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 October 16, 1998. Today's stories: 1. US NEWS DAILY THE WASHINGTON POST COMES OUT IN FAVOR OF A REVISION OF WASHINGTON'S CUBA POLICY 2. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO ARRIVES IN PORTUGAL FOR 8TH IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT 3. THE LEADER OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY OF GALICIA WELCOMES CUBAN HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER 4. FRANCE PARTICIPATES IN THE FIRST FRENCH-CUBAN SEMINAR ON SUGAR INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY 5. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REGION OF LOMBARDY CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO CUBA 6. 75 COUNTRIES HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR PARTICIPATION AT HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 7. YEMEN'S AMBASSADOR TO CUBA THANKS THE ISLAND FOR ITS COOPERATION IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION US NEWS DAILY THE WASHINGTON POST COMES OUT IN FAVOR OF A REVISION OF WASHINGTON'S CUBA POLICY Havana, October 16, (RHC)-- The influential US news daily The Washington Post has come out in favor of a bipartisan proposal for the revision of Washington's Cuba policy. Former and current US political leaders have sent a letter to the White House calling for the establishment of a bipartisan commission to debate that policy. They include former US Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Lawrence Eagleburger, former Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci, former minority Senate leader Howard Baker, and current Republican Senator from Virginia, John Warner. Today's Washington Post editorial entitled "a good idea about Cuba" reminded the administration of President Bill Clinton that this week 157 countries voted against Washington's blockade of Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly. The editorial said this vote is one more reason why the US government should support the idea of a bipartisan commission. The US news daily asserted that much has changed in the past 8 years, pointing to the end of the Cold War and, consequently, of Cuba's threat to US national security. The Washington Post stated that for Washington's best friends, the US's on-going threat against Cuba in the post-Cold War era has become a crossword puzzle. The editorial said that Washington's efforts to isolate Cuba is having a reverse effect, charging that in order to retain the support of the right-wing Cuban exile community in Miami, the US government continues immersed in a useless debate concerning the so-called democratization of Cuba. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO ARRIVES IN PORTUGAL FOR 8TH IBEROAMERICAN SUMMIT Havana, October 16, (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro arrived early Friday morning in Portugal to participate in the 8th Iberoamerican Summit. In statements to the press shortly after his arrival, the Cuban leader termed as important an analysis of economic globalization and the international financial crisis during the event. He said that following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the eastern socialist camp, many began to speak of the end of history -- the end of ideology -- but, he added, we may be witnessing the end of the current world economic order. President Castro reiterated the position that he has expressed in numerous international forums concerning the sinister effects of free market globalization and the possibility of a financial crack similar to that of 1929. The Cuban leader pointed to Washington's justifiable fear that the crisis invades South America. If that happens, he pointed out, then it will also reach the United States. President Castro said that one-third of US investments are in Latin America, and that most of the loans in that region were granted by US banks. Asked how the crisis affects Cuba, he said that due to Washington's economic war against the island Cuba is already living in a situation that is worse than the current crisis. President Castro added, however, that Cuba has been able to resist, and asked would other nations be able to do the same. He said that during the past few years everyone has given Cuba advice, that Cuba is grateful for that advice, and that Cuba would now like to give some advice of its own. Finally, President Fidel Castro said that Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman is invited to the 9th Iberoamerican Summit, slated for Havana next year -- and that he will always have an open invitation to visit Cuba. The statement was in response to Aleman's suggestion that he would not attend the 9th Iberoamerican Summit to protest what he called the lack of democracy in Cuba. THE LEADER OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY OF GALICIA WELCOMES CUBAN HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER Havana, October 16 (RHC)-- The president of the Spanish Autonomous Community of Galicia, Manuel Fraga Iribarne received Cuba's Higher Education Minister, Fernando Vecino Alegret in Santiago de Compostela, the autonomous region's capital. The Cuban official will analyze cooperation projects with the Galician university. The President of the Autonomous Community of Galicia, who is scheduled to visit Cuba at the end of this month, pointed out that his government wants to strengthen cooperation in the education sector. During the Galician leader's visit to Cuba late this month, he will receive an honorary Doctorate's Degree from the University of Oriente located in eastern Santiago de Cuba province. FRANCE PARTICIPATES IN THE FIRST FRENCH-CUBAN SEMINAR ON SUGAR INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY Havana, October 16 (RHC)-- French ambassador to Cuba, Ivon Roe D'Albert has highlighted the development of commercial relations between the two countries in the sugar sector and the new perspectives of bilateral cooperation. The French diplomat participated in the First French-Cuba Seminar on the Sugar Industry and Technology which wound up Friday in the Cuban capital. France is Cuba's second trading partner within the European Union and is one of the 10 first in the world with which Cuba maintains bilateral cooperation. There is currently several important plants in Cuba's sugar sector that use French technology as well as a Sorbitol factory in central Camaguey province. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REGION OF LOMBARDY CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO CUBA Havana, October 16 (RHC)-- The President of the Italian region of Lombardy told the press that his conversation with Cuban president Fidel Castro was excellent. Both leaders talked about the political and economic situation in today's world. The President of the Italian region added that the Cuban President praised the position adopted by Italy and the European Union in Wednesday's voting at the UN General Assembly supporting a resolution condemning Washington's almost 40 year blockade against the island. Formigoni pointed out that Washington's blockade against Cuba and other countries is wrong and ,in his words, ideological differences are solved through dialogue. The President of the Italian region of Lombardy heads a delegation which includes government officials and some 30 business executives. During his visit to Cuba, several agreements were signed, including three accords with the city of Havana's Provincial Assembly, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Health Ministry. 75 COUNTRIES HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR PARTICIPATION AT HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Havana, October 16 (RHC)-- 75 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the 16th Havana International Trade Fair to begin next month. The president of the organizing committee, Abraham Maciques said that Paraguay, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Tunis will participate for the first time. Spain who has been a constant participant will have 5 exhibition stands with representatives from several regions and the country's Chamber of Commerce. Twelve important trade missions and a dozen official delegations will attend what is considered the largest international trade fair on the island scheduled to begin November 1st at Havana's ExpoCuba Exhibit Halls. YEMEN'S AMBASSADOR TO CUBA THANKS THE ISLAND FOR ITS COOPERATION IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION Havana, October 16 (RHC)-- Yemen's ambassador to Cuba, Abdulla Abdul Elah praised Cuba's cooperation in the health and education sectors on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of that nation's Revolution and the 36th of its armed struggle against British colonialism. During a rally held in the Republic of Yemen Junior High School located in Havana province, Cuban authorities reiterated their willingness to continue historic cooperation with Yemen and thanked the Arab nation for its international support for the self determination of the Cuban people and against Washington's blockade against 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. 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