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 26, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA DENOUNCES WASHINGTON'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FAO RESOLUTIONS 2.- CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADES PRAISED BY NICARAGUANS 3.- CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED OFFERS SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH 4.- GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION CONCLUDES VISIT TO CUBA 5.- SYMPOSIUM ON RETINOSIS PIGMENTOSA TO TAKE PLACE THIS WEEKEND 6.- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE CONCLUDES IN HAVANA CUBA DENOUNCES WASHINGTON'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FAO RESOLUTIONS Rome, November 26(RHC)-- Cuba's Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Juan Nuiry, has denounced Washington's failure to comply with resolutions adopted during the FAO's last summit. The Cuban diplomat proposed that urgent measures be taken to comply with those resolutions and he stressed that food should never be used as an instrument for political and economic pressure, referring to the U.S. blockade against Cuba. The Cuban FAO ambassador, pointed to a paragraph of the agreement which warns of the need to abstain from applying unilateral measures that violate international human rights and the UN Charter. In its reply, the U.S. delegation denied the existence of a blockade against Cuba and blamed the island's economic crisis on domestic issues, which Nuiry said was a cynical response that reveal's Washington's weak position. The Cuban ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization reiterated that neither aggressions nor blockades will destroy the courage of the Cuban people. CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADES PRAISED BY NICARAGUANS Havana, November 26(RHC)-- Residents and health officials in the Nicaraguan Department of Chinandega have praised the work of the Cuban medical brigades, which in just two days have assisted nearly one thousand victims of Hurricane Mitch. Commenting on the work of the Cuban medical brigade, the director of Chinandega's Health Department, Dora Juarez, said that Nicaragua needs altruistic and selfless doctors like the Cubans, capable of working under the most adverse conditions. The Nicaraguan health official had enthusiastic words for the Cuban government's proposal to send two thousand doctors to Central America and extend 500 scholarships a year for Central American students to study medicine on the island. And in Cuba, after selecting a medical brigade that will leave soon for Honduras, the head of the Communist Party of Matanzas Province, Yadira Garcia, said that it was an exceptional honor to be able to represent Cuba at this difficult time for the people of Central America. CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED OFFERS SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH Havana, November 26(RHC)-- The National Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired has offered its specialized facilities for the rehabilitation of the blind in the Central American nations that were seriously affected by Hurricane Mitch. The announcement was made during the Third Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, which took place Wednesday afternoon with the participation of Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage. The President of the National Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Amado Gonzalez Landa, said that its members cannot go to aid the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America, as they are willing to do, but they are committed to share their knowledge and facilities to their counterparts in Central America. He explained that in this way, they can acquire the skills that could help them become a part of society, something that the blind and visually impaired have done in Cuba thanks to the Revolution. GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION CONCLUDES VISIT TO CUBA Havana, November 26(RHC)-- The General Secretary of the International Maritime Organization, William O'Neil, has ended an official visit to Cuba at the invitation of the island's Transportation Ministry. The International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes navigation security and the protection of the marine environment as well as facilitates international maritime traffic. During his stay on the island, the general secretary of the International Maritime Organization, met with Cuban government officials, among them the Ministers of Transportation, Fishing and Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation. He also visited several installations in the port of Havana. The International Maritime Organization was created in March 1948. Cuba became a member in 1966 and has ratified various agreements and resolutions adopted by the international organization. SYMPOSIUM ON RETINOSIS PIGMENTOSA TO TAKE PLACE THIS WEEKEND Havana, November 26(RHC)-- Advanced techniques in the treatment of retinosis pigmentosa and diseases associated with it will be the main theme discussed during the II International Symposium of the disease to take place on Saturday in Varadero, east of Havana. The event, sponsored by the Camilo Cienfuegos International Ophthalmology Center -- the only one of its kind in the world for those that suffer from what is known as "night blindness" -- will have the participation of renowned scientists and specialists from ten countries. During the event, outstanding personalities like Cuban Orfilio Pelaez, Colombian Alberto Castro, Belgium Peter Raus, Argentinean Carlos Dante and Italian Massimo Lombardi will offer conferences. Two rounds tables on Cuban experiences with retinosis pigmentosa will also be presented. The Cuban therapy, created by Dr. Orfilio Pelaez, depends on the patient, taking into consideration the clinical state of the retinosis pigmentosa, age, years of evolution, and whether the patient has other eye problems. The treatment can be done in any of the specialized centers in 11 of the country's provinces. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE CONCLUDES IN HAVANA Havana, November 26(RHC)-- The International Conference on Human Rights and Peace has wound up in Havana with the call to interpret and apply the statutes of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. In the final document, more than 100 delegates from 20 countries recognized that the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba goes against the principles of the United Nations Charter. The participants of the conference also called for democratizing the United Nations and for an increase of its members with representatives of Latin America and Asia. They pointed out that in addition to the so-called "New World Order" imposed by neo- liberal globalization, the United States continues its aggressions and threats of war, incompatible with the spirit and agreements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The forum, sponsored by the Cuban Peace and Sovereignty Movement, praised Cuba for offering to send 2000 doctors to aid the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America and offering 500 scholarships a year for students to study medicine on the island. [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