Radio Havana Cuba, December 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 Thursday, December 23, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- PROTESTS CONTINUE IN FRONT OF U.S. INTERESTS SECTION 2.- U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE ENGAGES IN DELAYING TACTIC IN THE CASE OF ELIAN GONZALEZ 3.- VICTIMS OF CUBANA AIRLINE CRASH IN GUATEMALA ARRIVE IN HAVANA 4.- 9th INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN HAVANA DEDICATED TO ITALY 5.- CUBA AND GHANA MARK 40 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 6.- CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADES AND VENEZUELANS STUDYING IN HAVANA ARRIVE IN CARACAS PROTESTS CONTINUE IN FRONT OF U.S. INTERESTS SECTION Havana, December 23(RHC)-- Tens of thousands gathered in front of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana on Thursday -- demanding the immediate return of Elian Gonzalez. The demonstration was the fourth consecutive day of renewed protests outside the diplomatic mission, located on Havana's seaside drive known as the Malecon. Just over one month ago, on November 22nd, the young boy was placed on a boat by his mother without his father's permission. She and nine others drowned when they unsuccessfully attempted to illegally immigrate to the United States. Elian, who survived when the boat capsized off the coasts of Florida, was taken to live with distant relatives who have joined a vicious right-wing campaign to keep the boy in Miami. His father, grandparents and, indeed, the entire Cuban people are demanding that he be returned to the island. U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE ENGAGES IN DELAYING TACTIC IN THE CASE OF ELIAN GONZALEZ Havana, December 23(RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque has called the decision to postpone an immigration hearing in Miami for six-year-old Elian Gonzalez "a delaying tactic." On Wednesday, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service announced that the hearing -- scheduled for today, December 23rd -- would be postponed until January 21st next year. Speaking with reporters on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Relations, Havana's top diplomat said that Cuba does not recognize the authority or jurisdiction of courts in Miami or anywhere else in Florida. Cuba's foreign minister stated that the only thing that U.S. authorities can do is simply return the boy to his father in Cuba -- noting that U.S., Cuban and international law is quite clear in the case of a child who is separated from a surviving parent. Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque emphasized that Washington should return Elian Gonzalez as soon as possible "in order to close this shameful chapter" in relations between the two countries. And he said that the Cuban government is very concerned that the longer this situation drags on, the greater the damage inflicted upon the young boy. The Cuban foreign minister pointed out that the child has suffered a traumatic experience and is being submitted to new pressures every day -- pressures which can damage his psychological and emotional stability. However, Cuba's top diplomat expressed his confidence that justice and common sense will prevail and that Elian Gonzalez will soon be returned to his immediate family here in Cuba. VICTIMS OF CUBANA AIRLINE CRASH IN GUATEMALA ARRIVE IN HAVANA Havana, December 23(RHC)-- The bodies of eight crew members of the ill-fated Cubana DC-10 have arrived in Havana from Guatemala City. The plane crashed on Tuesday as it was attempting to land at the La Aurora International Airport in the Guatemalan capital. Earlier, several injured crew members were flown back to Havana for medical treatment. Eighteen people were killed in Tuesday's tragic accident and another 73 passengers were injured. A second delegation of Cuban experts arrived in Guatemala City on Wednesday to join the investigation into the exact causes of the airline crash. Also on Wednesday, the plane's black boxes were sent to the United States, where they will be examined by U.S., French and Cuban aviation experts. 9th INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN HAVANA DEDICATED TO ITALY Havana, December 23(RHC)-- The 9th International Book Fair, held in Havana from February 9th to 15th, will be dedicated this time to Italy. This European nation will participate with some 80 publishing houses, among them Einaudi and Mondadori. The San Carlos de la Cabana Tour Group, with offices located in the historic center of the Cuban capital and with over 500 square meters of exhibition space, will be the main site for the celebration of this cultural event. At the same time that the book fair is being held, the Cuban Book Institute -- in cooperation with the Archi-Nova Italian Society -- will present a special edition of Pinocchio, as well as numerous works by Italian writers. A workshop will also be held by writers from both countries on Cuban and Italian literature, arts and architecture at the Convent of Santa Clara. CUBA AND GHANA MARK 40 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS Havana, December 23(RHC)-- Cuba and Ghana celebrate today the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. According to this morning's edition of the news daily Granma, the ambassador to that African nation, Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo, stated that relations were excellent and would continue to improve. Ghana's ambassador to Cuba also gave a brief description of relations between the two countries, which were inspired by the leadership of Fidel Castro and Kwame Nkrumah. He highlighted Cuba's collaboration with his country in the fields of education, health care and sports -- pointing to nearly 1000 young Ghanese who have graduated from Cuban universities. CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADES AND VENEZUELANS STUDYING IN HAVANA ARRIVE IN CARACAS Caracas, December 23(RHC)-- Another two medical brigades -- made up of 24 physicians, specialists and technicians -- arrived today in Caracas to support the work of aiding victims of recent torrential rains in Venezuela. The Cuban professionals joined other medical brigades that are already working in the most affected areas, after volunteering to aid the Venezuelan people. Likewise, several young Venezuelans who are studying at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana arrived in the Venezuelan capital on the same flight. This is the fifth flight from Havana -- transporting humanitarian aid to Venezuela, as well as medicines, food supplies and tents to aid the victims of the natural disaster in that sister nation. [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-12682 1999-Dec-23 18:19:27