Radio Havana Cuba, Tue, Aug 17, 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 the English language service of Radio Havana Cuba for Tuesday, 17th August 1999. Today's stories: 1. US SENATORS WHO VISITED CUBA REQUEST THE SALE OF FOOD AND MEDICINE TO THE ISLAND 2. CUBA DENIES PRISONER RELEASE DUE MEDIATION OF GALICIA 3. TEST RESULT INVESTIGATION ON SOTOMAYOR TO TAKE PLACE AT YEAR'S END 4. YOUTH SEMINAR ON NEOLIBERALISM CONTINUES IN HAVANA 5. CUBA/MEXICO JOINT COMMISSION MEETS 6. INTERNATIONAL SUGAR TRADE FAIR ENDS IN MATANZAS 7. INDONESIA REPRESENTATIVE CONDEMS US BLOCKADE OF CUBA 8. ALICIA ALONSO OPENS DANCE COURSE IN SPAIN US SENATORS WHO VISITED CUBA REQUEST THE SALE OF FOOD AND MEDICINE TO THE ISLAND Havana, August 17(RHC)-- Two influential US Senators who just wrapped up a 3-day visit to Havana have joined their voices with the clamor to allow the sale of food and medicines to Cuba. Senate democratic minority leader Thomas Daschle, and the member of the influential Senate Ways and Means Committee, Byron Dorgan, stated upon returning to the United States late Monday that the embargo against the sale of food and medicines to Cuba hurts American farmers and hurts the Cuban people who need these products. Representing 2 important agro states, North and South Dakota, the visit to Cuba by Daschle and Dorgan is the first in years of such high-ranking US lawmakers. They both called on their colleagues in Congress to give final approval to the amendment approved in a 70 to 28 Senate vote two weeks ago to allow for the sale of food and medicine directly to the Cuban government. The amendment is now a part of the Senate version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill, and will proceed to Conference Committee with the House in September. The House bill has no similar provision. If included in the final, conference committee approved version, it would become US law. The measure allows Washington to issue licenses of up to one year for the sale of food and medicines to public institutions in Cuba -- which has been well-received by big agro business in the US and by some influential US media like The Washington Post. The Senate decision came one day after US Congressman Charles Rangel announced that beginning in October there will be direct flights to Cuba from New York and Los Angeles -- and not just from Miami. CUBA DENIES PRISONER RELEASE DUE MEDIATION OF GALICIA Havana, August 17, RHC -- Cuba has denied the release of 29 prisoners as a result of mediation by the President of Galicia, Manuel Fraga -- as reported in recent days by international press. Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesman Alejandro Gonzalez explained late Monday to local and foreign press correspondents that last October, Fraga sent a letter to Cuba's Council of State requesting the excarceration of 53 common and political prisoners on the island. Gonzalez said 28 of those on the list had already been released due to having served their sentences or received conditional freedom. One other prisoner on the list was subsequently released due to good behavior. The Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that in recent days the vice president of Cuba's Council of Minister, Jose Ramon Fernandez, sent Fraga a letter explaining that 29 of the 53 persons on his list had been released -- which, he added, created the media confusion that led to false reports of last week's release of 29 prisoners at Fraga's behest. Gonzalez said that 15 months ago Cuba decided not to accept more requests for prisoner releases which, he said, are mostly promoted by the United States government as another means to pressure Cuba. He said Cuba will continue looking after the just nature of its laws, respecting the decisions of competent courts, and applying the established policy of freeing prisoners based on their conduct and time served in each case. TEST RESULT INVESTIGATION ON SOTOMAYOR TO TAKE PLACE AT YEAR'S END Seville, August 17(RHC)-- The analysis of the results of the drug test administered to Cuban world high jump champion Javier Sotomayor has been postponed for the end of the year. This agreement was reached during a meeting of the thee Council of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, held in the Spanish city of Seville. The decision was in keeping with the normal procedures involving such an investigation. The Cuban athlete has expressed his hope that justice will be done and expects that his innocence will be proven so he can continue to compete. He stressed that he's still in good psychological and physical condition to move ahead. Recently, the local council of Santa Clara declared Sotomayor a distinguished guest of the central Cuban city, as an acknowledgement of his contribution to sports and society. YOUTH AND STUDENT SEMINAR ON NEOLIBERALISM CONTINUES IN COJIMAR, HAVANA Havana, August 18(RHC)--The International Youth and Students Seminar on Neoliberalism is into its second day of sessions in Cojimar, Havana. The event, that will analyze themes on culture, identity, student movements, and the environment, is attended by some 400 delegates from 56 nations. Scheduled for Tuesday are conferences on the Cuban reality, offered by representatives of the Cuban government, along with provincial and mass organizations. On Monday, Cuban Parliament president, Ricardo Alarcon, called on young people to occupy vanguard positions in social struggle and decision making, in order to face dangers posed by neoliberal globalization in the world. JOINT COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN CUBA AND MEXICO MEETS Mexico City, August 17(RHC) The first meeting of the joint commission for cooperation and development between Cuba and Mexico began Monday in Mexico City, to set up cooperation programs until the end of the year 2000. These programs include plans in the areas of agriculture, fishing, and transportation, among others. The commission is headed by the ambassador and executive director of the Institute for International Cooperation of Mexico's Secretariat for Foreign Affairs, Jorge Alberto Lozoya, and Cuban deputy minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Raul Taladrid. The meeting of the Cuban-Mexican joint commission is part of an agreement reached in Havana on April 12th of this year. INTERNATIONAL SUGAR TRADE FAIR ENDS IN MATANZAS Varadero, August 17(RHC)--The International Isla de Azucar Trade Fair ended in the Cuban central province of Matanzas on Tuesday, after 5 days of sessions, exchanges, and negotiations. Over 70 Cuban firms as well as companies from Canada, Slovenia, Switzerland, Chile, Mexico, and Spain exhibited their products and services during the fair, held at the convention center located at Varadero beach. The event served to promote business and investment opportunities on the island, especially for its central region. INDONESIA REPRESENTATIVE TO CUBA CONDEMNS US BLOCKADE OF THE ISLAND Havana, August 17(RHC)--Indonesia's business attachi in Havana, Rajmadi Utomo, has reiterated his country's rejection of Washington's economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, imposed by the United States for 37 years now. On the occasion of the 54th anniversary of Indonesia's independence, the Indonesian official highlighted the solid links existing between Cuba and Indonesia, characterized by friendship and mutual respect. The Indonesian diplomat commented that his country and Cuba are members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, which are forums for the support they give each other. CUBAN BALLERINA ALICIA ALONSO OPENS DANCE COURSE IN SPAIN Madrid, August 17(RHC)--Cuban prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso inaugurated the 7th Escorial International Dance Course in Spain, which will last three months. The course will include a series of master classes and conferences on classic ballet, pantomime and choreographic composition. The course, organized by the Spanish foundation named after the famous Cuban ballerina, will be attended by some one hundred young ballet students and will be taught by other prestigious figures of Cuban dance, among them Loipa Araujo, Mirta Pla and Ivan Tenorio. After its successful performance in Venice, Italy the Cuban National Ballet Company continued its performances in other European cities. On Monday the Cuban artists delighted the Spanish public packing Barcelona's Tivoli Theater, where they will perform through August 19th. [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-9326 1999-Aug-17 18:42:00