Radio Havana Cuba, December 27, 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, December 27, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CHILDREN'S SONG FESTIVAL DEMANDS RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ 2.- PERSONALITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA SUPPORT OF ELIAN 3.- CUBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACHIEVEMENTS IN 1999 4.- GALA CELEBRATES THE 41st ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION 5.- CUBAN AND VENEZUELAN EXPERTS ANALYZE CAUSE OF SATURDAY'S AIR CRASH CHILDREN'S SONG FESTIVAL DEMANDS RETURN OF ELIAN GONZALEZ Havana, December 27(RHC)-- A special cultural event was held Saturday and Sunday at Havana's National Theatre, where the 7th Children's National Song Festival "Singing to the Sun" took place. The contest was hosted by the Children's Theatre Group "La Colmenita," representing the characters from Jose Marti's book "La Edad de Oro" (The Golden Years). Some 12 songs were chosen out of 23, each written by Cuba's younger generation -- calling for the return to Cuba of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, still being held in the United States. The festival was also attended by visitors from Belgium, Haiti and the Canadian province of Quebec, demonstrating their concern for the child and expressing support for his immediate return to the island. Two letters were read during the event; the first was written by six-year-old Ana Laura, and the second by well-known Cuban writer and journalist Enrique Nunez Rodriguez. Both letters, addressed to Elian, were supportive and hopeful that he would soon be back in Cuba. PERSONALITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA SUPPORT OF ELIAN Havana, December 27(RHC)-- More than 11,000 professionals from Cuba's National Union for Architects and Civil Engineers (UNAICC) have demanded that the United States immediately return Elian Gonzalez to the island. The Cuban Ambassador to Russia, Carlos Palmarola, denounced Washington's manipulation of the case of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, being held against his father's will in the United States. During a political event celebrating the 41st anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Palmarola announced that Cuban embassy personnel in Moscow condemn the child's kidnapping and join in the international demand for his release. Likewise, world opinion on the case is voiced through numerous publications. Ecuadorian journalist Omar Ospina commented in Quito's news daily "Hoy" that the boy is being claimed in Cuba by his father, who has paternal, legal rights over the child as well as human and emotional rights. Ospina strongly criticized those who use the excuse of saving the boy from a life of poverty in Cuba by not sending him back. He stated that if poverty denies a father the right of raising his children, then Miami would have to adopt at least some three billion people who suffer from poverty around the world. The Nicaraguan newspaper "El Nuevo Diario" says that no one can deny Elian his right to live and be raised among his people. The three-column commentary was written by prestigious journalist Onofre Guevara under the title "Elian: Present and Future." It is the second published by the Nicaraguan journalist in less than eight days and in favor of the child's return to Cuba. In his latest article, Guevara points to the destiny of the child if he were to stay in the United States -- openly taking aim at social corruption in the United States and adding that in Cuba, with far less riches, Elian is sure to be raised as a good person with strong moral values. CUBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACHIEVEMENTS IN 1999 Havana, December 27(RHC)-- The president of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, Hector Perez Paez, highlighted the growing number of joint enterprises and the signing of six cooperation agreements as among the entity's main achievements in 1999. Perez Paez said that there are currently 475 joint enterprises, which doubles the figure existing two years ago, and more than 70 cooperation agreements have been signed between the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers of Commerce from all over the world. Analyzing the work of the institution during 1999 and the perspectives for the coming year 2000, Perez Paez said that among the most significant events will be a meeting of the Chambers of Commerce of the Group of 77 -- made up of 138 countries -- to be held in Havana from March 21st through the 23rd. Another significant event taking place in the coming year will be the Hanover International Fair in Germany, to be held for a period of six months beginning May 31st -- where Cuba will exhibit traditionally famous products like cigars, coffee and rum. GALA CELEBRATES THE 41st ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION Havana, December 27(RHC)-- "The Magic of Dance" is the title of the cultural gala which will take place at the Garcia Lorca Hall of Havana's Grand Theatre to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The presentation is scheduled for January 1st and will be under the artistic direction of world-known Cuban dancer Alicia Alonso. CUBAN AND VENEZUELAN EXPERTS ANALYZE CAUSE OF SATURDAY'S AIR CRASH Caracas, December 27(RHC)-- Cuban and Venezuelan experts continue analyzing the causes of the crash of a Cubana de Aviacion Yak-42 plane on Saturday on the outskirts of Valencia, some 120 kilometers from Caracas. The Cuban investigative commission is headed by the director of Cuba's Institute of Civil Aeronautics, Amilcar Silveira, and the commercial director of Cubana de Aviacion, Lazaro Banguela. Commission members flew over the area of the accident today in a helicopter to examine the site and collect objects which might bring evidence for the investigation. Other experts concentrated on studying the recordings of the radio contacts between the control tower and the plane's commander. Meanwhile, the Cuban Institute of Civil Aeronautics has confirmed the names of the victims travelling to Venezuela on the plane. Of the 22 people on board -- 12 crew members and ten passengers -- four were from Venezuela, two from Holland and the remaining 16 from Cuba. They were all heading for Venezuela to aid the victims of the natural disaster which recently devastated that Latin American nation. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called his Cuban counterpart, Fidel Castro, to express his sincere condolences. [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-1436 1999-Dec-27 19:25:09