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, September 16, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- GUATEMALAN VICE PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN CUBA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT 2.- CUBAN JEWISH LEADERS CALL FOR END TO U.S. BLOCKADE 3.- CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL CREATED DURING FIRST DAY OF SECOND FORESTRY CONGRESS IN HAVANA 4.- HAITIAN SENATE CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBAN LAW 5.- PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA'S DEMOCRATIC UNION GOVERNMENT CONTINUES VISIT TO THE ISLAND 6.- CUBA WILL ATTEND THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION 7.- CUBAN WORKERS TAKE PART IN IBEROAMERICAN TRADE UNION CONFERENCE 8.- SECOND REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN FORUM ON HABITAT TAKES PLACE THIS MONTH IN HAVANA GUATEMALAN VICE PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN CUBA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT Havana, September 16(RHC)-- The Vice President of Guatemala Luis Flores Asturias arrived in Havana on Wednesday to begin an official visit to the island. Accompanying the Guatemalan vice president is a delegation of nearly 60 business representatives from the Central American country as well as other government officials. During their visit to the island, the Guatemalan delegation will meet with Cuban government leaders, including Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and the President of the Parliament Ricardo Alarcon. Also on their agenda are meetings with banking and tourism officials. The visit of Guatemalan Vice President Luis Flores is the highest-ranking delegation to visit Cuba since the two countries re-established diplomatic relations in January this year, after 37 years without relations. In related news, it was announced in Havana that business delegations from Spain, Jamaica, Canada, Germany and the Czech Republic plan to visit Cuba during the month of September. The numerous delegations will explore investment possibilities and business opportunities on the island. CUBAN JEWISH LEADERS CALL FOR END TO U.S. BLOCKADE Washington, September 16(RHC)-- Two leaders of the Cuban Jewish community -- currently touring the U.S. capital -- have called on the United States to lift its economic blockade against the island. Dr. Jose Miller Friedman, President of the Havana-based Hebrew Patronage, and Rosa Behar, a leader of the Hadassah Cuba, held a news conference in Washington on Tuesday. The leaders of the Jewish community in Cuba reported on their recent trip to Miami, where they spoke with Cuban-Americans about the needs of some 1500 people that make up their community on the island. Dr. Friedman told reporters that their needs cannot be resolved with humanitarian donations, but that the U.S. government must begin eliminating the economic restrictions against Cuba, which -- in his words -- particularly affect nutrition and health care in general. During their visit to Washington, Dr. Jose Miller Friedman and Rosa Behar will meet with congressional representatives and members of the U.S. government, as well as with leaders of Jewish organizations based in the United States. CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL CREATED DURING FIRST DAY OF SECOND FORESTRY CONGRESS IN HAVANA Havana, September 16(RHC)-- A Consultative Council for Sustainable Forests was created during the first day of the Second Forestry Congress taking place at Havana's International Convention Center with the participation of 300 delegates from 15 nations. The creation of the Council was recommended under the Forestry Law, which was approved by the National Assembly of People's Power, providing for each territory to protect and promote its forests. The Council will be made up of highly-qualified technicians, business representatives, scientists and other skilled workers. Cuba's Agriculture Minister Alfredo Jordan, who inaugurated the event, said it is of utmost importance to make sure the country's Forestry Law reaches all 11 million people. The richness of Cuban flora is composed of 627 tree species and 427 different types of plants, of which there are over one thousand of them with medicinal purposes. Deputy Agriculture Minister Fidel Ramos presented a detailed report on the evolution of Cuban forests during the Second Congress. The magazine "Cuba Forest" was issued during the Congress and it was announced that the magazine will be published three or four times a year. HAITIAN SENATE CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBAN LAW Puerto Principe, September 16(RHC)-- The Haitian Senate has rejected Washington's Helms-Burton Law, aimed at tightening the U.S. blockade against Cuba. The U.S. law imposes sanctions on foreign companies doing business with the Caribbean island. The statement, approved by the legislative body, recalls that Haiti has always fought against the extraterritorial character of U.S. laws. In related news, Haitian senators ratified their country's jurisdiction over Navassa Island, in opposition to U.S. intentions to hold on to that territory. The legislators' pronouncement is Haiti's response to statements made by the U.S. ambassador to that country, declaring the island under Washington's jurisdiction. The Haitian Senate asked their government to take the case to an international court if necessary, in order to resolve what they describe as "an aggression against Haitian dignity and sovereignty." PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA'S DEMOCRATIC UNION GOVERNMENT CONTINUES VISIT TO THE ISLAND Havana, September 16(RHC)-- The President of Catalonia's Democratic Union Government Joseph Antonio Duran Lleida said that the current relations between Spain and Cuba are very good. During the second day of his official visit to the island, the Catalonian government leader met with the President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon and discussed bilateral and world issues. In his meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, the Catalonian leader stressed that future relations between Spain and Cuba look very promising. The Catalonian delegation is scheduled to visit places of economic interest in Havana and Matanzas provinces. CUBA WILL ATTEND THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION Havana, September 16(RHC)-- Cuban Higher Education Minister Fernando Vecino Alegret will head the island's delegation to the World Conference on Higher Education, set for October in Paris. The meeting has been called by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Vecino Alegret stated that during the encounter in the French capital, Cuba will demonstrate its achievements in the field of education and study other nations' experiences. The Cuban delegation to the October conference will be made up of deans of universities and other educational centers, as well as trade union and student leaders. CUBAN WORKERS TAKE PART IN IBEROAMERICAN TRADE UNION CONFERENCE Havana, September 16(RHC)-- The General Secretary of Cuba's Workers Confederation (CTC), Pedro Ross Leal, is heading Cuba's delegation to the Iberoamerican Trade Union Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. The meeting will bring together the main trade union organizations from Latin America, Spain and the host country. This is the first time that the Cuban Workers Confederation takes part in such a meeting, since it was previously excluded by the Inter-American Regional Labor Organization, the ORIT. Participants will discuss the social impact of the world economic situation on the integration processes in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the social dimension of cooperation between Latin America and Europe. The president of the Cuban Workers Confederation will denounce Washington's preference for separate trade agreements with each country, designed to prevent Latin American integration. SECOND REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN FORUM ON HABITAT TAKES PLACE THIS MONTH IN HAVANA Havana, September 16(RHC)-- The Second Regional Parliamentarian Forum on Habitat is scheduled to take place from the 17th through the 19th of this month in Havana with the participation of over 100 legislators from 18 nations. Two of the main issues discussed will be sustainable development of human settlements and the need for adequate housing for all. The forum is sponsored by the World Parliamentarian Habitat Group. The President of the Executive Council of the Group, Mexican Oscar Lopez, told reporters in Havana that the majority of the countries of the world, especially underdeveloped nations, currently lack adequate legislation on issues related to human survival. The Mexican official pointed out that in Latin America and the Caribbean, the integral concept does not exist, although this is the region with the highest urban growth-rate in the world. By the year 2000, seven out of every ten people in Latin America and the Caribbean will live in the cities -- with all the problems that represents. In answer to the current needs of demographic growth, over the next 25 years, 50 million new homes are needed in the region. According to the president of the Executive Council of the Group, Cuba's example in human settlements and especially its housing policy serves as an example for many in production, the use of materials and technologies and social participation in construction. [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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