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 Wednesday, May 27, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO RECEIVES VISITING DIGNITARIES 2.- CUBA TO HOST MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE MOVEMENT OF NON- ALIGNED NATIONS NEXT MONTH 3.- CUBA'S FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC COLLABORATION MINISTER VISITS CANADA 4.- BARBADIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RICARDO ALARCON 5.- POLITICAL BUREAU COMMISSION OF CUBA'S COMMUNIST PARTY VISITS CENTRAL VILLA CLARA PROVINCE 6.- MATANZAS PROVINCE WILL BE THE SITE OF THE MAIN ACTIVITY COMMEMORATING WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO RECEIVES VISITING DIGNITARIES Havana, May 27(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro received the visiting Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Korea, Kim Yong Nam, just hours before he wrapped up his official visit late Tuesday. President Castro has also personally received visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, who invited the Cuban leader to visit his country. In a flurry of diplomatic activities in the Cuban capital, Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz Felipe Lampreia signed several cooperation accords today with Cuban authorities. After meeting with Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres, Lampreia had words of praise for Cuba's achievements in health care. Before wrapping up an official visit on Tuesday, Nigerian Foreign Minister Tom Ikini recalled that ties between his country and Cuba date back five centuries, with the arrival of the first African slaves in the Americas, who, he said, profoundly influenced this Caribbean nation. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina thanked the Nigerian government for its vote against Washington's blockade of Cuba during the last United Nations General Assembly. And Palestinian Foreign Minister Faruk Kadumi continues holding talks in Havana with high-ranking government officials. Kadumi expressed his gratitude for Cuba's solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people. CUBA TO HOST MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE MOVEMENT OF NON-ALIGNED NATIONS NEXT MONTH Havana, May 27(RHC)-- Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres, who recently returned from participating in activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization in Geneva, has announced that Cuba will host the Ministerial Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations next month. The Cuban health minister said that some 20 health ministers have already confirmed their participation at the meeting, which is scheduled for June 25th and 26th. During the meeting, participants will analyze reforms in the health systems of countries making up the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations. CUBA'S FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC COLLABORATION MINISTER VISITS CANADA Ottawa, May 27(RHC)-- Cuba's Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz met with Canadian Cooperation Minister Diane Murleau during the Cuban official's visit to Ottawa. During his official visit to Canada, Ferradaz will talk with business representatives to discuss opportunities in Cuba. Following a meeting with the President of the Canadian House of Commons, Gilbert Parent, the Cuban official said that given the island's economic reforms, Cuba maintains its independence and has found its own formulas for recovery and revitalization. The Cuban minister of foreign investment and economic collaboration also met with officials of the Canadian International Collaboration Agency and took part in a conference at the Ottawa Press Club on the characteristics of foreign investment on the island. BARBADIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RICARDO ALARCON Havana, May 27(RHC)-- The President of the Barbados Senate, Fred Gollop, and members of his delegation met with the President of Cuba's Parliament Ricardo Alarcon. In statements to the press, the Barbadian official said he is impressed by the Cuban people's participation in the country's decision-making. The Senate president said he would work to encourage the further development of bilateral ties between both nation's parliaments. The parliamentary delegation from Barbados met with other Cuban government officials and toured Havana's Biotechnology Center and Old Havana. POLITICAL BUREAU COMMISSION OF CUBA'S COMMUNIST PARTY VISITS CENTRAL VILLA CLARA PROVINCE Santa Clara, May 27(RHC)-- A commission from the Political Bureau of Cuba's Communist Party is currently in the central province of Villa Clara to evaluate the role of the region's Communist Party, the quality of its work and its influence in the economic and social processes. Members of the commission will pay special attention to the daily work of Party members and trade unionists, especially in regard to the food program, recovery of the sugar industry and preparations for the 1998-99 sugar harvest, as well as efficiency in productive activities and services. The visit of the Political Bureau's commission to Villa Clara province, which will run until Saturday, will also include political-ideological work and results of the analysis of the Economic Resolution which was approved by the Fifth Congress of Cuba's Communist Party last October. MATANZAS PROVINCE WILL BE THE SITE OF THE MAIN ACTIVITY COMMEMORATING WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL DAY Havana, May 27(RHC)-- Matanzas province will be the site of the main activity to commemorate World Environmental Day next June 5th. The announcement was made during a press conference by the Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, Rosa Elena Simeon. The Cuban official stressed Matanzas' role in the partial or total elimination of 85 of the 126 contaminated sites in the territory, the incorporation of 2630 hectares linked to the sugar industry, the application of 40 projects designed for environmental education and an eight per cent increase in forest areas. These achievements by the province granted Matanzas the honor to host the environmental event. The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Rosa Elena Simeon recognized the work that eastern Guantanamo province is doing, despite its complex environmental situation. 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