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                    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, November 11, 1998.  Today's stories:


1.- VISIT TO CUBA OF SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABEL MATUTES 
    IS CONSISTENT WITH TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CUBAN 
    AND SPANISH PEOPLES

2.- 50th ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN     
    RIGHTS

3.- CUBA'S CATHOLIC BISHOP CONFERENCE ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

4.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CUBA GETS UNDERWAY IN      
    BRUSSELS


VISIT TO CUBA OF SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABEL MATUTES IS
CONSISTENT WITH TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CUBAN AND
SPANISH PEOPLES

Havana, November 11(RHC) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto
Robaina has asserted that the current visit of Spanish
Foreign Minister Abel Matutes is consistent with the
traditional friendship between the Cuban and Spanish
peoples.  The statement came following official talks
between the two countries's top diplomats.  

Robaina also thanked Spanish authorities for their support
of Cuba's struggle against Washington's blockade and of
Cuba's inclusion in talks on renovation of the Lome
Convention -- currently underway in Europe.  Following the
gathering, Matutes delivered a lecture at the University of
Havana, stating that Cuba's problems and transformations
should be resolved and carried out by Cubans themselves --
without outside pressures and blockades.

Following the lecture -- and in relation to the Spanish
Foreign Minister's statements concerning Cuba -- local and
foreign press correspondents approached Cuban President
Fidel Castro, who attended the lecture.  The Cuban leader
stated that Cuba is the best place in which to invest, since
there is not threat of a revolution -- which has already
occurred here -- and there will be no nationalizations, 
since they were already carried out by the Revolution.

50th ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Havana, November 11(RHC)-- A conference on the 50th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
will take place November 18th at Havana's International
Conference Center.

According to the President of the Cuban Parliament's
International Relations Commission, Jorge Lezcano, the event
will have special meaning for the Cuban Revolution, which is
a strong defender of human rights.

The Cuban official stated that participants will discuss the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, taking into account
the historical moment of its approval as well as its current
limitations.  Conference participants will also discuss
Cuba's application of the Universal Declaration.

The results of these debates will be sent to the United
Nations, international organizations and parliaments that
have relations with the island.

The event will include over 100 Cuban parliamentarians,
representatives from different institutions and political
and grass roots organizations.

CUBA'S CATHOLIC BISHOP CONFERENCE ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

Havana, November 11(RHC)-- Cuba's Catholic Bishop Conference
ha elected Monseigneur Adolfo Rodriguez from Camaguey
province as its new president, replacing Cardinal Jaime
Ortega.

Monseigneur Ortega concluded his third and last term as head
of the Cuban Catholic Church in February 1997, but remained
on as head of the Episcopal Conference by order of Pope John
Paul II.

A statement from the Catholic Church's Press Office
announced a partial replacement of its Permanent Committee,
which includes Bishop Jose Siro Gonzalez from western Pinar
del Rio province as its new vice president.

The election of the Catholic Bishop's Conference took place
during a plenary assembly Monday night here in Havana.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CUBA GETS UNDERWAY IN BRUSSELS

Brussels, November 11(RHC)-- The International Conference
"Cuba 1898-1998, Independence and Sovereignty" is underway
in Brussels.

The international event is aimed at analyzing relations
between the European Union and Cuba as well as Washington's
anti-Cuba policy.

The conference, which will run through Friday, has the
participation of more than 250 renowned personalities from
the European Community, the United States and Canada, as
well as a Cuban delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister
Isabel Allende.


           [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba
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