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 Tuesday, November 10, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AND VISITING HAITIAN PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL AWARDED HIGHEST DISTINCTIONS 2.- SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABEL MATUTES PAVES THE WAY FOR UPCOMING VISIT TO CUBA OF SPANISH MONARCHS 3.- CUBA AND ANGOLA SIGN HEALTH AGREEMENT IN HAVANA 4.- SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE FIRST ANIMAL TRANSGENESIS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION 5.- CUBA'S DOMESTIC TRADE MINISTRY ANNOUNCES REDUCED PRICES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 6.- GENERAL SECRETARY OF GUADALUPE'S COMMUNIST PARTY PRAISES CUBA 7.- CARICOM SEMINAR ON INCREASING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH CUBA SLATED FOR GUYANA 8.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CUBA SET TO GET UNDERWAY TOMORROW CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AND VISITING HAITIAN PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL AWARDED HIGHEST DISTINCTIONS Havana, November 10(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro and visiting Haitian President Rene Preval mutually awarded each other with their respective nations' highest distinctions, during the Haitian leader's official reception late Monday evening. After receiving Cuba's Jose Marti Order, President Preval thanked Cuba for the aid sent to Haiti, particularly medical assistance to help that country develop a viable health program. After receiving Haiti's National Honor and Merit Award, President Castro said that Cuba's medical aid to Haiti could help that country reduce to 35 its current infant mortality rate of 135 for every one thousand live births. The Cuban leader said the American continent and the world owes much to Haiti, recalling that this Caribbean nation was the first independent republic in this region, the world's first Black republic and the first social revolution in this hemisphere to abolish slavery. President Castro highlighted the important date shared by the two countries -- Haiti's independence of January 1st, 1804, and the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1st, 1959. Fidel Castro spoke of how Haiti, like other Third World countries, has been the victim first of colonialism followed by neocolonialism, and now of free market globalization and the unequal distribution of the planet's wealth. The Haitian leader will remain in Cuba until Saturday and will visit the provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABEL MATUTES PAVES THE WAY FOR UPCOMING VISIT TO CUBA OF SPANISH MONARCHS Havana, November 10(RHC)-- Visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes told reporters that the upcoming visit to Cuba of Spanish monarchs Juan Carlos and Sofia constitutes one of the items on his agenda. In statements to reporters following a visit to Havana's Jose Marti Monument, in the Plaza de la Revolucion, Matutes confirmed preparations for the visit. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia could visit Cuba in the first during the first three months of next year, in what would constitute the first visit to the island of a Spanish monarch. Cuba is also the only Spanish-speaking nation in Latin America that has not received Juan Carlos and Sofia. Responding to a question concerning the ideological differences between Spain and Cuba, the Spanish Foreign Minister stated that what's important is that the two countries attempt to understand each other and overcome differences when they arise. This evening, Matutes and his Cuban counterpart, Roberto Robaina, were slated to sign a cooperation accord in the fight against drug trafficking. CUBA AND ANGOLA SIGN HEALTH AGREEMENT IN HAVANA Havana, November 10(RHC)-- Cuba and Angola have signed an agreement in the field of health, aimed at developing a technical cooperation program in six specific areas. The agreement supports the reforms of Angola's national health system, a control program and the struggle against epidemics and diseases endemic to the country, as well as cooperation in national emergency situations. The accord opens the door to contracting Cuban doctors and specialists who will offer qualified assistance to that African nation, the training of Angolan specialists in Cuba as well as epidemiological research. SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE FIRST ANIMAL TRANSGENESIS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Havana, November 10(RHC)-- The Director of Havana's Biotechnology Center Manuel Limonta revealed in the Cuban capital that the world's first animal transgenesis for human consumption will soon be made available on the national market. The tilapia transgenesis -- a fish that has been modified through genetic engineering by Cuban scientists to achieve rapid growth -- will be available to the public by next year. The director of Havana's Biotechnology Center pointed out that this will be one of the scientific achievements of the island which will be presented during the Havana Biotechnology '98 encounter, scheduled for next week. CUBA'S DOMESTIC TRADE MINISTRY ANNOUNCES REDUCED PRICES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS Havana, November 10(RHC)-- Cuba's Domestic Trade Ministry announced that beginning November 15th through January 4th 1999, there will be a reduction of prices of certain products in industrial markets and restaurants. According to the Ministry, prices will be reduced between ten and 30 percent, adding that more than three thousand products will be involved. Rationed articles do not fall under the same commercial system and therefore are not included in the price reductions. Domestic Trade Minister Barbara Castillo said the institution applies price reductions on products during certain times of the year. GENERAL SECRETARY OF GUADALUPE'S COMMUNIST PARTY PRAISES CUBA Havana, November 10(RHC)-- According to the General Secretary of Guadalupe's Communist Party, Christian Celeste, the Caribbean loves and respects Cuba and its President Fidel Castro. During his stay in Cuba, the leader from Guadalupe and his delegation met with the Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Ibrahim Ferradaz, as well as members of parliament and leaders of the country's grass roots organizations. Before his departure, Celeste praised the advances of the Cuban Revolution and affirmed that the island "is a living example for the people of Guadalupe." CARICOM SEMINAR ON INCREASING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH CUBA SLATED FOR GUYANA Havana, November 10(RHC)-- A CARICOM seminar aimed at increasing commercial relations with Cuba is scheduled to take place in Guyana November 20th and 21st. The seminar will be held following the conclusion of the Fifth Cuba-CARICOM joint meeting, which will take place on the 18th and 19th of November with the participation of 20 Cuban firms exhibiting their products. Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas will head a delegation that will travel to Guyana, accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Raul Taladrid. Among some of the issues that will be discussed are trade with Cuba, its banking system and the establishment of a private trade office in Havana. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CUBA SET TO GET UNDERWAY TOMORROW Brussels, November 10(RHC)-- An International Conference on Cuba, slated to get underway tomorrow, Wednesday, in Brussels, will reaffirm the principle of sovereignty and independence for the island. According to Hermenegildo Altosano, a Spanish attorney and participant in the event, some 250 international delegates will take part in the conference -- among them: European Union parliamentarians, delegations from the United States and Canada as well as a Cuban delegation. The Spanish lawyer said that from a political point of view, the Brussels solidarity meeting should have important results due to the issues that will be discussed, such as relations between Cuba and the European Union and Washington's hostile anti-Cuba policy. [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. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org