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 27, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- SEVENTH CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE ARRIVES IN HONDURAS 2.- 127th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EXECUTION OF EIGHT CUBAN MEDICAL STUDENTS 3.- CUBA AND CYPRUS TO SIGN CIVIL AVIATION AGREEMENT 4.- CARDINAL JAIME ORTEGA CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA 5.- EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR OF UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM VISITS THE ISLAND 6.- CUBA AND ARGENTINA SIGN AGREEMENT IN 41 COOPERATION PROJECTS SEVENTH CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE ARRIVES IN HONDURAS Tegucigalpa, November 27(RHC)-- A seventh Cuban medical brigade has arrived in Honduras with a donation of medicines that includes 40,000 vaccines against leptospirosis. Cuban doctors and nurses who are specialists in tropical diseases also brought with them 73,000 dollars worth of the Cuban biological product known as Biorat -- proven to be effective against the rodent considered to be the major vector of leptospirosis. More than 200 Cuban doctors are now working in several of the most remote regions in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Thus far, there have been five fatal victims of leptospirosis in Honduras and experts do not discard the appearance of new cases. Cuba's medical assistance to Central America in the wake of Hurricane Mitch has had repercussions in at least one major media outlet in the United States, where, according to Havana's Prensa Latina News Agency, the island's gestures of solidarity "are usually ignored." The Thursday edition of The New York Times called Cuba "an exporter of doctors" and a nation with a long tradition of providing aid to Third World countries. The U.S. news daily pointed out that since 1961, Cuba's educational system has trained more than 30,000 professionals and technicians from other countries. The New York Times highlighted Cuban President Fidel Castro's offer to provide scholarships to 500 Central American medical students over the next ten years. Entitled "Cuba Wins Friends with the Offer of Aid", the article made reference to President Castro's description of the precarious state of medical assistance in Central America -- calling this situation "worse than Hurricane Mitch." It also recalled the Cuban leader's words to the effect that what Cuba hopes to demonstrate is that if a country with such limited resources can provide aid to the victims of Mitch, then so can more developed nations. 127th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EXECUTION OF EIGHT CUBAN MEDICAL STUDENTS Havana, November 27(RHC)-- Cuban students on Friday marched from the historic stairs of the University of Havana to a monument in honor of eight medical students that were killed 127 years ago. On this date in 1871, eight students who had been falsely accused of disrespect for Spanish colonial authority were executed in the Cuban capital. Today's commemorative march was sponsored by the Cuban University Students Federation, the FEU. At the head of the march were medical students who expressed their willingness to carry out internationalist missions and freely offer their services to the people of Central America affected by Hurricane Mitch. CUBA AND CYPRUS TO SIGN CIVIL AVIATION AGREEMENT Nicosia, November 27(RHC)-- Representatives of the Cuban and Cypriot governments began official negotiations in Nicosia, aimed at signing a bilateral accord on civil aviation. The discussions are headed by Cypriot Deputy Communications Minister, Vascos Pyrgos, and the First Vice President of Cuba's Civil Aeronautics Institute, Heriberto Prieto. Cuba and Cyprus intend to increase relations in different sectors, according to Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. CARDINAL JAIME ORTEGA CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Berlin, November 27(RHC)-- Havana's Cardinal Jaime Ortega has condemned Washington's economic blockade against Cuba and expressed his hope that the new EURO currency will contribute to making the island's economy more dynamic. Ortega, who is in Germany at the invitation of the Catholic Association of Aid to Latin America, ADVENIAT, explained that due to Washington's blockade, the island does not have access to credits from international institutions. According to Cardinal Ortega, the EURO would alleviate the need for new foreign capital on the island. The religious leader pointed to the message of Pope John Paul II during his visit to Cuba last January -- that Cuba open to the world and that the world open to Cuba. He also announced a donation of the German Catholic Association of some 185,000 dollars to aid the victims of Hurricanes Mitch and Georges. EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR OF UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, November 27(RHC)-- The Executive Coordinator of the UN Volunteer Program, Sharon Capeling, arrived in Havana for a three-day official visit, responding to an invitation of the Cuban government. The high-ranking United Nations official told reporters that she expects to meet with representatives of several Cuban ministries and explore new possibilities of work on the island. Sharon Capeling pointed out that Cuba is an important partner for the UN system, offering professionals for the volunteer program in different parts of the world with the contribution of 150 specialists from various sectors. The executive coordinator of the UN Volunteer Program pointed out that with the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch in Central America and Cuba's initiative to aid those nations, the UN volunteer program could work together with Havana to help alleviate the damages from the devastating storm. CUBA AND ARGENTINA SIGN AGREEMENT IN 41 COOPERATION PROJECTS Havana, November 27(RHC)-- Cuba and Argentina have signed an agreement which includes 41 cooperation projects. Cuba's Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz said that this accord is a new step in strengthening relations between Havana and Buenos Aires. According to the agreement, Argentina will offer technical assistance with experts that will travel to the island as well as Cuban personnel who will be trained in Argentina. Argentina's ambassador to Cuba, Jorge Telerman, outlined the importance of the cooperation agreement. The Argentinean official also announced that an official delegation from the Argentinean province of Santa Fe will visit Cuba at the end of December. The delegation will include the Minister of Production, Omar Perotti, and other high-ranking officials from that South American nation. The objective of this visit is to explore the possibilities of scientific-technical cooperation, especially in the field of agriculture, cattle raising and milk production. 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