities in Latin America, Spain and Cuba. Participants at the event, which will take place at the University of Havana's Aula Magna, will discuss issues related to university education -- with Cuba offering its experience in the field. [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. 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