Radio Havana Cuba, August 26, 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, August 26, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBA BECOMES MEMBER OF LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION 2.- CUBAN PARLIAMENT'S PERMANENT COMMISSIONS SLATED TO MEET PRIOR TO ORDINARY SESSION 3.- EXCELLENT RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND VIETNAM 4.- INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION OF WOMEN CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST THE ISLAND 5.- MEXICAN BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS CUBA 6.- RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE UKRAINE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP 7.- INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON DENGUE CONTINUES IN HAVANA 8.- GOOD MARKS GIVEN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK IN MATANZAS CUBA BECOMES MEMBER OF LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION Montevideo, August 26(RHC)-- Cuba has officially become a member of the Latin American Integration Association, known as ALADI. On hand at the ceremony in the Uruguayan capital, Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade Ricardo Cabrisas called for "a globalization of solidarity." The Cuban official affirmed that ALADI was very important for Cuba and that the island's membership would help increase trade in the region. Cuba has been a permanent observer of the Association since 1986. Addressing representatives from the 11 other member nations of ALADI, Ricardo Cabrisas recalled that due to political and economic pressure imposed by Cuba's enemies abroad, the island had been denied membership in the Latin American Integration Association since its founding in 1980. CUBAN PARLIAMENT'S PERMANENT COMMISSIONS SLATED TO MEET PRIOR TO ORDINARY SESSION Havana, August 26(RHC)-- The Secretary of the Cuban Parliament Ernesto Suarez announced that the Parliament's Permanent Commissions will examine important issues related to the island's economic and social development during sessions to take place September 10th. Ernesto Suarez said that during the meeting, reports will be presented by the Ministries of Fishing, Domestic Trade, Culture, Labor and Social Security. According to Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon, the legislative body's Third Period of Ordinary Sessions will begin meeting on September 13th at Havana's International Convention Center. EXCELLENT RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND VIETNAM Havana, August 26(RHC)-- Vietnam's Ambassador in Cuba, Yhai Vai Lung, has stated that relations between his country and Cuba are based on friendship, honesty and sincerity. During a news conference in the Cuban capital, the Vietnamese diplomat said that the levels of commercial trade between Havana and Hanoi are high, with possibilities of increasing in the future. Vietnam's ambassador in Cuba also spoke about the significance of the 1945 defeat of French colonialism and the decisive role of the Communist Party, founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1930. He highlighted the defeat of U.S. troops after a long war of aggression and the reunification of his country. INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION OF WOMEN CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE AGAINST THE ISLAND Mexico City, August 26(RHC)-- The International Democratic Federation of Women has strongly condemned Washington's economic blockade against the island. The condemnation came during the Commission on Women, Solidarity, National Independence and Peace taking place during the Third Regional Conference of the International Democratic Federation of Women. The meeting, attended by more than 100 representatives from 18 countries, wound up on Thursday in Mexico City. According to the statement of the International Democratic Federation of Women, the U.S. government hopes to starve the Cuban people into submission with an unjustifiable economic, commercial and financial blockade -- condemned by the entire international community. MEXICAN BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS CUBA Havana, August 26(RHC)-- Ricardo Dager Najum, the Secretary of Industrial Development, Trade, Tourism and Fishing from the Mexican State of Yucatan, has met with Cuba's Deputy Minister for Domestic Trade, Maria del Carmen Martinez. During the Mexican official's visit to the island, he also plans to meet with representatives from the Agriculture Ministry to discuss further commercial trade opportunities with Cuba. Business executives from Yucatan and representatives of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce are also visiting the island as part of the business delegation. Speaking with reporters in the Cuban capital, they said that Yucatan could offer important products to the Caribbean island. RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE UKRAINE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP Havana, August 26(RHC)-- Bilateral exchange between Cuba and the Ukraine increased by more than 47 million dollars during 1998. The announcement was made by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Cuba, Evguen Esvynarchuk, on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of that independent republic. The Ukraine exports wheat, tires, clothing, electrical equipment, spare parts and other materials to Cuba -- while Havana exports sugar and medicine to the Ukraine. INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON DENGUE CONTINUES IN HAVANA Havana, August 26(RHC)-- The 7th International Seminar on Dengue continues at the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine. Professor Gustavo Kouri, son of the institute's founder, spoke to delegates from ten countries about epidemiology and the control of dengue and its risk factors. Experts from Cuba's Health Ministry also discussed the island's program for the control and elimination of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the outbreak of an epidemic in eastern Santiago de Cuba in 1997 and the medical attention offered in the eastern provinces. A roundtable on dengue in Latin America was also held with the participation of Cuban and foreign delegates. The international seminar will conclude on Friday, September 3rd. GOOD MARKS GIVEN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK IN MATANZAS Matanzas, August 26(RHC)-- Cuba's Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, Rosa Elena Simeon, praised the scientific work being done to protect the environment and biological diversity in the Zapata Swamp, located in the central province of Matanzas. The Cuban official visited the crocodile nursery as well as areas preserved for the richness of their flora and fauna -- and took time to congratulate workers for their excellent job in promoting environmental conservation. The Zapata Swamp is one of the region's most important wetlands. [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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