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 Tuesday, October 27, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION POISED TO ACCEPT CUBA AS FULL MEMBER 2.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO PARTICIPATES IN CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF TEAM OF TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS (ESTI) 3.- UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTES IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION CONDEMNING UNILATERAL SANCTIONS 4.- CUBA CALLS FOR PEACEFUL USE OF SPACE AT UNITED NATIONS MEETING 5.- CUBA CONDEMNS RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND NEO-FASCISM 6.- OVER ONE HUNDRED CANADIAN FIRMS TO PARTICIPATE IN HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR NEXT WEEK 7.- PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION OF GALICIA WILL VISIT CUBA AS PART OF REGIONAL TOUR LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION POISED TO ACCEPT CUBA AS FULL MEMBER Montevideo, October 27(RHC)-- The Committee of Representatives of the Latin American Integration Association -- known by its Spanish acronym "ALADI" -- has unanimously recommended approval of Cuba's full membership in this regional block. The Committee has called on the ALADI Council of Ministers to adopt a final decision during its gathering next November 5th and 6th. Cuba has been an observer in ALADI since 1985, but requested full membership last March. Several days ago, ALADI Secretary General Antonio Antunes predicted that Cuba would be accepted since none of the 11 member-nations of the regional block oppose the move. The Association will reportedly designate Cuba as a country of intermediate development. This will be the first new membership since ALADI was created in 1980 -- and the first from the Caribbean. ALADI is made up of ten South American countries plus Mexico. Cuba's membership in the regional block will increase the island's trade relations in Latin America. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO PARTICIPATES IN CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF TEAM OF TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS (ESTI) Havana, October 27(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro participated Monday night in an activity celebrating the 25th anniversary of the island's Team of Translators and Interpreters (ESTI). Speaking to the institution's workers, collaborators and founders, the Cuban president recalled how the Team of Translators and Interpreters was created and insisted that translators are even more important today due to the extraordinary relations Cuba has with the international community. He said never before had there been such a need to communicate with the island's friends, especially given the situation brought about by globalization. The Cuban leader underscored ESTI's importance in transmitting the realities of the Cuban Revolution to the world, adding that without translators and interpreters, Cuba would have been unable to communicate to the world. During the activity commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Team of Translators and Interpreters, the institution's president, Enrique Montoto, presented the Cuban leader with the 1998 ESTI Award as the island's Best Speaker. He also presented President Castro with an album containing photographs of ESTI since its creation. In turn, the Cuban president presented diplomas and awards to translators, interpreters and other outstanding workers. UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTES IN FAVOR OF A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING UNILATERAL SANCTIONS New York, October 27(RHC)-- The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution condemning unilateral sanctions such as those Washington has imposed Cuba, Libya and Iran. The resolution, which was approved with 80 votes in favor and two against -- the United States and Israel -- is mainly aimed at Washington. Presented by Libya, the resolution was mainly supported by underdeveloped nations. Monday's vote reiterates the UN General Assembly rejection of extraterritorial laws as a way to exert political and economic coercion. During the debates, Cuba denounced U.S. attempts to intensify the economic blockade against the island with the Helms-Burton Law, as well as the D'Amato-Kennedy legislation -- aimed against Libya and Iran. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores pointed out that accepting such measures would mean recognizing a system of international relations favoring irresponsible policies of a powerful nation -- a reference to the United States. CUBA CALLS FOR PEACEFUL USE OF SPACE AT UNITED NATIONS MEETING New York, October 27(RHC)-- Cuba's Alternate Ambassador to the United Nations, Rafael Dausa, has called for an end to the arms race in space and the use of those resources for peace and for the good of humanity. The Cuban official spoke during a debate at the UN General Assembly's Fourth Commission on the issue of international cooperation for the peaceful use of space. Dausa added that some nuclear powers are blocking an agreement on a treaty to end the arms race in space. Cuba's representative pointed out that his country will continue working with the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and other institutions concerned that space could be used for military purposes. CUBA CONDEMNS RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND NEO-FASCISM New York, October 27(RHC)-- Cuba has denounced the resurgence of racism, xenophobia and neo-fascist tendencies in different parts of the world, especially in highly-developed nations. During debates in the UN General Assembly's Third Commission, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Maria de los Angeles Flores pointed out that in addition to discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities, discrimination against immigrants is also on the rise. The Cuban official noted that in some countries there are laws denying legal immigrants and their children access to basic health care and education. In debates on the right of nations to self-determination, Cuba reiterated its condemnation of mercenary activities and called on all UN member nations to prohibit the use of their territory for such activities. The Cuban deputy foreign minister recalled that Cuba recently presented the United Nations with new information on mercenary activities abroad, including Salvadoran mercenary Raul Ernesto Cruz, who was paid to place bombs in Havana tourist facilities last year. OVER ONE HUNDRED CANADIAN FIRMS TO PARTICIPATE IN HAVANA'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR NEXT WEEK Havana, October 27(RHC)-- More than 100 Canadian firms representing eight of the country's provinces will participate in Havana's International Trade Fair scheduled to get underway on November 1st. Canada's ambassador to Cuba, Keith Christie, told reporters that Havana's International Trade Fair is the next step in a program consolidating Canadian participation in Cuba -- in which Canada is the island's principal economic partner in terms of investment, technical cooperation, tourism and bilateral trade. Ottawa's ambassador in Havana pointed out that the commercial balance is stable with a growth rate of approximately ten percent a year and with commercial exchange of 500 million dollars. Ambassador Christie added that Canadian business people condemn Washington's anti-Cuba Helms-Burton Law and are committed to examine investment possibilities on the island. PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION OF GALICIA WILL VISIT CUBA AS PART OF REGIONAL TOUR Havana, October 27(RHC)-- The President of Spain's autonomous region of Galicia, Manuel Fraga, will visit Cuba on Wednesday as part of a tour that will also take him to Mexico and Guatemala. During his stay, the Spanish official is expected to meet with government officials, business people and Cubans of Galician descent. Galician government officials said that some 70 business executives will travel with Fraga in an attempt to expand investment in the region, especially in the area of fishing and equipment for agriculture. [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. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org