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 13, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- ASSOCIATED PRESS OFFICE TO OPEN IN CUBA 2.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "CUBA: 1898-1998 -- INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY" 3.- NICARAGUA-CUBA FRIENDSHIP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP THANKS CUBA FOR CANCELING ITS DEBT 4.- CUBA AND CARICOM WILL MEET IN GUYANA 5.- ICELAND DELEGATION WINDS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 6.- CUBAN AVIATION ADDS ANOTHER PLANE TO ITS FLEET ASSOCIATED PRESS OFFICE TO OPEN IN CUBA Havana, November 13(RHC)-- The Cuban government has authorized the U.S. Associated Press News Agency to open a bureau in Havana. The decision was announced on Thursday by Cuba's Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, coinciding with the visit of a delegation made up of AP executives. Associated Press President Louis Boccardi expressed his satisfaction over Cuba's announcement. Boccardi noted that the head of the AP bureau in Havana will soon be designated and that the office should be opened in the coming weeks. Associated Press executives met with Cuban President Fidel Castro, the President of the National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon and other high-ranking government officials. Over the past several years, the Associated Press has sent news correspondents to Cuba to cover several important events, such as the Pope's visit to the island last January. The Associated Press News Agency will join the Cable News Network (CNN) in covering events on the island. CNN began its operations in Cuba in March 1997, following the authorization of the U.S. and Cuban governments. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "CUBA: 1898-1998 -- INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY" Havana, November 13(RHC)-- U.S. international political expert, Robert Muse denounced Washington's nearly 40-year blockade against Cuba, aimed at economically destroying the island. The statement was made during the International Conference "Cuba: 1898-1998 -- Independence and Sovereignty" currently taking place in Brussels, Belgium. Muse referred to Washington's continued attempts to destroy the Cuban Revolution like the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Laws. The political expert told participants at the conference that the U.S. Congress recently proposed a series of amendments in the budget bill for the 1999 fiscal year, which are designed to intensify Washington's blockade against the island and incite internal subversion. During the forum, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Isabel Allende urged Europe to continue fighting for an end to Washington's economic blockade against the island. Some 250 renowned personalities from Europe as well as delegations from the United States and Canada are participating in the International Conference, "Cuba: 1898-1998 -- Independence and Sovereignty," which wraps up today in Brussels. NICARAGUA-CUBA FRIENDSHIP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP THANKS CUBA FOR CANCELING ITS DEBT Managua, November 13(RHC)-- The Nicaragua-Cuba Friendship Parliamentary Group expressed its appreciation for Cuba's decision to forgive Managua's debt with the island due to the severe damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in that Central American nation. The document points out that without Cuba being an economic power, Havana has made this unconditional decision. The parliamentary group states that the Nicaraguan people are grateful to the Cuban government and its people. Cuba_s decision to forgive Nicaragua's debt and support similar international solutions with Honduras and other countries affected by Hurricane Mitch have had a great impact in region_s media. After mentioning that Cuba and France were the first to respond to the call for international aid by the Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, the media noted that the embassies accredited in Nicaragua and Guatemala and the Honduras Interest Section have received hundreds of messages of gratitude for Cuba's gesture of solidarity. CUBA AND CARICOM WILL MEET IN GUYANA Havana, November 13(RHC)-- Representatives from Cuba and the Caribbean Community will analyze ways to expand economic ties, especially cooperation, trade and investments next week in Guyana. Sources from the Ministry of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation said that the Cuba-Guyana Joint Meeting will begin on Monday with the participation of government and business representatives. In the Georgetown forum, representatives from both sides will discuss compliance of the previous accords, mainly in the commercial and health sector. The Cuban delegation will be headed by Foreign Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrisas. ICELAND DELEGATION WINDS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, November 13(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina met with a delegation from Iceland, headed by the President of the Popular Alliance Party, Margaret Frimannsdottir, before the group ended their official visit to Cuba. The Cuban official expressed his satisfaction for the friendship and solidarity shown by the Icelandic delegation. For her part, Frimannsdottir pointed out that the objectives of the delegation's visit were achieved, not only in relations with the Cuban Communist Party but also in contacts with commercial and trade representatives. During their stay on the island, the Icelandic delegation met with Cuban government officials and visited places of historic and economic interest, especially in the fishing industry, television and tourism. CUBAN AVIATION ADDS ANOTHER PLANE TO ITS FLEET Havana, November 13(RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage characterized the renovation of Cuban aviation as of great importance for the island. The statement was made after the first Airbus-320 was incorporated into the Cuban aviation fleet as part of a contract with the Irish Transair Company. The Cuban vice president added that this type of plane is one of the most technologically-developed in the world. The plane, with a capacity of 168 passengers and two thousand kilograms of cargo, will cover a number of destinations, including: Havana-Montreal, Toronto, Cancun, Bogota and Caracas. [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. 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