Radio Havana Cuba, August 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 Monday, August 23, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN COLOMBIA WOULD BE ABSURD 2.- CUBA OFFERS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY 3.- DELEGATION OF CHILEAN LEGISLATORS VISITS CUBA 4.- WORKERS CELEBRATE 39th ANNIVERSARY OF FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN 5.- CUBA REGISTERS INCREASED OIL PRODUCTION U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN COLOMBIA WOULD BE ABSURD Havana, August 23(RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon stated that any eventual U.S. military intervention in Colombia would be "an absurdity" and "a violation of the rights of the Colombian people and Latin American ideals of independence." Alarcon said that the idea of militarily intervening in Colombia is only supported "by a handful of fascists in the United States, while those with common sense are opposed to intervention." The high-ranking Cuban official pointed out that Colombia's problems should be resolved by the Colombian people themselves and that no one --including the United States -- has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of another nation. The president of the Cuban parliament returned home Sunday after heading the island's delegation to the 8th Conference of Central American Political Parties held in the Dominican Republic. Upon returning to Havana, Alarcon expressed his appreciation for the invitation extended to the Cuban Communist Party to attend the event, noting that it was in recognition of the achievements gained over the past 40 years of the Cuban Revolution. During his stay in the Dominican Republic, Alarcon met with President Leonel Fernandez, who confirmed his presence at the upcoming Iberoamerican Summit to be held in Havana next November. The leader of the Cuban parliament also met with the presidents of the Dominican Senate and House of Representatives, as well as with Cuba solidarity activists in the sister Caribbean nation. CUBA OFFERS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY Havana, August 23(RHC)-- Cuba has officially offered medical assistance to Turkey -- hard-hit last week by a devastating earthquake which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. Cuban authorities also expressed their willingness to cooperate in recovery efforts. In a brief statement on Sunday, the island's Foreign Relations Ministry announced that immediately after last Tuesday's tragic quake, Cuban President Fidel Castro sent a letter of condolence to his Turkish counterpart, Suleiman Demirel. In his message, the Cuban leader said the Turkish people can count on the solidarity of the island's government and people. DELEGATION OF CHILEAN LEGISLATORS VISITS CUBA Havana, August 23(RHC)-- A delegation from the Chilean-Cuban Interparliamentary Friendship Group began an official visit to Havana on Monday at the invitation of the island's Parliament. The delegation is headed by the group's president, Alejandro Navarro Brain. During their stay on the island, the Chilean legislators will meet with high-ranking Cuban officials, including the President of the Cuban Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission, Jorge Lescano. WORKERS CELEBRATE 39th ANNIVERSARY OF FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN Havana, August 23(RHC)-- Workers across the island on Monday took part in festivities marking the 39th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). The creation of the Federation of Cuban Women in 1960 brought together members of various women's organizations on the island. Since its founding, FMC members have participated in and -- in many cases -- actively-led revolutionary campaigns on the island. And women continue to play an important role in the preservation of the Cuban Revolution's achievements over the past 40 years. CUBA REGISTERS INCREASED OIL PRODUCTION Havana, August 23(RHC)-- Cuban authorities have announced that during the first three months of this year, oil production has increased 23 percent compared with the same period of 1998. Sources from the Cuban oil company, Cubapetroleo, pointed out that the 6,280,000 barrels of oil produced from January through March represent nearly 50 percent of the total 13 million barrels planned for this year. According to authorities, Cubapetroleo will continue encouraging prospecting and drilling operations with the assistance of foreign capital. Cuba has promoted foreign investment in the oil industry since the early 1990s, when it authorized large companies to carry out contingency exploration work in 45 areas around the island. With this program, the island hopes to meet nearly 50 percent of its energy production needs over the next five years. [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-15047 1999-Aug-23 20:00:31