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 12, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA AND HAITI TERM SIGNING OF TEN BILATERAL COOPERATION ACCORDS AS HISTORIC 2.- DOCTORS RETURN HOME TO CUBA FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 3.- CUBAN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UNDEFEATED 4.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "CUBA: 1898-1998 -- INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY" CONTINUES IN BRUSSELS 5.- BOLIVIAN JOURNALISTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA 6.- VENEZUELAN ASERCA AIRLINES TO BEGIN FLIGHTS BETWEEN HAVANA AND CARACAS 7.- OVER 70 FOREIGN JOURNALISTS CONFIRM THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF WAR CORRESPONDENTS CUBA AND HAITI TERM SIGNING OF TEN BILATERAL COOPERATION ACCORDS AS HISTORIC Havana, November 12(RHC)-- Cuba and Haiti have termed the signing of ten bilateral cooperation accords as historic, during the current visit to Cuba of Haitian President Rene Preval. Accords in the areas of public health, education, agriculture, tourism, construction and sports were signed Wednesday evening to wrap up the First Cuba-Haiti Intergovernmental Mixed Commission meeting. Besides the 200 doctors that Cuba will send to Haiti, the public health accord also includes scholarships for 100 Haitian medical students who will receive specialized internship instruction in Cuban hospitals. Haiti's standard of living has declined persistently over the past decades. This year, the Caribbean nation ranked 159th of the 174 countries on the United Nations list of Human Development Index. VISITING SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABEL MATUTES SAYS ROYAL FAMILY COULD VISIT CUBA NEXT SPRING Havana, November 12(RHC)-- Visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes stated today that Spanish monarchs Juan Carlos and Sofia could visit Cuba next Spring. Matutes met for the second time last night with Cuban President Fidel Castro, in talks that lasted eight hours. In statements to reporters today, the Spanish foreign minister pointed to what he called "the cordiality that has presided over all meetings with Cuban government officials" and "the spirit of dialogue, even when there have been disagreements." Slated to wrap up his visit this evening, Matutes also held talks with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage concerning possible formulas for the payment of Cuba's nearly one billion dollar debt to Spain. DOCTORS RETURN HOME TO CUBA FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Havana, November 12(RHC)-- A Cuban medical brigade returned home today from the Dominican Republic, where they worked for 43 days in the southwestern part of that country following the destruction left by Hurricane Georges. The head of the brigade and Director General of Cuban hospitals, Doctor Elias Valdez, told Havana's Prensa Latina News Agency that the 13 doctors worked during 19 days in the town of Vicente Noble, carrying out 81 operations -- the first ever in that town -- 20 deliveries and more than 4000 clinical visits. In the nearby town of Tamayo -- which was practically covered by mud during the hurricane -- the brigade made house calls and was able to limit the number of infectious diseases resulting from the climatic phenomenon. Only two cases of dengue and one of malaria were reported. At the request of Dominican Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzman, the doctors also worked during one week at the hospital in the city of Barahona -- capital of the province of the same name. They carried out a total of 41 operations. On Wednesday, Dominican President Leonel Fernandez travelled to Barahona to personally thank the medical brigade. Doctor Elias Valdez said the Cuban doctors had an interesting conversation with President Fernandez concerning the deficiencies of the Dominican Republic's public health system and the possibilities of further cooperation with Cuba. Doctor Valdez said their departure from the country was sad, with many Dominicans asking them to return soon. CUBAN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UNDEFEATED Tokyo, November 12(RHC)-- Cuba's women's volleyball team has won the world championship undefeated. After beating Brazil in semi- finals, Cuba dominated China three sets to zero. The Cuban team won eight straight games, only loosing two sets. In this way, the team becomes the first to ever win two world championships and two Olympic titles in one decade, with the world title in Brazil in 1994 and their Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic crowns. Cuban player Regla Bell was selected as the best player in the tournament that unfolded in several Japanese cities. The team is expected to receive an enthusiastic welcome here in Havana when they return on Saturday. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "CUBA: 1898-1998 -- INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY" CONTINUES IN BRUSSELS Brussels, November 12(RHC)-- Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende has urged Europe to continue the fight for an end to Washington's blockade against the island. The Cuban official made the statement during the International Conference "Cuba: 1898-1998 -- Independence and Sovereignty" taking place in Brussels, Belgium, sponsored by European legislators against the blockade and other regional organizations. Cuba's deputy foreign minister pointed out that the struggle to totally end Washington's almost 40 year blockade against Cuba, without any modifications, is a battle not only in favor of the Caribbean island, but also for the international community. Isabel Allende told the participants at the event that U.S. legislation, among them the extraterritorial Helms-Burton Law, sets a dangerous precedent against the principle of sovereignty and independence of each nation. The United States, she said, has adopted since the end of the Second World War, 104 unilateral sanctions against different nations, half of them during the last four years. This violates the UN Charter and international laws. During the first day of the conference, the over 250 participants unanimously condemned Washington's economic blockade against Cuba. During the inaugural ceremony, the President of the Pro- Cuba caucus of the European Union, Rinaldi Bontempi, denounced the U.S. anti-Cuba policy. Dutch representative and member of the organizing committee of the event, Nico Varkevisser, said that this solidarity conference is aimed at discussing current relations between the European Union and Cuba. Meanwhile, Belgium's Social Affairs Minister Magda de Galam urged for an unconditional dialogue with the island. The event in Brussels also has the participation of delegations from the United States and Canada, along with significant representation from Cuba. BOLIVIAN JOURNALISTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA La Paz, November 12(RHC)-- A group of well-known Bolivian journalists have organized a Group of Journalists in Solidarity with Cuba in La Paz, the Bolivian capital. Several of the veteran journalists said that Cuba is an example of dignity in its fight against Washington's blockade against the island and recalled Cuba's solidarity with the people of Bolivia in health care and in the training of journalists. The Group of Journalists also agreed to join the Bolivian Solidarity With Cuba Movement and work in the commemorative activities for the 40th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution next January 1st. VENEZUELAN ASERCA AIRLINES TO BEGIN FLIGHTS BETWEEN HAVANA AND CARACAS Caracas, November 12(RHC)-- Venezuela's Aserca Airlines is scheduled to begin flights between Havana and Caracas next December 3rd as part of widening friendship ties between Cuba and Venezuela. The director of the airlines operations and supplies, Juanita Navarro, said that the MD-90 plane with a 155-passenger capacity will fly three times a week. The Venezuelan official added that Aserca Airlines wants to negotiate a catering contract in the Cuban capital which is considered among the best in the region. OVER 70 FOREIGN JOURNALISTS CONFIRM THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF WAR CORRESPONDENTS Havana, November 12(RHC)-- Some 70 journalists from over 20 countries have confirmed their participation in the First International Conference of War Correspondents to take place in Havana next week. The Director of Cuba's Union of Journalists Juan Marrero said that this important exchange of experiences will take place under the slogan: "Journalists that Live through War Defend Peace." Marrero added that the event will gather journalists with experience in over 30 international conflicts, among them Vietnam, Somalia, Angola and Bosnia. [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