CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The Following news from Cuba was broadcast in English by Radio Havana Cuba on the 13th October 1998: 1. PERMANENT COUNCIL OF LATIN AMERICAN/CARIBBEAN POLITICAL PARTIES CONDEMNS BLOCKADE 2. ITALIAN COOPERATION WITH CUBA CONTINUES TO EXPAND 3. ITALIAN DELEGATION FROM THE REGION OF LOMBARDY CONTINUES VISIT TO CUBA 4. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TERMS AS" POSITIVE" CUBA'S OBSERVER STATUS IN THE LOME CONVENTION THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN POLITICAL PARTIES CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Havana, October 13 (RHC)-- Participants in the XXI plenary meeting of the Permanent Council of Latin American and the Caribbean political parties have condemned Washington's economic blockade against Cuba. During the meeting, which took place during over the weekend in Buenos aires, the regional institution agreed to inform the United States and the international community in general, that Latin American and Caribbean nations are committed to defending the right of the Cuban people to determine their own destiny. Delegates also pledged to fight against the US blockade which has been imposed on Cuba for nearly 40 years. A Cuban Communist Party delegation participated in the forum which was held at the Crown Hotel in the Argentinian capital. The Permanent Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Political Parties, which consists of 50 regional parties, was created in the 1970's in Mexico at a time when various Latin American and Caribbean nations were ruled by dictatorships. ITALIAN COOPERATION WITH CUBA CONTINUES TO EXPAND Havana, October 13 (RHC)-- Italian cooperation with Cuba has reached over 6 million dollars this year in a variety of socio-health programs and in food assistence to drought victims and those affected by Hurricane Georges. The announcement was made by Italy's ambassador in Havana, Guiseppe Moscato and the director of the Italian Foreign Ministry's emergency aid section, Agostino Miozo. An official announcement of Italian aid estimated at over one million dollars, will be made this month. Projects are to be mounted in western Pinar del Rio province, Old Havana and the eastern province of Granma. When the aid is officially announced, the UN Office for Projects and Services will also be on hand. So far this year Italy has financed over 6 million dollars in food aid for the victims of the severe drought that hit Cuba's eastern provinces and for victims of Hurricane Georges. Another 400 thousand dollars from Italy were used to to fight leptosirosis and dengue and 80 thousand more went to help fund the local Red Cross. According to official Cuban health statistics, Italian cooperation with the island will benefit over two million people. ITALIAN DELEGATION FROM THE REGION OF LOMBARDY CONTINUES VISIT TO CUBA Havana, october 13 (RHC)-- The President of the northern Italian region of Lombardy, Roberto Formigoni, met with Cuban Vice President, Carlos Lage and other government officials during his visit to the island. Formigoni, who's heading the first commercial mission from Lombardy to Cuba, has signed a cooperation agreement with the island. The accord includes cooperation and exchange in the area of information and will expand cooperation in the health and education sectors. During its five day visit to Cuba, the Italian business delegation will study possible joint ventures with the island. The Italian business executives also met with representatives of Cuba's Ministries of Foreign Relations, Foreign Trade, Foreign Invesment and Economic Colaboration, Tourism, Health, Transportation and Agriculture. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TERMS AS" POSITIVE" CUBA'S OBSERVER STATUS IN THE LOME CONVENTION. Havana, October 13 (RHC)-- European Commission Vice President, Manuel Marin, has termed as "positive", Cuba's participation, as observer, in the Lome Convention. The European official, who was speaking at the Fourth Euro-Latin American Communication Forum in Oporto, Portugal, pointed out that Cuba's participation in the Lome Convention is the first step towards its integration as a permanent member in the Association of African, Caribbean and Pacific Nations and the European Union. The Fourth Euro-Latin American Communication Forum was inaugurated on Monday by Portuguese President, Jorge Sampaio, who called for each nation to preserve its cultural and social identity in the face of the preponderance of the huge economic groups as a result of globalization. Participants in the event agreed that while globalization presents advantages, it also poses dangerous risks to humanity as inequality continues to increase between the rich and the poor. The Euro-Latin American Forum will run through Wednesday as part of activities taking place in Oporto, Portugal prior to the 8th Iberoamerican Summit which will be held October 17 and 18. [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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