Radio Havana Cuba, Friday, April 23, 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit 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, April 23, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBANS MAY SOON BE ENJOYING A COKE AT THE LOCAL McDONALD'S 2.- WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBA RESOLUTION NARROWLY PASSES IN GENEVA 3.- GUATEMALAN UNIVERSITY LEADERS RECOMMEND HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO 4.- CANADIAN AGRICULTURE OFFICIAL WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA 5.- HAVANA WILL HOST CONGRESS ON PROTECTED AREAS 6.- PRESIDENT OF CUBAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VISITS BRITAIN 7.- CUBA AND ST. KITTS AND NEVIS HOLD FIRST JOINT COMMISSION 8.- LATIN AMERICA SHOULD WORK TOWARDS SINGLE CURRENCY CUBANS MAY SOON BE ENJOYING A COKE AT THE LOCAL McDONALD'S Havana, April 23(RHC)-- Washington's blockade against Cuba has led to a new dispute -- this time concerning trademarks. A New York judge recently ruled that a joint Cuban-French firm does not have the right to sell Cuban rum in the United States under the trademark "Havana Club," but that the Bacardi firm does. The judicial ruling is based on a 1998 U.S. law preventing Cuban citizens from marketing trademarks and patents of confiscated firms. Bacardi was nationalized by the Cuban Revolution in 1960 and confiscated from the Cuban family that owned the company. On Thursday, Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesman Alejandro Gonzalez said the ruling sets a negative precedent in international trade with respect to trademarks and patents. Gonzalez said the ruling once again demonstrates that Washington's anti-Cuba policies doe not constitute a mere embargo, but rather a blockade. He stated that Cuba will defend its rights, implying that Havana could allow others to use U.S. trademarks registered here on the island. Cuba recognizes nearly 4000 U.S. trademarks -- including Coca- Cola, Phillip Morris and McDonald's. Last January, the President of Cuba's National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcon, warned that the owners of U.S. trademarks should be concerned if the New York court rules against Cuba. WASHINGTON'S ANTI-CUBA RESOLUTION NARROWLY PASSES IN GENEVA Geneva, April 23(RHC)-- The United Nations Human Rights Commission on Friday narrowly voted to criticize Cuba's record, with members backing a resolution put forward by the Czech Republic and Poland. Twenty-one countries voted in favor of condemning Cuba, 20 against and 12 nations abstained. Members of the Cuban delegation rejected the resolution, accusing the Czech Republic and Poland of being Washington's puppets and military allies. The anti-Cuba resolution mentioned the recent law approved by Cuban legislators to punish those on the island who promote Washington's aggressive policies aimed at destroying the Cuban Revolution. On several occasions in the past, Cuban authorities have insisted that legislation of this nature would not be necessary if Washington's economic blockade against the island were lifted. The Cuban government has also stated that far from being lifted, the blockade has been continuously tightened over the past several years, beginning with the 1992 Torricelli Law up to the recent anti-Cuba congressional amendments to the U.S. federal budget. The head of the Cuban delegation in Geneva, Carlos Amat, said that "to lose by one vote -- despite the blackmail and arm- twisting of the U.S. government -- is a moral victory for Cuba." GUATEMALAN UNIVERSITY LEADERS RECOMMEND HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO Guatemala City, April 23(RHC)-- Guatemalan university leaders have requested that San Carlos University award an Honorary Doctorate to Cuban President Fidel Castro for his enormous contributions to education. A representative of the Association of Guatemalan Universities told reporters in Guatemala City that the initiative corresponds to the good academic preparation of Cuban students as well as the quality of Cuban medical personnel that are offering their services in Central America. The proposal to award the Cuban leader with an Honorary Doctorate is in recognition of Fidel Castro's personal efforts to consolidate education on the island and his promotion of educational cooperation with other countries. CANADIAN AGRICULTURE OFFICIAL WINDS UP VISIT TO CUBA Havana, April 23(RHC)-- The Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Agriculture and Food Affairs of the Canadian province of Ontario, Bill Allen, has wound up a six-day visit to the island. The visit, which the Canadian official characterized as very successful, helped to broaden the possibilities of exchange in the rural sector and strengthened existing agreements between Cuba and Canada. HAVANA WILL HOST CONGRESS ON PROTECTED AREAS Havana, April 23(RHC)-- Cuba will host the Congress on Protected Areas with the participation of national and foreign delegates, scheduled to take place from June 14th through the 18th at Havana's International Convention Center. The Congress was organized to take place a year before the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the first Cuban National Park. Over the past 15 years, the Ministries of Agriculture and Science, Technology and the Environment have prioritized the issue of protected areas, the creation of new institutions and the adoption of new environmental legislation. As issues related to protected areas and the environment gain momentum in the international community, Cuba is organizing the Congress on Protected Areas to exchange experiences and promote discussion. The meeting will provide an opportunity to follow-up on international programs and networks, such as the Latin American Network for Technical Cooperation in National Parks, other Protected Areas, Wildlife and the SPAW Program. The First Latin American Congress of National Parks and Other Protected Areas was held in Santa Marta, Colombia in 1997. PRESIDENT OF CUBAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VISITS BRITAIN Havana, April 23(RHC)-- The President of the Cuban National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcon, is heading a delegation that will visit Britain on Sunday. Alarcon will participate in seminars held in Britain's two Houses of Parliament and will meet in London with ministers and legislators. The Cuban delegation's agenda includes an exchange of opinions with British parliamentarians on the democratic system and its relation to civil society. CUBA AND ST. KITTS AND NEVIS HOLD FIRST JOINT COMMISSION Havana, April 23(RHC)-- Cuba and St. Kitts and Nevis held their first Joint Commission in Havana, which involved discussions on cooperation in health, education, sports and agriculture. During the meeting, representatives of the two countries reviewed a number of issues, including the Association of Caribbean States, the Cuba-CARICOM Joint Commission and negotiations between nations of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific with the European Union for a new Lome Agreement. The inter-governmental meeting also served to establish links between the Chambers of Commerce of Cuba and St. Kitts and Nevis. LATIN AMERICA SHOULD WORK TOWARDS SINGLE CURRENCY Havana, April 23(RHC)-- The President of the Cuban Central Bank, Francisco Soberon, affirmed that Latin American nations should begin working toward a single, regional currency. The Cuban official rejected the dollarization of the Latin American economy -- the use of the U.S. dollar as a single currency -- noting that the region has long been a target of U.S. aggression. The head of Cuba's Central Bank told reporters in Havana that Washington considers Latin America to be a vital part of its dream to consolidate U.S. economic domination. He added that the introduction of the EURO currency has presented a real challenge to Washington's economic tyranny around the world. [c] 1999, 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 rhc-eng-21271 1999-Apr-23 20:46:37