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 Monday October 19, 1998. Today's stories: 1. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUTONOMOUS SPANISH REGION EXTREMADURA 2. AN EDITORIAL ON CUBA'S WEEKLY TRABAJADORES NEWSPAPER TALKS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF CUBA'S NATIONAL IDENTITY 3. CUBA-JAPAN TALKS IN HAVANA 4. IBEROAMERICAN COMMUNITY THEATER ENCOUNTER TAKES PLACE ON THE ISLAND 5. COLOMBIAN SOLIDARITY GROUPS TO VISIT THE ISLAND 6. AN IBEROAMERICAN CONFERENCE ON THE ELDERLY TO TAKE PLACE IN CUBA 7. AERO-CARIBBEAN WILL FLY GUATEMALA HAVANA 8. A DELEGATION OF CUBA'S COMMUNIST PARTY VISITS CHINA CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO BEGINS OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUTONOMOUS SPANISH REGION EXTREMADURA Havana, October 19, (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro began today an official visit to the autonomous Spanish region Extremadura following his participation in Portugal's 8th Iberoamerican Summit. The Cuban leader was invited by the region's President, socialist Juan Carlos Rodriguez Ibarra, who visited Havana last June. Shortly before leaving the Portuguese city of Oporto -- site of the Iberoamerican Summit -- President Castro held a joint press conference together with Venezuelan President Rafael Caldera and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres. He termed as excellent and very productive the gathering of heads of state or government from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. In response to questions from journalists, the Cuban leader said the world has yet to achieve the ideals of the French Revolution -- equality, liberty and fraternity. In reference to economic globalization -- the major theme of the Iberoamerican Summit -- the Cuban President said this process will only be successful if science and technological progress are placed at the service of humanity. He also criticized the Multilateral Agreement on Investment that the most industrialized nations have been debating for the past 3 years without, he said, consulting with developing nations. Finally, Cuban President Fidel Castro termed as very intelligent the steps that have been taken by Colombian President Andres Pastrana to bring peace to his war-torn nation. AN EDITORIAL ON CUBA'S WEEKLY TRABAJADORES NEWSPAPER TALKS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF CUBAN NATIONAL IDENTITY Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- An editorial in Monday's edition of the weekly Cuban newspaper, "Trabajadores", points out that the historic defense and preservation of the island's national culture is a process that has been constantly struggling against foreign domination. The weekly adds that without that struggle Cubans would not be the owners of their own true culture ; a culture which includes that permanent defense of nationality which, over time have given rise to the Cuban people and their most renowned intellectuals ,among them Jose Marti, the highest synthesis of the people and intellectuality. Monday's Trabajadores newspaper goes on that recently there has been a rise in certain ethical limitations, a tendency towards disorder, illegality and individualism which have menaced the principal of saving Cuban Culture and which threaten Cuba's social fabric. The editorial noted that the country's difficult economic crisis certainly has contributed to that situation, and that is why stressed Trabajadores, work is being done to strengthen the ethical and legal principles of the Revolution. Finally Monday's editorial stresses that the preservation and development of national and cultural identity depends in great part, on the ability to rise above the circumstances, and maintain social order, unity and revolutionary legality. CUBA-JAPAN TALKS IN HAVANA Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- The head of the Latin American and Caribbean desk of Japan's Foreign Ministry, Tomoyuki Abe, is in Cuba to help improve bilateral relations with the island. The Cuban Foreign Ministry has announced that the Japanese official will meet with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Minister, Ibrahim Ferradaz. A Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesman said that relations with Japan are extremely important for the island and bilateral exchanges have increased in recent times. IBEROAMERICAN COMMUNITY THEATER ENCOUNTER TAKES PLACE ON THE ISLAND Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- Residents of the Cuban town of Palpite located in the central region of the Zapata Swamp area have been entertained by Ibero American Community Theater Encounter which premiered a play on Sunday dedicated to the late Cuban writer Onelio Jorge Cardoso. Representatives from several Latin American nations and Spain and Portugal as well as Cuba's National Theater participated in the event. The Iberoamerican community Theater Encounter will travel to several of the island's provinces before winding up its tour this week. COLOMBIAN SOLIDARITY GROUPS TO VISIT ISLAND Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- Colombian Solidarity with Cuba organizations have praised last week's UN General Assembly vote in favor of a Resolution condemning Washinton's almost 40 year blockade against the island. Some 300 members of Colombian solidarity groups met in the Cuban embassy in Bogota to launch a new solidarity with Cuba campaign. The event's organizer, Gilma Gomez said that a caravan named, "Colorful Hopes" is aimed at bringing together Colombians who favor justice and lifting Washington's blockade against the Caribbean nation. Nearly 100 members of the solidarity groups, including members of the Communist Party and the Friendship House will travel to the island on December 28th. AN IBEROAMERICAN CONFERENCE ON THE ELDERLY TO TAKE PLACE ON THE ISLAND Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- The fifth Conference of the Iberoamerican Intergovernmental Network on Technical Cooperation for the Elderly and Disabled kicked off in eastern Santiago de Cuba with the participation of 22 regional countries. Participant in the event will hold round table discussions and conferences, and will exchange information on the policies toward the elderly and the disabled. The event will run through Thursday. AERO-CARIBBEAN WILL FLY GUATEMALA-HAVANA Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- Aero-Caribbean airlines has inaugurated a weekly Guatemala-Cuba passenger route and has announced the possibility of increasing flights to twice weekly by next month. Aero-Caribbean president, Julian Alvarez said in Havana that multidestination routes will be included in the future as well as excursions in Guatemala. CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY DELEGATION IN CHINA Havana, October 19 (RHC)-- A Cuban Communist Party delegation is currently in China on an official visit. The delegation is scheduled to visit Shanghai and Guanzu. The Cuban mission, which is headed by Communist Party Central Committee member, Rolando Vasquez, will meet with Chinese Communist Party members. During the welcoming ceremony in Beijing, Chinese Communist Party Central Committee member, Xie Fei, expressed his admiration for the successes and spirit of struggle of the Cuban people and their confidence in their Revolution. [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. 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