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 23, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO RATIFIES WILLINGNESS TO SEND MORE MEDICAL BRIGADES WHERE NEEDED 2.- VOLUNTEER WORK THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND CHARACTERIZED AS SUCCESSFUL 3.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE UNDERWAY IN HAVANA 4.- DELEGATION OF GREECE-CUBA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION CURRENTLY VISITING HAVANA 5.- GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION VISITS THE ISLAND 6.- CAPE VERDE MINISTER OF FOREIGN BUSINESS ARRIVES ON TUESDAY CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO RATIFIES WILLINGNESS TO SEND MORE MEDICAL BRIGADES WHERE NEEDED Havana, November 23(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro ratified the island's willingness to send more medical brigades, if needed, to any Central American nation affected by Hurricane Mitch. The Cuban leader made the statement during the 12th Forum of Science and Technology, which wound up on Saturday at Havana's International Convention Center. Cuban President Fidel Castro spoke about "the wealth of values and human resources that the Revolution has created," allowing medical assistance -- immediately and free of charge -- with over 2000 Cuban medical personnel to Honduras, Guatemala and other nations affected by Hurricane Mitch. The Cuban leader affirmed that even with a number of doctors working in South Africa and 200 more that have volunteered to work in Haiti, Cuba's health system has not been affected. He added that the medical aid is a reflection of the Cuban people's tradition of solidarity, without taking into consideration political or ideological differences. The Cuban leader said if there has not been any information on the aid by the international media, it is because there is a lack of consciousness in the international community. VOLUNTEER WORK THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND CHARACTERIZED AS SUCCESSFUL Havana, November 23(RHC)-- Over one million Cuban workers participated in nationwide, volunteer work on Sunday, organized by the Federation of Cuban Workers, the CTC, on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the first call for volunteer work by Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara. The General Secretary of the CTC, Pedro Ross Leal, characterized the day as "a success, aimed at prioritizing the productive sector on the island." Meanwhile, Cuban Sugar Minister Ulises Rosales del Toro recognized the importance of Sunday's volunteer work for the recovery of the sugar industry. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, November 23(RHC)-- An International Conference on Human Rights and Peace has kicked off in Havana with the participation of delegates from over 20 countries. The event takes place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. Participants at the international conference -- which will run until Wednesday -- will discuss poverty, unemployment and other problems of the Third World. The President of the International Association of Educators for World Peace, Charles Merciaca, who is in Havana to participate in the conference, condemned Washington's economic blockade against Cuba, characterizing it as "unjust and unprecedented in today's world." He added that the people of the United States do not agree with Washington's Cuba-policy and are hopeful that a solution will be found. The International Conference on Human Rights and Peace is being sponsored by the Cuban Peace Movement. DELEGATION OF GREECE-CUBA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION CURRENTLY VISITING HAVANA Havana, November 23(RHC)-- The President of the Greece-Cuba Friendship Association, Ioannis Diamandinis, said he is profoundly impressed by the Cuban medical aid to victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America. The Greek official, who is visiting the island, pointed out that the Cuban aid is evidence of humanism and characterized the Cuban people as hospitable. He emphasized the traditional ties that unite Cuba and Greece and announced that a major donation of medicine will soon arrive on the island. GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, November 23(RHC)-- The General Secretary of the International Maritime Organization, Canadian William O'Neil, is in Cuba at the invitation of Cuban Transportation Minister Colonel Alvaro Perez. O'Neil said that Cuba is an important country for the institution and that his visit will allow a first-hand look at the island's development and ties with the rest of the Caribbean. The general secretary of the International Maritime Organization is scheduled to meet with various government officials during his visit to the island. CAPE VERDE MINISTER OF FOREIGN BUSINESS ARRIVES ON TUESDAY Havana, November 23(RHC)-- The Minister of Foreign Business and the Community of Cape Verde, Jose Luis de Jesus, is scheduled to arrive in Cuba tomorrow, heading a delegation that will participate in the 11th Session of the Cuba-Cape Verde Joint Intergovernmental Commission. During his stay on the island, the African leader will assist to the commission's work on economic and scientific-technical cooperation and visit places of interest. The Cape Verde official will also meet with high-ranking Cuban government officials. 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