Radio Havana Cuba, December 6, 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 6, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO CALLS KIDNAPPING OF ELIAN GONZALEZ A GROSS AND CRUEL ACT 2.- BIRTHDAY PARTY AND RALLY HELD IN ELIAN GONZALEZ' HOMETOWN IN MATANZAS 3.- DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF U.S. INTERESTS SECTION IN HAVANA 4.- INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PLANT GENETIC ENGINEERING UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 5.- 21st INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN FILM GOING STRONG 6.- NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY MARKED BY MILITARY PREPAREDNESS 7.- 16th CARIBBEAN SONG FESTIVAL HELD IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 8.- INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON WORKERS HEALTH UNDERWAY IN HAVANA CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO SAYS KIDNAPPING OF ELIAN GONZALEZ IS A GROSS AND CRUEL ACT Havana, December 6(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has stated that the illegal kidnapping of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez is "a gross and cruel act." The Cuban leader advised the United States to take the necessary measures to return the boy to his father in Cuba. Speaking with reporters at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport when he welcomed the delegation that returned from the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, the Cuban president referred to the maneuvers against Cuba which are aimed at blocking the return of Elian Gonzalez to the island. Fidel Castro blamed the White House for the drowning deaths of those who illegally left the island, recalling that the first paragraph of the Cuba-U.S. migratory accords -- signed by both countries five years ago -- clearly states that both sides would stop encouraging illegal departures. The Cuban leader added that the reference is a commitment to end the Cuban Adjustment Act, but that Washington has done nothing to change the existing legislation that grants residency to Cubans who touch U.S. soil. The leader of the Cuban Revolution said that kidnapping is a crime in any part of the world. He said for that reason, the Cuban people and government will not rest until the child's father has custody of his boy once again. He added that Cuba is investigating the details of the illegal departure, which caused the drowning deaths of ten Cubans -- including the boy's mother -- because U.S. immigration authorities have not said anything about the incident, despite the fact that two other survivors are also in Florida. Cuban President Fidel Castro said it is possible that the survivors would be able to shed some light on whether or not the incident was part of a trafficking operation, organized by the child's step-father, who was also a drowning victim. BIRTHDAY PARTY HELD IN ELIAN GONZALEZ' HOMETOWN IN MATANZAS Cardenas, December 6(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro has stated that it would be "suicidal" for the U.S. government's prestige if they continue to hold Elian Gonzalez. The Cuban leader spoke with reporters in the town of Cardenas, located in Matanzas Province, following a rally at the young boy's school, held on the occasion of Elian Gonzalez' sixth birthday. Fidel Castro said that Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon and Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque have sent letters to all parliaments and foreign ministries of the world, informing them about the case of the boy's kidnapping and illegal detention. The Cuban leader said he is confident that Elian Gonzalez will be back home "sooner rather than later," because holding him in the United States "is illegal and inhumane." The Cuban leader said that Washington should be held responsible for the drowning deaths of those who hijack boats or take to the sea on make-shift rafts, encouraged by constant radio broadcasts against the island and by the Cuban Adjustment Act. He also said that even people who murder in order to steal boats and take them to the U.S. are welcomed in Miami as heroes -- something which only encourages illegal immigration and is a violation of bilateral migratory accords. President Fidel Castro stated that these and similar incidents only strengthen the people's unity, rather than destroying the Cuban Revolution -- which is Washington's ultimate purpose. At the rally in Cardenas, the Cuban leader talked with schoolmates of the kidnapped boy. The children reaffirmed the hope that their little friend will soon be returned to his father, grandparents and the Cuban people. DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF U.S. INTERESTS SECTION IN HAVANA Havana, December 6(RHC)-- Over 1000 delegates to the 8th National Conference of the Youth Technical Brigades on Sunday demanded the return of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. The young boy is being held in the United States, against the will of his father who is in Cuba. A delegate to the Conference -- a young boy from central Matanzas Province -- suggested that the group, meeting at Havana's Convention Center, march on the U.S. Interests Section to protest the kidnapping and to demand that the child be returned home. The resolution was approved unanimously and when the meeting ended, hundreds made their way to the building on the Malecon, Havana's seaside drive. During the rally and demonstration in front of the U.S. Interests Section Sunday evening, workers, students and young people expressed their indignation over this new provocative action by Miami's counterrevolutionary mafia and Washington's ultra-right wing. They stated that demonstrations would continue on a daily basis at the Interests Section until Elian Gonzalez is returned to his home in Cuba. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PLANT GENETIC ENGINEERING UNDERWAY IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, December 6(RHC)-- Some 200 specialists from 45 countries are taking part in an International Symposium on Plant Genetic Engineering, underway at Havana's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. During the opening ceremony on Monday, Dr. Mac Fon Montagu from Belgium received an Honorary Doctorate granted by the University of Havana. The international symposium on plant genetic engineering is dedicated to this outstanding scientist and is scheduled to wind up on Friday. 21st INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NEW LATIN AMERICAN FILM GOING STRONG Havana, December 6(RHC)-- A cooperation agreement has been signed between Havana's International Film School and Kata Ueb, an organization from the Italian group L'Expreso. The accord was signed at the Cuban capital's Hotel Nacional over the weekend, within the framework of the 21st International Festival of New Latin American Film, underway through December 11th. On Monday, an encounter between video-makers was held at the site of the Cuban Film Institute. Meanwhile, film lovers continue to pack the more than 20 movie theaters where some 300 films competing in the festival are on the screens. Tributes to outstanding film-makers are also being shown at theaters around Havana. NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY MARKED BY MILITARY PREPAREDNESS Havana, December 6(RHC)-- On Sunday, thousands of Cubans across the island took part in activities commemorating National Defense Day, marking the 43rd anniversary of the landing of the Granma yacht and the establishment of the Cuban Armed Forces. Militia members, army soldiers, workers and students participated in training exercises aimed at preparing citizens for a possible foreign attack or natural disasters. Participants also worked on building bomb shelters and other facilities aimed at protecting people in case of war. 16th CARIBBEAN SONG FESTIVAL HELD IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, December 6(RHC)-- Havana's National Theater was the site of the Caribbean Song Festival where contestants from ten countries, including Cuba, participated. The event -- organized by the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television and the Barbadian Caribbean Broadcasting Union -- granted three prizes. First prize -- a new Suzuki car -- went to the representative from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who performed the song "Rise Caribbean." Second and third places went to Saint Lucia and Cuba, respectively. The First Caribbean Song Festival took place in 1984 in Aruba. INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON WORKERS HEALTH UNDERWAY IN HAVANA Havana, December 6(RHC)-- The Second International Encounter on Workers Health opened its doors in Havana on Monday. The event -- held every two years -- will focus this year on social security, professional and occupational diseases, reasons leading to early retirement and environmental risks, among other issues. The Institute for Workers Health, created in 1977, is the event's main sponsor. The institute is headed by Dr. Emigdio Leon. The Second International Encounter on Workers Health winds up on Friday, December 10th, and is being attended by delegates from 16 countries. [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-7324 1999-Dec-06 19:36:17