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 Monday, November 9, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO DELIVERS CLOSING ADDRESS TO SIXTH CONGRESS OF CUBAN WRITERS AND ARTISTS 2.- HAITIAN PRESIDENT REVE PREVAL ARRIVES IN HAVANA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT 3.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CUBA BEGINS WEDNESDAY IN BRUSSELS 4.- DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION IN THE SPANISH CITY OF SEVILLA 5.- JAPAN DONATES OVER EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS TO THE VICTIMS TO HURRICANE GEORGES 6.- CUBA AND ITALY IMPROVE ECONOMIC TIES CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO DELIVERS CLOSING ADDRESS TO SIXTH CONGRESS OF CUBAN WRITERS AND ARTISTS Havana, November 9(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro delivered the closing address to the participants of the 6th Congress of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC) over the weekend. Wrapping up the successful three-day meeting in Havana, the leader of the Cuban Revolution expressed his satisfaction with the congress, calling it one of the organization's best. During his concluding remarks, the Cuban president focussed on the issue of globalization and its attempts to destroy cultural identities. The Cuban leader cited statistics from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), showing that 93 percent of students watch television at least three hours a day -- twice the amount of time spent in any other extracurricular activity. He pointed out that U.S. companies control more than 50 percent of the world's movies, 70 percent of the videos and 75 to 80 percent of the television programs distributed worldwide. Addressing the participants of the 6th Congress of Cuban Writers and Artists in the Cuban capital, President Fidel Castro noted that Tokyo and New York City have more telephones than in all of Africa --making the obvious case that the United States and other developed nations monopolize access to communications and information. The leader of the Cuban Revolution warned that culture and intellectual thought are being increasingly threatened by this cultural globalization, concentrating greater power in the hands of a few. Fidel Castro emphasized that the policy of the Cuban government is to preserve the cultural identity of the Revolution. HAITIAN PRESIDENT REVE PREVAL ARRIVES IN HAVANA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT Havana, November 9(RHC)-- Haitian President Rene Preval arrived in Havana Monday morning to begin a six-day official visit to the island. This is the first visit of a Haitian head of state in the past four decades. During his visit to Cuba, President Rene Preval will meet with high-ranking government officials and visit places of economic and social interest. One of the principal objectives of the Haitian president's official visit to the island will be to strengthen bilateral ties between the two Caribbean island nations. President Rene Preval is being accompanied by a delegation of more than 60 Haitian government officials and representatives. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CUBA BEGINS WEDNESDAY IN BRUSSELS Brussels, November 9(RHC)-- An international conference on Cuba gets underway on Wednesday to analyze current relations between Cuba and the European Union, as well as Washington's anti-Cuba policy. Organized by various European Cuba solidarity organizations, the three-day "Cuba 1898-1998: Independence and Sovereignty" meeting is aimed at strengthening Europe's stand against extraterritorial legislation such as the Helms-Burton Law. Some 250 influential international figures will be on hand, including the Vice President of the European Parliament Antonio Gutierrez and the President of the France Liberte Foundation, Danielle Mitterand, in addition to European Union legislators, business executives and intellectuals. The Cuban delegation will include Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz, Deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende and Havana Historian Eusebio Leal. DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION IN THE SPANISH CITY OF SEVILLA Sevilla, November 9(RHC)-- Over 4000 people marched through the streets of the Spanish city of Sevilla in support of the Cuban Revolution and to condemn Washington's economic blockade against the island. The demonstration, which was organized by the Andaluz Solidarity with Cuba '98, ended with the reading of a declaration signed by different political, labor, social and student organizations and important personalities of the Spanish autonomous community. The document underscored the achievements of the Cuban Revolution in the areas of health and education and the efforts being made by the Cuban people to develop the country despite U.S. aggressions. JAPAN DONATES OVER EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS TO THE VICTIMS TO HURRICANE GEORGES Havana, November 9(RHC)-- Japan has donated some eight million 500 thousand dollars to purchase rice for Cubans affected by Hurricane Georges. Cuban Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz thanked Japan for the aid and informed Tokyo that 20,000 tons of rice will be sent to hospitals across the island to complement patient's diet during the same period. Japan's Ambassador in Havana Sebuco Tanaka expressed his respect for Cuban President Fidel Castro's concern for human life and the dignity of the Cuban people, as well as the government's wise leadership in difficult situations. CUBA AND ITALY IMPROVE ECONOMIC TIES Havana, November 9(RHC)-- Italian Foreign Trade Undersecretary Antonelo Cabras stated that economic ties between Rome and Havana continue to improve. The Italian official made the statement in Havana before ending an official visit to the island. He announced that on November 18th, Italy will ratify an agreement that includes a line of credit for 80 million dollars in preferential conditions to purchase machinery and resources. Italy's Foreign Trade official said that members of the business delegation that accompanied him to Cuba have a positive view of the island and are interested in investing here. The Italian business delegation participated in Havana's International Trade Fair, which wrapped up on Sunday. 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