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 Wednesday October 14, 1998. Today's stories: 1. AT THE UNITED NATIONS, CUBA GARNERS ANOTHER RECORD VOTE AGAINST WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE 2. TRADITIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD DURING THE 8TH IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT IN OPORTO, PORTUGAL 3. A BOOK OF SPEECHES BY CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO IS LAUNCHED IN PORTUGAL 4. WEEK OF CUBAN CULTURE BEGINS IN MEXICO 5. CANADA DONATES SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CUBAN CHILDREN 6. ECONOMIC SEMINAR IN THE NETHERLANDS AT THE UNITED NATIONS, CUBA GARNERS ANOTHER RECORD VOTE AGAINST WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- Cuba has garnered another record vote against Washington's blockade at the 53rd United Nations General Assembly. 157 nations voted in favor of Cuba's resolution, entitled "The need to bring an end to the economic, trade and financial blockade imposed against Cuba by the United States". Another 14 nations added their voices to the resolution as compared to last year, during which 143 nations voted in favor. Each year, since 1992 -- when 59 countries voted in favor -- has seen increasing support for the Cuban resolution, as well as a diminishing number of countries that abstain. In 1992, 71 countries abstained. In 1997 there were 17 abstentions, and this year only 12 countries decided to not cast their votes. There were two votes against, the United States and Israel. The 3 previous votes -- in 1995, 96 and 97 -- saw the same 3 votes against: the United States, Israel and Uzbekistan. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina addressed the UN General Assembly before the vote, pointing out that Washington has turned a deaf ear to the UN's 6 consecutive demands to put an end to the economic war against Cuba. Robaina recalled that the US government adopted the anti-Cuba Helms-Burton Law despite international rejection of this unilateral measure -- legislation, he added, that has driven a wedge into the World Trade Organization and has blocked negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. The Cuban Foreign Minister said that today not even the US firms that were nationalized by the Cuban Revolution support Washington's Cuba policy, citing the numerous reports of organizations inside the United States concerning the brutal nature of the blockade and its effects among the Cuban population. Robaina said no one can imagine the brutal and risky conditions in which Cuba has to seek loans and external financing. In the sugar industry alone, said the Cuban Foreign Minister, Cuba must obtain short-term loans with draconian interest rates. Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina also mentioned the outright lies with which Washington responds to its critics, taking as an example the US government's recent statement asserting that since 1992 it had authorized more than 2 billion dollars in humanitarian aid to Cuba. Since 1959, said Robaina, 9 US administrations have committed the same mistake of wanting to dominate Cuba. TRADITIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA ACTIVITIES TO HELD DURING THE 8TH IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT IN OPORTO, PORTUGAL Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- Cuban deputy Foreign Minister, Jorge Bolanos, says that solidarity with Cuba activities have become a tradition during Iberoamerican Summits, but each time support for the island increases. In statements to the press accredited for the 8th Iberoamerican Summit set to get underway in Oporto, Portugal this weekend, Bolanos characterized as "excellent" the spirit of enthusiasm among Cuba's many friends in Portugal. The Cuban official pointed out that the traditional expressions of solidarity with Cuba that take place in every Iberoamerican Summit are proof that the Cuban Revolution is taking the right path and that the perception of the world's common people is that Cuba and its President Fidel Castro respond to the interests of the world's humble. Cuba friendship organizations in Portugal have organized a series of activities to be held during the 8th Iberoamerican Summit support of the Caribbean island and against Washington_s nearly 40 year blockade against the island. Among the many activities is a march through some of Portugal's most central avenues , a cultural performance and a marathon for sports lovers scheduled for Sunday. A BOOK OF SPEECHES BY CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO IS LAUNCHED IN PORTUGAL Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- The Portuguese publishing house, Avante, has launched a book of speeches given by Cuban President Fidel Castro on globalization; the central theme of the 8th Iberoamerican Summit this weekend. In a volume entitled, "For a Just and Unified World" the book was presented by European parliamentarian Sergio Riveiro, as part of numerous activities held in support Cuba in at the site of the Summit in Oporto, Portugal. According to the 6th Euro-Latin American Forum, which wound up sessions on Wednesday in Oporto, Fidel Castro is the Iberoamerican leader that has been most quoted on the Internet with over 20 thousand references of which more than 4 thousand are documents written in spanish. The report examined the state of the daily press in Spanish, and Portuguese accessible via Internet during the months of September and October. The Portuguese newspaper, Yornal de Noticias, the country's daily with largest circulation, commented that the Cuban President will be the main attraction during the 8th Iberoamerican Summit. WEEK OF CUBAN CULTURE BEGINS IN MEXICO Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- A week long program of Cuban culture was inaugurated on Tuesday in Mexico. The program includes films, art exhibitions, and master conferences and concerts given by outstanding Cuban musicians. The director of the Cuban Program on Studies on Jose Marti, Armando Hart, will offer a master conference on the life and work of Cuban National hero Jose Marti and will inaugurate the 2nd Cuba-Mexico Fine Arts Exhibition Hall. CANADA DONATES SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CUBAN CHILDREN Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- Canada has donated school supplies for Cuban youngsters. Cuban Education Minsiter, Luis Ignacio Gomez welcomed the donation at Havana's port on Tuesday. The donation includes paper which will also be used by the island's the education system. With the delivery, the first of its kind from Canada, the education system will be able to cover its needs for the current school year. The aid will be completed with nearly three thousand tons of paper valued at some 3 million dollars which is scheduled to arrive in Havana shortly. ECONOMIC SEMINAR IN THE NETHERLANDS Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- Economic issues and aspects of Cuba_s reality were the main topics discussed in a seminar held in the Netherlands. The seminar is sponsored by the Council for the Promotion of Holland -Cuba Trade, the Institute for Latin America and Cuba's embassy in Holland. Dutch business executives, intellectuals from the University of Havana and Cuban diplomats accredited in Amsterdam, were on hand for the event. According to sources at the seminar, the participants were eager to learn about business opportunities in Cuba. 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