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 Friday, November 6, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED AS 12th MEMBER OF LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION (ALADI) 2.- HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL CONCLUDES TOMORROW 3.- LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA ENCOUNTER WINDS UP IN HAVANA 4.- CONGRESS OF CUBAN ARTISTS AND WRITERS UNION CONTINUES 5.- EXPORTS OF CUBAN CIGARS ON THE RISE 6.- FIRST ENCOUNTER OF WAR CORRESPONDENTS SLATED TO TAKE PLACE IN HAVANA LATER THIS MONTH CUBA UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED AS 12th MEMBER OF LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION (ALADI) Montevideo, November 6(RHC)-- Cuba was unanimously accepted as the 12th member-nation of the Latin American Integration Association -- known by its acronym ALADI. ALADI's 10th ministerial meeting in the Uruguayan capital accepted Cuba's full membership in the category of an intermediate developed country. Cuba, which has been an observer within ALADI since 1986, shares this intermediate category with Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The category of most-developed is comprised of Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, while the least developed includes Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay. The ministerial council resolution stipulates that Cuba will contribute to ALADI's annual budget in accordance with its condition as a country of intermediate development. Cuba is the first country to join ALADI since its creation in 1980, stemming from the Montevideo Treaty. Cuba's ambassador in Uruguay, Manuel Aguilera, today told reporters that Cuba's full membership in the regional organization will lead to mutual benefits in trade, investment and economic cooperation between the island and the ALADI member nations. Trade between Cuba and ALADI grew by 41 percent between 1986 and 1996 -- from 552 million dollars to 780 -- though the trade balance is currently unfavorable for Havana. HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL CONCLUDES TOMORROW Havana, November 6(RHC)-- Havana's 16th International Ballet Festival is drawing to a close this Saturday with a special gala, where some of the guest stars and invited companies will perform. "Don Quixote," danced by a couple from Germany's Dessau Ballet and "Diana and Aecteon" by Cuban prima ballerina Lorna Feijoo, as well as the international ballet star from Argentina Maximiliano Guerra are all included on the closing gala's program. The gala will also feature the performance of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble from the United States, Spain's Zaragoza Ballet and a Russian couple from Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet: Svetlana Lunkina and Dimitri Goudanov. And an outstanding event is in store at the National Theater, where Cuban National Ballet Director Alicia Alonso premiered the first professional version of the "Nutcracker Suite" after 1959. This version was a co-production of the Cuban National Ballet Company, La Venice Theater Foundation from Venice and the Carlo Felice Foundation of Genova, with music by Piotor Chaikovski performed by the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA ENCOUNTER WINDS UP IN HAVANA Havana, November 6(RHC)-- The Fourth Latin American and Caribbean Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba Encounter wound up on Thursday at Havana's International Convention Center. Participants approved a Final Declaration, naming 1999 as the Year of Continental Solidarity with Cuba and July 26th as the Day of Actions Against Washington's Blockade of the Island. More than 400 delegates from 25 regional countries agreed to name legendary guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara the "Comandante of the Americas" and develop a massive and diverse solidarity movement throughout Latin America. During the closing ceremony, participants denounced Washington's nearly 40 year blockade against the island, extraterritorial laws and neo-liberal globalization. The conference also issued a declaration in solidarity with the peoples of the region that are suffering the consequences of Hurricanes Georges and Mitch. CONGRESS OF CUBAN ARTISTS AND WRITERS UNION CONTINUES Havana, November 6(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro said that the reflections carried out by the island's artists in defense of national identity -- particularly given the current thrust around the world of neo- liberal globalization -- is very useful for the country and its future. The Cuban leader's statements were made during the first day of sessions at the 6th Congress of Cuba's Artists and Writers Union (UNEAC), taking place at Havana's International Convention Center. Fidel Castro pointed out that the preservation of national culture is a serious problem in today's globalized world. During the debates, Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto referred to the quality of the projects in rural areas in the field of Fine Arts, literature and theater -- where they have the most influence and where over 200 professionals are dedicated to those projects. Participants also discussed the situation of art schools and agreed for the need to revitalize and consolidate the work of the Casas de la Cultura throughout the island. The 6th Congress of Cuba's Artists and Writers Union will run for three days in the Cuban capital with the participation of delegates from the entire island. They will not only discuss the country's culture but also vote for the organization's new president. EXPORTS OF CUBAN CIGARS ON THE RISE Havana, November 6(RHC)-- Cuban cigars will contribute nearly 300 million dollars to the national economy, considering that for 1998, exports are expected to reach 160 million. The President of the Cuban Habano Firm, Francisco Linares, stated that by the end of the year, the company will export 34 cigar brands as part of its strategy to increase international markets. In recent years, the Habano firm launched three new brands -- Trinidad, Cuava and Vegas Robaina -- which have gained a respectable place on the world market in just a short period of time. FIRST ENCOUNTER OF WAR CORRESPONDENTS SLATED TO TAKE PLACE IN HAVANA LATER THIS MONTH Havana, November 6(RHC)-- Reporters, photographers, film makers and students of social communications from some 24 nations have confirmed their participation at the First International War Correspondents Encounter, scheduled to take place in Havana from the November 24th through the 27th. Representatives from Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Ecuador, the United States, Poland, Russia and Britain plan to take part in the conference. The event includes photo exhibits, films, videos, conferences as well as issues related to war reports. The conference is sponsored by the Jose Marti International Journalism Institute, War Correspondents Club, The International Committee of the Red Cross, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, the Tourism Ministry and the Cuban Union of Journalists. 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