Radio Havana Cuba, Thu Apr 22, 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 Thursday, April 22, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- EIGHTY HONDURAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ARRIVE IN HAVANA 2.- INTERNATIONAL "HEALTH FOR ALL" FAIR WRAPS UP FRIDAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 3.- CANADIAN SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS GEAR UP FOR HUMANITARIAN CARAVAN 4.- GREECE DONATES TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ALLEVIATE DROUGHT 5.- LEADER OF CUBA'S YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE TO VISIT VIETNAM 6.- SECOND ENCOUNTER OF IBEROAMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS GETS UNDERWAY NEXT WEEK EIGHTY HONDURAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ARRIVE IN HAVANA Havana, April 22(RHC)-- A group of 80 Honduran youths arrived in Havana Thursday to begin their medical studies at the Latin American Medical School. The educational center, located on the outskirts of the Cuban capital, is part of a program implemented by the Cuban government to help develop an integral health care system in the four Central American nations devastated by Hurricane Mitch last October. The arrival of this latest group brings to 364 the number of young Hondurans who will begin their studies on the island this year. Besides the granting of 1000 medical scholarships this year and 500 annually for the next ten years for Central Americans, several Cuban medical brigades continue offering their services in the region's most remote areas. The work of the Cuban health professionals in Central America has been highly praised by residents and local authorities alike. INTERNATIONAL "HEALTH FOR ALL" FAIR WRAPS UP FRIDAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, April 22(RHC)-- Executives from the Japanese firm Nippon Kayaku have expressed their interest in working together with Cuban health professionals to produce serums to combat cancer. The statement was made by Hidemi Fakuno, President of the Japanese company, in the context of the Ninth International Fair "Health for All" which runs through tomorrow at Havana's Pabexpo Exhibition Hall. Also in the framework of this year's event, the German firm Fresenius Medical Care donated equipment to Cuba valued at some 20,000 dollars for the treatment of acute dialysis. The "Health for All" International Fair is one of the most important exhibits held in Latin America and is designed to promote new, state-of-the-art medical equipment and encourage business and investment among participating nations. Firms from the United States, Saint Martin and the European Union are participating for the first time in the international health fair, working in conjunction with Cuba's Chamber of Commerce. CANADIAN SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS GEAR UP FOR HUMANITARIAN CARAVAN Winnipeg, April 22(RHC)-- The ninth Pastors for Peace Friendshipment will set off from the United States in June, but Canadians taking part in the project got a head start Tuesday evening in Winnipeg. About sixty enthusiastic supporters of the Pastors For Peace Caravan listened to messages of support from a variety of governmental and non-governmental speakers at a meeting held at a local church in downtown Winnipeg. After a rousing beginning featuring Latin music, a member of the Manitoba legislature, Steve Ashton, told the activists that their work on behalf of Cuba would serve to remind Canadians that "imperialism and colonialism of every kind must end." Louis Lucka, a professor of City Planning from the neighboring U.S. state of North Dakota, described Washington's blockade as "an economic war" and urged Canadians to trade with Cuba because, he said, "it's the right thing to do." He added that a broad-based international resistance is mounting to pressure his own country to ease their blockade of Cuba. But, the highlight of the pro-Cuba rally was the presentation by Manitoba historian Jason Urenko. Doctor Urenko described Cubans as "the most educated population in Latin America" and lauded the growth in the strength of the peso. He expressed regrets over U.S. attempts to perpetuate the myth of a totalitarian Cuba, and stated that the Cuban Revolution has proven to be "the most flexible and dynamic in history." Urenko will be publishing a book focusing on Cuba later this year. The Manitoba-Cuba Friendship Society is currently packing boxes of medical supplies, computers, text books and food into a shipment that will join the Pastors for Peace Caravan in the United States in a symbolic defiance of the blockade. Once again, the truck bearing gifts from Manitoba will be affectionately named `The Canadian Goose.' GREECE DONATES TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ALLEVIATE DROUGHT Havana, April 22(RHC)-- Greece has donated 200,000 dollars to Cuba to alleviate the severe drought caused by the climatic phenomenon known as El Nino in the island's eastern provinces. Cuban Communist Party Political Bureau member Jose Ramon Balaguer was presented Thursday with the donation, which was delivered by the outgoing Greek Ambassador to Cuba Dimitri Doudoumis. Greece and Cuba signed an economic cooperation agreement in 1997 to boost Greek investments on the island and to create small and medium-sized companies. Both countries identified construction, agriculture, transportation, banking services, insurance, tourism and management training as sectors for mutually beneficial cooperation. LEADER OF CUBA'S YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE TO VISIT VIETNAM Hanoi, April 22(RHC)-- The General Secretary of Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh Young Communist League, Va Trong Tim, described as very significant the upcoming visit of his Cuban counterpart, Otto Rivero, to that Southeast Asian nation. Rivero and the delegation accompanying him will arrive next week in Vietnam, the third and last leg of an Asian tour that will also take them to China and Japan. In an exclusive interview granted to Cuba's Prensa Latina News Agency, the Vietnamese Communist leader said the encounter will further consolidate and strengthen friendship and cooperation relations between both organizations. SECOND ENCOUNTER OF IBEROAMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS GETS UNDERWAY NEXT WEEK Havana, April 22(RHC)-- Translators and interpreters from 12 countries will take part in the Second Encounter of Iberoamerican and Caribbean Translators and Interpreters set for April 28th through the 30th in the Cuban capital. Some 30 foreign experts along with more than 100 Cuban professionals have already confirmed their attendance. Participants will debate issues related to literary translation, research and terminology. According to Cecilia Infante, president of the organizing committee, the encounter's agenda includes round tables, workshops and the presentation of papers and reports. The three-day event also includes the presentation of books with bilingual editions. [c] 1999, 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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