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 Thursday, November 5, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO THE PEOPLE OF NICARAGUA IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MITCH 2.- PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON MEETS WITH PARTICIPANTS OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER 3.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TALKS WITH DIRECTORS OF CENTRAL BANKS WHO TOOK PART IN CONFERENCE ON THE EURO CURRENCY 4.- CUBA TO HOST NEXT LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM MEETING 5.- CUBA'S UNION OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS CONGRESS GETS UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 6.- BRITISH TRADE MINISTER REITERATES LONDON'S WILLINGNESS TO INCREASE TIES WITH CUBA AND COLOMBIA 7.- ITALY'S CAPITAL H0STS EVENTS ON THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY GUERRILLA FIGHTER ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA 8.- CUBAN AND CANADIAN SCIENTISTS DISCOVER IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS OF THE ISLAND'S INDIGENOUS CULTURE CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO THE PEOPLE OF NICARAGUA IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MITCH Havana, November 5(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has sent a message of condolences to the people of Nicaragua in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Published today on the front page of Cuba's Granma news daily, the Cuban leader said that "with deep pain, Cuba has learned of the immense human and material losses suffered by this sister nation." The message states that the news and images of the death and disappearance of thousands of Nicaraguans and the hundreds of thousands who were left homeless "have deeply moved the Cuban people, who have always loved and admired the homeland of Ruben Dario and Augusto Cesar Sandino." Cuban President Fidel Castro said that in the face of this tragedy -- which Cuba looks upon as its own -- the Cuban government, interpreting the sentiments of solidarity and humanism prevalent among the Cuban people, has offered has offered medical aid and medicines to Nicaragua. This offer, he continued, corresponds to Cuba's rich human potential and limited material possibilities -- the same framework in which Cuba offered aid following the 1972 earthquake that destroyed Managua, as well as the aid offered on several occasions during the 1980s and the aid that Cuba will always offer when a Latin American sister nation is in trouble and needs Cuba's modest contribution. In transmitting the island's most heart-felt condolences to the family members of the victims, said Fidel Castro, Cuba expresses its most earnest desire that the courageous people of Nicaragua, "who have so often demonstrated to the world their capacity to resist, their heroism and their serenity, find the ways, means, resources and -- above all -- the intelligence and tenacity to overcome during these difficult times." The Cuban leader said the people of Nicaragua can be assured that, whatever the circumstances, they will never lack the solidarity of Cuba, which on more than one occasion has been willing to share sweat and sacrifices with its Nicaraguan brothers and sisters. President Castro wrapped up his message of condolence by recalling that Cuba has also offered its sympathy, compassion and willingness to cooperate with all of the Central American peoples affected by the hurricane. In related news, Cuba's business representative in Nicaragua, Damian Arteaga, announced late Wednesday that the Cuban medical humanitarian aid will arrive today in Managua. He said the same flight bringing the aid was slated to first stop over in Guatemala to drop off a Cuban medical brigade comprised of epidemiological experts. Arteaga said that since Tuesday, some 15 Cuban medical specialists are treating hurricane victims in Honduras. PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RICARDO ALARCON MEETS WITH PARTICIPANTS OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY ENCOUNTER Havana, November 5(RHC)-- The President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon says that the political system adopted by his country is in line with the aspirations and ideals of democracy and is characterized by its autonomy and independence. Speaking to 400 delegates from 26 nations who are participating in the 4th Latin American and Caribbean Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba Encounter, Alarcon acknowledged that while that Cuba's system is not perfect, it speaks to the realities of the country and is constantly being improved. Alarcon explained that in Cuba, electoral candidates are directly nominated by the people and he underscored the participatory character of the island's electoral system compared to those of other nations. The Cuban official added that Cuba's electoral system is very different from that of the United States -- just to cite an example -- where in Tuesday's mid-term elections, only 38 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls. Speaking to the participants of the 4th Latin American and Caribbean Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba Encounter taking place at Havana's Capitol building, Alarcon recalled Washington's attempts to tighten its economic blockade against the island. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TALKS WITH DIRECTORS OF CENTRAL BANKS WHO TOOK PART IN CONFERENCE ON THE EURO CURRENCY Havana, November 5(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro met with the executives of Central Banks that participated in the International Conference on the EURO Currency. The conference wrapped up yesterday at Havana's International Convention Center. During the meeting, the Cuban leader expressed interest in the conference debates, in particular the EURO's perspectives on the current international financial crisis. Among other Cuban government officials present at the meeting were Cuba's Economy and Planning Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez; the President of the Cuban Central Bank, Francisco Soberon; and Finance and Price Minister Manuel Millares. CUBA TO HOST NEXT LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM MEETING Havana, November 5 (RHC)--Cuba will host the next meeting of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), which will take place from November 30th to December 2nd. The announcement was made by the secretary of the regional institution, Carlos Boneta. The SELA official added that the meeting's main purpose will be to draw up Latin America's international economic agenda through the year 2010. SELA's main objective is to work towards regional integration. CUBA'S UNION OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS CONGRESS GETS UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, November 5(RHC)-- The Sixth Congress of Cuba's Union of Artists and Writers (UNEAC), opened this morning at Havana's International Convention Center. Participants discussed how to encourage diversity and creative ideas in the face of neo-liberalism and reiterated their commitment to the Revolution's cultural policy. UNEAC Promotion and Events Director Marisel Caraballo Sanchez told reporters in Havana that 322 delegates are attending the three-day forum, representing UNEAC's nearly five thousand members. Caraballo added that all issues on the agenda will be extensively debated including artistic education, the international promotion of Cuban culture and issues related to the island's talented youth. BRITISH TRADE MINISTER REITERATES LONDON'S WILLINGNESS TO INCREASE TIES WITH CUBA AND COLOMBIA Bogota, November 5(RHC)-- British Trade Minister Brian Wilson reiterated his country's willingness to develop bilateral ties with Colombia and Cuba. The statement was made upon Wilson's arrival in Bogota, Colombia -- following his visit to Cuba, where he participated in Havana's 16th International Trade Fair. The British official added that his country's business executives are interested in both Cuba and Colombia. Wilson pointed out that London's interest will contribute to strengthening economic relations and British investment in the two Latin American countries -- taking advantage of growing commercial interest in that part of the world. ITALY'S CAPITAL H0STS EVENTS ON THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY GUERRILLA FIGHTER ERNESTO CHE GUEVARA Rome, November 5(RHC)-- In collaboration with Rome's City Hall and Public Libraries, a series of conferences and lectures dedicated to legendary guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara have begun in the Italian capital. The event, which is aimed at examining the life of the revolutionary leader, was inaugurated in a ceremony held in Rome's City Hall with the participation of Che's daughter, Aleida Guevara March. Throughout the entire month of November, Rome's public libraries will host encounters and photo exhibits -- allowing students to look at the life of Ernesto Che Guevara, from both a historical and a symbolic point of view. CUBAN AND CANADIAN SCIENTISTS DISCOVER IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS OF THE ISLAND'S INDIGENOUS CULTURE Havana, November 5(RHC)-- Cuban and Canadian scientists have made an important archeological find of indigenous culture, considered to the largest ever in the Antilles. Some 500 objects -- made mostly of wood and used for utensils, ceremonies or as construction tools -- were extracted by a group of archaeologists in the central province of Ciego de Avila. The scientists include archaeologists from Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment -- working together with a team of experts from Ontario's Royal Museum in Canada. [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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