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 28, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- MILLIONS COMMEMORATE 39th ANNIVERSARY OF DISAPPEARANCE OF COMANDANTE CAMILO CIENFUEGOS 2.- GERMAN SOCIETY OF CITIZEN RIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY PRESENTS CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO WITH THEIR 1998 HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 3.- CUBA CONTINUES TO MONITOR HURRICANE MITCH 4.- CUBAN HEALTH MINISTER THANKS EUROPEAN UNION FOR HUMANITARIAN AID 5.- U.S. BLOCKADE OF CUBA HAS COST THE ISLAND NEARLY 70 BILLION DOLLARS 6.- SECOND IBEROAMERICAN RADIO BROADCASTERS ENCOUNTER UNDERWAY MILLIONS COMMEMORATE 39th ANNIVERSARY OF DISAPPEARANCE OF COMANDANTE CAMILO CIENFUEGOS Havana, October 28(RHC)-- Millions of Cubans paid tribute to revolutionary leader Comandante Camilo Cienfuegos on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of his disappearance at sea. As is customary on this date each year, school children and workers across the island tossed flowers into the sea, rivers and lakes. The "Hero of Yaguajay" -- as he was known -- fought in the eastern Sierra Maestra Mountains alongside Fidel Castro and, in a short time, gained the respect and admiration of the Cuban people. Many schools, institutions and places on the island are named after Camilo Cienfuegos, who disappeared when his plane crashed into the sea on October 28th, 1959. GERMAN SOCIETY OF CITIZEN RIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY PRESENTS CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO WITH THEIR 1998 HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD Berlin, October 28(RHC)-- Germany's Society of Citizen Rights and Human Dignity presented Cuban President Fidel Castro with the 1998 Human Rights Award for his "tireless struggle in defense of the poor, homeless, sick and the elderly." During a ceremony that took place in Berlin, the president of the organization, Wolfgang Richter, outlined the Cuban leader's virtues. Other representatives present at the ceremony described the German organization as "politically courageous," at a time when Washington "continues to launch fabricated campaigns against the Cuban Revolution." The German Society of Citizen Rights and Human Dignity was created in 1991 by over five thousand scientists, artists, lawyers and theologians -- and is dedicated to defend civil rights in this European nation. Cuba's ambassador to Germany, Oscar Martinez Cordoves, received the award in the name of the Cuban president, as well as a financial donation which was collected by the members of the organization. Cordoves told reporters in Berlin that the money will be used to finance homes for the elderly on the island. CUBA CONTINUES TO MONITOR HURRICANE MITCH Havana, October 28(RHC)-- Although Hurricane Mitch is weakening and has moved away from the island, Cuba's Meteorological Institute continues to keep a close watch on the storm. Over the past several days, protective measures have been taken in areas that could still be affected by the hurricane. More than 8000 students were evacuated from boarding schools in the countryside and taken to safe areas or sent home. And some 600 tourists were evacuated in the region of Cayo Largo del Sur. As of Wednesday afternoon, western Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth remain in a state of alert. Meteorologists have been constantly reporting on the trajectory of the hurricane, reminding people what they should do in the event that the powerful storm turns northward toward the island. According to weather experts in Cuba, until it is determined that Mitch poses no threat to the island, protective measures will continue to be taken, especially in the western-most province of Pinar del Rio and on the Isle of Youth. CUBAN HEALTH MINISTER THANKS EUROPEAN UNION FOR HUMANITARIAN AID Havana, October 28(RHC)-- Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres expressed his appreciation for a recent donation of humanitarian aid by the European Union. Speaking with the ambassadors of the European Union accredited in Havana, Dotres thanked them for the contribution -- granted by the EU's Humanitarian Aid Department to the island. Dotres said that together with the Cuban government's commitment to health care and the efforts of the island's doctors and nurses, the contribution will have an important impact. Since 1993, the European Union has donated some 70 million dollars to the Cuban health care system. U.S. BLOCKADE OF CUBA HAS COST THE ISLAND NEARLY 70 BILLION DOLLARS Puebla, October 28(RHC)-- The U.S. economic blockade of Cuba has cost the island nearly 70 billion dollars, according to Cuba's ambassador to Mexico, Abelardeo Curbelo. Attending the inauguration of the First International Clothing Exhibition in the Mexican state of Puebla, Curbelo denounced U.S. efforts to destroy the Cuban Revolution. The Cuban diplomat is heading a delegation that is studying the possibilities of commercial exchanges with Puebla. Trade in the textile sector between Mexico and Cuba will surpass the 500 million dollar mark this year. SECOND IBEROAMERICAN RADIO BROADCASTERS ENCOUNTER UNDERWAY Havana, October 28(RHC)-- The Second Iberoamerican Radio Broadcasters Encounter was inaugurated in Havana last night with the participation of over 200 delegates from Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Panama, El Salvador, Peru and Cuba. During the event -- which will run through tomorrow, the 29th -- participants will discuss the history of radio, culture and the art of radio broadcasting. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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